Netflix’s ‘Big Mistakes’ blends family dysfunction with crime plot, per NPR review

A Family in Turmoil

Netflix’s Big Mistakes, a 2026 crime comedy co-created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott, centers on the strained family of Linda, a hardware store owner in New Jersey, and her two children: Nicky, a neurotic gay pastor, and Morgan, a self-destructive elementary school teacher. The series opens with Linda caring for her terminally ill mother, immediately highlighting the family’s volatile dynamics. Linda, running for mayor, is emotionally distant, while Nicky and Morgan grapple with personal dissatisfaction. Nicky hides his relationship with his boyfriend, Jacob Gutierrez, from his conservative congregation, and M. Morgan, once an aspiring actor in New York, has returned to her hometown, where she teaches and is emotionally entangled with her high school crush, Jack Innanen. The plot escalates when Morgan shoplifts a necklace from a tchotch, keshke shop owned by Yusuf, a mob associate, pulling her and Nicky into a criminal enterprise with Yusuf’s Russian gang. The siblings navigate a chaotic world of illegal errands, blackmail, and dark humor, blending familial dysfunction with an uneven organized-crime storyline reliant on coincidences and implausible twists.

A Darker, More Chaotic Tone

The show is marketed as a dark comedy with Weeds-like elements but diverges from Dan Levy’s previous work, Schitt’s Creek, which focused on wholesome family dynamics in a small town. Unlike Schitt’s Creek, Big Mistakes embraces a TV-MA rating, incorporating themes of blackmail, illegal activities, and cringe humor. The central conflict revolves around the siblings’ entanglement with the mob and their unresolved tensions with each other and their mother. Critics have noted the plot’s dependence on poorly considered happenstance, such as Morgan’s accidental theft of a real necklace, which lacks the economic desperation seen in earlier dark comedies like Weeds. However, the show’s fast-paced narrative and sharp dialogue have been praised for entertainment value, despite underdeveloped crime caper elements.

The Strained Family Dynamics

The series explores the dysfunctional family unit through Linda, played by Laurie Metcalf, a domineering figure projecting perfection while dealing with personal failures, including her mother’s death and stalled mayoral campaign. Her relationship with Nicky and Morgan is marked by resentment and unspoken grievances, with the writers avoiding simple reconciliation. Instead, the gulf between the siblings—Nicky trapped in a religious institution forbidding his relationships and Morgan disillusioned with her life choices—remains unresolved. This dynamic contrasts with Schitt’s Creek, where David and Alexis Rose’s conflicts were eventually resolved through mutual understanding. In Big Mistakes, the family’s dysfunction is a constant, with the siblings’ bickering growing increasingly petty as they navigate the criminal underworld.

The Writers’ Room and Narrative Structure

Nicky and Morgan’s interactions drive the show’s humor and tension. Nicky’s neuroticism and self-loating contrast with Morgan’s abrasive yet endearing personality, creating a volatile dynamic exploited for comedic effect. Their relationship is defined by resentment and reluctant camaraderie, tested as they rely on each other in dangerous situations. The show also delves into their relationship with their sister Natalie, portrayed as the family’s golden child, serving as a foil to Nicky and Morgan. Natalie’s presence highlights their failures and reinforces Linda’s belief in her family’s perfection. While the show balances family dynamics with the absurdity of the crime plot, critics argue the siblings’ arcs remain underdeveloped compared to Schitt’s Creek’s more fleshed-out characters.

Critical Reception and Future Prospects

The writers’ room includes Mad Men veteran Erin Levy, contributing to the show’s sharp dialogue and fast-paced narrative. Levy’s experience in crafting complex character dynamics and layered storytelling is evident in the show’s approach to family dysfunction and crime. Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott, drawing from their work on Schitt’s Creek, focus on family relationships while exploring darker, chaotic themes. The show’s structure relies on coincidences and implausible events, criticized as a weakness. For example, the season’s climax hinges on unlikely events tying the siblings’ fates together, including a contrived last-minute rescue. Despite these flaws, the writers’ ability to blend humor with tension has been praised for entertainment value.

Big Mistakes is a dark comedy blending family dysfunction with the absurdity of organized crime, creating a satirical and emotionally resonant tone. The humor stems from the siblings’ petty, resentful interactions filled with passive-aggressive barbs, a departure from Schitt’s Creek’s wholesome humor. The show embraces the chaos of real family dynamics, where resentment and unspoken grievances are the norm. The crime elements are played for laughs rather than genuine suspense, with gangsters and illegal activities depicted as comically inept. This allows the writers to focus on the family’s internal conflicts rather than the criminal plot itself. The series also explores themes of identity and self-destruction, particularly through Morgan’s arc, defined by failed attempts to reinvent herself. This mirrors Nicky’s struggle with his religious identity, as he navigates a world rejecting his sexuality. The show’s dark humor contrasts the siblings’ personal failures with their attempts to maintain normalcy, using absurd crime elements to highlight their flaws.

Critical reception of Big Mistakes has been mixed, with praise for sharp dialogue and comedic timing tempered by criticism of underdeveloped crime plot and lack of emotional depth. Reviewers noted the show’s strength lies in its family dynamics, more compelling than the contrived crime elements. The Hollywood Reporter praised the show’s “clever dialogue and tight direction,” highlighting its TV-MA rating and contrast with Weeds’ economic desperation. The Guardian’s review emphasized the show’s cringe comedy and family dysfunction, calling it more engaging than its crime caper elements. A twist hinting at a season two setup was also mentioned, suggesting groundwork for future episodes. However, some critics argued the siblings’ arcs remain underdeveloped compared to Schitt’s Creek’s characters. Despite these criticisms, Big Mistakes is seen as a bold departure from Dan Levy’s previous work, embracing a darker, more chaotic tone while maintaining his focus on family dynamics. The show’s potential for a second season is acknowledged, though its current iteration has not yet reached the emotional resonance of its predecessor. Overall, Big Mistakes is a flawed but entertaining series showcasing Levy’s ability to craft complex family relationships, even if its crime plot remains uneven.