Earlier this year, Los Angeles saw the worst flames in the city’s history, causing widespread destruction and taking a number of human lives. A number of potential explanations have been proposed, including arson — a crime that gets scarier as wildfires around North America continue to get worse. Arsonists are the villains of Smoke, a new limited series inspired by the acclaimed “Firebug” podcast. The series is fictional, but don’t let that deter you: some of the immersive scenarios depicted here may scare you half to death. Yes, it is that easy to set a whole building ablaze.
In terms of authenticity, it also helps that creator Dennis Lehane — author of the novel versions of Mystic River and Shutter Island — was inspired by real events. And an ensemble cast full of big names lifts Lehane’s words off the page. Smoke rises above many crime series by effectively toying with the notion of what it means to be the “protagonist” of a TV show. And Taron Egerton is a fiery leading man, a reliable tour de force even when you can’t stand his character.
Related: Taron Egerton Is the Action Hero We Need as He Leads Intense New Crime Thriller
“Dave Celebrates…Dave”
3.5
/5
Release Date
June 26, 2025
Network
Apple TV+
Directors
Kari Skogland
Smoke takes place in the Pacific Northwest, where Dave (Egerton), a former firefighter, has risen to become the local department’s lead arson investigator. Then his boss, Harvey (Greg Kinnear), assigns the loner investigator a new partner, whether he wants one or not. Enter the no-nonsense Michelle (Birds of Prey star Jurnee Smollett), who has landed in fire investigations after bouncing around a number of law-enforcement agencies. This may be linked to her “friend with benefits”— who also happens to be a direct report. When he’s not sneaking off to hotel rooms with Michelle, Steven (Rafe Spall) flaunts his status in the department, although he also uses it to threaten Michelle at one point when she wants to call their bedroom-only relationship quits. He’s a sleazy wildcard character, one whose moves you never see coming.
And then there’s Dave, who seems like an all-American family man. His wife Ashley (Hannah Emily Anderson)is a librarian whose teenage son Emmett (Luke Roessler) is standoffish towards his stepdad. Why not warm up to the seemingly charming Dave? Therein lies one of the strengths of Smoke — each episode peels back another layer of this increasingly shady fellow. Maybe something actually stinks about this not-so-successful investigator, who struggles again and again to capture two serial arsonists on the loose.
The instances where Lehane reveals Dave’s narcissism are a hoot. The selfish dope has the bright idea at one point to start writing a book about his experiences, and he likes to opt out of actual detective work to run ego-boosting training seminars for aspiring firefighters. Dave’s partner Michelle begins to catch on to Dave’s questionable character, and soon finds herself running a secretive DIY investigation into his activities alongside their formal arson probe.
Related: Gary Oldman’s Apple TV Crime Drama with 98% RT Score Sets Season 5 Release Date
A Tale of Two Arsonists
Apple TV+
Apple’s promotional material for Smoke has network-TV vibes, evoking shows like Chicago Fire and 9-1-1: Lone Star. But disregard all that. This is hard TV-MA material that never lets up. It’s lovely to see a Black Bird reunion as Edgerton buddies up with Oscar nominee Kinnear for yet another edgy Apple TV+ miniseries. But that’s just one of several supporting turns that keep viewers’ anxieties spiking across each episode. One serial arsonist turns out to be fast-food employee Freddy (a terrific Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), a chilling introvert who spends his free time satisfying a certain fiery craving.
Freddy’s identity is revealed fairly early on, but Smoke keeps viewers guessing about who will reveal their true colors as the second fire-starting criminal. Even when viewers’ foremost questions are answered, there’s no need to put down the remote: Emmy winner John Leguizamo makes an entrance quite late into the series, and the Bronx native’s big grin is well worth the wait. Leguizamo helps lighten a particularly dark miniseries that is often hard to watch. But if you can stomach the flames, the end result is powerful.
Smoke will begin streaming on Apple TV+ Friday, June 27, 2025.
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