A moody, character-driven crime thriller with a strong premise and a polished Apple TV sheen, but it sounds more compelling for its atmosphere and performances than for airtight plotting. Dennis Lehane’s fingerprints usually mean bruised characters, moral rot, and slow-burn tension, which should appeal to viewers… Read more
Smoke
Where to watch: Buy
TV Show · Drama · Crime
Thu
Created by: Dennis Lehane
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jurnee Smollett, Hannah Emily Anderson
Overview
When an arson investigator begrudgingly teams up with a police detective, their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions.
A moody, character-driven crime thriller with a strong premise and a polished Apple TV sheen, but it sounds more compelling for its atmosphere and performances than for airtight plotting. Dennis Lehane’s fingerprints usually mean bruised characters, moral rot, and slow-burn tension, which should appeal to viewers who like their procedurals twisted and psychological.
Best for
Fans of dark, serialized crime dramas
Viewers who like arson/investigation procedurals with a psychological edge
People drawn to prestige TV with a grim, adult tone
Dennis Lehane fans
Skip if
You want a brisk, case-of-the-week procedural
You prefer lighter, more optimistic crime shows
You need a tightly plotted mystery with a clean payoff
You dislike bleak, suspicion-heavy storytelling
Overview
Smoke has the ingredients of a solid prestige crime series: a strong central hook, a fraught partnership, and a setting built for paranoia. The arson-investigation angle gives it a slightly fresher procedural texture than the usual homicide or drug-crime framework, and the cast suggests a show aiming for tension, not comfort.
Worth noting
The appeal here is likely to be in the mood and the character friction more than in big narrative surprises. Dennis Lehane’s work often leans into damaged people making worse choices, and that can be gripping when the writing is sharp. If the series stays disciplined, it should reward viewers who like slow-burn suspicion and moral ambiguity.
Bottom line
Still, this feels like a series that may be more admired than loved. For viewers who want a tightly wound, bingeable thriller with a memorable premise, it’s worth a look. For those who need momentum, clarity, or a consistently high-energy mystery, it may not fully ignite.