Big Mistakes Cast and Plot: Dan Levy and Taylor Ortega Swap Rose Apothecary For New Jersey Crime

LOS ANGELES — Dan Levy has officially conquered the streaming charts again as his new Netflix crime comedy Big Mistakes debuted April 9, 2026, instantly securing a near-perfect 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The eight-episode series marks a massive creative pivot for the Emmy winner, swapping the heart-warming small-town vibes of Schitt’s Creek for a chaotic, high-stakes underworld in suburban New Jersey.

The show’s explosive debut comes at a bittersweet moment for the fandom.

While the industry celebrates Levy’s latest hit, the creator recently confirmed that any lingering hope for a Schitt’s Creek sequel has been permanently shelved. The tragic passing of comedy icon Catherine O’Hara in January 2026 left a void that Levy says makes a return to the Rose family impossible.

Now, with Big Mistakes, Levy is proving there is a vibrant second act in his career, even as he navigates the grief of losing his on-screen mother.

Fans are already binge-watching the entire season in single sittings. The chemistry is electric. The stakes are deadly. Dan Levy is back at the top of his game, but the road here was paved with heartbreak.

From Pews to Peniteniaries: Dan Levy’s Holy Pivot

In Big Mistakes, Levy plays Nicky, an uptight and insecure local pastor whose life is governed by rules and morality.

The story kicks off when Nicky and his school-teacher sister, Morgan, played by a breakout Taylor Ortega, attempt to steal a sentimental gift for their dying grandmother. It is a petty crime that quickly spirals into a nightmare involving Russian overlords, Italian mob syndicates, and a Mexican cartel leader based out of Miami.

The series, co-created by Levy and Rachel Sennott, leans heavily into the “incapable siblings” trope. Unlike the Rose family, who lost everything and found themselves, Nicky and Morgan have everything and proceed to lose their minds as they stumble through the drug trade.

Critics are calling the series Levy’s strongest work since 2020, praising the “hilariously caustic” tone that balances family dysfunction with genuine tension.

Laurie Metcalf Steals Every Scene as the Mayoral Mom

Adding to the prestige of the Big Mistakes cast is the legendary Laurie Metcalf, who stars as Linda, the siblings’ overbearing mother.

While her children are busy dodging bullets and accidentally running people over in grocery store parking lots, Linda is focused on her own high-stakes drama: a run for mayor of their New Jersey community.

Metcalf swings between steely authority and delicate vulnerability, providing a grounded anchor to the show’s more unhinged moments.

Insiders report that Metcalf was the first person to sign onto the project, and her presence elevated the series into a “must-watch” event for the 2026 spring season.

Why the Schitt’s Creek Sequel Is Officially Dead

While Big Mistakes is the talk of Stan Twitter, the shadow of the Rose family still looms large.

During a recent interview with Variety while visiting the old Rose Apothecary set, Levy got visibly emotional when asked about a potential reunion. He revealed that he had been seriously mulling over a sequel until Catherine O’Hara passed away on January 30, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer.

It’s tough, Levy admitted during the interview, noting that he hadn’t returned to the filming location since wrapping the final season in 2020.

He told CBS Sunday Morning that a sequel can’t happen without O’Hara, as her performance as the flamboyant Moira Rose was too central to the show’s soul. For the millions of fans who were hoping for a soft launch of a new Rose family adventure, Big Mistakes is now the primary way to get their Dan Levy fix.

The finale of the first season leaves Nicky and Morgan in a precarious position, with the Italian mob pulling the strings of their lives.

With a second season already teased by the cliffhanger ending, Netflix appears to have a long-term franchise on its hands. As of now, fans can stream all eight episodes of Big Mistakes on Netflix.