‘SMOKE’ APPLE TV+ REVIEW: AN INTENSE MYSTERY MAKES USE OF A GOOD CAST
A new drama with Apple TV+, Smoke is quite intense but also has a buzzy cast.
Smoke (2025) Apple TV+ Review
Troubled and not quite sure what’s next for her, Detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) is about to face one of her toughest cases. This time the hunt involves arson, and the clues lead to a serial arsonist. This partners her with lead arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton), a man who is also good at his job but struggling personally. Now he’s a little miffed to be working on this case with a detective.
They work the case, and before long, they each seem to extend a little respect to the other. It’s just the getting started and learning how to work together that is a little rocky. Still, the more they investigate, the scarier and frightening the case becomes as they learn that this may be more than just one arsonist and that their objective may be a twisty “game” that no one knows the next move to.
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‘SMOKE’ APPLE TV+ REVIEW: AN INTENSE MYSTERY MAKES USE OF A GOOD CAST. #AppleTV’s new mystery is all about fire. Did you see #Smoke? #TaronEgerton #JurneeSmollett Share on X
Photo: Apple TV+ Press
According to Apple TV+, this is a story that is “inspired by” true events. It’s not a story that I know its origins inspiration though. Still, the show is interesting and quite frankly, more intense than I expected. Though don’t ask me why it is. While the detective TV shows or films don’t often step into the arson investigator career, this one goes there. It helps to make the series a bit more unique and gives the characters a little more interest. Of course, adding to this is one of now’s “it stars” in Taron Edgerton. He’s been in many other titles including Apple TV+’s Black Bird and of course the more recent Netflix title Carry-On. Also in this cast is Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear and in an eventual episode role, Anna Chulumsky.
This show is one of those dark titles, everything from the themes to the understanding, that the characters are broken in ways that we are asked to learn about along with the unfolding mystery. No one is good which I find exhausting; these are layers that peel back as the show progresses. The show, at least at its start, is intense and dark and gritty. There is very little happy with these characters who seem intent on self-destruction in ways that help no one, least of all themselves, can reach. We also learn things at episode two’s conclusion and for someone who doesn’t like the good being bad trope, well, it doesn’t work for me.
If you like mysteries and don’t mind the heavy lean into gritty, well then, Smoke may appeal. Apple TV+ doesn’t get the promotion of title coverage like those from Prime Video or Netflix. But from what I’ve seen, they are good as a production. It starts out relatively good and makes me curious to see what else is to come.
Photos: Apple TV+
Stream, at publication, Smoke exclusively with Apple TV+
Content: This one has lots of the F-word and other lesser profanity like shit. The show also dives into violence including death and trauma from the past for one character. There is lots of intensity in this show including not being afraid to show the ravages of a fire. One scene shows someone trying to escape and flesh falling off when they do. We see a couple having sex (some scenes are in shadows and it is more the sounds rather than visuals); we see her naked legs and there is movement (mostly brief cuts and shadows). Then they dress post sex. It’s unclear if someone is watching a sex video or the sound from the sex scene is overlaid. There is a scene of a woman in bondage gear tied to a bed (the scene is intense) and a fire is lit on her. The show is TV-MA.
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