Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 review: A killer franchise reboot

On the face of it, Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith is the same as countless other reboots of classic movies nobody asked for. But this spy comedy series’ first season differs from those do-overs in one simple yet important way: it’s good – killer, even.

That’s all the more surprising considering the original Mr. & Mrs. Smith isn’t a masterpiece to begin with. Indeed, Doug Liman’s film was a big deal back in 2005 more because of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s off-camera antics than anything depicted on-screen.

What’s more, the revamped Mr. & Mrs. Smith’s road to the small screen wasn’t exactly smooth. Original series co-creator Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge exited the production in September 2021, seemingly signaling that yet another ill-conceived IP cash-in was in the works.

Yet all these warning signs ultimately proved to be misdirection worthy of Mr. & Mrs. Smith’s titular espionage agents. Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 isn’t just head-and-shoulders better than its source material – it’s a damn good series in its own right, too.

A franchise reinvention, not a remake

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 introduces us to John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine) Smith, a pair of spies living out a sham marriage as a cover for their covert operations. It’s a complicated situation, especially once John and Jane start developing feelings for each other. Will their blossoming romance make John and Jane’s partnership stronger? Or bring them entirely unstuck?

To say any more would spoil Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1’s many twists and turns, but even this short synopsis should make one thing clear: this isn’t a direct retelling of the 2005 movie. Sure, co-creators Glover and Francesca Sloane run back certain scenes and lines of dialogue from that flick here. However, the overall tone and focus are worlds apart.

The 2005 Mr. & Mrs. Smith was an uneven screwball comedy elevated by Liman’s dynamic directing and the real-life chemistry of its leads. It’s a fun bit of fluff, but there’s not a lot of emotional or thematic depth on offer.

By contrast, Sloane and Glover have a lot to say with the Prime Video series. Along with the wider creative team, Sloane and Glover use Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 to dig into the complexities of relationships and marriage in a disarmingly meaningful way. Yes, there are car chases and explosions, but at its heart, this is a show about wanting to love and be loved despite our flaws (or borderline homicidal tendencies).

That each of John and Jane’s missions mirrors the various milestones in their relationship – from going on vacation to making friends as a couple – isn’t exactly subtle, much less original. But hey, it works.

There’s nothing fake about the Smiths’ chemistry

A lot of that is down to Glover and Erskine. Individually, they’re exceptional as two low-key damaged people, however, where they shine most is playing off each other. We’re invested in their relationship from the jump, and no matter how messed up things get, we want them to make it as a couple.

Glover and Erskine’s banter – while rarely laugh-out-loud funny – is consistently amusing, their heart-to-hearts unfailingly raw and affecting. The duo even makes for unexpectedly effective action stars! True, they lack the screen combat chops of Pitt and Jolie, but this is in keeping with the show’s more “everyman” spin on the property.

It also doesn’t hurt that Glover and Erskine are surrounded by an all-star line-up of supporting and guest performers. The likes of John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Alexander Skarsgård, Parker Posey, Sarah Paulson, and Paul Dano make the most of their limited screentime, transcending at times thinly sketched parts.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 review score: 4/5

Yet Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 ultimately belongs to Glover and Erskine. Their engaging double act is why you’ll stick around until Episode 8’s credits roll, not the revolving door of high-profile famous faces.

Heck, Glover and Erskine are so good, you’ll be desperate to see where John and Jane’s story goes next. Not half bad for a show nobody wanted…

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 premieres on Prime Video on February 1, 2024. You can sign up for Prime Video here. 

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