Dennis Lehane, the acclaimed novelist and master of suspenseful narrative, has penned an original miniseries “Smoke.” This compelling series takes us deep inside the frightening world of arson investigation. Taron Egerton stars in the eponymous lead role. This represents his return to work with Lehane, following their successful partnership on the award-winning 2022 series “Black Bird.”
In “Smoke,” Egerton plays Dave Gudsen, a retired firefighter who became an arson investigator. His character is left to learn the truth behind a series of suspicious fires. These fires are the doing of serial arsonists that plague his jurisdiction. The miniseries explores the professional hurdles Gudsen has overcome. Topsy-Turvy makes marvelous care to showcase the intricacies of his private life, above all — his mother’s imprisonment.
Joining Egerton is Jurnee Smollett, who portrays detective Michelle Calderon of the Oceanview Police Department. Calderon is summoned in to help Gudsen with her investigation, and she herself carries a ton of emotional baggage into the case. Her character grapples with a traumatic childhood experience and attends her mother’s parole hearing, despite facing hostility from her siblings. This dual narrative makes both characters more complex as each faces their own difficulties in the whirlwind of change.
The incredible cast features Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine. …Smith, who does earn every bit of praise heading his way for his haunting, compelling performance as Freddy Fasano, a fast food shop fry cook. According to critics, Mwine’s performance is now likely awards-worthy because of its fascinating realism. Rafe Spall rounds out the main cast as Gudsen’s captain, providing additional layers to the story’s dynamics.
As the story plays out, audiences experience the increasing pressure and chaos caused by the serial arsonists’ intrusion into Gudsen’s domain. The complex emotional landscape where professional commitment meets personal turmoil is ideal narrative territory, and it keeps audiences involved.