Agents of SMOOCH

Hosted by Annette Wierstra

A podcast that’s looking for love in all the right places. Join the Agents of SMOOCH as we delve into the romance of sweeping epics and classic romcoms. Our mission is to investigate the important questions: Should they or shouldn’t they? Is there such a thing as One True Love? Did that smooch have any chemistry? We might not have all the answers, but we know you had us at “Hello.”

Latest Episode: March 15, 2024 — The Buccaneers

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.

Previous Episodes

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    March 1, 2024 Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
    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.

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    February 16, 2024 The Big Easy
    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?

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    February 2, 2024 Paging Mr. Darcy: Writer Interview
    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.

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    December 26, 2023 Free the Squee: Round and Round
    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/

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    December 22, 2023 Annual Christmas Movie Marathon
    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. *

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    December 8, 2023 Long Kiss Goodnight
    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?

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    November 24, 2023 Ocean’s 8
    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.

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    November 10, 2023 Ghosted
    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.

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    October 31, 2023 Radcliffe Hall
    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.

  • Agents of SMOOCH cover art
    October 27, 2023 The Terminator
    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!

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