Mr and Mrs Smith
Prime Video
Forget what you think Mr and Mrs Smith should be - this delightful new series isn't it. Far from the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie action comedy that inspired this series, Donald Glover's iteration of Mr and Mrs Smith is a straight-up relationship dramedy with little pockets of unimportant action thrown in. If you're ready to go on that journey, and leave your notion of what you think the series should have been behind and just embrace what it actually is, you're in for a treat.
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Glover, who has proven himself capable in a variety of genres from Community to Atlanta to blockbuster movies, is the heart and soul of this series, which sees him play 'John Smith' opposite Pen15's Maya Erskine as 'Jane Smith'.
Where in the film the Smiths had no idea the other was a spy, having gotten together organically and worked their secret careers around their relationship, this series turns that idea on its head, and has agents who are strangers to each other paired together as a couple à la The Americans.
We meet the two sitting in an interview with their mysterious, unseen boss (dubbed 'Hihi' after their method of starting text conversations) and agreeing to take on high-risk assignments as part of a couple. They're given new identities and lives and a great house in New York City.
Through the episodes we watch the couple take their relationship from convenient cover to actual feelings. Every episode charts a new kind of milestone in their relationship, from double dates to intimacy, and it's these story stepping stones that are the reason you keep watching.
The action is fine and forgettable, and their missions are nearly completely irrelevant except as jumping off points for exploring a new aspect of their relationship. Mr and Mrs Smith also features tonnes of guest stars, including Alexander Skarsgard, Paul Dano, Eiza Gonzales, Parker Posey, John Turturro, Sharon Horgan and more.
Expats
Prime Video
If Nicole Kidman is in it, you can nearly always trust that a show is worth watching. In Expats, Kidman serves as producer as well as actress - as she did with Big Little Lies and The Undoing etc - and helps bring some star appeal to this quiet, engrossing drama.
From director/creator Lulu Wang (who made the thoroughly moving film The Farewell, which netted star Awkwafina a Golden Globe), the series follows a few American women living in Hong Kong, and the tragic event that has linked them.
To start with, the series is gorgeously photographed. Every shot feels lush, rich and nostalgic.
There's not too much in the way of strong plot strands to suck you in in the first couple of episodes, but there are enough questions posed that you want to keep watching to find out the answers.
Sarayu Blue is particularly engaging as Hilary, while Ji-Young Yoo also captivates as Mercy.
Also stars Jack Huston and Brian Tee.
Griselda
Netflix
Here's Sofia Vergara as you've never seen her before.
The breakout star of Modern Family spent years gregariously entertaining as Gloria Pritchett, but she's taken on a very different role as producer and star of this organised crime drama.
In Griselda, Vergara dons some subtle and effective prosthetics that make her ever-so-slightly less glamorous, but it makes a big difference in bringing the feared real-life cartel boss to life.