Pop Culture Happy Hour: “Big Mistakes” (April 13, 2026)

Hosts: Glenn Weldon, Kristen Meinzer, Candice Lim
Main Theme:
An exploration of Big Mistakes, the new Netflix comedy created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott, focusing on its tone, character dynamics, and how it compares to Levy’s and Sennott’s previous work. The conversation offers a range of reactions, reflecting the show’s divisive nature, with deep dives into likability, agency, and what makes TV comedy work (or not).

Episode Overview

The episode dives into Big Mistakes, a darkly comedic crime series featuring Dan Levy and Taylor Ortega as dysfunctional siblings entangled with organized crime while their mother (Laurie Metcalf) runs for public office. The panel—Glenn Weldon (host), Kristen Meinzer, and Candice Lim—debates the show’s merits and shortcomings, using their own experiences and expectations shaped by prior projects like Schitt’s Creek and Bottoms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Show Premise and Character Dynamics

[02:19]

• The series centers on two siblings, Nicky (Dan Levy), an uptight pastor hiding his relationship, and Morgan (Taylor Ortega), a teacher with failed acting dreams.
• Both stumble into the criminal underworld over a family heirloom, while their mother (Laurie Metcalf) campaigns for mayor.
• The show is co-created by Levy and Rachel Sennott.

Divergent Critical Reactions

Kristen Meinzer’s Critique

[03:44]

• Finds the constant bickering unproductive and the characters lacking agency.
• “These characters have no agency...They can't decide anything or do anything. They can't even fail because they don't ever try at anything. They are essentially chess pieces being moved on a board.” (Kristen Meinzer, 04:23)
• Admits some improvement by the end of the first season, as the siblings start making their own choices, but describes the journey as “a slog.”

Candice Lim’s Take

[05:21]

• Labels the show as “boring” and lacking the expected edge from Rachel Sennott’s involvement.
• Notes that the show feels “very sexless… one really long Schitt’s Creek episode.”
• Critiques the show’s focus on upstanding citizens dabbling in crime, finding more interest in the “bad guys.”

Glenn Weldon’s Perspective

[06:14]

• Enjoys Laurie Metcalf’s performance: “Turns out… you just get Laurie Metcalf to scream at a dying old woman in scene one and I’m in. That’s it. That’s all it takes.”
• Values the show’s refusal to make its central characters easily likable, suggesting it’s reminiscent of early Schitt’s Creek but without the sentimental softening.
• Compares writing for Metcalf to what Schitt's Creek’s writers did for Catherine O'Hara.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kristen Meinzer:

  • “Sometimes I get scared that your closest relationship is with God. And don't take this the wrong way, honey, but God isn't touching your body for pleasure.” (03:12)
  • “They are essentially non-player characters.” (14:55)

• Glenn Weldon:

  • “Isn’t that interesting?” (06:14)
  • “There’s a cheat code to the mes of the world. You just get Laurie Metcalf to scream at a dying old woman in scene one and I’m in.” (06:24)
  • “Likability is a hoax. Likability is a mug’s game…What you need is to find the main characters interesting and individual and believable and human. And if it’s a comedy, you need them to be funny.” (12:09)

• Candice Lim:

  • “I think this show’s kind of boring.” (05:21)
  • “Are you worth making a show about? I don’t think so.” (10:58)
  • “Honestly, that’s maybe a better option than local politics, which is a farce in itself.” (14:24)

Analysis of Writing and Plot Construction

[15:06]

• Weldon highlights a significant plot flaw: the “inciting incident” (failure to steal a necklace from their grandmother at her funeral). He finds it implausible and unearned.

  • “That necklace business is some first draft nonsense.” (16:55)

• Lim compares it unfavorably to Derry Girls, which handled a similar plot device with more precision and energy.

  • “They do it so much faster, shorter, better… A better version of this show is ‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’.” (17:16)

Bickering, Agency, and Likability

[11:20, 13:06]

• The hosts discuss how the show tests the viewer’s willingness to engage with unlikable, static characters.
• Weldon embraces the show’s challenge: “My favorite thing about the show is how much it almost dares you to like these people.”
• Meinzer and Lim argue that while unlikable characters can be compelling, these leads lack enough interest or momentum.

Sound Mixing and Technical Critique

[13:58]

• Meinzer complains about the show’s “sound mixing,” citing wild swings between “whisper fighting, yelling, fighting, machine guns,” making the show a challenge to watch with unpredictable volume and clarity.

Closing Thoughts and Looking Forward

[18:13]

• Meinzer expresses hope the show will improve, as Schitt’s Creek did:
  • “I do have hope for the show. The final two episodes I was like, I’m actually into it now.”
• Weldon concludes by acknowledging the value of dissent, appreciating the honest disagreement.

Important Timestamps

• Show premise and character rundown: 02:19
• Kristen Meinzer: characters have no agency: 03:44–04:50
• Candice Lim: show feels like a “boring Schitt’s Creek”: 05:21–06:11
• Glenn Weldon on Laurie Metcalf and writing for actors: 06:14–07:41
• Discussing likability and agency: 12:09–14:55
• Plot construction and the weak inciting incident: 15:06–17:04
• Comparisons to other shows (Derry Girls, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast): 17:16
• Final hopes & wrap-up: 18:13–18:54

Summary Table

| Host | Overall Reaction | Key Issues/Praises | |-----------------|--------------------|------------------------------------| | Kristen Meinzer | Disliked (at first)| No agency, unproductive bickering; improved at end| | Candice Lim | Bored, disappointed| Lacks Sennott’s voice, no “edge”, prefers “bad guys”| | Glenn Weldon | Enthusiastic | Metcalf’s performance, enjoys challenge to likability tr

Conclusion

This episode offers a balanced, lively debate on Big Mistakes, dissecting its tone, writing, and performances. The panel contrasts the show’s aspirations and flaws with its creators’ previous work, offering listeners a nuanced sense of whether this new series might suit their tastes—especially if they enjoy messy families, Laurie Metcalf’s bravura, and comedies that resist easy emotional payoffs.