We can proudly say that Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the latest Amazon series from Donald Glover, is a smash hit. Even popular Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima can agree.
Perhaps people were a little hesitant when they first learned that Glover—the man behind Swarm, and Childish Gambino—was remaking the classic action-rom-com Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). But now that it is finally here, we can not get enough of it.
That being said, Glover’s new spy comedy-drama series must have impressed even Kojima, who expressed his appreciation for the show on X. Unexpectedly, he went so far as to draw comparisons between it and the original Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie 2005 flick. This unexpected endorsement is enough to pique fans’ interest and may even pave the way for a possible second season.
Hideo Kojima is Impressed By Donald Glover’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Based on the same-titled Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie film from 2005, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a humorous spy thriller. This time around, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine portray the Smiths, bringing the original idea back to life through new eyes.
Glover not only co-created the show and serves as its co-executive producer, but he also plays John opposite Maya Erskine’s Jane. We will not give away the fun here, but the two are joined by an incredible cast of cameos. The official synopsis reading, “Meet the Smiths: two lonely strangers, John and Jane, who have given up their lives and identities to be thrown together as partners—both in espionage and in marriage”, is somewhat closely inspired by the movie.
In a recent Twitter thread that caused ripples in both the video game and entertainment sectors, renowned designer Hideo Kojima expressed his admiration for Amazon’s latest project, comparing it to the classic Doug Liman’s film starring ex-power couple Pitt and Jolie.
I watched the first episode of the new "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" drama. I find it interesting! It's a different setting than the movie version with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The 2005 version was about two people (John and Jane) who got married without knowing that they were each… pic.twitter.com/4ckyS6UKKG
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) February 7, 2024
Might this surprising support be the catalyst for a second season? Critics have already given this eight-episode show positive reviews for its direction, writing, and acting.
Donald Glover’s Series Scores Sweetly on Rotten Tomatoes: Giving a Sequel Hope?
The show is currently the most popular one on Amazon Prime Video’s streaming list after receiving great reviews in its early runs. Want proof? With an official certification of Fresh, the show currently has an 88% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Four stars are awarded by The Guardian, which penned:
“Every episode of this glorious spy remake is a tiny slice of Mission: Impossible. But the refreshingly fun bond between the leads will make you fall in love with them both.”
Comparing it to the movie that served as its inspiration, Variety came to the conclusion that this version stands up far “better to scrutiny”, even though it may not make as many “headlines as its predecessor”.
The Independent, on the other hand, gave it five stars, saying that
“Despite a relatively chaste tone, Mr. & Mrs. Smith manages to be one of the s*xiest shows on TV.”
As per Vulture, it is quite relieving to watch a TV show that does not strive for an eight-hour film-style plot, adding:
“There is some bumpiness in pacing and plotting, but Mr. & Mrs. Smith has a finely tuned sense of the world John and Jane are striving for.”
What about the second season? Co-creator, Francesca Sloane told Entertainment Weekly on February 2, that she was thrilled about the possibility of a second season, saying that the concept and plot offer so many opportunities.
“I think that there’s definitely a lot more story to tell here. I think that we definitely feel like this is a fully satisfied story if it were to just live on its own. But it definitely has more legs to keep going, that’s for sure.”
As of right now, Prime Video has made no indication that a second season of the show is in the works. This is probably not shocking, given that the first season was only released in its entirety on February 2.
Whether or not Mr. & Mrs. Smith can live up to the Brangelina legacy, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine’s unique performances and, of course, Hideo Kojima’s review has certainly provided a solid basis for what could be an exciting sequel.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith’s film and series are both available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
