Amazon Prime Weekend: What I Watched

​The season of TV has started slow, primarily because of the WGA strike but it's beginning to pick up as new shows and returning seasons come back. Two shows caught my eye this month and I found them worth watching.

Hazbin Hotel 

I will always gravitate towards animated shows. Their appearance makes it so it's for children, but you can place any storyline in this medium and it works. This show is definitely not for children.

Hazbin Hotel is a foul-mouthed story about the Princess of Hell, Charlotte “Charlie” Morningstar who runs a hotel to rehabilitate damned souls for redemption into heaven. It's a musical. I hate musicals. Why sing what we just saw happen? You don't need to sing your thoughts out. We get it. We don't need any more context. That being said, the songs in this show are funny and catchy. It's not something you'll hear on the radio, but you may find yourself rewinding to hear the songs again.

The voice acting is great. Stephanie Beatriz plays Vaggie, Charlie Morningstar's girlfriend, an angel and former exorcist. Keith David plays a sinner demon named Husk who is a grumpy bartender at the Hazbin Hotel. The voice of Alastor is the most unique of them all. He’s an Overlord who calls himself the “Radio Demon” and his voice is broadcast like an old-timey radio announcer which fits this charismatic, sly demon. The series follows much of the same ethos in similar fantasy-based shows about Angels and Demons, where angels are brute and ruthless, with narcissistic personalities, while demons are tricksters and rule breakers, who want to be better. The actors help bring the humor and craziness of this world. The characters are contagious and funny, and I’m glad Season 2 has been approved.

Oh, and did I mention that A24 produces this series.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

When I heard about Amazon turning the 2005 film into a TV series, I had reservations. Like, why?! All these reboots are not necessary and it's getting annoying. After watching the 1st episode, I was hooked. This Donald Glover creation is nothing like the film that starred ex’s, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Where the film focuses on the spouse’s discovering the other was a spy working for a rival company, the TV series focuses more on the relationship of Jane and John Smith who are coupled to work sensitive missions for The Company.

Like any relationship, the discussion of kids, family, and marriage is struck all under the backdrop of gunfire and sirens. This retelling of Mr. & Mrs. Smith helps the audience understand what motivates them. The guest appearances from Sarah Paulson, Ron Pearlman, and others add to the exploration of these characters and their situation.

If you're expecting high-octane and tense action at every turn, this series doesn’t provide that. If you’re familiar with Donald Glover’s Atlanta, it's similar in tone with its awkward small talk set in awkward situations where they awkwardly try to escape. It’s a fun, quirky, humble take on a spy show.