"Big Mistakes": A Netflix Series Review

Too much chaos is happening at once.

"Big Mistakes" is a 2026 Netflix series. Nicky and Morgan, two directionless siblings, get blackmailed into working for a local organized crime syndicate after a botched attempt to buy a necklace for their dying grandmother.

I binged all of "Big Mistakes" while on the treadmill. As Dan Levy’s latest TV show, this series takes a crime-thriller turn. It took me a bit to get into this manic-toned series, but the moral is that we need to face vulnerability, no matter how strong our exterior.

Dan Levy is back in the creator-actor chair after his success on the hit sitcom and my treadmill-binge series, "Schitt’s Creek." This time, Levy plays Nick, a gay pastor, who is caught up in a crime situation that could ruin his career.

The series follows frantic sibling chaos between Nick and Morgan, played by Taylor Ortega. Nick and Morgan are constantly at each other's throats, yelling and trying to make sense of the hectic situation.

Morgan is a complicated character. With how she was raised, Morgan has trouble communicating her feelings, which winds her up in situations she wants no part of. Ortega did a great job studying each layer of this character. I have not seen Taylor in any other media, and now I want to find more with her.

Laurie Metcalf is known for her strong roles as complicated women and women teetering over the edge, and here she makes an explosive and commanding performance as Linda.

Unpopular opinion, but I feel that another actress should have been cast. Don’t get me wrong, Metcalf is a talented actress, but we’ve seen her in this manic typecast role several times in her career. Mary Steenburgen would have been interesting to see in the role.

Credits include Abby Quinn, Boran Kuzum, Jack Innenen, Jacob Gutierrez, Elizabeth Perkins, Mark Ivanir, and more. The supporting cast brings depth to their characters, even to those who play standard crime-drama villains.

The build-up of each stressful episode is masterfully paced. I binge most series while on the treadmill, and I could feel all the tension in each episode. We all know Dan Levy enjoys writing dysfunctional family drama, following his hit sitcom "Schitt’s Creek," which he co-wrote with his father, Eugene Levy.

Levy’s dialogue is fast, awkward, and funny. I had to stop running on the treadmill because I was laughing too hard at Levy falling face-first out of the back of a truck.

Levy co-wrote “Big Mistakes” with Rachel Sennott. The series mixes crime with family dynamics. Inspiration arose when Levy thought about one of his own fears: being blackmailed into a life of crime. The series answers just that if it were to happen to someone in real life.

The series struggled to find its footing at the beginning, but then it found its story. The constant chaos and yelling were annoying. It reminded me of “Uncut Gems,” where viewers are rarely given a break from arguments and stressful situations. I felt like I didn’t become invested in the story until the final few episodes.

"Big Mistakes" works as a crime thriller and a family working through their problems. In the end, there is more to it. Morgan is faced with a difficult situation in the climax that affects how she makes decisions. Family makes our choices difficult, but we must guide our own pathway.

The series makes an exciting 8-episode Netflix binge. Everyone will have mixed opinions on it, but it’s still worth it to witness the strong performances and family-centered humor.