Cinematic Point Of View

When I saw that they were turning “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” into a series on Amazon, I admit that I instantly had negative thoughts. I wondered, “who wants this?” Another movie turned into a tv series disaster?

I remember watching the Mr. & Mrs. Smith movie, with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in the theater way back in 2005. It was okay but ultimately forgettable, at least to me.

Then I saw the trailer a few weeks ago for the new “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” series before it launched. The trailer was good. Surprisingly good. It left me intrigued.

Last night, I finished watching the last episode of season one. Wow. Maybe it’s just the right show for this time of my life, but everything about the series was perfect to me. I honestly have zero complaints. How is this possible? Mr. & Mrs. Smith? My favorite new series of 2024 already? I love it when my first instinct is wrong. I guess I like surprises.

Maybe that’s part of the what makes this show so good. It’s secret power. It’s about turning expectations on it’s head with simple honesty.

That was a long lead-in.

So in case you didn’t know, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is a series about two strangers, who apply for jobs with a spy agency and offer them the chance at travel, money, and new identities. A fresh start. The only catch is they have to pretend to be married.

Donald Glover (John) and Maya Erskine (Jane) play the lead Mr. and Mrs. Smith with absolute perfection. Their chemistry is remarkable. The delivery of every line feels genuine and thoughtful. You can’t help but fall in love with them and hope it works out.

There is a such a low key vibe running through every scene yet it’s full of fresh energy. It’s not boring in any way. Even the simplest scene has something to it.

Every episode beautifully and carefully explores the evolution of these two newly minted people as they discover who they are individuals, who they think they are together, who they really are, and where their new life together is going.

This is the best relationship drama I’ve seen in a long time. It’s honest. It’s adult. It’s sweet. It’s funny. It’s exciting. It’s what you want life to be like all the time, every day, minus the murder.

And there is murder. In each episode a mysterious figure they call “HiHi” texts them a mission. It adds an interesting element to how you handle how you feel about both John and Jane. Should I be rooting for them? It’s not quite on the level where you wonder “Why am I pulling for Dexter the serial killer?” but the show is really good at catching you off guard.

And that’s okay. That’s life. It’s more just dark humor to get you to look at things. This is show about being who you are in a relationship. Learning about yourself. Being open and honest. Being vulnerable. Admitting mistakes. Working together. Discovering real love.

Another thing I really appreciated about the storytelling was the honest, adult conversations. There is a scene where they are on a camping mission and having a rough patch in their relationship. It’s pure gold. It’s intense. It’s a very real conversation.

I don’t want to spoil on any of the episodes, so no further detail in that area.

The music by David Fleming is excellent. It’s quirky and modern and a little bit spooky. It takes the edge off some of what’s happening on screen and also adds the right amount of emotional resonance. I’m listening to it right now.

The cinematography is lavish, as are the locations, and the pacing is generally casual, which makes it a great show to unwind with at the end of the day. I can’t say enough good things.

There are a handful of supporting characters who pop into episodes. All perfectly cast of course. Go watch this show when you get in the mood for some exceptional television about people working it out. And spy missions.

I can’t wait for season 2.

Would love to hear what you thought about the show.