Agents of SMOOCH

This episode of Agents of SMOOCH is a spoiler-light mission to convince you to watch the most Canadian of mystery shows: Murdoch Mysteries. This series, set in the 1890s to 1910s, is 18 seasons long and still going. We discuss the series’ ability to be serious and light-hearted, tackle social issues and zombies while staying true to itself. And - of course - we delve into the many romantic entanglements. We give no mysteries away and hope that by the end, you will be drawn into the world of Detective Murdoch with us. AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT! This is the last episode before we go into the summer break. We will be back in the fall. Until then, stay safe, Agents! Murdoch Mysteries Annette Wierstra with Amanda-Rae Prescott Referenced Works Murdoch Mysteries Show Notes & Links Our recommended jumping-in points: Season 1 (it’s worth it!) Season 8 Season 12 Christmas, Halloween, and Musical episodes Curse of the Lost Pharaohs web series Frankie Drake Mysteries (1920s spin-off series) Read Amanda’s articles about Murdoch Mysteries Murdoch Mysteries and the Art of Having Fun with History Arwen Humphreys interview (includes S18 SPOILERS) Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

The Austenheads return. For today’s mission, we return to Austen with the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. This movie is packed with stars, beautiful scenery, and romance…and add in a flatulent horse. But we must also delve into inheritance laws and what is wrong with Mansfield Park. Sense and Sensibility (1995) Annette Wierstra with Amanda-Rae Prescott, Sandra Wong, Shelly Brisbin and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Sense and Sensibility Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We are not ready to part from Pride & Prejudice yet, so we have extended our mission to include the 2005 version. This beautifully shot film provides our agents with a sweeping romantic version of the story that we cannot resist. Pride & Prejudice 2005 Annette Wierstra with Katie Mack, Sandra Wong and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Pride and Prejudice Show Notes & Links Interview with Director Joe Wright in Variety Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We are here in praise of Austen’s Pride & Prejudice but also for wet shirts, poorly executed proposals, and good face acting. Join our much overdue mission about BBC’s 1995 Pride & Prejudice. Since this mission was as fun as a ball at Netherfield, it may lead to more infatuated missions about other Austen adaptations. BBC Pride & Prejudice 1995 Annette Wierstra with Kirsten Goruk, Erika Ensign and Katie Mack Referenced Works Pride and Prejudice Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Today’s mission is a slight jump back in time to 2003 to learn How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Does this movie have a ridiculous premise? Oh yeah. Do our Agents care? Not really. We just want to wear some diamonds and find someone to take care of our love fern. How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days Annette Wierstra with Kirsten Goruk Sponsors Incomparable Memberships!: Sign up, support our show, and get access to exclusive podcasts! Referenced Works How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Get your snacks ready and PJs on. Our Agents of SMOOCH have a mission to draft our favourite sleep-over movies. The Agents side-track into important sub-missions such as Instagram pyjamas and the weather and what is needed in an official SMOOCH cocktail and pirates and… This was recorded as a membership episode so it does have some NSFW language. Sleepover Movie and Snack Draft Annette Wierstra with Shelly Brisbin, Amanda McTaggart, Moisés Chiullán, KatyBeth Schmid and Kathy Campbell Sponsors Incomparable Memberships!: Sign up, support our show, and get access to exclusive podcasts! Show Notes & Links Official Agents of SMOOCH tee Round 1: Favourite sleepover snacks Shelly: Sesame Crackers Amanda: Reeses Peanutbutter Eggs Kathy: Ice Cream Sunday Bar Annette Marshmallow Ripple Chip Goodness Round 2-4: Favourite sleepover movies Shelly: Death Becomes Her, Clue (1985), Chicago Amanda: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Moulin Rouge, Pitch Perfect Moises: Disney’s The Three Muskateers, Game Night, Josie & The Pussycats KatyBeth: 10 Things I Hate About You, Singing in the Rain, The Mummy (Oded!) Kathy: Legally Blonde, Spice World, Twilight Series Annette: Clueless, Barb & Star go to Vista Del Mar, Music & Lyrics Bring out your dead: Shelly: Ball of Fire, Bringing Up Baby, Turnabout Amanda: Hamilton, Disney Pixar Movies, Pirates of the Caribbean, Practical Magic Moises: The Thin Man, Just Imagine, Madam Satan, The Little Mermaid, Marry Me KatyBeth: The Pirate, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Wedding Singer Kathy: The Craft, When Harry When Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, 13 Going on 30, Bring it On, Highschool Musical, Dead Man on Campus. Annette: Dirty Dancing, Princess Bride, Ever After, Austenland, The Lost City, Eurovision Song Contest, Mammas Mia, Romancing the Stone Also some more we had to throw in: Magic Mike, Show Girls, Burlesque Baz super cut for the Record Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

