Smoke: Strong Start with a Cool Premise and Gripping Performances, but Bourns Out by The End.

You’re locked in from the very first episode. Smoke kicks off as an enticing cat-and-mouse mystery crime thriller with something to say about ego, delusion, and trauma. The opening title sequence alone—haunting imagery of fire and old photographs, paired with a chilling Thom Yorke cover—is one of the best I’ve seen. Apple TV’s title intros are seriously underrated.

The show leans heavily into the symbolism of fire—what it takes and never gives back—using it as a clever metaphor throughout the narrative. The atmosphere is haunting, and the mood-setting is top-tier. Taron Egerton reunites with Dennis Lehane (from Black Bird), and you can tell they understand each other creatively. Despite a rough American accent, Egerton delivers a strong performance with excellent chemistry alongside Jurnee Smollett.

The story begins intriguingly, following arson investigators as they pursue a dangerous arsonist. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine delivers an Emmy-worthy performance as Freddy—creepy, obnoxious, and unforgettable. The dynamic between Freddy and Dave Gudson even echoes early Dexter vibes. Twists involving both Freddy and Detective Calderon keep things compelling.

Unfortunately, the show starts to lose steam towards the end. New twists muddy the narrative, and the tone gets kooky in places. The big reveal in the finale is underwhelming, and what the series ultimately does with Freddy’s character feels like a letdown after such a promising setup.

Smoke starts with a bang, offering a cool premise, gripping performances, and stunning presentation, but it gets too ahead of itself and burns out by the end.