Should You Watch the New Drama From 'Schitt's Creek' Co-Creator Dan Levy?

Picture Credit: Netflix

After co-creating Schitt’s Creek with his father, Dan Levy brings his new series Big Mistakes to Netflix, which he not only co-created, but also stars in. Is it worth watching? Here’s our review.

8-episode crime comedy drama Big Mistakes comes from a well-established creative team. The series is created (and headlined) by acclaimed Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan Levy. Also involved as co-creator is comedian and actress Rachel Sennott (known for I Love LA, I Used to Be Funny). Those two are highly capable of delivering laughs, and they do exactly that with their signature styles. It blends some dry humor with clever one-liners, eccentric characters, and physical comedy.

Big Mistakes centres on two siblings: Nicky (Levy), a queer community pastor, and Morgan (Taylor Ortega), a headstrong school teacher. At the beginning of the series, they’re bought together by the death of their grandmother. By each other’s side, their volatile connection lends itself to chaos and trouble. And before long, after Morgan steals a precious necklace from a store after a petty argument, they find themselves blackmailed into the world of organised crime. At first, they’re delegated some daily duties — collecting drug money, etc — and as they get more and more involved in the cartel business, the stakes become higher and the tasks greater.

As Nicky and Morgan unwittingly carry out their tasks within the cartel, they also have to balance it with their daily lives and relationships. Nicky has a growing relationship with his boyfriend, while also trying to manage his congregation, a job that becomes increasingly difficult to manage alongside his illegal activities. Meanwhile, Morgan has a rocky, on-and-off relationship and tentative engagement with Max (Jack Innanen).

The secondary plot sees Nicky and Morgan’s mother, Linda (Laurie Metfalf), running for mayor with the help of her other daughter, Natalie (Abby Quinn). Her mayoral campaign is no walk in the park; she locks horns with her competitor, paving the way for squabbles, disputes, and heated exchanges. In terms of story, this arc was undoubtedly the weakest, slowing the momentum after the crime aspect of the story, but there can be no criticism of Laurie Metcalf’s feisty performance, which is always fun to watch.

The highlight of Big Mistakes certainly isn’t the cartel action, which is base-level, not at all complex. If you want an enthralling mob drama, look elsewhere. Rather, the highlight is the dynamic between Levy’s Nicky and Ortega’s Morgan. The show expertly dramatizes sibling arguments. Individually, they have their quirks. They’re both headstrong characters. Where Morgan is street-wise, Nicky is undeniably spirited but lacks restraint and common sense. When paired together, their dynamic is sharp, and their chemistry offers a ton of laughs, particularly in moments of absurdity and physical comedy.

With such an esteemed creative team in the comedy space, Big Mistakes naturally oozes humor, perhaps a little too often and gratuitously, that the crime aspects lose their edge. The show isn’t afraid to make brutal and shocking swings — there’s one moment in particular where the series turns brutal — but more often than not, scenes feel less weighty than they should be. It always grounds itself in humor.

Unlike Levy’s most beloved work, Schitt’s Creek, which is overall a warmer, gentler, heartfelt, and uplifting series, Big Mistakes takes things a heavy step more chaotic and frenzied — in a good way.

With eight 30-minute episodes, the season is well-paced. That said, it absolutely needs to be renewed. The debut season leaves clever twists and fun cliffhangers, opening up potential for a lot of story to be explored in another season. It feels like a solid platform and foundation to build from; it’s all set up to continue.

MVP of Big Mistakes

Dan Levy — It feels harsh not to pick Levy’s co-star Taylor Ortega, who is exceptional throughout. However, Levy’s comedic expertise shines in both his brilliant performance and his sharp work as showrunner.

Watch Big Mistakes on Netflix if you like:

Schitt’s Creek
The Cleaning Lady
BEEF

Verdict

While Big Mistakes delivers laughs and boasts a fun plot (which is perfect for background viewing), it’s certainly not something to write home about. Levy hasn’t delivered another drama reaching the same heights as Schitt’s Creek, which I still consider to be his best work so far, but Big Mistakes will attract a similar crowd. Similarly, Big Mistakes will no doubt benefit from a multi-season run. The finale offers a satisfying twist, but it’s far from a proper conclusion. The premise could’ve suffered from being bogged down by clichés, but manages to avoid falling deep into heavy trope territory.

Additionally, narratively and stylistically, Big Mistakes also feels like a popular Netflix series, BEEF. Given that BEEF Season 2 is right around the corner, it feels like Netflix is stepping on its own toes a bit with this one. Think of it as a tasty appetizer before BEEF Season 2.