In our last episode, we couldn’t get enough Star Trek in the Draft. So today’s mission is all about romance in Star Trek. The Agents gave their director some homework and she came prepared. es, this franchise is all about seeking out strange new worlds, but also sexy aliens. Really, a spaceship is just a locked room romance and we are all looking for love in confined spaces. Let’s meet on the holodeck and boldly go where no one has gone before. Romance in Star Trek Annette Wierstra with Jean MacDonald and Shelly Brisbin Show Notes & Links Some of the specific episodes we discuss and our Director’s homework: Spock & Kirk: The Original Series (TOS) T’Pring and Spock: TOS, Amok TIme; Strange New World (SNW), Various episodes Paris & Torres: Voyager, Day of Honor Kirk & Keeler: TOS, The City on the Edge of Forever Spock & Chapel: SNW, Those Old Scientists Mariner & Jennifer: Lower Decks, Mining the Mine’s Mines Picard & Crusher: The Next Generation, Picard Space Pirates: Discovery Season 3 Want more Star Trek? Listen to the Incomparable’s Star Trek Podcasts: Voyager Revisited: Hosted by Jean MacDonald Random Trek: Hosted by Scott McNulty Vulcan Hello: Hosted by Scott McNulty and Jason Snell Or go back in time and listen to Shelly Brisbin’s old movie podcast Lions, Towers, and Shields Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Happy Valentine’s Day Agents! Today is OUR day. It is also our 5th anniversary and we are celebrating with not-a-draft of One True Pairings (OTPs). This is such a wide and encompassing topic and yet some Agents think that it includes all together too much Star Trek. But at the Agency we like a lotta things so in this not-a-draft there is an OTP for everyone. One True Pairing (OTP) Draft Annette Wierstra with Jean MacDonald, Sarah Murphy, Kathy Campbell, Shelly Brisbin and Moisés Chiullán Show Notes & Links ROUND 1 Jean: Strange New Worlds, Spock and Nurse Chapel Sarah: 2009 Star Trek Reboot, Nurse Chapel and McCoy Kathy: Schitt’s Creek, David and Patrick SMOOCH Episode Shelly: The Original Star Trek, Kirk and Spock Read more on AO3 Moises: Star Trek DS9/Lower Decks, Elim Garak and Julian Bashir Annette: Covert Affairs, Annie and Eyal ROUND 2 Jean: Orphan Black, Cosima and Delphine & Alison and Donnie & Alison and Felix Sarah: Roman Holiday: Anne and Joe SMOOCH/LTS Episode Kathy: The Wheel of Time, Moiraine and Siuan Shelly: The Good Wife, Alicia and Kalinda Moises: Pride and Prejudice, Lizzy and Darcy > Ehle and Firth > Bridget and Mark Darcy > Knightley and McFadyen > Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Annette: Firefly, Wash and Zoe ROUND 3 Jean: Doctor Who, Husbands of River Song, River Song and 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) Sarah: Our Flag Means Death, Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet SMOOCH Episode Kathy: Agents of SMOOCH and 50 Shades of Grey SMOOCH Episode Shelly: Moonlighting, Maddy and David Moises: Star Trek: The Next Generation dual OTPs, Deanna Troi and William Riker, Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard Annette: Doctor Who, 15th Doctor and Rogue OTHER THINGS DISCUSSED Kathy on Jean’s Voyager Podcast Kathy & Jeans’s Orphan Black Sestra Cast Shelly’s old movie podcast Lions, Towers & Shields (LTS) LTS’s Gene Kelly’s Butt episode SMOOCH Twilight Episode SMOOCH Twilight Commentary SMOOCH Christmas Prince Commentary 12 Days of Love Actually Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

It’s the Christmas tradition we created ourselves! We don our Santa hats, gather our Bingo cards, and surround ourselves with lots of snacks. It’s time for this year’s in-person Christmas movie marathon. This year we watched: Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (Hallmark) The Merry Gentlemen (Netflix) ‘Tis the Season to Be Irish (Hallmark) Get on your pjs, make yourself comfy, and join us! Annual Christmas Movie Marathon Annette Wierstra with Steven Schapansky, Erika Ensign and Kirsten Goruk Referenced Works Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story The Merry Gentlemen 'Tis the Season to Be Irish Show Notes & Links Download our Christmas Movie Bingo cards! Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We are still in the season of the witch here at the Agency. Join our coven as we search for the Wtiches’ Road in Agatha All Along. We start with a quick spoiler-free pitch to watch this glorious show before getting into the vibes and feelings and wardrobe-we are suckers for a good coat. Take off your shoes and stay on the path witches. We might all make it to the end. Agatha All Along Annette Wierstra with James Thomson and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Agatha All Along (2024) Show Notes & Links Listen to our friends Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English on the Incomparable BIFF podcast because they did an episode by episode podcast for Agatha All Along. Go listen for a more indepth conversation. Watching the Assembled episode for Agatha on YouTube is well worth your time. And we can’t forget Kathryn Hahn Sings the Entire History of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Heather mentioned a National Geographic documentary called Witches: Truth Behind the Trials which is available on Disney and Nat Geo. Watch the trailer. Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

