Rating: 3/5
Jacqueline Toledo Soto ’24
Staff Writer
toledosotoj@lakeforest.edu
Mr. and Mrs. Smith premiered on Amazon Prime on February 2, 2024. Donald Glover plays John Smith, and Maya Erskine plays Jane Smith. The show is a spin-off of the 2005 movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The story revolves around a married couple who turned out to be assassins who were ordered to kill the same target—each other. The Amazon Prime show is an eight-episode series that follows the chaotic life of the Smith’s.
The show follows the same premise as the 2005 movie, with a few differences. The show begins with John and Jane interviewing for a mystery job. Towards the end of episode one, it becomes clear that John and Jane are interviewing to be part of a high-risk mission. Soon, the two complete strangers find themselves working for the same company by posing like a married couple. Each episode follows the Smiths completing various missions before being ordered to kill each other. The show ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the fates of John and Jane Smith unknown.
The show is different from the movie because from the beginning, John and Jane both knew each other. The show goes deeper into their connection than the movie, and viewers get more action as they complete their high-risk missions. The dynamic of the relationship is different from the movie. The relationship doesn’t start out romantic like in the movie; instead, it follows two adults lacking social skills who pose as a married couple without developing any feelings for each other, making it more intriguing.
The directing of the show was done by various individuals: Hiro Murai, Amy Seimetz, Christian Sprenger, Donald Glover, and Karen Evans. The diverse group of directors gives each episode different styles.
The chemistry between Glover and Erskine is great and they do a great job as they act like an awkward couple before slowly getting comfortable with each other. Overall, the show is funny, engaging, and suspenseful—a quick watch when you’re feeling bored.
