Here’s how to catch Taron Egerton in the true-crime series ‘Smoke’
Here’s how to catch Taron Egerton in the true-crime series ‘Smoke’
The nine-episode crime drama is inspired by the real-life story of a serial arsonist.
My wife and I burned through “Black Bird” when it dropped on Apple TV+ and couldn’t stop talking about it. That show was created by Dennis Lehane and had Taron Egerton playing someone who had been convicted of a crime and gets offered a shot at freedom if he can get a confession out of a suspected serial killer (played by the incredible Paul Walter Hauser, who won an Emmy for it) — and it’s all based on a true story. Well, Apple TV+ is going back to the, er, fire pit, putting Lehane and Egerton back together for another real-world-inspired crime story in “Smoke.” The series will premiere on Friday, June 27 with two episodes, and you can watch with a seven-day free trial to Apple TV+.
How to watch ‘Smoke’
- When: Friday, June 27 at 12:01 a.m. ET
- TV: Apple TV+
- Stream: Watch with a seven-day free trial to Apple TV+.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ‘Smoke’:
When will episodes of ‘Smoke’ come on Apple TV+?
“Smoke” premieres Friday, June 27 on Apple TV+, with the first two episodes dropping right out of the gate. After that, new episodes will land every Friday through August 15. So if you’re planning to binge it, you’ll have to wait for the slow burn (get it?) — one episode at a time.
| Episode | Date | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Friday, June 27 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 2 | Friday, June 27 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 3 | Friday, July 4 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 4 | Friday, July 11 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 5 | Friday, July 18 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 6 | Friday, July 25 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 7 | Friday, Aug. 1 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 8 | Friday, Aug. 8 | 12:01 a.m. |
| No. 9 | Friday, Aug. 15 | 12:01 a.m. |
Can you watch ‘Smoke’ for free?
You can definitely watch the first two episodes of the series for free when you sign up for Apple TV+ via its seven-day free trial. Since the season runs for eight weeks, you won’t be able to sign up now and watch the whole season without paying, but since two episodes are dropping on Friday, June 27, you can definitely get a good sense of the series before having to commit any cash to Apple’s coffers.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
What is ‘Smoke’ about?
“Smoke” is set in the Pacific Northwest and centers on two people who don’t exactly hit it off. Taron Egerton plays Dave Gudsen, an arson investigator who’s sharp, experienced, and clearly haunted by something in his past. He’s quiet, guarded, and not big on sharing — especially when he’s suddenly paired with Detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett), a newer cop who’s never worked an arson case before. Together, they’ve got to track down two serial arsonists lighting up the city, but the deeper they get into the case, the more it starts to feel personal… like someone’s playing a game with them.
And it’s not just the fires that are burning. There’s serious tension between Gudsen and Calderone, too. He doesn’t trust her instincts, and she’s not convinced he’s telling her everything he knows. In fact, she starts to wonder if Gudsen might be connected to the fires himself. The show’s based on the real-life “Firebug” podcast, which tells the story of an actual arsonist who went undetected for years, so that mystery runs deep. If you’re into true-crime-inspired dramas where everyone’s got something to hide, “Smoke” is gonna pull you right in.
Watch the trailer for ‘Smoke’
Who stars in the ‘Smoke’ TV series?
The leads in “Smoke” are Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett, and based on the trailer, there’s some smoldering tension between these two. Egerton plays Dave Gudsen, a veteran arson investigator who’s clearly carrying some heavy emotional baggage. Smollett plays Detective Michelle Calderone, a newer cop brought onto the case who’s not exactly welcomed with open arms. The two don’t trust each other at all, which is bound to make their partnership super fun (and tense) to watch.
The supporting cast is stacked, too. You’ve got Greg Kinnear and John Leguizamo in key roles, plus Anna Chlumsky, Adina Porter, Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, and Hannah Emily Anderson. It’s one of those ensembles where every character seems like they might be hiding something — and with a show like this, that’s kind of the point.
Who are the creators behind ‘Smoke’?
“Smoke” comes from the same team that gave us “Black Bird” — and yeah, that show cleaned up during awards season. Taron Egerton starred in it and scored an Emmy nomination for playing James Keene, a guy behind bars tasked with trying to get a confession out of a suspected serial killer. Ray Liotta, who played his dad, was also nominated, and Paul Walter Hauser actually won for his terrifying performance as Larry Hall. So with Egerton and creator Dennis Lehane teaming up again, “Smoke” is already coming in with some serious heat (these puns are on fire).
Is ‘Smoke’ based on a true story?
Yep — “Smoke” is based on real events, even though the show itself is totally fictional. It takes inspiration from the “Firebug” podcast, which looks into a series of deadly arsons that hit Southern California back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The true story centers on John Orr, a former fire captain who ended up being convicted of setting multiple fires — including one that killed four people. It turns out that the guy who was supposed to stop the fires was the one lighting them. “Smoke” changes the setting and characters, but it keeps the same creepy idea at its core: what if the person you trust to protect you is actually the one causing all the damage?
Will there be a Season 2 of ‘Smoke’?
For now, “Smoke” is a nine-episode limited series, and Apple TV+ hasn’t said anything about a Season 2. Since it’s inspired by a real case and shaped as a contained story, it’s likely meant to be a one-and-done, just like “Black Bird” was. So if I had to guess, there will be no second season of “Smoke,” but you never know!
Smoke
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.