Genuine and charming. Those are the two words I would use to describe the debut episode of Miz & Mrs.
Gone is the dull, melodramatic veneer of Total Divas/Bella's. Maryse and Mike (The Miz) quickly win you over with their warm personalities and familiar banter. There is no barrier. You connect with them immediately and feel the fun-loving energy of their relationship.
A vignette of the couple's careers and how they met begins our journey. It's hard to believe that this all started on WWE Diva Search in 2006. By the way, “If it was up to me, I'd bring you home tonight" is what Maryse whispered to Miz in French all those years ago. Also, R.I.P. Miz's frosted tips hair-do. Through this montage, we see how their lives have changed both personally and professionally. Their transition into parenthood is the driving force of the season and one that should prove to be emotional and hysterical.
I was surprised by how much I laughed during the episode. Whether it was Miz making the cliched "who's the father" jokes or Maryse's pronunciation of Winnebago, I was cracking up consistently. The funniest moment of all, however, involved an implied nude photo shoot and an unfortunately timed bit of miscommunication. As you probably guessed, Miz got completely naked. Not only do we learn that he "fluffed" before walking out, but we get a great Boogie Nights-esq moment where he looks in the mirror and proclaims "If you want it, you got it, baby!" Miz wound up making the most of the situation and made Maryse laugh so hard that she was in tears.
As someone who also just had a daughter two months ago, there was so much in this half-hour that hit close to home. Maryse's physical ailments and her refusal to admit that she is gassy, Mike not giving Maryse a sip of his coffee, Miz freaking out when he thinks Maryse is in labour, and of course Maryse ultimately not giving birth but instead eating a cookie at catering. The circumstances are different, but these experiences and feelings are universal and are what will make this a successful TV show.
The show ends in earnest with Miz opening up about his nerves finally setting in. Maryse tells him that she has been nervous since day one but knows that they will be great parents because they care.
Overall, I thought this was an excellent premiere. The pacing was a tad brisk, but I appreciate the fact that it left me wanting more. Give Miz & Mrs. a chance. You won't regret it!
