With Big Mistakes now streaming on Netflix, Dan Levy is stepping into a new kind of story—one where things fall apart quickly and rarely resolve the way they should.

In a conversation with Gayety, Levy and co-star Taylor Ortega reflected on building the series’ central relationship, one rooted in tension, familiarity, and a rhythm that feels pulled from real life.

Sibling Energy, Turned All the Way Up

At the center of Big Mistakes are Nicky and Morgan, siblings who stumble into a criminal underworld they’re not equipped to handle. Their dynamic drives the series, with conversations that feel more like verbal ping-pong than traditional dialogue.

For Levy and Ortega, that pace came naturally. The two leaned into overlapping speech, interruptions, and quick pivots, choices that mirror how people actually communicate when they know each other well.

“There’s a comfort there,” Levy explained, pointing to the idea that constant bickering can signal closeness rather than conflict. Ortega echoed that sentiment, describing their exchanges as a heightened version of everyday conversation. The result is a partnership that feels lived-in, even when the stakes spiral.

Finding Humor in Bad Decisions

The show’s premise hinges on a simple mistake that snowballs. What begins as a misguided attempt to help their grandmother pulls Nicky and Morgan into organized crime, forcing them to adapt on the fly.

Levy approached the story by grounding both characters in flawed choices from the start. Instead of positioning them as innocent bystanders, the series builds tension through their own missteps.

That approach extends to Nicky’s personal life. As a pastor navigating identity and expectation, he edits parts of himself depending on the environment. Levy noted that this idea, adjusting behavior to fit a space, feels familiar to many people, especially within religious or professional settings.

The series doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it explores what happens when those compromises become harder to maintain.

Meet Morgan: A “Tornado Person”

If Nicky is cautious, Morgan moves in the opposite direction. Ortega described her character as impulsive, someone who reacts first and figures things out later.

During filming, that description hit close to home. Ortega recalled a moment on set when a line labeling Morgan as a “tornado person” drew a knowing reaction from her own family. It became a running joke, but also a useful entry point into the role.

Rather than inventing the character from scratch, Ortega pulled from earlier versions of herself, shaping Morgan into someone who feels recognizable, even when her choices veer off course.

Surviving the Chaos (Probably Not)

When asked how they’d fare in the world of Big Mistakes, both actors didn’t hesitate. Survival isn’t guaranteed.

Levy joked that he wouldn’t last long, while Ortega offered a slightly more optimistic take, at least initially. That contrast mirrors the show itself, where confidence and reality rarely line up.

A Different Kind of Dan Levy Project

Following the success of Schitt’s Creek, Big Mistakes marks a shift in tone. While humor remains central, the series leans into discomfort and unpredictability in a way that feels new for Levy.

Teaming up with co-creator Rachel Sennott, the show embraces characters who don’t have control. It’s less about growth and more about momentum, watching what happens when people keep making the wrong call.

Now available to stream, Big Mistakes offers a mix of comedy and consequence, anchored by a sibling dynamic that feels both chaotic and familiar.