The Incomparable

125 Practice Safe Witchcraft

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.

124 Janesplaining

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.

123 The Grace Poole Story

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.

122 Wandering in a Forest

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.

121 The Box Agenda

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.

120 Save the Cat!

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.

119 Throw the Thumbs Up

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.

118 The Kiss That Broke the Internet

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.

117 I Carried a Watermelon

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.

116 Dangerous Things on Tractors

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.

115 Kick Your Butt, Buttercup

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.

114 Full of Wild Notions

For today’s mission, our Agents take on The Buccaneers, an Apple TV series that is scandal-laden and somewhat historical. The modern sensibility and soundtrack laid over the historical invasion of rich American debutants into cash-strapped British upper-class society make for an energetic vibe. If you missed it, our Agents recommend catching up before joining us for a good gossip about the collection of characters. In lieu of research, these Agents have chosen to go for wild historical speculations.

Warning! The Director permitted Agent Kirsten to swear and she took advantage so this episode is NSFW.

113 A Metaphorical Solution

Our Agents are back with another Romance in Action mission with Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Part 1). We are starting with the 2005 movie that shows Great Truths Hidden Under the Fantastical. On the surface, this is a movie about two married spies flirting by trying to kill each other. Underneath the fantasy, this movie is about the safety of expressing your feelings and true self to your partner. Grab your hidden stash of weapons, it’s about to get dangerous-metaphorically. Don’t blow up your house, Agents.

This mission includes a bit of a discussion about the Mr. & Mrs. Smith TV show, but we hold on to those thoughts until Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Part 2) comes to a mission near you soon.

112 And Boy, Will They

We are back with a classic Romance in Action from 1986: The Big Easy. We have Dennis Quaid practicing the art of seduction with Ellen Barkin amid a murder investigation. With a seedy 80s vibe, they follow a trail of clues that lead them deeper into a corrupt mess in New Orleans. The investigation keeps pulling them apart making us wonder: Will they or won’t they?

111 A Lack of Malevolence

Our Director Annette Wierstra interviews playwright and writer Reina Hardy in advance of the release of her Hallmark movie Paging Mr. Darcy. They discuss Jane Austen, conferences, Regency dancing, and casting Austen heroes. They also dive into how one gets into writing a Hallmark movie, the logistics of writing a screenplay, and the experience of having your script come to life.

110 It’s Time (Loop) to Free Your Squee

I’m freeing my squee about this new podcast on the Incomparable. Drs. Stacy Watnick and Heather Berberet asked me to join them on Free The Squee for their holiday episode about Round and Round, the time loop Hanukkah movie. We loved it. And we are sure you will too.

To get more Free the Squee, subscribe on your favourite podcatcher, or find them on the Incomparable website: https://www.theincomparable.com/fts/

109 Flaws in the Ikea Rug

It’s time for our annual holiday movie marathon. Don your Christmas PJs, gather your festive snacks, and get out the Holiday Bingo Cards. Our Agents watched three Christmas movies of varying quality and enjoyed every minute of it. We watched:

• A Biltmore Christmas
• Christmas in Notting Hill
• Where Are You, Christmas?

We also discuss other movies we have watched this holiday season:

• Must Love Christmas
• Checkin’ it Twice
• Fit for Christmas
• Ex-mas
• Mystery at Mistletoe Lane
• Merry Mystery Christmas

Join us to find out who made “the stupidest peanut butter cookies I’ve ever seen” and a surprising amount of sports talk.

*Note that we are ending Season 4 here and we will be back for Season 5 in time for Valentine’s Day. *

108 No Love Story Just Murder

It’s time for the holidays! And what better way to celebrate than with the Christmas action movie Long Kiss Goodnight with Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson? You might think this movie is the antithesis of a Hallmark holiday movie, but it is the struggle between the two sides of amnesiac Samantha/Charlie. Will she stick with the idyllic small-town family life she created or return to the life of an international spy?

107 Competency Porn Star

For this mission, our Agents discuss Ocean’s 8 as part of our Romance in Action series. How much do we love this all-women heist movie cast? A lot. A lot a lot. Join us as we discuss a fantastic cast of characters, couture fashion, and safe spaces. And of course, we dive right into the romantic tension that underlays this entire film. Bring on the sequel, please.

106 Hit Me With a Fish

We are back with another Romance in Action with a mission in praise of fluff. Ghosted matches up Chris Evans and Ana de Armas again in a spy/not a spy action adventure. We don’t recommend it as a stalkering road map for finding love IRL, but it is full of chases, OTT villains, and a plot that takes us across the globe. If you want a fun escape with pretty people in nice clothes chasing MacGuffins, this movie is about as deep as you need it to be.

105 The Evil Energy of the House

Surprise! We are dropping an extra special episode because we wanted to spend Halloween with you. We’ve got a wonderfully gothic romance for you to read from Uncanny Magazine which will set the perfect seasonal scene. So light some candles, close the doors and windows tight, and join us as we explore Radcliffe Hall by Miyuki Jane Pinckard.

104 She’s the Legend

This week’s mission is all about time travel, romance, and saving the human race from destruction by our robot overlords. As we continue our Romance in Action series we chose a classic favourite: 1984’s The Terminator. We are going to talk about the tension, the murder, the time travel, and the naked men. But we are going to focus on Sarah Connor and how great she is as a character and her epic romance story. Come with us if you want to live!

103 I’m Gliding Here

Join us for a new series: Romance in Action. We are starting with one of our favourite actors Sandra Bullock in an Action RomCom Miss Congeniality (which definitely did not have a sequel). Over 20 years after it came out, Miss Congeniality still wins our hearts. Are we a Sandra Bullock podcast now? Maybe.

102 Stop Fidgeting & Smile

Our Agents did a double mission for this episode going to the Pretty Woman Musical and rewatching the Pretty Woman movie. They begin discussing how a 1990 romcom starring a sex worker held up much better than you might expect and they embrace being Julia Roberts stans. Then they discuss how the musical is good fan service and whether it can hold up to the source material. Put on your tallest boots and shortest skirt and join us!

