‘Smoke’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
Released on Apple TV+ on June 27th with its first two episodes, ‘Smoke’ marks the reunion of ‘Black Bird’ creator Dennis Lehane and star/producer Taron Egerton for a new drama adapted from the Truth Media podcast ‘Firebug’.
The cast for the new crime drama also includes Jurnee Smollett (‘The Order’), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (‘The Lincoln Lawyer’), Hannah Emily Anderson (‘Jigsaw’), Rafe Spall (‘The Big Short’), John Leguizamo (‘Encanto’) and Greg Kinnear (‘Little Miss Sunshine’).
Related Article: Taron Egerton Investigates Arson in First Images from TV Drama ‘Smoke’
Initial Thoughts
When Egerton and novelist/screenwriter/showrunner Lehane last teamed up, it was for the aforementioned ‘Black Bird’, an adaptation of James Keene’s and Hillel Levin’s book book ‘In with the Devil’, which saw a prisoner (Egerton) tasked with gathering intel on a serial killer fellow inmate (Paul Walter Hauser).
The result was a critical success, and won several awards, including both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Hauser.
Hopes are therefore high for the reunion of writer and star, with the pair this time targeting Truth Media podcast ‘Firebug’ as the inspiration for a new limited series set in the world of serial arsonists. But can it live up to the pressure of prior expectations?
Script and Direction
‘Smoke’ features Lehane running the show again, sharing script duties with fellow writers Adriane McCray (‘War for the Planet of the Apes’) and Molly Anne Miller (‘Long Slow Exhale’).
Here’s the big problem with writing about the limited series: it’s hard to get into its exact issues without diving into spoiler territory. If you’ve heard the podcast or the case that it follows, you’ll know what actually happens, though Lehane and his team have only used the real-life story as loose inspiration, moving the narrative from California to the Pacific Northwest and inventing plenty to supplement it.
In keeping with much of prestige TV, this is a slow burn story, one that initially coasts on the sheer charisma of Egerton and Smollett, and only hinting at the darker story to come. It takes a while to really come to life, but once the plot kicks in around episode five (of nine), things take a more satisfying turn.
This is certainly moody and thoughtful, and goes to some shocking places later on, but it requires some patience.
“Dark” might also describe the directorial style of the show, which opts for shadowy interiors and misty, dreary treescapes and industrial sites (despite its Pacific Northwest setting, it was shot in Vancouver).
But directors Jim McKay, Joe Chappelle and Kari Skogland do manage to fan the flames of interest, and guide the cast towards some memorable performances.
Cast and Performances
Initially, this feels like the Taron and Jurnee show (with a few supporting turns, more on them below), but as the limited series opens out, the rest of the cast get their chance.
Egerton is naturally strong in this sort of conflicted, dramatic role, showing the same chops as he did in ‘Black Bird’ (and some of his movie performances), and playing Gundersen also allows him to have a little fun in a warped sort of way.
He’s just as good whether he’s giving egotistical speeches about how fires can spread as when he’s trying to knuckle down into domestic life with his wife and step-son. One moment that will sear itself into your brain involves Egerton’s character dancing in his underwear to a David Bowie song.
As cop Michelle Calderone, Smollett is easily his equal, her own conflicted personal life spilling into her professional world. She brings a seething, quiet power to the part, and when she launches an investigation later in the series, it feels like the performance really kicks in.
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is excellent as Freddy Fasano, one of the fire-starters on the loose. While his story initially seems to be siloed from the rest of the cast, it doesn’t diminish his pure dramatic power. And an interaction with Egerton is memorable for its chaos.
Elsewhere, there’s the likes of John Leguizamo, who is fantastic as Esposito, Dave’s bitter former partner who has an axe to grind against him, while Greg Kinnear offers plenty as Harvey Englehart, Dave’s boss. He’s both convinced that Dave is an ace arson, but also somewhat checked out, planning his retirement.
Hannah Emily Anderson as Ashley, Dave’s wife, has less to do but does enjoy a few decent moments.
Finally, Rafe Spall likewise has a smaller role (at least in the early going), but is superbly snippy as Calderone’s boss/boyfriend and in his antagonistic professional relationship with Englehart.
Final Thoughts
‘Smoke’ is a show that might end up severely testing the patience of some, but if you stick with it, the series catches fire in a way that, while many will predict how, is still worth watching.
It may not be on the level of ‘Black Bird,’ but it still works.
1IBo42qUaS7Nd5gC7BbWr1What’s the plot of ‘Smoke’?
‘Smoke’ follows a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.
Taron Egerton stars as Dave Gudsen, the man with the talent for digging into fire crimes, while Jurnee Smollett is police detective Michelle Calderone.
Who stars in ‘Smoke’?
- Taron Egerton
- Jurnee Smollett
- Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
- Hannah Emily Anderson
- Rafe Spall
- John Leguizamo
- Greg Kinnear
List of Taron Egerton Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Testament of Youth‘ (2015)
- ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service‘ (2014)
- ‘Legend‘ (2015)
- ‘Eddie the Eagle‘ (2016)
- ‘Sing‘ (2016)
- ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle‘ (2017)
- ‘Billionaire Boys Club‘ (2018)
- ‘Robin Hood‘ (2018)
- ‘Rocketman‘ (2019)
- ‘Sing 2‘ (2021)
- ‘Black Bird‘ (2022)
- ‘Tetris‘ (2023)
- ‘Carry-On‘ (2024)
