SMOKE is a new series by Dennis Lehane (BLACK BIRD, MYSTIC RIVER, and oh, so much more) that ignites a solid flame at the beginning but burns out after one plot twist I dare not spoil. If you’re a fan of Lehane’s work, you should like, not love, this f’d up genre-bending true-ish thriller with an all-star cast.
Speaking of that cast. Taron Egerton (can this guy please win an Oscar or an Emmy already?) uses speech patterns and body language that make him almost unrecognizable in the lead role as an arson investigator. He’s creepy, charming, and a perfect match for Jurnee Smollett’s detective role that allows them to go head-to-head in some very tense scenes. The other real stand-out has to go to Rafe Spall, the possibly narcissistic police captain who has the worst luck.
Outside of the unbelievable plot twist towards the end, SMOKE also suffers from one too many plots instead of focusing on the main drama between Calderone (Smollett) and Dave (Egerton). While the Freddy (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) plot was interesting, it didn’t add as much narrative psychological depth as Lehane intended.
Even with the two missteps, SMOKE is a captivating experience where every character’s moral compasses come into question. I hope that Egerton and Lehane continue to partner on content together, much like how Scorsese found his muse in DiCaprio. I’m all in for any additional shows, movies, podcasts, etc., that Apple produces with Lehane’s name attached. He’s just that good of a showrunner.
The first two episodes of SMOKE premiere on Apple TV+ on 06/27.