12 Shows Like Big Mistakes You Must See

Netflix’s ‘Big Mistakes’ centers on the profoundly mismatched siblings, Nicky (Dan Levy) and Morgan (Taylor Ortega). Nicky, a local priest, stands out for a distinct sense of humor, making him an unusual figure within his church. Morgan, meanwhile, grapples with her own set of personal challenges. These two seemingly odd siblings are thrust into a world of organized crime when a sudden attempt at theft, meant to help their ailing grandmother, spirals wildly out of control.

Blackmailed into increasingly perilous tasks, they somehow manage to fail their way upward, sinking ever deeper into a chaotic situation they are completely unqualified to handle. They meet crime bosses and dangerous people, and while stuck in messy situations, they have no clue how to get out. As Nicky and Morgan try to survive their ordeal, the only way out may be for them to work together. Created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott, the crime comedy series is a wild ride. These shows, similar to ‘Big Mistakes,’ poignantly reflect the show’s unpredictability, visuals, and thematic flavor.

12. Why Women Kill (2019-2021)

Created by Marc Cherry, ‘Why Women Kill’ explores the act of murder in all its complexities, especially through the lens of a female killer. In the CBS comedy anthology series, the first season features three separate storylines across three timelines, all focusing on women living in the same Pasadena mansion. In 1963, the story follows homemaker Beth Ann Stanton (Ginnifer Goodwin) as she uncovers her husband Rob Stanton’s (Sam Jaeger) infidelity. The 1984 timeline focuses on Simone Grove, who begins an affair after learning her husband, Karl, is gay.

The 2019 timeline introduces attorney Taylor Harding (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), who is bisexual and in an open marriage, facing conflict when both she and her husband become romantically interested in the same woman. The second season shifts its focus to 1949, shedding light on Alma Fillcot’s involvement in a murder. The show, akin to ‘Big Mistakes,’ follows unlikely characters who get involved in crime and face challenges they don’t expect.

11. Based on a True Story (2023-2024)

‘Based on a True Story’ is a Peacock comedy thriller series that follows the experiences and ambitions of an LA couple, Ava Bartlett (Kaley Cuoco) and Nathan Bartlett (Chris Messina), who are struggling financially while expecting their first child. When a local serial killer known as the “Westside Ripper” murders a woman, the couple’s lives become intertwined with a plumber named Matt Pierce (Tom Bateman). Capitalizing on the American people’s fascination with true crime, Ava suggests to Nathan that they start a podcast to investigate the killer.

Their goal is to deduce the killer’s identity and possibly interview them. As Ava and Nathan dig deeper into the enigmatic killer’s case, they wonder if Matt is hiding something. Created by Craig Rosenberg, the show follows family members who cross paths with crime and mystery in increasingly chaotic ways, similar to Nicky and Morgan in ‘Big Mistakes.’

10. Fargo (2014-2024)

Created by Noah Hawley, FX’s ‘Fargo’ is a crime drama-comedy series that features a different story in each of its five seasons. Although not purely an anthology, the narrative features minor overlaps between seasons. Based on the eponymous film by directors Joel and Ethan Coen, the show mainly focuses on crimes in the American Midwest. The first season, set in 2006, introduces Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), who arrives in Bemidji, Minnesota, and begins to exert his malevolent influence on the struggling insurance salesman Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman).

The second season is set in 1979 and follows the story of beautician Peggy Blumquist (Kirsten Dunst) and her husband, butcher Ed Blumquist (Jesse Plemons), who aim to cover up a hit-and-run case. The three other seasons also feature complex plots that delve into the psychological aspects of crime. The show complements ‘Big Mistakes’ by featuring situations in which unassuming, seemingly innocent individuals are mysteriously and shockingly drawn into the world of crime.

9. The Afterparty (2022-2023)

‘The Afterparty,’ an Apple TV+ comedy crime anthology series from creator Christopher Miller, centers on a murder discovered at a high school reunion after-party. As Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) investigates, the attendees recount the fateful night, but their conflicting memories, each told through the lens of a different film genre, complicate the search for the killer. With the murderer still at large, the first season unfolds with each episode offering a distinct character’s perspective, where nothing is as straightforward as it seems. The second season focuses on events following a wedding after-party, presenting each guest’s point of view on what happened that night and the events leading up to it. The narrative’s visual elements, along with its perspectives on crime and the investigation of unlikely suspects, connect it to ‘Big Mistakes.’

8. Weeds (2005-2012)

Showtime’s ‘Weeds’ centers on the experiences of Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), a suburban widow and mother of two boys, Silas (Hunter Parrish) and Shane (Alexander Gould). After her husband’s sudden death leaves her deeply in debt, Nancy turns to growing and selling marijuana to support her family. Nancy tries desperately to keep her illegal enterprise a secret from her neighbor, Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins), while also teaming up with family members to run the business. With the stakes getting higher for Nancy, her only path to success is to believe in her skills. Created by Jenji Kohan, the comedy-drama show shares similarities with ‘Big Mistakes’ in its portrayal of family dynamics in the shadow of insecurity and crime. The visual elements of the shows connect them on a greater level.

7. Bad Sisters (2022-2024)

‘Bad Sisters’ revolves around the trials and tribulations of the Garvey sisters, namely Eva (Sharon Horgan), Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson). Their lives spiral after the sudden death of Grace’s abusive husband, John Paul. What initially appears to be an unfortunate incident soon raises suspicion, triggering an investigation by a life insurance company. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the sisters had secretly conspired to rid Grace of her abusive marriage once and for all.

