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Smoke (S01E01-02)
June 30, 2025 · 25 min

Smoke, Apple TV+’s latest crime drama from Dennis Lehane (Black Bird), pits arson specialist Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) and detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) against two arsonists terrorizing the fictional town of Umberland. Inspired by the Firebug podcast and true events, the show plays out as a mystery-thriller filled with twists that will leave you questioning who to trust. We evaluate the first two episodes, the performances, and the creative changes to the story of real-life arsonist John Orr—and compare it to other recent crime dramas. Welcome to Today’s Episode!