101 She Needs a Gardener

Welcome to season 4 of Agents of SMOOCH! We are starting with Queen Charlotte with a very deep dive into the Great Experiment, love and mental health, and tending your garden at any age. The series gave our Agents more feelings than they expected, in the best way.

100 The Hugh Grant Clause

It’s our 100th episode! It’s also our Director’s 50th birthday! That means this episode’s mission is a romantic trope draft. How else would the Agency celebrate? Our agents start by sharing their favourite memories from the past 100 episodes before diving into draft. Join the party and get ready to sniped.

99 10 Things I Hate about 10 Things I Hate About You

Our Agents return to 10 Things I Hate About You but this mission investigates the 2009 television show. Director Annette and Agent Erika watch the first episode together for “a mere soupçon of crap.” This leaves the Director with a lot of questions which Erika tries to answer on this solo mission. Join us for 10 Things Erika Hates About 10 Things I Hate About You (the TV Show). For balance, she also lists 10 things she likes (hint: it’s Ethan Peck).

98 He Didn’t Eat A Duck

Our agents gather to discuss Shakespeare turned teen romcom 10 Things I Hate About You from 1999. This is movie beloved by many agents for many reasons such as the soundtrack, Julia Stiles, and improvements on Shakespeare’s original story. Come back to high school and find out why we don’t hate this movie. Not even a little bit.

97 Devasting Romance Only

Most of our Agents aren’t fans of Zombies or horror but somehow The Last of Us television series kept them tuning in each episode. If you’ve been with us for a while, you already know why: it was love. Join us as we explore the romantic love, platonic love, parental love, and twisted love that is motivating the action and the characters within this series.

96 Their Gender is Assassin

It is time for our Agents to get into the inspiration for our Pirates series: Season 1 of Our Flag Means Death. This romantic comic pirate series has inspired a lot of feelings from our Agents - not just for our lead characters: Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and Black Beard (Taika Watiki) but for the entire crew of misfit pirates. We are excited to bring you on board for this mission while we wait for Season 2 of this adventure on the sea.

95 The Fast & Furious on Boats

Our Agents continue their pirate mission with a review of all five Pirates of the Caribbean movies. They tackle important questions like: Can a fight scene be too long? What is an acceptable age gap between suitors? When should your Kraken be light and when should it be intense? Join us as we try to focus on the first movie but end up discussing the full series at length.

Trigger warning: We talk about the allegations about Johnny Depp from 50 to 62 minutes so you can skip that part or you can skip this whole episode if you prefer.

94 Is This a Kissing Podcast?

It’s time for more pirates and the beloved Princess Bride (1987) movie. This is a movie our agents know by heart but they are coming back to after a long period of absence. Does this change our perspective of the classic romantic adventure? We dive right in with a focus on the romance between Princess Buttercup and her Wesley. Is it a great epic romance? They also consider how this story might shift if anyone dared to give it a modern reboot (inconceivable!) or a sequel (looking at you Willow). Drop. Your. Sword. And get ready to skip straight to the kissing parts.

93 Did the Unicorn Get Toasted?

Git out yer swords and oversized hats, mateys! It is time for our Falling for Pirates series. Our first swashbuckling mission begins with the romantic, fairytale adventure Stardust, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman. Our agents were happy to run through The Wall to follow this all-star cast in an epic chase with royal intrigue and magic with a side of sky pirates.

92 A Pirate Emergency

Our intrepid romancers are back with the continuation of our Valentine-themed romance RPG. While they literally try to herd cats, it becomes a romantic chase story. Who will find whom? What is happening with Magnus’ kids? Will this Valentine’s Day Dance ever happen? Tune in to join Betty (Kathy), Cameron (Will), Magnus (James), Mayor Miranda (Kirsten), Stella (Shelly), and Ms. Harper (Jean) in this rollicking romance.

91 With a Cat on My Head

A long time ago, for our second anniversary, we recorded a Valentine-themed romance RPG. As we head back into the new year, with our third anniversary fast approaching, we are releasing part one of this delightful, cat-centric romance story. Join Betty (Kathy), Cameron (Will), Magnus (James), Mayor Miranda (Kirsten), Stella (Shelly), and Ms. Harper (Jean) as they try to plan the Valentine Dance of their dreams. This is our second romantic role-playing game using the Warmer in Winter game from Will Lentz.

90 Serial Killer Android Angels

It’s that time of year again! We’ve got our ugly sweaters on and some of the agents who are all in the same city gathered for snacks, cocktails, and a daylong holiday movie marathon! We discuss the ineffable definition of chemistry and why some actors have it and some don’t. We also evaluate the quality of the movies we’ve been watching from a variety of criteria:

• Is it good/good?
• Is it bad in the best way?
• Was there chemistry?
• Did I have a good bingo card round?
• Does it remind us of Doctor Who?
• Were the musicians actually playing?
• Did it have the worst skating scene ever filmed?

89 Hat on a Fuzzy Hat

We are back with Season 3 of Agents of SMOOCH. We couldn’t let prime romance movie season pass us by. So we are starting with Lindsay Lohan’s holiday offering: Falling for Christmas. Join our agents as they discuss what worked, what didn’t, which snow was fake, and what makes this a very good movie for our holiday bingo cards.

88 It Starts with the Eyes

Join our Incomprehensible Agents of SMOOCH for a special Halloween movie commentary. Cue up the 1991 version of The Addams Family and get ready for some serious romantic gazes with the Addams Family. This movie is a family classic but under the surface has a lot of simmering heat that makes it perfect for a romantic Halloween mission.

87 Romance on Pause

A brief announcement from our Director and a preview of what is coming in Season 3 of Agents of SMOOCH on starting October 28.

86 Meet Fruit Cute

Join us for a mission of love of Ever After. Is it the perfect retelling of Cinderella? Possibly. For a movie that is 25 years old (seriously, we are all old), it generally holds up. All the Agents on this mission have been watching and rewatching Ever After for all those years and are prepared to pick apart what they like, what they would fix, and why they mute the credit. Get your apple throwing arm ready and join us for our happily ever after.

