Review: Apple TV+’s ‘Smoke’ Ignites with Twists, Fire, and a Blazing Cast

If your streaming watchlist is looking a little...well, lukewarm, Smoke, the upcoming Apple TV+ crime drama, is here to torch that mediocrity into oblivion. Dropping on June 27, 2025, Smoke is the kind of sizzling, slow-burn thriller that pulls you in with its haunting atmosphere, keeps you there with razor-sharp performances, and doesn’t let go until it’s good and ready.

With an all-star cast led by Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett, and inspired by the twisted real-life story of a serial arsonist, Smoke delivers more than just literal fire, it’s a psychological powder keg of obsession, secrets, and smoldering tension.

So yeah, let’s talk about it. Here's everything you need to know (and why you're going to want to watch it).

Based on the true-crime podcast Firebug and developed by crime drama heavyweight Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Shutter Island, the guy knows his way around the dark side), Smoke is a nine-episode limited series set in the damp, brooding Pacific Northwest. The plot follows arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) and detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) as they track a duo of serial arsonists lighting up more than just buildings.

It’s part procedural, part psychological thriller, and part “Wait, WHAT just happened?” kind of drama. The first episode is a slow simmer (we’ll get to that), but the tension escalates in the best way possible. If you like your crime stories layered, twisty, and a little morally gray, this is your jam.

Let’s start with the obvious: Taron Egerton. Yes, that’s a British accent buried so deep beneath an intense, American fire-whisperer voice that you’ll spend the first episode wondering if it’s really him. It is. And he’s excellent. Egerton brings a haunted, almost weary quality to Dave Gudsen that makes him feel less like a cliché and more like a man desperately trying to hang on.

Now, let’s talk about Jurnee Smollett because good grief, she needs to be in all the things. Detective Michelle Calderone is fierce, empathetic, sharp-tongued, and somehow still warm in a show that’s mostly cold-blooded. Smollett’s chemistry with literally everyone is off the charts, especially with Egerton. It’s not romantic tension (thankfully), it’s two professionals who respect each other but aren’t afraid to throw shade when needed.

Jurnee Smollett in "Smoke," premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

The supporting cast, Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo, Anna Chlumsky, and Rafe Spall rounds out the ensemble with depth and some wild cards that you will not see coming. The breakout star though has to be Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine. He is absolutely amazing in this series.

However, let’s me be honest, the pilot isn’t exactly setting off fireworks. It's moody, atmospheric, and more setup than pay-off. But give it a minute (or 45). By episode two, Smoke hits its stride, and suddenly every scene is a breadcrumb in a much bigger, darker mystery.

And when it hits, it hits. Twists? Plural. Twists inside of twists. It’s like Zodiac met Mindhunter at a campfire and brought True Detective season one for emotional support.

The pacing eventually tightens, and once the pieces fall into place, you’ll be screaming “just one more episode” at your TV while your popcorn goes cold.

If the show didn’t already have enough cool points, the theme song is “Dialing In” by Thom Yorke, yes, that Thom Yorke from Radiohead. It’s eerie, minimal, and weirdly perfect. Like Yorke whispered directly into a smoke detector and it made art.

If you haven't figured it out already, I had the chance to screen Smoke in advance, and here’s my unfiltered reaction:

• The cast? A+ fire emoji.

• Taron Egerton’s American accent? Slightly disorienting at first, but honestly kind of brilliant.

• His performance? Haunting. The man looks like he hasn’t slept in years—in a good, very character-appropriate way.

• Jurnee Smollett? Needs all the leading roles immediately. She’s the real engine of this series.

• The story? A cat-and-mouse thrill ride with enough narrative curveballs to throw off even the most seasoned crime drama binge-watchers.

• The pacing? A bit slow to ignite but totally worth it once it catches.

In short: if you like your mysteries smart, your characters flawed-but-compelling, and your drama served with emotional gasoline, Smoke is a must-stream.

Smoke on Apple TV+ is a psychological pressure cooker with brains, brawn, and just enough weirdness to make it stand out in a very crowded genre. From its slow-burn pilot to its explosive midseason reveals, this show earns its place in the “worth your time” column.

So if you’re tired of the same old procedural fare and want something that grabs you by the collar (and maybe singes your eyebrows a little), Smoke delivers. Big time.

Watch it. Binge it. Talk about it. And for the love of all things flammable, don’t skip the theme song.