Analyzing Big Mistakes: A Fresh Take on Familiar Tropes
By Published Apr 12, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who frequently covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, horror, and superheroes. Their specialty is onscreen book adaptations. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.
They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review for Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer.
In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18.
Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Warning: This article includes spoilers for Big Mistakes!
Dan Levy’s laid the foundation for his career, and his new comedy has many core traits in common. The multi-hyphenate was lucky enough to hit it big with his first project as a director, producer, and co-creator. This became quite the double-edged sword for Levy.
The and his father’s successful career gave him credibility as a behind-the-scenes creative. On the other hand, every project in his career, especially the TV shows, will be compared back to the first. His next series was always going to carry a lot of weight. He didn’t move forward in that medium until he felt passionate about a project.
Finally, six years after the , he released Netflix’s Big Mistakes season 1, which had a shocking number of similarities to his most popular project. Schitt’s Creek is such a perfect show that the similarities could be a strength or a weakness. It’s an extremely thin line.
Unfortunately, the similarities between Schitt’s Creek and Big Mistakes are a detriment to the new Netflix series.
Big Mistakes Season 1 Recycles Schitt's Creek's Dysfunctional Family Dynamics
The character archetypes and dysfunctional family dynamics of Big Mistakes feel recycled from Schitt’s Creek. Firstly, the and Schitt’s Creek are socially awkward and dramatic with plenty of larger-than-life moments. They don’t have great emotional regulation and guard their feelings.
They interact very similarly across the two shows. Like the family in Schitt’s Creek, Nicky and Morgan’s family isn't one you'd want to be around for more than a couple of hours, but they’re great entertainment. The characters in both families are entitled, judgmental, and they feel like they can’t stand each other most of the time.
Their forced proximity brings their strained relationships to the forefront, and they can’t ignore it. The mom of both families is critical of their children, and they’re very wrapped up in their own desires. Moira doesn’t have many affectionate moments with her kids, and similarly, Linda almost never seems to show her family warmth.
However, the conflicts and ridiculous storylines don’t stop the family from caring about each other and showing up when it really counts. There’s a lot of love between the siblings, even if they’re terrible at expressing it.
This is either a great thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. Many fans of Schitt’s Creek will find comfort in Big Mistakes because of this commonality. However, others, like me, will get frustrated at the lack of creativity. Dysfunctional families are an extremely interesting subject, but they don’t have to look the same.
Big Mistakes & Schitt's Creek Rely On The Same Type Of Comedy
If the dysfunctional family dynamics were the only parallels between Big Mistakes and Schitt’s Creek, the new show might not feel like as much of a repeat. The two also share the same type of comedy, with Big Mistakes just throwing in a ridiculous crime plot.
A lot of the comedy stems from character flaws. Nicky’s impatience leads to funny situations. Morgan’s low self-esteem and impulsivity lead to many of the most hilarious incidents, such as digging up the wrong grave. Linda’s criticalness contributes to some of the best zingers. The family conflicts also lead to some of the funniest moments.
Additionally, the actual writing of the comedy is too similar to be enjoyable. Even though Dan Levy’s Nick and David have almost nothing in common, they sound like the same character when it comes to their banter, humor style, and reactions. It feels like David just became a reverend.
How Big Mistakes Season 2 Could Get Out From Schitt's Creek's Shadow
The problem with Big Mistakes and Schitt’s Creek having so many similarities is that it makes the quality difference extremely obvious. Netflix’s new comedy-crime is nowhere near as good as Schitt’s Creek. and convoluted.
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As such, it feels like the new show is trying to capitalize on the nostalgia of Dan Levy’s old show without capturing the excellent storytelling. However, if it’s picked up, Big Mistakes season 2 can fix this by leaning into a few existing elements.
The family dysfunction doesn’t need to be the driving factor in every funny moment. There’s plenty of laughs to be had about the fact that Nicky and Morgan are making erratic decisions. Embrace the absurdity of the situation. Also, give us more Yusuf. He felt like the most unique character in Big Mistakes, and he’s also one of the funniest.
The villain reveal at the will definitely strengthen the crime aspect of the crime-comedy, making it feel less like just a dysfunctional crime show. Finally, the second season should slowly make Nicky feel slightly different from David. A subtle shift would help Big Mistakes.
Cast
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Linda
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