Smoke (2025) is a nine-episode crime drama miniseries set in the Pacific Northwest’s fictional Umberland. Arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton), haunted by a past fire, reluctantly partners with Detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) to track two serial arsonists. Their investigation, inspired by the Firebug podcast and real-life arsonist John Leonard Orr, unravels a web of secrets, trauma, and moral ambiguity, with twists that challenge their perceptions of guilt and justice.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Psychological Thriller

Publishers: Apple TV+ (Streaming, June 27, 2025)

Main Characters:

  1. Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton): Ex-firefighter turned arson investigator, wrestling with personal demons.

  2. Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett): Tough detective with a fiery past, entangled in an affair.

  3. Freddy Fasano (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine): Suspected arsonist, a traumatized loner.

  4. Steven Burke (Rafe Spall): Michelle’s colleague and lover, a married cop.

  5. Ashley Gudsen (Hannah Emily Anderson): Dave’s librarian wife, strained by his obsession.

  6. Harvey Englehart (Greg Kinnear): Umberland Fire Department chief, guiding the investigation.

Smoke, a gripping crime drama from Black Bird creator Dennis Lehane, premiered on Apple TV+ on June 27, 2025, with its first two episodes, followed by weekly releases through August 15. Starring Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett, the series follows an arson investigator and detective chasing two serial arsonists in a moody Pacific Northwest setting. Inspired by the Firebug podcast, it delves into psychological depth but falters with a convoluted back half, earning a 68% Rotten Tomatoes score. Fans on X praise Egerton’s nuanced performance and the tense atmosphere, though some call the plot “cliché” and the twists “ridiculous.” Filmed in Vancouver, the show’s strong cast, including Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s chilling Freddy, keeps it watchable despite a shaky finale. Stream it now on Apple TV+ for a slow-burn thriller with fiery potential.