But with questions mounting around John Paul’s death, their carefully buried secret begins to surface, placing them under intense scrutiny. Bound by loyalty and desperation, the sisters must navigate dangers to keep each other safe. Created by Malin-Sarah Gozin, Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer, the Apple TV Irish comedy thriller series is inspired by the Belgian show ‘Clan.’ The show is spiritually connected to ‘Big Mistakes’ in that it delves into the minds of family members who find themselves trapped in the clutches of crime.

6. The Outlaws (2021-)

Created by Elgin James and Stephen Merchant, BBC’s ‘The Outlaws’ is the story of seven individuals who get a unique opportunity while they are engaged in community service for their wrongs. Rani Rekowski (Rhianne Barreto), a shoplifter, Diane Pemberley (Jessica Gunning), a former offender, and others are part of this group. They find a bag full of cash and think of claiming it for themselves. However, they remain oblivious to the fact that the money belongs to criminals who may pose a danger to them. As they clean up and renovate a building as part of their community service, they must now face challenges that they never saw coming. The British crime thriller comedy series, akin to ‘Big Mistakes,’ is about the consequences of greed, actions, and unassuming people dealing with the complexities of crime.

5. Dead to Me (2019-2022)

Created by Liz Feldman, Netflix’s ‘Dead to Me’ is a drama show that follows an unexpected friendship between Jen Harding (Christina Applegate) and Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini). Jen, a real estate agent in Laguna Beach, is grappling with intense grief and anger after losing her husband in a tragic accident. During a grief support meeting, she encounters Judy, who is hiding her true circumstances. Despite their very different personalities, the two women develop a strong and complex bond. As Jen begins to investigate the truth behind her husband’s death, their shared experiences pull them into a series of surprising and emotional twists. The journey of the two women in the show complements the wild and unpredictable journey of Nicky and Morgan in ‘Big Mistakes.’

4. Barry (2018-2023)

‘Barry’ is an HBO show that delves into the ups and downs in the life of Barry Berkman (Bill Hader), a troubled former Marine from Cleveland who now works as a hitman. When a job brings him to LA, an unexpected detour leads him into an acting class, where he discovers a sense of purpose and belonging. Drawn to the stage and motivated by his growing feelings for fellow aspiring actor Sally Reed (Sarah Goldberg), Barry begins to imagine a different life for himself. Seeking to get away from violence, he shows the courage needed to liberate himself. But escaping his past proves far from simple as his web of criminal ties threatens him.

This duality confuses Barry as he remains hopeful and pessimistic at the same time. Created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader, the comedy crime drama show is an engrossing tale. It reflects the themes of ‘Big Mistakes’ through its visually engaging depiction of characters seeking to escape their reality and being held up by the forces of the criminal world.

3. The Flight Attendant (2020-2022)

HBO’s ‘The Flight Attendant’ is the story of the life of Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco), an American flight attendant, who lives without worrying about the mundane elements of life. She drinks even while working, often hooking up with strangers. After a wild night in Bangkok with a passenger from her flight, she wakes up hungover in a hotel room and finds him dead beside her. Panicked, she cleans up the scene and leaves with her crew for the airport. In NYC, FBI agents question her about the events in Bangkok. As she struggles to remember the night clearly, she experiences disturbing flashbacks and begins to suspect that someone else may be responsible for the murder.

Based on Chris Bohjalian’s eponymous novel, the comedy thriller drama show is similar to ‘Big Mistakes’ due to the experiences of Cassie, who gets involved in a dangerous situation due to seemingly coincidental circumstances. The visual tensions and the character dynamics in the shows connect them on a greater level.

2. Search Party (2016-2022)

‘Search Party,’ a TBS comedy series created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, and Michael Showalter, follows the chaotic lives of four friends. Dory Sief (Alia Shawkat), Portia Davenport (Meredith Hagner), Elliott Goss (John Early), and Andrew Gardner (John Reynolds) deal with their individual insecurities and eccentricities while trying to find a sense of meaning in their lives. The group becomes involved in a mystery surrounding the unexplained disappearance of their acquaintance, Chantal Witherbottom (Clare McNulty). Their quest to find her leads them through a series of unexpected encounters, secrets, and bizarre situations. As their fates get increasingly uncertain, their friendship runs into hurdles. The show complements ‘Big Mistakes’ by commenting on broader themes, such as the mundanity of life, while also exploring the secrets of the criminal world.

1. Good Girls (2018-2021)

NBC’s ‘Good Girls’ is a crime comedy-drama series created by Jenna Bans, focusing on three suburban mothers in Michigan, including Elizabeth Boland (Christina Hendricks), Ruby Hill (Retta), and Annie Marks (Mae Whitman). Faced with mounting financial difficulties, the women decide to rob a local supermarket, a plan that successfully solves their immediate money troubles. However, this heist thrusts them into a far more dangerous world. Unbeknownst to them, the store was being used by the gang leader, Rio, for money laundering.

The mothers quickly find themselves entangled in a web of gang heists and dark secrets as Rio targets them, and so does the supermarket’s store manager. With one of their group members’ identities compromised, the three women must do everything they can to survive the ordeal. The narrative is closely connected to ‘Big Mistakes’ because it focuses on ordinary people facing the consequences of theft and finding themselves unwillingly drawn into a world of criminals. The visual and thematic similarities between the two shows make them complementary.