Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 Review: The new Prime Video series Mr & Mrs Smith starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine puts an awkward, low-key spin on the married spy concept. Creator Donald Glover subverts expectations by focusing more on the relationship between the two leads than on big action set pieces.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 Reviews indicate the unorthodox approach yields a strange but compelling show carried by Glover and Erskine’s chemistry.
Performances Ground Quirky Premise in Emotion
Glover and Erskine have delightful chemistry as spies and romantic partners John and Jane Smith. The two elevate the weird concept with their rapport and talent. Though each episode features impressive guest stars like Alexander Skarsgård, the connection between the leads gives the show heart.
Erskine brings an unshowy strength that perfectly complements Glover’s abundant charisma. Together they pivot believably from colleagues to lovers. Their first kiss comes in a bizarre moment that somehow feels natural and necessary. Later episodes explore the intimacies and quirks of their marriage with humour and insight.
Slow Pacing Runs Counter to Spy Thriller Norms
With Glover involved, Mr & Mrs Smith was never going to be a slick, typical spy caper. The tone is more naturalistic, with far more conversations than action. For some this slower pacing may frustrate, but it enables insight into John and Jane’s relationship. Their clashes and affection amid dangerous missions offer an offbeat character study.
Rather than flashy sequences, the emphasis lands on the couple navigating their fake marriage turning real. Glover wanted to focus on relationships with espionage as secondary. The show depicts the ups and downs of modern coupledom in an unfamiliar context.
Also Read: Argylle Movie Review
Guest Stars Play Supporting Roles
The show features an impressive slate of guest stars including John Turturro, Paul Dano, Michaela Coel, and Sharon Horgan. While always nice to see, the cameos feel oddly disconnected. The guest roles remain secondary as the real draw is watching John and Jane’s rapport develop.
Occasionally the pair interact with other agent couples, unraveling the mystery of their shadowy corporate employer. However, the episodic cases mainly provide backdrops to explore the leads’ connection. The chemistry between Glover and Erskine is crucial, yet the spark between them strangely lacks at times.
Love It or Hate It Niche Appeal
With its ultra-slow burn and low-key vibe, Mr & Mrs Smith likely provokes strong reactions. The approach subverts expectations, focusing on relationships over spy craft. But the stripped-down storytelling sometimes borders on dull.
For fans of Glover’s idiosyncratic style, the show offers an interesting perspective on relationships and marriage. The patient pacing and character focus provide an uncommon lens if you vibe with the tone.
While not for everyone, Glover achieves his goal of putting relationships first in a fresh subversion of the spy genre.
Also Read: Squid Game Season 2
Glover’s Singular Vision Dominates
The show grew out of a planned collaboration between Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who departed amicably over creative differences. Waller-Bridge’s humour tends toward the brash, while Glover favoured a more intimate feel. He clearly wanted to follow his own distinctive, understated aesthetic.
The series mimics Glover’s Emmy-winning FX dramedy Atlanta with everyday realism and a few spies sprinkled in. Like his music as Childish Gambino, Glover remains uncompromisingly himself.
The naturalism goes against the high-octane thrills of a Bond or Mission Impossible. But for those on the show’s unusual wavelength, the tone offers charm.
Premise Shines Through in Execution
The core relationship between John and Jane elevates the series above an average caper. Glover and Erskine’s talents ground the strange concept and sell the intimacy. Focusing on the leads’ connection rather than action is a bold gambit that mostly pays off.
While reviews indicate the appeal is limited, Mr & Mrs Smith succeeds on its own terms. It delivers a specific vision subverting the spy genre to intimately explore relationships and marriage. For those aligned with Glover’s vibe, the show’s patient storytelling and charming leads offer a worthwhile experience.
What Critics Are Saying
Positive
- “Glover and Erskine have delightful chemistry as John and Jane Smith, forming a connection through nervous banter and completing missions for their mysterious employer. Their talents elevate the weird concept, grounding the action in real emotion.”
- “The tone is more naturalistic, with conversations outweighing tense sequences. Some may find the pace too slow, but it allows insight into the couple’s dynamic. Their clashes and intimacy amid the dangerous missions make for an offbeat character study.”
- “For fans of Glover’s idiosyncratic style, the show offers an interesting perspective on relationships and marriage. The patient pacing and character focus provide an uncommon lens if you vibe with the tone.”
Mixed
- “Erskine and Glover are a delight anywhere, but they have to work too hard to create chemistry. When part of the premise is that the main couple can’t keep their hands off each other, it shouldn’t be so difficult for the viewers to see the spark between them.”
- “While always nice to see, the cameo roles remain secondary as the real draw is watching John and Jane’s rapport develop. The chemistry between Glover and Erskine is crucial, yet the spark between them strangely lacks at times.”
- “With its ultra-slow burn and low-key vibe, Mr & Mrs Smith likely provokes strong reactions. The stripped-down storytelling sometimes borders on dull.”
Negative
- “The guest stars feel oddly disconnected. Occasionally the pair interact with other agent couples, unraveling the mystery of their shadowy corporate employer. But the episodic cases mainly provide backdrops to explore the leads’ connection.”
- “For me, the dull outweighed the interestingly quirky. The approach subverts expectations, focusing on relationships over spy craft. But the stripped-down storytelling sometimes borders on dull.”
- “Like his music as Childish Gambino, Glover remains uncompromisingly himself. The naturalism goes against the high-octane thrills of a Bond or Mission Impossible.”
Conclusion
In the first season of Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 Smith stands out as a bold subversion of the spy genre. Ratings are mixed, but it offers an intimate look at relationships from a new lens.
For those on its unusual wavelength, Glover and Erskine’s rapport yields an offbeat experience. It may frustrate some, but reviews suggest that as a character study emphasizing awkward realism over action, the show largely works on its own idiosyncratic terms.
