Apple Tv's new miniseries has Dennis Lehane explore the provocative sparks of crime and the human frailties that fuel them. Starring Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett
The two arsons couldn’t be more different from each other, except for being equally dangerous. Freddy Fasano (an amazing and articulate performance by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), a cook at a fried chicken restaurant, plays one of the arsonists. With pure visuals, we get a thorough understanding of his frustrations that lead to arson. Rudimentary in his approach, he takes a large can full of fuel and sets it on fire.
Despite appearing as destitute as Freddy, the other arsonist is more methodical in his approach to setting fires. In a scene in the first episode, Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) shows his new partner, Detective Michelle Calderon (Jurnee Smollett), how smart this second arsonist is. Gudsen doesn’t break a sweat when he is assigned a new partner, a much-needed fresh pair of eyes, to solve these two cases. The lack of results in their investigation so far is shocking, but Gudsen acts as if he is in complete control of the situation.
After the success of Black Bird, Apple TV returns with the Dennis Lehane-Taron Egerton partnership with another miniseries based on true accounts of a criminal case. With 6 episodes out, Smoke has proved to be an intense show with a fresh plot that provides a chilling experience.
In one of the early episodes, there is an opening for the manager position in Freddy’s restaurant, and Freddy plans to apply for it. It’s a fascinating look at an individual losing touch with reality, deluding himself. His interview is at once heartbreaking and cringe.
As the fires continue, the sardonic but well-meaning chief of the fire department, Harvey (Greg Kinnear, playing the wise, elderly role quite well), is pissed off and whacks Gudsen and Calderon on their behinds to get going. Gudsen appears more occupied by the semi-autobiographical book he is writing about an arson investigator. This is a stress that he invited into his life, unlike the one piled on by the full-time presence of a stepson from his quietly intelligent librarian wife, Ashley, played by Hannah Emily Anderson.
The characters in Smoke are fleshed out and original. The father of sociology, Emile Durkheim, expressed the idea that crime is an inevitable result of society. The two arsonists are presented with that view in mind, broken because of tragic pasts, and wreaking havoc in the present.
The show attempts to dive into the provocations behind crime. By comparing and contrasting these two arsonists, show creator Lehane presents the human frailties that exist in all of us. Simultaneously, the drivers for the investigators are examined as well, leaving little that separates the good from the bad.
Michelle, an ex-war veteran, is new to the game of arson investigations, but she’s a fast learner and fearless. Dedicated to solving the cases, she interrogates and spies on suspected firefighters, even when her partner abandons her. Smolett is impressive in a strong and physical role. Working with tough guys, she doesn’t just project toughness; she exhales it.
As Gudsen, Egerton is giving the audience a new side to his acting ability, pushing himself into the unknown. He meets the demands of the role with commendable competence. With an early twist, the plot thickens in Smoke. But the show takes unearned advantage of this half-expected turn as the cat-and-mouse game only truly gets going in episode 4. From that point on, the show becomes unpredictable and entertaining.
If character studies and bold performances interest you, Smoke is for you. If police procedurals or criminal investigative shows are your thing, then go for it. Apple TV adds another winner to its dense collection of quality entertainment.
Dave Gudsen – ‘Why send you? You don’t know anything about arson.’
Detective Michelle Calderone – ‘Yeah, but I know a ton about crime scene analysis.’