Apple TV+’s New Show ‘Smoke’ May Ignite Summer Television

According to Statista, 41% of Americans watch true crime television, and new crime-related television shows aren’t slowing down. In fact, notable crime shows like “Virdee,” “Missing You,” “Adolescence,” and “Cold Case: Tylenol Murders” either have or are set to release this year. 

Following the success of the show “Black Bird,” a true crime mini series focusing on how a man sentenced to prison cuts a deal with the FBI to befriend and elicit a confession from a serial killer, the same creators have returned to bring Apple TV’s audience a new crime series thriller “Smoke” set to premiere on June 27. 

The show follows Dave Gudsen, an arson investigator (Taron Egerton) who begrudgingly teams up with Michelle Calderone, a police detective, (Jurnee Smollett) as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions. With Michelle bringing in a fresh look to the case, one of the arsonists may have been within their own force this whole time. Delving into a true story, an arson’s mind, and complex character development, “Smoke” creators have laid out a strong foundation for a gripping series.  

The show is inspired by the podcast “Firebug,” which is a limited series that discusses a true story following the hunt for a serial arsonist who had been terrorizing Southern California and burning down businesses in broad daylight for the last 10 years. Four people ended up being murdered as a result. 

It wasn’t, however, until a manuscript for a novel was discovered and led to a team of investigators to the person they suspected the least. 

This isn’t the first time a podcast has been picked up by writers and transformed for the big screen. In fact, other titles such as “The Shrink Next Door,” “Dirty John,” “WeCrashed,” and more have all been inspired by podcasts.  

According to Ohio Arson School, the motives behind why an arsonist commits a crime are diverse. Many may seek financial gain while others are looking for revenge or a psychological thrill. 

In “Smoke,” however, the show’s main focus regarding the serial arsonists is how they address their need for control when life events spiral beyond their influence, leaving them feeling powerless and trapped. Both arsonists are grappling with different circumstances that haven’t unfolded as expected, creating a sense of stagnation in their lives.

Arson becomes their method of reclaiming agency as a result. It’s a way to strip control from their targets and restore balance to what they perceive as an unfair situation. Beyond the desire for dominance, their actions stem from a deeper need to be understood emotionally, making their crimes both acts of revenge and desperate attempts at connection.

The season delivers strong messaging about relationships, both personal and professional. Examining each character individually, the show illustrates how working in a crime setting can deeply impact family and loved ones in complex ways.

Jurnee’s character provides the most comprehensive perspective as she weaves her professional and personal relationships together, creating blurred boundaries between them. Her role reveals unexpected depth when the audience discovers through flashbacks that she has her own traumatic connection to arson.

Combined with the complicated relationships she must navigate in the present, viewers see not only how she responds to each twist in the investigation, but also how her personal limits are tested when those closest to her either dismiss her needs or manipulate them for selfish gain.

Each carefully placed flashback gains momentum throughout the season, building toward an almost unsatisfying conclusion that leaves room for greater focus on her character if the show continues for additional episodes. 

The combination of Taron and Jurnee’s star power, the psychological complexity of exploring arsonist motivations, and the layered character development particularly around power dynamics and personal trauma creates a compelling package that could easily break through the crowded streaming landscape and establish itself as Apple TV+’s next prestige crime series.

The show may also benefit from the proven creative talent behind the critically acclaimed “Black Bird,” bringing established credibility and audience trust to the overall project.