Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Forget everything you think you know about Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie edition. Whereas the Pitt-Jolie version was a faster-paced espionage-and-assassin story cloaked in a failed marriage, the latest rendition is a bit more muted. Regardless, the recent version is a masterpiece in dialogue as the relationship angst between the main co-stars takes center stage.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith stars Donald Glover as John Smith and Maya Erskine as Jane Smith. The first season of this Amazon Prime show serves as an eight-episode treatise on relationships, communication, and the mutual chaos that can ensue when two people join in a one-flesh union.

To be certain, this story could be told in any number of settings. The Smiths could very well be CPAs or door-to-door encyclopedia salesmen (remember those?). But that they are both highly paid assassins—working for a top-secret entity that is as deadly as they are stealthy—adds to the intrigue.

They are also not the first married TV couple to have issues and communication problems, and in many ways, theirs is a timeless tale that will always be relevant and draw audiences, even Christian audiences. God established the institution of marriage in the creation narrative, only to have it sullied by human rebellion two chapters later; marriages have always been a source of both celebration and turmoil. The conflict is often a reflection of our own broader insecurities and brokenness. Mr. & Mrs. Smith captures this in a way that is witty, honest, and entertaining.

The Banner viewer also will find that the Smiths is a worthy take on an old theme because Glover and Erskine’s chemistry and dialogue is just that good. Their appeal as a couple is readily believable from their very first scene together. It only strengthens over time, paired with Glover’s knack for writing quirky and engaging dialogue. (Rated TV-MA. Recommended for ages 18 and up. Some profanity, violence, and sexual situations. Amazon Prime)