85 This RomCom has Good UI

Our Agents revisit a modern classic or perhaps a cult favourite for many of us. A movie about books, authors, readers, and a cognizant watch that is, indeed, Stranger than Fiction. Some of our Agents have seen this movie repeatedly, but we have two Agents coming to it with completely fresh perspectives. We delve into the twists and turns of this movie to decide if this movie holds up and how we feel about Will Ferrell’s performance (variable). We’ve got romance, academics, and Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah, and a very academic Dustin Hoffman. Grab a plate of warm cookies fresh out of the oven (trust us), and join us for love and death and taxes.

84 Warm Bath of a Book

By special Agent request, our Agents are discussing a 2022 independently-published book Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes by Travis Baldree which will be re-released this November through Tor. This warm bath of a book gave us all a warm glow and we just wanted to share that feeling with all of you. Take some DnD style characters in a setting reminiscent of the Forgotten Realms but (mostly) put down your weapons and pull up a chair for a latte and warm pastries. We have so much we want to share with you.

83 6 Kids and an RV

Our agents want to talk about Stranger Things. It is a nostalgic-filled, horror-fueled, teen drama with SO many ships to sail. Join us on this mission that covers all four seasons of the show. This episode is full of spoilers but our Agents spend little time talking about the plot. We do talk about character arcs and relationship development. The Agents realize that they have impassioned opinions about OTPs the NOT OTPs and who is the most boring burger. Not even our Agents knew how much they cared until they got into it. We have a lot to say about all the ships. So buckle up and come with us on this mission to Jopperland.

We get a bit excited and a few expletives slip out. So be warned if that matters to you.

82 Love and Bigfoot

Our Agents are back again to complete their romantic adventure in Hopewell Springs. The morning dawns over our winter festival and almost everyone is excited. But not everything is happening quite as they wanted. Will we save Ruby’s mysterious ritual? Will we ever see Big Foot? Will anyone actually SMOOCH? Join Ruby (Julia), Amelia (KatyBeth), Jac (Heather), and Ellie (Riley) in our grand finale.

81 Glow Up for Real

Are we a romance podcast if we aren’t talking about Bridgerton? We are back for Season 2 and Katony is here to try to win our hearts. Join our agents as they discuss love triangles, chemistry, and a slow-burn romance. We are in love with all the South Asian and Bollywood influences on this season. Do we love everything? Is there too much scandal? Did they show us the wrong wedding? Get out your mallet, it is time for the pall mall.

80 This is a Ghost Podcasting

Join our Agents as they reunite for the Matrix Resurrections movie. We are enjoying that this sequel confirms all our predictions and feelings about the Matrix being a romance series. The sequel was an unexpected surprise 20 years later. Although it was pretty much nothing like we were expecting it was the romance we wanted. We may not like everything about the sequel but in the end, we are painting everything with all the rainbows.

79 Hot Pink Sequins in the Amazon

We are back with a rollicking romantic adventure! Our Agents went to see The Lost City in actual theatres with snacks. And they were not disappointed in Sandra Bullock’s comedic performance in the sparkliest hot pink jumpsuit. Listen to our Director try to say Channing Tatum while our Agents are oozing love for Dash/Alan. Warning: This episode could result in giant tables of charcuterie.

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78 Mission: Season 2

We are back with a little teaser for our season 2 and to tell you about the amazing podcast network we are part of The Incomparable.

• Incomparable Memberships!: Sign up, support our show, and get access to exclusive podcasts!

77 Agency Memo

The S.M.O.O.C.H. Agency is making a change to our schedule. After two years of consistent podcasts, we are switching to a seasonal schedule. We are already hard at work recording new episodes for you and we will be back soon.

76 When Bigfoot Carried You

It’s our second Anniversary and the Agency has convened two groups of friends to play the romantic role-playing game Warmer in Winters from Will Lentz. In our first romantic adventure, our characters are gathered in the small town of Hopewell Springs just before the Winter Solstice Festival. Some ne’er-do-wells are trying to stop the festival because it is too witchy. Pebbles will be tossed. Ruckuses will be instigated. But will our friends save the festival? Will we actually see Bigfoot? When is someone actually gonna SMOOCH? Join Ruby (Julia), Amelia (KatyBeth), Jac (Heather), and Ellie (Riley) to find out if our dice are in the mood for love…

75 Aspirational Spaces

This week we are sharing an episode of our favourite Old Movie podcast hosted by Agent Shelly Brisbin. It’s time for Lions Towers & Shields. We discuss a classic mystery that mixes romance with suspense in the most perfect way…

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All this fuss over one lady in a painting. Laura! Loads of men want her, she has a song that’s quite memorable, and everyone in this movie talks about her constantly. Otto Preminger directs Gene Tierney, Vincent Price, Dana Andrews, and Clifton Webb. It’s a great cast, and the film comes just as we’re entering the film noir era. But it’s far too pretty to be noir.

74 Love in All the Universes

Join our Agents as they dive into another romance-saturated, sci-fi story. This time they are discussing all 5 seasons of Fringe, because what was the pandemic for, if not to rewatch all our comfort shows? Fringe is more proof that you can take a procedural science fiction show and blend in the romance perfectly. Comparisons to X-Files were inevitable. We cover the important beats of all five seasons and ponder the important questions such as Do we like Fauxlivia? And why aren’t there more Astrid-centric stories? Are there any other sci-fi shows that do romance as well as Fringe?

73 The Smoochiest of Smooches

This might be the smoochiest of Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H. episodes and likely overdue. We are holding a favourite kiss draft just in time for the New Year. We have all kinds of kisses for you from movies and television, classics and new shows. They all get our Agents’ motors going and our hearts humming. So get out your chapstick and lip gloss. It’s time to SMOOCH.

See our extensive show notes for all our picks and related links if you want to watch along.

72 A (Not) Definitive Guide to Christmas

Join some of our Agents for a cozy in-person recording. They are cozied up in Christmas sweaters and Santa hats (really) and surrounded by snacks (or the remains of them). They have paused in the middle of a Christmas movie marathon to tell you about their favourite Christmas movies and try to answer all your holiday movie questions: Why are there SO MANY Christmas movies? What makes a good one? What makes them angry? What would they like to see improved? Why are we eating so many snacks? Come listen in and then go on your own festive mission with the Official Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H. Holiday Movie Bingo Cards.

