Mr. & Mrs. Smith - How to Break Screenwriting Rules

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Created by David Volpov
0:00 Intro
0:56 Setting Up the Story Engine
4:10 When the Conflict Is Subtextual
7:00 Analogy in Genre TV
8:54 Outro
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[@manonthelivingroad]

What surprised me the most is how natural the acting was, most particularly in this espisode, like a real double date

[@BabyScreenwriter]

I agree, the acting was incredible! Characters in spy movies can (sometimes) feel contrived, but these characters felt real and lived-in.

[@MrMoz32]

The chemistry is UNREAL...the end of episode 4 when they are in bed just bantering and mocking the other couple felt so real and fresh. 👌🏾👌🏾

[@darthvirgin7157]

i think the "Double Date" episode was a setup. it wasn't a "day off" as hihi suggested. it was hihi telling the other J&J's to look into our J&J's and throw them into a high-risk mission to see how they would perform.

[@NoraHannigan678]

i still think they were trying to get them killed from the jump when they sent them in there

[@ky_c_c]

@@NoraHannigan678 I think they were collecting information for how to set up if they needed to kill them. Finding out thinks like how John feels about his mom and Jane with her cat. These weaknesses would be “easy” to target to get them to turn on each other and make it easier for the other J&J to kill them.

[@Tybyrd13]

@@ky_c_cthis is exactly what I think it was they were casing the house for the inevitable. The other J & j relationship was so weird

[@sdot7117]

Probably the best written show I’ve seen in a decade.

[@mrlately]

Not too much now

[@nnathanaubree]

The show was very good but come on now LOL

[@JTR_21]

Bruh, watch more shows

[@yashwinning]

I haven't watched the show yet and even I know you're wrong lol

[@sdot7117]

@@yashwinning 😆 A) You can’t judge what you haven’t watched. B) You can’t dictate my opinion what I’ve seen. That was cute tho.

[@MsMoonorchid]

Wow I love your thoughts and comparisons. This show is so much more deeper and nuanced than it’s given credit for. Episode 4 was the episode I was completely sold on John and Jane as a couple and hooked on this show as a whole. On the surface, I relate to the laughing about dinner guests with your spouse. On a deeper level, I love how they relate to one another through laughter. They don’t have to be Uber affectionate like the other John and Jane. They have their own thing that works for them. If you notice, when their relationship starts to fall apart, they stop laughing together. In the end when they find their way back, so does their laughter. It’s my favorite thing about them. I really hope this show gets a season 2.

[@BabyScreenwriter]

Great point! The relationship falling apart was such a fascinating season arc.

[@charlesthompson5645]

It’s consistent that Donald glover will stylistically break continuity to enhance the story trying to be told. It’s like dune 2 when they go black and white in the middle of it

[@ghostman263]

Is that really a break in continuity if it’s explained why it’s like that?

[@charlesthompson5645]

@@ghostman263not sorry continuity but just how 1 off episodes me makes are completely different to emphasis certain story elements

[@filmjd]

Could talk about this show for days! My wife and I are both writer/directors and we’re obsessed. Great job!

[@hardyharharv]

Bro. I had to pause this when you said 0:17 because the series sounded like something truly special. Lo and behold I'm on episode 3 rn and YOOOO it is such a refreshing and enriching love letter and enhancement to the spy thriller genre! As someone who's never seen the other Mr & Mrs Smiths', I think this show will be fondly remembered as an example of "when a remake elevates the genre". I HAD to make a 3min video of my own (spoiler free of course!) Amazing video bro!

[@BabyScreenwriter]

Glad you resonated with the show, too! I liked your video also :)

[@hardyharharv]

@@BabyScreenwriter I was so hyped when I saw your comment! Thank you so much 😤 I just finished the series a few moments ago, and...man. I'm so happy it got renewed for a second season!

[@AT-gu1vr]

Amazing show, amazing video! Well done! On the news of a renewal, I read the show is throwing its hat in the ring for the upcoming Emmy awards. The fact that they are entering the race as a drama series vs a limited series gives hope to a renewal since that is a condition of being under any category other than limited series.

[@BabyScreenwriter]

Thanks so much! I always had a huge feeling the show has huge awards potential. Plus, it feels like one of those shows like The Bear or Orange Is the New Black that could enter as either a comedy or a drama

[@afrosymphony8207]

The show is beyond amazing, its burned in my memory because i didnt see any hype for it before i watched, i just saw the trailer and thought ohh donald is doing a spy flick for amazon kinda like john krasinski did in clancy which was really good but clancy is a standard action flick so i just thought it'd be like fun spy thing that. let me tell you, i had absolutely zero idea what i was walking into, this series had nooo business whatsoever being this good, holy sheet.

