TV Review: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

The term "Dad Show" is a term I have been hearing a lot lately. It refers to a show that isn't too complicated or well-reviewed, not necessarily super popular or taking big risks. It's a show that you could easily watch with your dad. Amazon is home to a ton of these (Recher, Jack Ryan, Bosch). Another one I would add to that list is "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

Jane (Maya Erskin) and John (Donald Glover) Smith are two spies recruited by a mysterious organization to pose as a couple and complete missions together.

The key to this show is the chemistry between Erskin and Glover. If you don't buy into that, the show will not work. They are both effortlessly charming, and their chemistry works well on screen. The show is very funny, and the action is solid. It is an easy show to watch and easy to get through at only eight episodes.

After I finished the series, I revisited the 2005 movie starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. It is fun, but the key difference is they don't know they are both spies until the final act. I liked that this show did away with that and that there was an opportunity to watch this relationship grow as they risked their lives to complete a mission. One of the criticisms I have heard is that the show fast-tracks the relationship between John and Jane, and I get it, but if it took until season 2 for "A Breakup" (each episode title is a relationship milestone), then I think the show would have suffered.