71 You Could Kill Someone With That Scarf

Our Agents who knit and crochet convene for this mission about our favourite pop culture knitwear. Instead of talking about lovers, we are talking about something that we love. Join us as we discuss our fibre art origin stories and things that we like to knit or crochet. So often during missions, our agents end up talking about knitwear and wardrobe and whether or not Christmas sweaters are good sweaters. This mission is a grand experiment that lets us fawn over pictures of knitwear so we can discuss what we like (or don’t like) about cable-knit sweaters. Yes. Of course, we talk about THAT sweater. And the longest of long scarves.

70 One Might Say a Trinity

The Agents who have gathered for this mission really like The Matrix. Like really like it. We even like the sequels like it. And they are all very excited for the fourth installment dropping this December. We’re here to decide if this trilogy is really is as smoochworthy as we remember. Is it our destiny to find The One in The Matrix? Be ready for wild speculation about numbers and the upcoming fourth movie. Forget blowing up helicopters and buildings, we blow our own minds.

69 Your Stupid Boyfriend

Our Agents are wrapped in flannel and grooving to grunge for this mission. Get your video dating profile ready because today we are all Singles. This beloved 90s romance classic from Cameron Crowe brings back fond memories of a bygone era. Our Agents delve into whether or not this movie is romantic even if it is packed with romance and whether or not that building actually has an elevator. Join us as we reflect on the technology of the past and speculate on what the modern-day sequel would look like for these characters.

Bonus Mission: Can you guess what are Agent Jean MacDonald’s two crushes in this movie?

68 Haunted AF

Join our Agents for our second OcTOMber mission. This time we join Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain in a haunted house story: Crimson Peak. This beautiful gothic horror, directed by Guillermo Del Toro, is full of tension and just enough scares to please our Agents. The Agents go on side missions about Burn Gorman and sink repair. They heroically save the dog through headcanon. Help us ponder burning questions such as: How do you pronounce “magnate?” What is Hiddlestuff? Is this a vampire movie? Who knows?! You will have to listen to find out.

67 You Drank Ian

Welcome to OcTOMber! Our two-part celebration of spooky romances starring Tom Hiddleston. We open with Only Lovers Left Alive, starring Tom, Tilda Swinton, and Mia Wasikowska as vampires. This is more of a melancholy installment in the vampire genre, but it is sexy and funny in a slow-burn kind of way. Our mission is stacked with lovers of this movie who are delighted to introduce it to our director. Be warned! They are ready to lure you into this world of lovers too.

66 We’re Porn Friends Now

Did anyone ask for this? NO! But we did it anyway, first just for our members and now we release it to all our listeners. After we watched all the Twilight movies together, we had to do the Twilight FanFic come 50 Shades of Grey. This is definitely an NSFW and not safe for little ears episode of drinking, giggling, and entertaining each other when the movie fails to. There was pre-drinking. There will be much disdain. No one will actually know what is happening but when do we?

Are we sorry we did this? Maybe.

Will we do the rest of the movies? No. Not even for you, dear listeners.

65 Sniped Again

Our Agents are taking a short vacation. In the meantime, you can revisit our very first mission. We start with little pre-episode reminiscing about the past 18 months of Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H and then return to our inaugural Valentine’s Day episode. We celebrated the holiday of love with a draft of our Special Agent’s favourite romance movies paired with a romantic dessert. Will we pick your favourite romance? Maybe Probably not. But we promise it will be delicious.

64 Eat the Marigolds

It is time to close our Summer of Love with one last summer wedding with 2001’s Monsoon Wedding. It is a multi-generational family story of love and romance set at an Indian wedding. The story shows us a glimpse into the life of this family and household as they prepare for the wedding. Bringing together family members from far-flung reaches of the globe awakens the drama and ultimately brings us to our happy ending. We sidetrack into Indian weddings generally, all the beautiful wardrobe changes, and just missing weddings generally.

*Trigger warning: Sexual assault, 26:00-31:30 when we discuss Ria’s storyline. *

63 The Love Life We Want

In our continuing Summer of Love, join our Agents as The Wedding Date. This 2005 film takes the classic pretend lovers trope and mixes in family drama and secrets. Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney lead the cast as the estranged sister of the bride and her hired escort. The Agents side track into a lament for the lack of modern, middle-brow romcoms in theatres (even in non-pandemic times). Join us as we montage our way into our perfect wedding outfits as we try to answer the ultimate fashion question: who should change when your outfits are too matchy matchy?

62 Filmed on Satin

Join us for our continuing Summer of Love series for a crossover episode with the Lions, Towers, and Shields podcast. We go back in time for the wedding movie The Philadelphia Story. It’s the best-loved of the four movies Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant made together, and the one that also stars Jimmy Steward. Another George Cukor production, this was Hepburn’s triumphant entry into MGM, and her middle finger to the “box office poison” label of the late 1930s. “Hullo, George!”

61 ABBAddiction

Our summer of Love continues with a second ABBA laden movie. Join our Agents while they attend Muriel’s Wedding. Or is it Mariel’s Wedding? This is a movie full of bad decisions and terrible people, and yet we don’t hate them? Our agents discuss how the movie balances a line between tragedy and comedy. They explore their feelings about wedding bouquet and garter tosses. Does this 1994 wedding age well? Tune in to find out.

60 A Duology of Mammas Mia!

For this episode in our Summer of Love wedding movie series, we are going to Greece for the musical joy and wonder of the Mammas Mia! movies. It’s a lovefest for this set of comfort films that set the standard for how musicals should be transformed into movies. There’s a lot of time math and we can’t make it add up, but we have a lot of fun and we don’t sing. Much.

59 You’re a Wanker #9

We continue our Summer of Love and wedding movies with Imagine Me and You. This 2005 movie was ahead of its time bringing together comfy fashion, flowers and the perfect chemistry of Piper Perabo and Lena Headly. It’s a comfort movie worth rewatching or watching for the first time if you’ve missed this one.

