Apple TV’s 9-Part Crime Drama Is So Good, You’ll Finish It in One Weekend

We’ve definitely been blessed with some fantastic crime dramas recently. Series such as True Detective, Dark Winds, MobLand, and The Night Manager have all managed to provide us with suspenseful plots and heart-racing action. But some of these shows have so many episodes that they can be difficult to watch in just a few days. Luckily, last year, Apple TV released a masterful, underrated psychological thriller with only nine episodes, making it the perfect show to binge-watch in one weekend.

What Is ‘Smoke’ About?

Smoke came out last summer, but it’s still well worth your time. You might already be familiar with Dennis Lehane through his incredible films such as Mystic River, Shutter Island, and Gone Baby Gone. He’s the creator of Smoke, which was inspired by the true-crime podcast Firebug, about a real-life arsonist who had been terrorizing a town for over 30 years. In this crime drama, Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton, who worked with Lehane on the miniseries Black Bird) is a friendly everyman and an arson investigator looking into a string of fires occurring in his jurisdiction.

Dave has his own past trauma, surviving a horrific fire when he was still working as a firefighter. But even with his personal and professional experience, Dave can’t seem to solve this case — especially because he suspects that there might even be multiple arsonists at work. The arsonists seem to be using different methods and incendiary devices to start the fires, and the blazes have become increasingly dangerous and even lethal. Dave’s bosses decide to bring in Detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) to help him solve the mystery. Dave is reluctant to have a partner, and Michelle is definitely guarded, having experienced her own fire-related trauma in her youth, but the two decide to come together eventually to try and crack the case.

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‘Smoke’ Is a Twisty, Psychological Thriller That’s Worthy of a Binge-Watch

Smoke would have been intriguing enough to watch if it were a straightforward story of damaged characters working to solve a crime. Instead, a major twist in the first few episodes turns the entire plot on its head. Even when you think you know where the story is heading, you’ll discover that you pretty much can’t predict any of it. The action of Smoke is non-stop, and the morally grey characters make choices that will keep you guessing until the very end. Along with the fantastic storytelling, Smoke includes stunning cinematography that often creates an eerie, haunting, and terrifying vibe. The series also excels with its special effects, which make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the fires onscreen.

There’s no way that Smoke would be a captivating series without its incredible cast. Egerton has to play many different sides of Dave, but the actor’s ability to portray a wide variety of complex emotions makes him still seem authentic. Smollett is also impressive as the broken, yet fierce Michelle. Several incredible supporting actors allow Smoke to sizzle, including Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo, and Anna Chlumsky. But there’s really one actor that deserves a whole other level of praise. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is absolutely extraordinary as Freddy Fasano, a fast-food worker who becomes a major suspect. Mwine’s performance starts with a quiet intensity and then continues to build into a monstrous display of the insidious effects of a lifetime of trauma.

Once you start watching Smoke, there’s no way you can stop without reaching the very last scene. The series hasn’t been renewed by Apple TV (or canceled, for that matter), and Lehane has stated that he intended the show to run for at least three seasons. But Smoke can still stand alone right now as nine episodes of fast-paced, thrilling television. The twisted storytelling and gripping performances ensure that this weekend binge won’t leave you disappointed, although it could make you a little more afraid of fire.

Release Date

2025 – 2025-00-00

Network

Apple TV+

Directors

Kari Skogland

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