Super High Risk. Super Dry Kolsch.
Week 49
Welcome to Watch TV. Drink BEER.
Week 49 Vibe: Double Dates, Expensive Wine, Jungles
The TV.
MR. & MRS. SMITH. SEASON 1. EPISODE 4. DOUBLE DATE.
WATCH IF YOU LIKE: The Americans. Alias. Beef.
Stream: Prime
Episodic or Stand Alone
Episode Description
After recovering from their Italian ski misadventures, John and Jane have a rare day off from secretive, high risk missions. So, they decide to have a classic budding-young-couple date at the farmer’s market. Jane gets a little jealous when John runs into a pretty woman from his past, and John also runs into another John Smith at the juice stand. Excited for the opportunity to meet others within the company, John & Jane invite John & Jane over for a Smith Dinner Party. At first, John & Jane are desperate to impress their new friends, fawning over their stories of life in the Super High Risk level of the company. But the evening quickly goes sideways when drug addled John & Jane II send John & Jane I on one of their missions resulting in a violent attack in the jungle.
Why This Episode
I really enjoyed rewatching a few episodes of this show, and while there are some longer through lines for John & Jane, each episode functions as a delightful mini-action movie with intrigue, sexy chemistry, and fight sequences. I chose “Double Date” because it expands the secretive world of The Company by introducing some new characters with unique insights, and I adore the performances by Wagner Moura and Parker Posey.
The BEER.
Kolsch
Brewed by: Occidental | 4.5% ABV
DRINK IF YOU LIKE: Hofbrau Original, Total ReKolsch by Stormbreaker, Helles Lager
Beer Description
A traditional Kolsch provides a distinctive flavor palate stemming from its use of German ale yeast, but fermented using a cold fermentation process similar to lagering. The Occidental Kolsch is no exception, landing somewhere between a flavorful pilsner and blond ale, this beer is highly drinkable and extremely flavorful. The grain build starts off with a light crackery taste quickly complemented by the lemony bite of the body. The beer finishes dry and refreshing with lingering hints of apple. This complex beer is simply delicious, and brewed by one of Portland’s older, yet highly underrated breweries. Occidental is celebrating 14 years this year, turning out incredible German-style beers with consistency and quality.
Why this Beer
Not only is a Kolsch a beautiful option for the summer solstice, I believe its a sexy beer. Any smuck could order the typical American pilsner or lager, but a savvy beer drinker like yourself can show a little style by ordering a Kolsch. You know its approachable, yet interesting, getting the conversation started and distracting your target just long enough to swap the package and slip out the back door. As we enter the final few weeks of regular schedule Watch TV. Drink Beer. programming, I want to explore the beers that you can take with you into every day life. This is a perfect example, especially for people who are style curious. If you don’t have access to Occidental Brewing, search for a local pub brewing German style beers. The Kolsch has become a popular style across the craft industry because of its approachability and drinkability.
Tasting Notes
The casting of Mr and Mrs Smith is so unexpected, and I think somewhat divisive. Glover, who helped develop the project, was a fairly obvious choice with his combination of dramatic and comedic chops, his physicality and charm set him up to be a perfect Mr Smith (having to fill Brad Pitt’s shoes is hard, but Glover nails it). The choice of Maya Erskine is a much less obvious pick. Until this show, she was mainly known for her show Pen15. And the project was sold with the incredible Phoebe Waller-Bridge playing opposite Donald Glover. However, Erskine brings her own charm to the role balancing the gruff, type A personality of Jane with enchanting wit and undeniable skills. I love the off beat approach Erskine brings to the role and the intriguing chemistry bubbling between Jane and John in this episode.
I must admit, I had to rewind to see if Runi was actually missing a hand. And cleverly, they frame her so you never see her left hand… Its such a great beat from Erskine, and I love how it comes back at the end of the episode.
John Flemming crushes the score and music throughout this series. Reading some interviews with Flemming, he took inspiration from James Bond, but wanted the music to fit the coolness of the characters and remain grounded in their relationship rather than within spy-thriller genre. This is a show about relationships at its core.
This episode features guest director Christian Sprenger (rather than blog favorite Hiro Murai from Atlanta, Barry, and The Bear), who is a cinematographer by trade. Sprenger shot some other blog favorites including GLOW (bringing a mix of action and comedy on screen), Last Man on Earth, and Atlanta. I appreciate his use of off-center framing, like when the Janes are discussing their debriefing process, and when capturing Glover at dinner from behind and over the shoulder. In addition to creating visual interest, these shots turn the viewer into an observer of the scene rather than a participant in it. The show developed its own distinctive auteurism with a combo of offset angles, tracking shots, and wide frames often shooting through door frames or foreground ‘noise.’
There is a nice contract between the John & Jane I and John & Jane II relationships with our lead characters demonstrating boundaries, restraint, foresight, and a thoughtfulness that guest John & Jane lack. Our leads get caught up in the passionate, excitable energy of their guests leading to the unfortunate incident with The Captain. This also highlights the differences between John and Jane. Jane, while normally more cautious during a mission, expresses a desire to move to higher-risk work while John could be content working low risk, and demonstrates restraint in the moment, reluctantly joining Jane on the mission. There is definite foreshadowing into how their characters will evolve, and the new information that simply quitting or leaving The Company is not an option any more.
This leads to J&J realizing that their new friends are actually just crazy old fuddy-duddies who speak in platitudes and don’t have great taste. The shattering of the glass during and after the mission brings some levity, and we also get progress in their relationship as they say I love you to each other. The chemistry between them grows as well, and they hit a relationship sweet spot here. Without showing any sexy scenes, John and Jane share a rhythm that is intoxicating to watch.
Fun Fact: They are supposed to be making a Season 2 of this show, but word on the street is that they will turn it into an Anthemic series with a new cast of John & Janes each season. So don’t get too attached to Maya and Donald, because we may not see them yet.
Thanks for reading! See you next Tuesday. Cheers!