58 No Life Without Wife

Do you hear the wedding bells? We are starting our Summer of Love with all wedding episodes. Our first mission is Bride and Prejudice which is a modern, Bollywood take on Pride and Prejudice and four weddings. Our Agents do a deep dive into the music and dancing, barely restraining themselves from breaking into song. We are having fun in this three-continent, cross-cultural retelling of Austen.

57 Just Rose Tinted Enough

In this episode’s mission, our Agents return to the Netflix series, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before* to discuss the final movie in the trilogy, Always and Forever. This third story shows us Lara Jean at the moment before she jumps out of the nest into university. Our Agents discuss the concept of a “safety school” and how Dad must be loaded. Will Lara Jean and Peter survive always and forever? Our aged Agents are perhaps less optimistic than romantic but they wish these two teens well.

Listen to our episode about the first two To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before go to Episode 4: Back to Hot Dad

56 Sexy Movie for Smart People

Our mission today is to talk about office supplies and how can staplers be so sexy! It is time for our Agents to return to the world of kink—this time with more enthusiasm. We are discussing the 2002 movie Secretary starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader with our returning Special Agent and Kink expert Veronica Yanhs. Join our Agents in this discussion of why this movie makes us feel things in our hearts and some other parts.

And yes. We do talk about 50 Shades of Grey again. Honestly, if Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H. has an arch-nemesis, 50 Shades is it.

*Warning! * We talk about sex and kink and sometimes we swear. This episode is not safe for work or kids. *Content Warning: *Self-harm

55 Excelsior!

Dear Listeners, it’s time for another Book Club meeting. Our mission today is to persuade you to fall in love with the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourne. Our Director frequently admits to having a penchant for the mystery/romance genre and this series ranks high on her list of faves. Join our Speedwellian agents for a spoiler-light discussion about Veronica and her growing collection of eclectic compatriots. The agents sigh a lot and wax poetic on the romantic tension in novels and their book crushes on Veronica and “Stoker” Templeton Vane. Bonus side trips into sibling relationships, fan-casting our dream TV series, lepidoptery, and the not-so-secret terrors of our Director.

54 Middle Aged Nirvana

Our Agents were feeling a little housebound, so we packed our culottes and curlers and met up with Barb and Star in Vista Del Mar. This movie starring Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, and Jamie Dornan in a colourful and joyful spy romcom that exactly hits the spot for a quick getaway. It’s a movie about romance, but most importantly about that best friend who has always got your back. Most of the time. Well… some of the time. Join our Agents as they celebrate friendship and love and fishbowl-sized cocktails in the Florida sunshine. Comparisons to 50 Shades are inevitable, but brief. We promise.

53 Judas Ross!

Our Agents travelling back in time on this mission to explore all five seasons of Poldark. The BBC historical drama provides our Agents with plenty of personal and political drama to fill several episodes, especially with side trips into Outlander and historical drama fandoms. We discuss how truly historical a historical romance is and how modern viewpoints always shape these stories. Lace up your corsets and buckle your boots, we’re smouldering and shipping and hating on as much as we can in our allotted time for this mission.

Tigger warning Discussion of sexual assault in period dramas.

52 Harold, They’re Lesbians!

Join our Agents in our discussion about the 2015 film Carol starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Everything about this movie makes our Agents happy: Cate Blanchett, the story, the music, the cinematography, the wardrobe. Did we mention Cate Blanchett? We are just here to celebrate a historical lesbian film with a happy ending and to introduce our Director to memes just a few years too late. Digressions include historical lesbians, Emily Dickinson, and the last movie we saw in the theatre. It’s all in this mission with compliments of the season from the Management.

51 The Bodyguard

The Agents get soapy in this mission with a look at The Royals. The scandalous series about an alternate universe Royal British family that has almost as much drama as the actual family. Our Agents were lured into this mission with a promise of hotness and romance, and they were not disappointed. It’s another installment of “Stories where people keep more clothes on and yet are hotter than 50 Shades” rating system. We start with a spoiler-free pitch for why you should watch and a bit of Royal History head canon before we really dive in. Join us on this self-indulgent mission as we discuss the series and with a focus on our favourite ships.

50 International Waters

For our very first anniversary and our 50th episode, join us for our Valentine’s Day party! It’s part draft, part improv storytelling, part limes, and all ridiculousness. A large cast of our Agents has gathered to make the movie of our collective dreams. With no storyboards, no scripts, and no plans, we jump into the international waters of our imagination, each Agent bringing an actor of their choice. Together we find our North Star while singing sea shanties and folding towel art. Your Cruise Director is waiting! Meet us on the lido deck of the Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H. Love Boat. We’re shipping everyone!

49 Preoccupation with Optics

Director Annette Wierstra (University of Alberta, MacEwan University, Royal Roads University) is joined by Agent Jean MacDonald (Beacon Hill, St. Lawrence, North Miami Beach Sr. High, University of North Carolina, Princeton) and Agent Sandra Wong (University of Alberta, Shizuoka National University) in this discussion about Kevin Kwan’s(1) (Crazy Rich Asians(2)) novel “Sex and Vanity.” This is an opulent(3) adaptation of the E.M. Forster novel and 1985 movie “Room with a View(4). This modern version is set in the decadent world of the uber-rich starring Lucie Churchill navigating family expectations and Society rules and high fashion(5). This retelling has all the romance and scandal with a good dose of humour and satire. Just note that there are so many characters that we forget half the names. And some places.

48 Sexually Literate

Our Agents are on the mission of Bridgerton and ready to love and critique this new series that has taken romance by storm. We’ve got a lot to say about the adaptation from the Julia Quinn book series, how inclusive casting affects the story and characters, sex, speculation about what’s to come, and yes, even warp drives. Don your best frocks and suits, it is time to step out into a new kind of Regency society.

Content Warning: Sex, Sexual Assault

47 That’s What the Floor’s For

Let our Agents take you to Prom! We’ve gathered for this first mission of the New Year to think about musicals, adaptations, and how much we just like singing and dancing. The mission may start with some of our less favourite parts but then we celebrate that with the Prom movie is a joyful lesbian love story that hits us in the feels. Our Agents discuss how we need even more LGBTQ2+ stories and that they are important to show a diversity of queer experiences. Put on your sparkly sneakers and be our dates to Prom.

