If you think you know what to expect from Dan Levy after Schitt's Creek, Big Mistakes will prove you wrong—and that's exactly the point. The new eight-part Netflix crime series opens with Laurie Metcalf screaming at her dying mother, setting the tone for a show that swaps cozy small-town charm for high-stakes, laugh-out-loud chaos. It's one of the best shows to binge on the platform right now, especially if you love crime dramas with a twist of absurdity.
Levy, who co-created the series with Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby, Bottoms), stars as Nicky, a pastor whose sister Morgan (Taylor Ortega) steals a necklace for their dying grandmother, dragging them both into the world of organized crime. The premise is ridiculous, but the execution is sharp, blending the uncomfortable humor of Sennott's work with Levy's signature focus on family dysfunction. Think Ozark meets Schitt's Creek, but darker and more unpredictable.
Why 'Big Mistakes' Works as a Binge-Watch
The series starts slow—the first two episodes feel scattered, with sibling bickering that can get repetitive before the real stakes kick in. But push through. By the midpoint, Big Mistakes finds its rhythm, getting stranger, funnier, and more gripping. The season finale delivers a reveal that recontextualizes everything, making a second season feel essential. For fans of crime series like Criminal Minds: Evolution, this show offers a fresh, comedic take on the genre.
What makes it a perfect binge is how Levy balances absurdity with genuine tension. The Dardano siblings aren't hardened criminals—they're a pastor and a schoolteacher sweating through every conversation with cartel members, while their mother campaigns for mayor nearby. The warmth, when it hits, lands just like in Schitt's Creek, but the threat of real consequences keeps you on edge.
Taylor Ortega and Laurie Metcalf Steal the Show
Ortega, who inherited the role originally written for Sennott, is a revelation. Her Morgan is endearingly insufferable, a character who triggers her brother into his worst self while remaining oddly vulnerable. She anchors the series with a looseness that makes every scene worth watching. Meanwhile, Metcalf delivers a performance that rivals Catherine O'Hara's in Schitt's Creek. Her Linda Dardano is fierce and painfully aware of her own flaws, and the mayoral campaign subplot makes a sharp argument: local politics and international crime aren't so different when it comes to protecting interests.
If you're looking for more binge-worthy crime content, check out Netflix's The Staircase dramatization or superhero shows like Invincible for similar thrills.
The Verdict: Binge It for the Chaos
Big Mistakes isn't Schitt's Creek, and it's not trying to be. But if you loved Levy's ability to write about people who love each other badly—where dysfunction and devotion become indistinguishable—this series delivers. It's a dark, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt crime drama that rewards patience. Start streaming now on Netflix, and don't let the slow start fool you: this is one binge that sticks the landing.
