Share this
This review was made possible by screeners for Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Mr. & Mrs. Smith releases on Prime Video on February 2, 2024.
Prime Video excels at two genres for their original series. Hyper-violent, satirical superhero series and espionage spy series. Lately in the spy genre they’ve experimented with a sub genre that is also hyper-violent but at the same time doesn’t take itself too seriously. Reacher walked so Mr. & Mrs. Smith could run. Not that either is better in quality, just that Reacher set the tone of this specific sub genre of espionage adventures.
The series stars Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Maya Erskine (Pen15) play John and Jane Smith, two strangers who take a job working for a mysterious spy agency. A job that offers a life of luxury, but has a catch: new identities severed from their former life and an arranged marriage with their new, nondescript names. The newly weds must complete weekly high risk missions while simultaneously navigating a blooming relationship. This series is a remake of the 2005 film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Co-created by Glover himself with Francesca Sloane (Atlanta, Fargo).
UNDENIABLE CHEMISTRY
A marriage incepted over pure circumstance, yet somehow works. Two human beings who almost couldn’t be more opposite of each other. Jane is a strong independent woman who doesn’t need a man to validate her worth, but wants a partner that sees her as an equal. John is a stubborn, flirty, sometimes overly macho man that deep down just wants to be loved and appreciated. Certainly a recipe for disaster, but sometimes opposites attract.
Unlike a lot of spy based media, in Mr. & Mrs. Smith not every shot makes it mark, not every jump is perfectly landed and not every mission goes according to plan. It really keeps this larger than life ridiculous world they build feel grounded. While also making the characters feel human and remarkably relatable even if their life and occupation definitely aren’t.
MISSION OR MARRIAGE?
While the series might bring you in with its charm, action and quippy jokes by the end you will find yourself contemplating the intricate nuance of relationships. Pointless arguments, jealousy and boundaries are explored through an over-the-top lens of whacky espionage. Absolutely none of this would work without Glover and Erskine committing to all of it: the action, the stumbles, the arguments, the romance.
While the ambiguity of the company they work for looms over each episode, the core mystery is was their relationship just an assignment or is what they have the real deal? As the relationship progresses, both of their insecurities come to the surface.
WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the lines between work and home have blurred. The amount of people who now work from home has tripled since 2019. Glover and Sloane have crafted a sneaky allegory to the present issue of juggling work, life and spending every waking moment with your significant other. Everyone needs a little me time, even when you’re a spy.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is an elevated perspective of modern marriage disguised as a fun, adventure of the week spy romp. It’s undeniably fun to watch, but the real secret mission is how it makes you think about relationships and how it reflects familiar misunderstandings and qualms back at you. A truly impressive display of show not tell that will leave you wanting more as the credits roll each episode.
RATING:
