In the world of television, there are two distinct categories of shows: those that catapult stars into the spotlight and those created by already established stars. The former, like the ensemble productions that turn unknowns into household names, and labor-of-love projects that make their creators industry darlings, fall into the first category. Schitt's Creek, a sitcom about a once-wealthy family forced to slum it in a dingy motel, is a prime example of the latter. Created by Dan Levy, who also stars in the show, it debuted in 2015 on Canadian network CBC and gradually became a global hit after Netflix picked it up a couple of years later.
Now, Levy is back with his new show, Big Mistakes, a cringe comedy that, in my opinion, is a safer bet for a risk-averse TV industry. The show stars Levy as Nicky, a nervy pastor who is keeping his boyfriend a secret from his family and his flock. He has a cool school teacher sister, Morgan (Taylor Ortega), to spar with, and a highly strung, emotionally incontinent mother (Laurie Metcalf) to make constant, guilt-trip-tinged demands on him. While the premise is intriguing, the execution, in my view, falls short of being a triumph.
One thing that immediately stands out is the dynamic between Nicky and Morgan. Levy nails the instant psychological regression that occurs upon reuniting with your adult siblings, and the pair's relationship with their other sister, Natalie, is also gleefully well drawn. The stress radiating from their overbearing mother amid her disaster-beset mayoral campaign dovetails nicely with the jerky camerawork and abrasive score. However, the organized crime caper element feels like a passable excuse for Levy to create another bickering, boundary-decimating on-screen family.
The cast is brilliant, with Metcalf swinging masterfully between steely authority and papery fragility, Levy charming as always, and Ortega downright hilarious. But the show's biggest weakness, in my opinion, is the implausible developments that exist solely to prolong Nicky and Morgan's presence in the gangland underworld. The conceit is rendered in disappointingly vague and generic terms, and the final twist, while providing a momentary thrill, quickly dissipates when you realize how little sense it makes for the story as a whole.
In conclusion, Big Mistakes is a passable show, but it's not quite a triumph. Perhaps that's inevitable, as shows made by stars can rarely compete with the ones that make them. Nevertheless, it's a fascinating exploration of the dynamics of family relationships and the challenges of creating a successful TV show. From my perspective, it's a show worth watching, but not a must-see.