(Hey high schools! We really do want to see your productions of Prom so send us invites.)

46 Day 12 of Love Actually

Happy Holidays! Welcome to our final installment of 12 Days of Love Actually. For today’s mission, our full ensemble of Agents come together to discuss the Red Nose Day Actually reunion video from 2017 and reflect on how Love Actually holds up in 2020.

45 Day 11 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Sam, Joanna, and Daniel with Agents Kirsten Goruk and Kayti Burt.

44 Day 10 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Natalie and David with Agents Kathy Campbell, Moises Chuillan, and Brian Hamilton.

43 Day 9 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Harry and Karen with Agents Jean Macdonald and Sandra Wong.

42 Day 8 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Colin and the American Girls with Agents Kirsten Goruk and Kayti Burt.

41 Day 7 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Billy Mack and Joe with Agents Kathy Campbell, Moises Chuillan, and Brian Hamilton.

40 Day 6 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Juliet, Peter, and Mark with Agents Jean Macdonald and Sandra Wong.

39 Day 5 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is John (My friends call me Jack) and Just Judy with Agents Kirsten Goruk and Kayti Burt.

38 Day 4 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Harry and Mia with Agents Kathy Campbell, Moises Chuillan, and Brian Hamilton.

37 Day 3 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Jamie and Aurelia with Agents Jean Macdonald and Sandra Wong.

36 Day 2 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Today’s mission is Sarah and Karl with Agents Kirsten Goruk and Kayti Burt.

35 Day 1 of Love Actually

Welcome to our 12 Days of Love Actually. Our Agents are taking on Love Actually one relationship at a time. From now until Christmas our mission is a deep dive on the holiday classic. We start by looking at our traditions for the movie and our initial thoughts about this movie. This special holiday advent mission is brought to you by an ensemble or our Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H.

34 Merry Christmas. Don’t Mention It!

We are jumping back in time with a Christmas crossover episode with Lions, Towers & Shield podcast. By popular demand among both members and panelists actual and potential, we explore this 1945 classic. Peter Godfrey (who?) directs Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan and a cast of delightful character actors in a holiday story about covering up lies with more lies on a farm in Connecticut on Christmas Eve. Holiday food and sleigh rides aplenty.

33 She Inspires Us to Be Better

Join our Agents as they travel to the Czech Republic with Queen Latifah in Last Holiday. On this mission, we find the joy of the season and of just being kind in the most glamorous of hotels. So throw that pashmina over your shoulders and meet us for an exquisite meal in the hotel restaurant or at least for a roast chicken in First Class.

32 It’s Not His Personality, It’s His Hair

We jump right into the holiday with a little international house swap movie called The Holiday (2006) starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black. Our Agents debate which storyline is more romantic and which actor is the weakest link. Our agents do deep dives in our various headcanon proving they’ve thought about these characters a lot. Sidetracks include: Who is taking care of the dog? Would Idris Elba be a good rom-com movie lead? Where will everyone live after the movie ends?

31 Eggnog Makes Me Fighty

Here at the S.M.O.O.C.H. Agency, we like to jump fully into the Holiday spirit as soon as the Halloween decorations are put away. There is a Christmas Tree in every corner of the office. Christmas Sweaters are required Agent wear. And excessive tinsel is drifting through the air. We are starting our SMOOCHtastic holiday season with a BONUS! Incomprehensible Commentary for the beloved Christmas Classic The Christmas Prince (2017). Get out your cozy slippers, your eggnog, your whimsy, and your love of fake European royalty and join our Agents on this mission to Balmorovia or something like that.

30 Shaun’s Had a Rough Day

Our SMOOCHtacular Halloween month is ending with the modern classic and original ZomRomCom: 2004 Shaun of the Dead. Join our Agents as they search for love triangles and zombies on this spoOoOooOOoky mission. This movie is every bit as much a romance as it is a horror-comedy and is halfway to a musical with its precise choreography. Agents also discuss the Cornetto trilogy and reminisce about early 2000s technology. Will we make it to the Winchester? We got you covered with our kitchen implements and cricket bats.

But, um… you’ve got red on you.

29 To the Moon and Back

Join our Agents for a bonus mission to the Back of the Moon. This film is part of the upcoming online Canadian South African Film festival and we got a sneak preview. We follow the gangster Bra Max on the last day in 1958, in Sophiatown, a black community just at the edge of Johannesburg. Our agents look at the local gang battle set within the greater story of Apartheid in South Africa. And within these threads sits the romance of Max and the singer Eve Msomi who get one night to explore their love before everything changes.

Content Warning: We do discuss violence and sexual assault that is depicted in this movie.

28 Calling the Phone Tree Coven

We are continuing our SMOOCHtacular October of spooooky romances with the classic Practical Magic. We stan the sisters Gillian and Sally and their perfectly witchy aunts in this movie that is a romance and so much more. Get out your broom as we discuss all the Halloweeny, witchy things and multiple generations of powerful women who come together to cast a spell on us.

27 Love in the Female Gaze

We are starting our SMOOCHtacular October with a mummy and a boy with a pretty epic treehouse. It’s time for a Brendan Fraser double feature! In this mission, we look at how *The Mummy *and *George of the Jungle *focus on the female gaze. And not just because both these movies have particularly pretty casts. We head into the jungle and the desert to look search for treasure, battle enemies, woo the handsome hero, and find out why these movies are still enticing us all off on adventures.

26 Two Robots Crying on Cue

Mix two hot actors, a sexy red room, and a lot of sex and nudity, and you’d think you’d have sexy movie magic. But our Agents find the movie Fifty Shades of Grey lacking in chemistry and rather mechanical. We bring a new Agent with kink expertise on this mission to help us discuss our feelings about the book series, movie, and what we wish it could be. What do we want? More fun and humour and joy in the film’s portrayal of sex and romance. And montages. Sexy, sexy montages. The real question is: Can we do a Moises style mini-series and make it good?
Warning! This is episode is marked explicit just so Agent Moises can properly express the depth of his feelings. We also are talking about sex, consent, and kink, a lot.

