Dan Levy, the Emmy-winning co-creator and star of the beloved sitcom Schitt's Creek, has taken a sharp, thrilling turn into darker territory. His new Netflix series, Big Mistakes, is a far cry from the warm, fish-out-of-water comedy that made him a household name. Instead, Levy delivers a propulsive, often uncomfortable crime saga about a seemingly ordinary family whose lives unravel over eight breakneck episodes.
From Schitt's Creek to the Criminal Underbelly
Forget the wholesome charm of the Rose family. Big Mistakes follows the Millers, a small-town New Jersey clan whose world implodes after a single, desperate act. Aimless siblings Nicky (Levy) and Morgan (Taylor Ortega) stumble into organized crime when Morgan shoplifts a diamond necklace for their dying grandmother. This one impulsive decision sends them spiraling into a dangerous web, forcing them to navigate a sprawling criminal landscape they never imagined.
While Nicky and Morgan are dodging gangsters, their mother, Linda (Laurie Metcalf), and obnoxiously perfect younger sister, Natalie (Abby Quinn), are laser-focused on launching Linda's mayoral campaign. The series masterfully intercuts the siblings' outlandish criminal escapades with the family's local political power grab, creating a bizarre yet strangely relatable portrait of modern dysfunction. The show's tone, co-created with I Love LA's Rachel Sennott, is unyielding and suspenseful, operating at a pace that would leave the residents of Schitt's Creek in the dust.
A Cast of Grounded, Flawed Characters
The series' greatest strength lies in its deeply human characters. Laurie Metcalf is a tour de force as Linda, a micromanaging mother whose nagging is layered with palpable vulnerability and love. She avoids caricature, instead crafting a portrait of a Gen X single mother that feels painfully real. Abby Quinn holds her own as Natalie, whose Type-A perfectionism masks a well of insecurities and a desperate need to be her mother's favorite.
Levy himself delivers a brilliantly understated performance as Nicky, a well-meaning local pastor who is gay but expected by his congregation to be "non-practicing." His quiet struggle with identity, integrity, and the weight of being the eldest sibling is handled with incredible nuance. His queerness isn't a punchline but a source of profound internal conflict, from hiding his relationship with handyman Tareq (Jacob Gutierrez) to navigating small-town prejudices.
Meanwhile, Taylor Ortega shines as the sarcastic, disillusioned Morgan. Despite being the architect of most of her own problems, Ortega infuses the character with such a relatable yearning for a meaningful life that you can't help but root for her, even as she digs herself deeper. The ensemble is rounded out by heavyweights like Elizabeth Perkins as a no-nonsense real estate mogul and a scene-stealing Jack Innanen as Morgan's endearing, trust-fund baby boyfriend.
A Different Kind of Family Drama
While Schitt's Creek was about a family finding its heart, Big Mistakes is about a family losing its grip. It explores generational trauma and complicated dynamics through a lens of escalating tension and moral compromise. This isn't a cozy watch; it's a bold, action-packed thriller that isn't afraid to make its audience squirm. For fans of the genre, it's a must-watch entry that stands alongside other gripping series. If you're looking for more edge-of-your-seat storytelling, check out our list of crime series that nail every single episode or explore the thrillers defining 2020s cinema.
Big Mistakes proves Dan Levy is no one-trick pony. He has successfully pivoted from crafting one of the best sitcoms of the 2010s to helming a tense, character-driven crime story that feels both fresh and fiercely compelling. It's a chaotic, unhinged, and utterly captivating ride that announces Levy as a versatile creative force with much more to say.
