Earlier this 12 months, Los Angeles noticed the worst flames within the metropolis’s historical past, inflicting widespread destruction and taking quite a lot of human lives. Various potential explanations have been proposed, together with arson — against the law that will get scarier as wildfires round North America proceed to worsen. Arsonists are the villains of Smoke, a brand new restricted sequence impressed by the acclaimed “Firebug” podcast. The sequence is fictional, however do not let that deter you: a number of the immersive situations depicted right here could scare you half to dying. Sure, it’s that straightforward to set a complete constructing ablaze.
When it comes to authenticity, it additionally helps that creator Dennis Lehane — creator of the novel variations of Mystic River and Shutter Island — was impressed by actual occasions. And an ensemble solid full of massive names lifts Lehane’s phrases off the web page. Smoke rises above many crime sequence by successfully toying with the notion of what it means to be the “protagonist” of a TV present. And Taron Egerton is a fiery main man, a dependable tour de drive even when you may’t stand his character.
“Dave Celebrates…Dave”
Smoke
3.5
/5
- Launch Date
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June 26, 2025
- Community
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Apple TV+
- Administrators
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Kari Skogland
Smoke takes place within the Pacific Northwest, the place Dave (Egerton), a former firefighter, has risen to grow to be the native division’s lead arson investigator. Then his boss, Harvey (Greg Kinnear), assigns the loner investigator a brand new companion, whether or not he needs one or not. Enter the no-nonsense Michelle (Birds of Prey star Jurnee Smollett), who has landed in hearth investigations after bouncing round quite a lot of law-enforcement businesses. This can be linked to her “good friend with advantages”— who additionally occurs to be a direct report. When he isn’t sneaking off to resort rooms with Michelle, Steven (Rafe Spall) flaunts his standing within the division, though he additionally makes use of it to threaten Michelle at one level when she needs to name their bedroom-only relationship quits. He is a sleazy wildcard character, one whose strikes you by no means see coming.
After which there’s Dave, who looks as if an all-American household man. His spouse Ashley (Hannah Emily Anderson)is a librarian whose teenage son Emmett (Luke Roessler) is standoffish in the direction of his stepdad. Why not heat as much as the seemingly charming Dave? Therein lies one of many strengths of Smoke — every episode peels again one other layer of this more and more shady fellow. Possibly one thing truly stinks about this not-so-successful investigator, who struggles repeatedly to seize two serial arsonists on the unfastened.
The situations the place Lehane reveals Dave’s narcissism are a hoot. The egocentric dope has the brilliant concept at one level to start out writing a e-book about his experiences, and he likes to decide out of precise detective work to run ego-boosting coaching seminars for aspiring firefighters. Dave’s companion Michelle begins to catch on to Dave’s questionable character, and shortly finds herself working a secretive DIY investigation into his actions alongside their formal arson probe.
A Story of Two Arsonists
Apple’s promotional materials for Smoke has network-TV vibes, evoking reveals like Chicago Hearth and 9-1-1: Lone Star. However disregard all that. That is laborious TV-MA materials that by no means lets up. It is pretty to see a Black Chook reunion as Edgerton buddies up with Oscar nominee Kinnear for yet one more edgy Apple TV+ miniseries. However that is simply considered one of a number of supporting turns that preserve viewers’ anxieties spiking throughout every episode. One serial arsonist seems to be fast-food worker Freddy (a terrific Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), a chilling introvert who spends his free time satisfying a sure fiery craving.
Freddy’s id is revealed pretty early on, however Smoke retains viewers guessing about who will reveal their true colours because the second fire-starting legal. Even when viewers’ foremost questions are answered, there is not any must put down the distant: Emmy winner John Leguizamo makes an entrance fairly late into the sequence, and the Bronx native’s huge grin is nicely definitely worth the wait. Leguizamo helps lighten a very darkish miniseries that’s usually laborious to observe. However should you can abdomen the flames, the tip result’s highly effective.
Smoke will start streaming on Apple TV+ Friday, June 27, 2025.