25 Danny Sous Vido

Join our Agents for an Incomprehensible Commentary where our usually refined and thoughtful commentary is subsumed under wine and cocktails. It starts chaotic and goes off the rails while we watch and sometimes discuss 1985’s The Jewel of the Nile. The commentary is a final bonus episode to end our 2020 Virtual Vacation. It is the (probably inferior) sequel to our more sober Romancing the Stone discussion. If this kind of nonsense is your kind of nonsense, you can sign up to be an Incomparable member to get access to all our commentaries and more member extras at: https://www.theincomparable.com/members/. *Caution! *There may be swearing. *Warning! *There is definitely singing.

24 Thank God for Tiny Wheels

Join us in our final Virtual Vacation mission hiking through Columbia to rescue one of our own in Romancing the Stone (1984). Our Agents are relieved that this croc-laden 80’s adventure romance is more exciting than our last one. And ultimately, we acknowledge the greatness that is Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas (and their free-flowing hair). Our Agents use the internet to solve all our problems so we don’t have to go on an elaborate adventure due to the lack of a cell phone. Pack carefully because we’re tossing that luggage as soon as it becomes too much a bother to carry around.

23 No Guilt. All Pleasure.

In our Penultimate Virtual Vacation stop, we squeeze in a mission to Iceland and Edinburgh to watch 2020’s Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Our Agents discuss how comedy with heart is the best comedy and develop our spin-off movies and shows about Sigrid, Lars, Alexander, and Mita. Our resident Eurovision expert from Sweden, Julia, gives us the low down on how well this movie represents the Eurovision Song Contest and lots of Icelandic Elf lore. Warm-up your vocals, because there will be a song-a-long.

22 452 Kinds of Cheese

We’re in France for our Virtual Vacation! Drinking wine, eating cheese, taking the train across the country with French Kiss (1995). This classic Meg Ryan and Kevin Klein is a little bit rom-com and a little bit caper and comes together in Cannes for romantic hijinks. Will our Agents be swayed by Luc’s slightly greasy charm and Kate’s insistent quest to win back the man she loves? They definitely have opinions about French and Canadian accents. And about men who are like little boys who follow their whims without thought. Join us in France for a Sea Breeze by La Mer.

21 You Can’t Put a Price on Destino

Our virtual vacation long weekend in Italy with Only You (1994) begins with controversy because our Agents are divided about the quality of this movie. Only You is a road trip through Italy with your BFF who knows how to pack your bag better than you do. It is jammed packed with people making bad decisions while Faith searches for the elusive Damon Bradley who may or may not be her Mr. Right. Will any of our Agents switch allegiances? Probably not, but join us for a passionate battle to win your heart over to this film or to get you run in the other direction.

20 Survival Instincts of a Drunk Beetle

Our Agents are traipsing through Europe in this Virtual Vacation, trailing after the president’s daughter Anna in Chasing Liberty (2004). While we like the scenery (Hello Matthew Goode and Mandy Moore), we question whether Anna should be quite so careless with her wallet and her wellbeing. Follow us on this caper through the countryside with side trips into Canadian and Newfoundland accents, the Good Wife, and COVID era travel (or the lack of it). Our Agents offer valuable travel safety tips to keep you safe on your own romantic virtual vacation.

19 They’re Pretty in All the Timelines

Welcome to another crossover where Lions, Towers, and Shields podcast host, Shelly Brisbin, joins our agents for a timey-whimey road trip for our Virtual Vacation series. Our agents tease apart the five(?) timelines in Two for the Road (1967), starring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney using the cars the characters drive. Join us as we criss-cross through ten years of time and space while road-tripping through France towards the Mediterranean coast. Sometimes it’s smooth sailing, sometimes it’s rocky, sometimes there are too many people in the car. Make sure you pack the sunscreen.

18 She Speaks Volumes With Her Gaze

It’s time to visit Nairobi, Kenya on our Virtual Summer Vacation with 2018’s Rafiki. Our agents come away from this visit with a deep appreciation for the Afrobubblegum style of filmmaking and the beauty of the movie. The story of Kena and Ziki is set in the context of a community and country where being queer is banned and yet Rafiki portrays a confident and intimate love story. Our agents were both moved and hopeful for the story of these two young Kenyan women.

17 You Could Have Killed Off Norman

This week on our virtual vacation we are staying at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur, India. While this is a movie that provides beautiful images of India, our mission examines how its colonial lens affects the movie’s portrayal of the characters. Our Agents imagine bringing to life the romance and the stories that we see hiding in plain sight within the movie. This inevitably leads to someone deciding that this is a story that would be better told in a TV series. We have our brand, and it is always for more romance and more depth and diversity.

ISO: Romance novels about senior lovers.

16 Lifestyles of the Rich and Asian

We hope your suitcases are full of fancy gowns and designer shoes. No? That’s okay, we are overdue for a Makeover Montage! We’re heading to Singapore on our Virtual Vacation 2020 for a family wedding with Crazy Rich Asians. We continue our escapist mission travelling the globe through romance movies. This gorgeous movie is all glam with possibly the fanciest wedding movie ever conceived. Are the books better? Do we want to see the sequels brought to life? Find out in this mission. Perhaps not surprisingly, Annette is focused on dumplings so the Agents plan a dumpling party that you are all invited to.

15 My Big Fat Greek Vacation

Our Virtual Vacation continues with this bonus episode! Join us on our second Crossover Mission with Julia Skott and AJ Knox and their Chick Flick Fix Podcast.

My Life in Ruins also NOT known as My Big Fat Greek Vacation. But it could be. We take a fantasy vacation to explore ruins and romance. And souvlaki.

14 I Didn’t Plan to Seduce a Stranger

Our Special Agents discuss virtual vacation logistics on this Hong Kong stop for our mission about the 2015 movie, Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong. It’s a movie that gives you a front seat on an almost, kind of, sort of date that wanders through Hong Kong’s nightlife. Prepare to get hungry because we talk about spicy crab and dim sum. A lot. We tease the ending repeatedly because our Agents really want you to watch the movie before we spoil the ending. So just go watch it. We’ll wait until you get back.

