Mr and Mrs Smith Is A Charmingly Unexpected Addition To The Spy Thriller Genre
Mr. & Mrs. Smith follows two lonely strangers who land jobs working for a secretive spy agency that rewards them with a luxurious life. The only catch is that they have been given new identities and forced into an arranged marriage. The duo must navigate risky missions weekly all while getting to know each other and build a relationship. Their cover story becomes complicated when Jane (Maya Erskine) and John (Donald Glover) start to develop real feelings for one another. There are some spoilers ahead.
Donald Glover has proven time and time again that he is a multi-talented artist, with skills including acting, comedy, singing, rapping, writing, directing, and producing. In this series, he really gets to flex his action muscles along with balancing the more comedic and realistic moments. As a certified momma’s boy, John has a softer facade that masks his darker and more violent side.
We’ve all seen Maya Erskine before, but she really comes into her own in the role of Jane. She is able to bring this character to life with so much grit, but not neglecting the subtlety of her insecure side. Jane is an extremely complicated female character and only reveals parts of herself sparingly. Jane is a dominant woman, but hides her fears behind isolation and Erskine brings a unique lightness and comedy to the role.
To say that Erskine and Glover had chemistry in this show is an understatement. Their budding relationship grew as the actors did, allowing them to settle into their roles in such a perfect way. The two had this incredible banter that felt both like a duo on their first date and a long time married couple.
The slightly ambiguous ending leaves you to wonder, did they all die? My interpretation of the three bullets is that all three people left in the house died, but the series tends to lean on the viewer interpreting the events instead of outright telling you. The same this goes with the company that employs them and the person behind their boss HiHi. The series also has a bit more humor than expected, but not in a cheesy way. From bickering mid-fight sequence to delivering a cake that ends up being a bomb, the series is unexpected, funny, and charming.
For a series centered around a spy couple, the action didn’t feel stale or overdone. Each fight sequence was well choreographed and executed. There was also an excellent use of technology that was utilized in a realistic and not futuristic way. Overall, there was a great balance of action, drama, and comedy. Whether you’re a fan of the 2005 film or not, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a prime example of how to do a remake. The show is a must watch.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith is streaming on Prime Video.
