"Mr. & Mrs. Smith": The Most Stylish Drama About Uncool Spies (No Spoilers)

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The 2005 film version was about a married couple who didn't know the other was a spy whose relationship sours, leading them to try to kill each other.

You could say it was a movie just for watching "Brad and Angie" at their peak.

Other than that, I don't remember much.

It was a huge hit, so a sequel was expected.

Ironically, they couldn't film one because the two ended up having an off-screen brawl in their real lives, but...

In February 2024, the drama version of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was released on Amazon Prime.

When you think of spy stories, there's still that classic image of

a white man in a sharp suit with a beautiful woman in a sexy dress wrapping her legs around him...

that image still persists.

But the visuals for the drama version are...

not cool at all.

They are African American and Japanese American,

and both look a bit disheveled.

Conversely, it caught my attention.

This might be interesting!

There are countless spy stories featuring male-female pairs, but with such uncool visuals,

I felt excited, thinking they must be really confident in the story.

These days, no matter how much a show or movie is touted as a blockbuster or a hot topic, I often stop watching within the first few minutes because it's boring. Maybe it's because I'm heading toward my late 40s and my sensitivity is dulling.
But for this drama version, I was very curious about it even during work...

I finished all 8 episodes, and my conclusion is...

It was incredibly interesting!!

A man and a woman who have never met live together as a married couple for a mission—aside from that slight difference, the theme of "a spy couple's domestic quarrel" remains the same.

John and Jane—pseudonyms like Taro and Hanako—somehow manage to carry out their missions with wit and grit, even when various troubles rain down on them while instructions are given calmly without any details being revealed.

While Jane proposes that they act as a married couple strictly for business, John approaches her, trying to close the distance between them.

At first, their relationship begins like this, but...

There is absolutely no development where John saves Jane from a crisis with some super-acrobatic move.None at all.

John is adaptable.

Jane is methodical.


Though their personalities, roots, and habits are different, when it comes to work, they both act like true professionals.

But they aren't completely cold-blooded people either.

On the contrary, they are very human, shattering the image that spies are always cool.

And, they don't always succeed in their missions every time.
Each time that happens, they engage in unsightly lovers' quarrels.

They say that even dogs won't eat a couple's quarrel—meaning it's best left alone—but...

If a man and a woman start fighting, wouldn't everyone around them immediately listen in with a serious expression?

I certainly would.

I am definitely on the side that listens.
(I am definitely a listener.)

The reason this drama doesn't fall into being cheapis entirely due to the well-crafted script and the solid acting skills of the cast.

John is played by the multi-talented Donald Glover.

He is also active as a musician under the credit of Childish Gambino.

*Contains shocking imagery.

Guava Island (2019), which co-starred Rihanna, is also a beautiful work.

Donald Glover is also a producer of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," but this time I want to intentionally write about the Japanese-American actor who plays Jane,Maya Erskineabout her.

She completelyshattersthe conventional image of a submissive, quiet, and non-assertive Japanese woman, and contrary to her calm appearance,

she shows us
an incredible Jane.

Despite her slightly chubby appearance that might make one wonder if she is a spy at first glance, my expectations for her intelligence skyrocketed from the moment I heard her first line.

After all, not every female operative can be aNikitawho sexily blasts guns everywhere.

In fact, an all-around type who can blend in and handle any situation is more practical.

Maya Erskinegives a brilliant performance as a spy who might be lurking right next to us—intelligent, humorous, sometimes violent, and sometimes tenacious.

It is better to go in without prior information to enjoyJane as played by Maya, so I will not write any more details.

It must be the production team's strategy not to go for an easy, visual-focused casting. (As an aside, they make luxurious use ofPaul Dano, who is wrapped in a mysterious atmosphere, which makes me grin.)

That said, they are not aiming for the opposite of glamour; the entire production is stylishly finished.

Above all, the conversations they exchange are full of tactical maneuvering and are deeply interesting.

And themansions, restaurants, and hotelsused in the filming are, in a word,cooleverywhere you look.


The New York mansion that John and Jane are given by their"client"is especiallyamazing.

It is not superficially gold-plated and gorgeous, nor is it purely inorganic monochrome.

The mansion, filled with calm tones and serenity, exudes a consistent philosophy.

Making theclientwho provides such a tasteful mansion feel somewhat eerily frightening is a huge success for the production's intent.

The houses where the targets live are also stylish and wonderful, so I find myself curious about them while following the story.

And the music that flows quietly throughout the entire work gives the drama a mysterious atmosphere, setting it apart from simple action shows.

Summary

The TV series version of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" is a spy story, but it is also a comedy, and its core focus is firmly on the couple's married life.

That said, if I were in my teens, I probably wouldn't enjoy even half of it.

It is not a story about good versus evil, nor is it for families.

There are no complex human relationships; it is very simple.

Watching it with a partner is certainly an option, but...
I savored it thoroughly on my own, so I think I was able to enjoy it without reservation.

If you watch it with friends of the same age, you could probably have a blast.

This is strictly the impression of a Japanese woman in her late 40s.
Please understand that the parts you resonate with may differ depending on the viewer.