13 Princess Anna’s Day Off

Our Virtual Vacation continues with this bonus episode! Join us on our first Crossover Mission with Shelly Brisbin and her Lions, Towers & Shields Podcast.

We offer you a summer movie set in Rome. Directed by William Wyler, and starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, Roman Holiday tells the story of an American newspaper reporter who meets a princess and liberates her from the confinement of her royal station for a romantic adventure in 1950s Rome for a classic royal and the commoner tale. The people and the scenery are beautiful, and the actors have lovely chemistry. This is among the earliest, and best of the 1950s-60s films that took Americans to a Europe that had finally begun recovering from the horrors of World War II.

12 Sepsis Waiting to Happen

Our Virtual Vacation continues with a stop in Australia for 1986’s Crocodile Dundee with Paul Hogan. It’s always risky when you revisit the hits of 35 years ago. We remembered the heady of days of being a reporter with a seemingly bottomless budget. And how the movie inspired all of us to put Australia on our travel lists. Did it age well? Were we pleasantly surprised? At least when you travel back to the 80s you are guaranteed to get some awesome wardrobe choices. Linda Kozlowski as reporter Sue Charlton did not let us down. Come back to the 80s Outback with us, if you dare. It’s not just the crocodiles that are dangerous.

11 No Snakes, Just Goats

Join our Agents on the first stop of our Virtual Vacation 2020! While we are all stuck at or close to home during the COVID-19 pandemic, our mission is to travel the globe through romance movies. We start our vacation in Beechwood Downs, New Zealand with Falling Inn Love. This movie is a gentle rom-com that shows off the scenic country while leading us through Netflix’s take on a Hallmark movie. Its slow pace and likeable characters are the perfect companions for a relaxing start our vacation together. Weighing comfort over romance, our Agents just can’t endorse hiking in the dark in wet clothes. And then they turn their imagined sequel into a very different kind of movie.

Next stop: Australia!

10 We’re Making Omelets

Time for Mission Double Feature and Chill! It’s an Austen adaptation mashup with Clueless and Bridget Jone’s Diary. At least two decades later do these classic romcoms hold up? Can modern Austen heroes and heroines give us the vapours? Ultimately our Agents just want you to know that despite your silly mother, your bad driving, your blue omelets and green gunge, your refusal to listen to The Cranberries… We like you. Just as you are.

09 Just Let the Kids be Horny

Our Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H. are drinking on the job. Is this a good idea? Probably. Not. After discussing the creepy romanticness of the Twilight movie, we present our first tipsy commentary. This commentary expands on our regular Twilight discussion with immediate reactions to the movie through red wine tinted glasses. Which doesn’t make this movie any less blue. If chaotic commentary is your thing, uncork your bottle of red and press play on 1, 2, 3, Bella!

08 50 Shades of Blue

It’s our first Heart Surgery mission where we pick apart a movie that is much maligned and decide what our hearts really feel. The surgery candidate: Twilight the movie, the book, the TV show that we expect will inevitably appear. Is this movie your “Great Shame” or do you love it unabashedly? Is Edward smelling a skunk or is he swoon-worthy? Do you like all the baseball or is it too much baseball? Do you think it is too blue or exactly the right amount of blue? Regardless of your opinion, we have an Agent to defend your opinion. Except for the blue. No one’s defending that. Well, maybe one.

07 Comics Make Love Too

Forget superheroes! Our special agents are on a mission of love in the pages of comic books and graphic novels. To do this topic justice we’ve brought in some specialized agents including Danica Le Blanc, an owner of a local comic book store (LCBS), and Paul Cornell, a comic book writer. Our team has recommendations for teen romance, queer romance, and erotic romance proving that everyone can find love in the racks of the comic book store.

06 Pamplona Bebes!

Listen to our agents on this swoon-worthy mission for the Canadian comedy Schitt’s Creek. If you are wondering if this show is for you, the agents open with a spoiler light pitch for why you will want to join this fandom. Then, with a focus on the Rose family’s romantic relationships, they reminisce over all six seasons of the show. The agents declare that we’re all a little bit Alexis before spontaneously awarding our second SMOOCHIE for romance in a Comedy Show. It’s simply the best.

05 Austen’s Mechanics of Marriage

Welcome to our First Jane Austen Mission! Our Special Agents of S.M.O.O.C.H. discuss the newest Emma adaptation directed by Autumn de Wilde. They explore their feelings around Austen, adaptations, and how Austen always presents us with so much more than romance. It’s hard to stop so our Agents are already plotting more Regency related missions.

04 Back to Hot Dad

Join our Special Agents on their first double feature. We examine the first two installments of the Netflix trilogy: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, the teen rom-com centred on Lara Jean Covey. Inevitably we discuss which romance team we are on and the trials and tribulations of a high school romance. It’s a roller coaster of emotions where we propose multiple spin-offs and toss about wild speculations. But there is one thing we all agree on: we’re all paging Doctor Covey.

3 A Room With A Vyse

Join our agents as they melt over the first installment of our Merchant/Ivory Club: A Room with a View. This classic movie from 1985 is packed full of stars who present a love story with humour, a sweeping classical soundtrack, and a kiss that weakens the knees. A love story this rich and fulfilling deserves to be savoured.

2 She Megged Her John

Join the S.M.O.O.C.H. Organization Mission #2: In which we delve into the romances of Little Women. Will Jo meet her match? Will Amy win our hearts? Will Meg find happiness? Follow our agents as we celebrate the latest spin on this classic by Greta Gerwig. And we spontaneously present the first ever SMOOCHIE Award.

1 Love to Snipe You, Baby

Happy Valentine’s Day Agents! Welcome to our inaugural episode from the S.M.O.O.C.H. Organization. We’re celebrating the holiday of love with a draft of our Special Agent’s favourite romance movies paired with a romantic dessert. Will we pick your favourite romance? Maybe Probably not. But we promise it will be delicious.

0 Welcome to Agents of SMOOCH!

You are invited to join SMOOCH. Become part of an organization dedicated to searching out romance and celebrating all the things that make you swoon. Before we launch our inaugural mission on Valentine’s Day, we want you to meet some of our special agents and learn why we are excited to be part of SMOOCH.