In the first episode of Big Mistakes, Nicholas “Nicky,” an openly gay preacher, and his sister Morgan visit their grandmother in hospice. Linda, their mother, is already there taking care of her own mother and wondering what the siblings brought for Nonna’s birthday.
Natalie, their younger sister, offers to take care of the gift, but Linda tells Nicky and Morgan to get a cheap fake diamond necklace after Nonna says she wants one. Linda also says they aren’t as reliable as Natalie, who is busy running for mayor.
Nicky goes back to the rectory after church and sees his boyfriend Tareq there in secret. Rose, a member of the church, comes in suddenly and breaks up their moment. Nicky has to hide Tareq. After Rose departs, Tareq asks why they have to keep their relationship a secret. Nicky says that the church won’t accept it, but he promises to move to a more tolerant church after Linda’s campaign is over.
Max, Morgan’s boyfriend, takes her to the primary school where she teaches. Max becomes angry and throws a ring at her as she pulls away from a kiss, making her choose between marriage and anything else. Morgan is surprised by what happened and gives the ring back, asking for a real proposal instead.
Later, Morgan and Nicky go to a store nearby to get Nonna a gift. Morgan tries to put on a jewelry, but the cashier, Yousef, says no. Things get worse until Nicky steps in to calm things down. He sends Morgan away to buy a card and a small trinket.
They get at the hospice and find out that Nonna has already died, which is terrible news. Linda is furious that they weren’t there with her at the end and says that Natalie was the only one there. Morgan tells Linda that she brought a necklace, which makes Linda happy. But Nicky quickly figures out that Morgan took it. Linda still wants them to put it on Nonna, and the siblings do what she says.
Yousef comes to Nicky’s rectory that night and demands the jewelry back, threatening to take action if he doesn’t get it back. Nicky is worried and runs to Linda’s house, where Morgan and Max are making Nonna’s favorite dish. Max asks Linda for a quiet time, which makes her think he is going to propose.
Nicky takes Morgan aside and informs her about the threats Yousef made. They fight about what to do, and Morgan chooses to buy the necklace. She goes outside to talk to Yousef, but he makes things worse by pointing a revolver at her. She goes back inside, shaken, and says they have to get the jewelry before the funeral.
Max asks Morgan to marry him in front of everyone before they can do anything. She hesitantly agrees because she wasn’t expecting it, and Linda gleefully films the occasion.
Nicky tries to take the necklace off of Nonna at the burial the next day, but he can’t. He asks Linda for a moment alone, but she says no and makes him keep going with the service. His anxiousness goes through the roof when he sees Yousef there, and in the end, Nonna is buried with the jewelry still on her.
Yousef goes to Linda to give his sympathies after the burial, and then he goes to Nicky and Morgan. When they admit they don’t have the necklace anymore, he becomes angry, takes out a gun, and makes them get into his truck. This ends the episode on a suspenseful cliffhanger.
The Review of the Episode
The first episode is a fun blend of family drama and crazy comedy, with the necklace being the main thing that drives the tale. The setup works well because it instantly sets the stakes and tone for the series.
Nicky’s story adds more drama because he has trouble balancing his personal life with what his religion and family want of him. His friendship with Tareq shows how hard it is to live a double life, especially when his mother is watching.
Morgan’s rash choice to steal the necklace starts the primary conflict. It may seem foolish, but it fits with her character’s bad judgment. Linda’s harsh treatment of her kids, especially when she compares them to Natalie, changes the way the family works and makes things even more tense.
It seems sudden to bring up Nicky’s adoption, but it does help explain why the family is having trouble getting along. Natalie’s role as the favorite child makes the family imbalance even worse.
The episode puts up an interesting story by mixing dark comedy with rising stakes. The funny misunderstandings and dysfunctional family relationships make it clear that it is similar to Schitt’s Creek. The series has a lot of potential as it goes on, with a solid start and a dramatic cliffhanger.