Dan Levy is officially back. The cozy sweaters and feel-good family dynamics are gone. Today, Netflix premiered Big Mistakes, a razor-sharp dark comedy that violently drags two deeply incapable adult siblings into the lethal crosshairs of a local crime syndicate. Co-created by Levy and Rachel Sennott, the series debuted to immediate critical chatter on April 9.
The premise centers on Nicky (Levy), a neurotic closeted pastor, and his self-destructive sister Morgan (Taylor Ortega). They impulsively steal what they believe is costume jewelry for their dying grandmother. The heist backfires. The jewelry actually belongs to a cartel.
The ensemble immediately elevates the cringe-comedy stakes. Laurie Metcalf plays Linda, the siblings’ narcissistic mother who remains completely oblivious to the cartel threat while launching a local mayoral campaign. Abby Quinn steps in as their put-together sister Natalie.
The onscreen chemistry between Levy and Ortega anchors the chaos. The casting almost looked very different. Levy initially developed the project under his massive eight-figure Netflix deal as a direct starring vehicle for himself and Sennott. Sennott had to step back from acting duties early in 2025 after her HBO comedy I Love LA secured a series order. Ortega landed the co-lead role shortly after.
Critics are already highlighting the brutal contrast between the lethal reality of Russian and Brazilian cartels and the siblings’ petty regression, according to a detailed review published by NPR.
Why Big Mistakes Signals a Vicious Pivot for Dan Levy’s Career
This project is a deliberate and massive tonal pivot for Levy. Since the historic, Emmy-sweeping finale of Schitt’s Creek, industry watchers waited to see if he would replicate that cozy, feel-good formula. He did the exact opposite. Big Mistakes actively subverts the redemption arc. The narrative explores a cynical, pitch-black downward spiral of a family in crisis.
The violent fish-out-of-water criminal plot pushes the show into the exact same tonal territory as Ozark, Barry, and Fargo. Levy is proving he can handle high-stakes thriller mechanics without losing his signature neurotic comedic timing. The cartel backdrop is not just a gimmick. It forces his character into survival mode, shattering the safe sitcom boundaries he previously mastered.