[@kauaandrade4098]

Loved this series so much and loved to see someone mentioning how the missions are almost an excuse for them to act, react and evolve as a regular couple would

[@QUINN_JPEG]

Crazy production quality for this small of a channel

[@rinnh8497]

mr and mrs smith is SO GOOD and NOBODY talks about it.

[@adamjuhas8788]

I love that show! Also great video, definitely deserves more attention.

[@kousikkuchipudi3442]

Just finished the show and I'm so heartbroken that we get different Smiths in next season I want to know what happened to Micheal and Alana

[@Ivanevich83]

Congrats on launching your channel and your early success. Best of luck from one writer to another.

[@brunochiesa2911]

Wagner Moura GOATED. You need to watch elite troop or narcos. great vid man!

[@u3u_o3o]

Nice video! I didn't know much about this series, I just clicked this video out of curiosity but I'm definitely going to watch the show now

[@u3u_o3o]

I watched it. 10/10. I can't shut up about it.

[@joem4585]

You just singlehandedly convinced me to watch this show

[@davidmckesey7119]

The last truth serum episode was a stand out too

[@ej.infamous]

I love this show too, but I got a completely different take. This show is about the RELATIONSHIP, the spy stuff is the subtext. There is way more risk & tension in the relationship than with any external situation or challenge which is why the relationship requires not only its own episode but plays a constant factor in every situation & is also why the show is so relatable. Starting and maintaining a relationship under the worst of circumstances, especially nowadays when most people can’t even get a text back lol. Also don’t waste your time with the original movie, it sucks. Just my opinion.

[@looncan3743]

This was such a quality show, hope for another season!

[@KevinMakins]

Never caught the episode titles. Good observation.

[@inoba5891]

Loved the video and the series🎉 Keep up the good work🎉

[@finalGambitShedinja]

i clicked this show on a whim because i love donald glover and i was constantly surprised by how much i loved it

[@yummer42069]

great video, thank you!

[@alexcoyg3281]

Great show, loved it❤

[@ddevil1490]

love the show, love this video

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

This makes me wanna watch this show!

[@thebryanpowell]

Great stuff!

[@maggieyu6023]

Good work. Talk a bit faster and dig deeper into your points because they’re really good

[@akaizn]

Mr and Mrs Smith is NOT a spy show, is a ROMANCE.

[@justmitz9520]

Great vid. Reminded me i want to rewatch this show since i binged it in two nights.

[@Wyn-zb7or]

No surprise this series was excellent, as Donald Glover is a talented writer and actor.

[@johnduval760]

This is the episode that lost my wife and I for the series. We couldn't believe how inept the characters or John and Jane were. We'd seen it already in earlier episodes, but this one took the cake. It became a recurring theme that finally had us turning it off halfway through episode 6 and we weren't able to finish it. In that regard, this episode definitely changed the show for us.

[@dazey8706]

what particularly about them made them inept to you?

[@EvonneLindiwe]

Nice take.. New sub 😊

[@calebschaeferrr]

you didn’t say what show you would write for

[@AbrahamVillanueva1]

🎉

[@PeteReborn]

What rules did they break?

[@briangradysthename]

I realize this video is 2 months old, so I don’t know if this comment will really be seen, but did anyone other than me find issue with the fact that the [*SPOILER WARNING*] finale’s plot was contingent upon the toilet seat being left up?!? For a show that was otherwise so smart, this is such an oversight by the writers and seemingly smart spies. It makes no narrative sense. Why would *any* spy be so careless, first of all, but more to the point, why/how is it that John immediately suspects Jane in light of this. It makes no sense for so many reasons. She wouldn’t do that as a spy, as a very stringent person, and *moreover* AS A FREAKIN WOMAN! It’s arguably silly that this one detail was so frustrating for me, but I wish it had been any other tell, because it really makes no narrative sense. Anybody else w/ me?!?!

[@UXtatic]

Couldn't get into it.

[@robisacomedian572]

Your premise is wrong. They aren't subverting screenwriting rules because it's not a spy show. It is a show about relationships. Couples and in-laws. Arranged marriages, really. It is just wrapped in a spy show to get people to watch. It is why the very first scene is a dude getting his face shot off followed by 30 minutes of dialogue. They just needed something upfront to rope in a broad audience before they "boring" stuff which actually makes the show good. They know they would lose people if they started with the dialogue. Another great example of this is the episode after this one where they are protecting an old man who gets put into the back seat of the car buy Jane, whines about wanting his cigarettes, wets himself, won't wear clothes that are itchy, throws up after dinner, goes to bed before John and Jane while they sneak outside to smoke and talk quietly about having children while working their crazy jobs. If you haven't picked up on it, the old man is a stand in for a baby which Jane takes care of while claiming she does not want to have children while John who wants children is constantly frustrated with the old man the entire time.

[@MrGrgiZg08]

bro why do you sound like you and your script are AI generated??

[@fragileguyguy7226]

If only the female lead was an actual Black Woman. 😢