When Chaos Meets Comedy: Why ‘Big Mistakes’ Leaves Me Both Amused and Perplexed
There’s something undeniably magnetic about a show that throws logic out the window and embraces pure, unfiltered mayhem. Netflix’s Big Mistakes, created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott, is exactly that kind of show—a crime comedy that thrives on absurdity but struggles to find its emotional core. Personally, I think this is where the show both succeeds and stumbles. It’s a rollercoaster of chaos, but one that feels more like a series of disconnected loops than a journey with a meaningful destination.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how Big Mistakes positions itself as a spiritual successor to Weeds, a show that, in my opinion, mastered the art of blending dark humor with economic desperation. Weeds had a pulse—it was about survival in a broken system. Big Mistakes, on the other hand, feels more like a writer’s room experiment. The characters are thrust into criminality not out of necessity, but out of what seems like sheer carelessness. This raises a deeper question: Can a crime comedy truly resonate if its characters’ actions are driven by coincidence rather than consequence?
One thing that immediately stands out is the show’s reliance on broad humor and over-the-top scenarios. Take the premise: Nicky and Morgan, two siblings with little in common beyond their shared ineptitude, accidentally steal a necklace tied to Russian gangsters. It’s a setup that could be hilarious—and often is—but it lacks the grounding that shows like Killing It or Deli Boys manage to achieve. Those series anchor their absurdity in the harsh realities of capitalism. Big Mistakes, however, feels like it’s floating in a vacuum of its own making.
From my perspective, the show’s biggest missed opportunity lies in its characters. Nicky, a gay pastor navigating a restrictive denomination, could have been a rich source of conflict and introspection. Instead, his faith feels like an afterthought, a detail that’s mentioned but never explored. Morgan, meanwhile, is more developed—her loveless relationship and unfulfilled acting dreams give her a layer of complexity that Nicky lacks. But even then, her motivations often feel arbitrary. What many people don’t realize is that character depth isn’t just about backstory; it’s about how those details shape their decisions. In Big Mistakes, the characters’ actions rarely feel earned.
The cast, however, is a saving grace. Laurie Metcalf, as always, is a marvel, even when her character, Linda, is reduced to shouting. Taylor Ortega brings an endearing vulnerability to Morgan, and Dan Levy’s portrayal of Nicky’s growing exasperation is genuinely funny. But here’s the thing: great actors can’t rescue a show that doesn’t know what it wants to say. The climactic reveal—a twist so convoluted it either relies on sheer coincidence or a plot that was never properly set up—left me more confused than satisfied.
If you take a step back and think about it, Big Mistakes is a show that thrives on surface-level entertainment. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is relentless, and the score is oddly addictive. It’s the kind of show you can binge without thinking too hard, which is both its strength and its weakness. But in an era where television is increasingly expected to offer depth alongside laughs, Big Mistakes feels like a throwback to a less ambitious time.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the show’s potential for growth. The finale hints at a second season, and I can’t help but wonder if the creators will lean into the characters’ relationships rather than just their misadventures. If Big Mistakes wants to evolve beyond its chaotic roots, it needs to find its heart. Schitt’s Creek, after all, started as a broad comedy but became a beloved classic by focusing on its characters’ emotional journeys.
What this really suggests is that Big Mistakes isn’t a failure—it’s a missed opportunity. It’s a show that’s easy to enjoy in the moment but hard to care about afterward. And maybe that’s enough for some viewers. But for me, it leaves a lingering sense of what could have been.
Final Thoughts
Big Mistakes is a show that’s impossible to ignore, even if it’s hard to take seriously. It’s a testament to the power of chaos in comedy, but also a reminder that mayhem alone isn’t enough to sustain a series. Personally, I’ll keep watching if there’s a second season—not because I expect it to become a masterpiece, but because I’m curious to see if it can find its footing. After all, even the biggest mistakes can lead to something meaningful. Whether Big Mistakes will is anyone’s guess.