If anyone thinks that Jane Austen is about sedate manners and social niceties, they ought to dive straight into this mission about Northanger Abbey. This novel is Austen’s version of Mean Girls and there is a lot of naughty business happening below the surface of polite society. Join our Agents as they discuss the novel and the 2007 movie adaptation with Felicity Jones and JJ Feild. Kirsten swore once and I am giving her a special exemption to keep it in. Northanger Abbey Annette Wierstra with Kirsten Goruk Referenced Works Northanger Abbey Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Is it a Gothic Romance series if we don’t wander the English moors? Of course not! Join our agents as they discuss Jane Eyre focusing on the 2011 movie and the book. While we like the moody story of Jane and her Mr. Rochester, we have a few suggestions for the next adaptation. Jane Eyre (2011) Annette Wierstra with Heather Berberet and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Jane Eyre Show Notes & Links Link to the Broadway Jane Eyre Musical Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We are back for Season 6 in time for the dark moody vibes of fall with a series of episodes on Gothic Romances. We begin with an episode about Kat Dunn’s sapphic witchy romance set in the most gothic of castles: Bitterthorn. Our agents get lost on side topics a few times as they wander through the woods to discuss other books and video games. In the end, they make it through just in the nick of time. Our Agents start with a non-spoiler pitch to convince you to read Bitterthorn, and then they go full spoilers with fair warning. Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn Annette Wierstra with James Thomson Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

For our last mission of Season 5, we are going back to the eighties with Desperately Seeking Susan. This is Madonna just being Madonna and adding her perfect fashion sense to this film. Add Rosanna Arquette and Aidan Quinn with a splash of amnesia and mistaken identities and it’s a delightful 80s romcom. Our agents were happy to revisit this movie and find that it reflects a more modern sensibility than we expected. Get out of the box and help us find the elusive Susan. Desperately Seeking Susan Annette Wierstra with Erika Ensign, Sandra Wong and Stacy Watnick Referenced Works Desperately Seeking Susan Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

It’s another Romance in Action mission with Argylle. Let’s be honest. Our Director mandated this mission purely for the cat content which she rates very highly. Follow cat-loving novelist Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) as she is pulled out of her fictional imaginings into the IRL world of spy craft with the mysterious stranger Aiden (Sam Rockwell). Warning: This mission will contain rainbow fog. Argylle Movie Annette Wierstra with Sandra Wong and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Argylle Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We’ve got more Romance in Action with The Fall Guy movie. Get ready for comedy, stunt action, and romance from Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Our Agents went on this mission to the theatre and later recorded this episode in person. The Agents thought the meta references to the movie industry, with the right dash of mystery and romance made for perfect escapism. Will we watch it again? Definitely. The Fall Guy (2024) Annette Wierstra with Kirsten Goruk, Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky Referenced Works The Fall Guy (2024) Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

It’s our Director’s birthday! She is using her power to make the Agency do a mission about Aziraphale and Crowley in Good Omens. If you like seeing Angels and Demon romance each other in a gentle comedy about the end of the universe, this is the episode for you. Good Omens (TV Series) Annette Wierstra with Heather Berberet and Stacy Watnick Referenced Works Good Omens Show Notes & Links Niel Gaiman giving hints about Season 3 on Instagram Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Return to the Eighties’ version of the Sixties as we explore summer camp, first loves, progressive politics, and never putting Baby in a corner. After this week’s Dirty Dancing mission, we’re saying forget cop/not-a-cop pairings, let’s have more dancer/not-a-dancer matchups. Dirty Dancing Annette Wierstra with Stacy Watnick Referenced Works Dirty Dancing Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Our agents are kicking off their Sunday shoes for this mission. It’s time to fight for your prom and get Footloose. This mission explores how teenagers gonna teenage and whether Footloose still holds up 40 years later. Join our discussion of sex, religion, politics, and shaking your bootie in a rainfall of glitter. Back to the Future makes several surprising cameos, but it all makes sense—trust us. So get up off of your knees and everybody cut footloose. Footloose (1984) Annette Wierstra with Shelly Brisbin and Julia Skott Referenced Works Footloose (1984) Show Notes & Links Note: We had some technical difficulties for the first few minutes. Julia’s track quality improves a few minutes in. Related episodes: Incomparable Mothership episode about Back to the Future Agents of SMOOCH episode Prom Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Our Agents were so excited about Mr. & Mrs. Smith, that they just jumped right back in with the 2024 series. This is not a chronological episode but entirely based on what the Agents are excited about. This is another intense relationship in an intense fantastical situation and literal booms exploding. We dig deep into love and communication while making wild speculations about what could come next for John and Jane if we get a season 2. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024) Annette Wierstra with Heather Berberet Referenced Works Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024) Show Notes & Links Listen to Mr. & Mrs. Smith Part 1. Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.