When flames dance across the screen and secrets burn beneath the surface, you know you’re in for something special. Apple TV+’s latest original series “Smoke” arrives as a masterfully crafted nine-episode crime thriller that doesn’t just tell a story about arson, it explores the dangerous obsessions that consume both the criminals who set fires and the investigators determined to stop them.
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Smoke premiered on Apple TV+ on June 27, 2025, bringing viewers a fresh take on the crime thriller genre. The series is exclusively available on Apple’s streaming platform.
The serie tells the story of “a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator who follow in the footsteps of two serial arsonists”. The series is set in the Pacific Northwest, where “an arson investigator begrudgingly teams up with a police detective, their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicion.”
What makes “Smoke” particularly compelling is its foundation in reality. The series is based on the true story chronicled in the 2021 podcast “Firebug,” which detailed the crimes of arsonist John Leonard Orr. However, creator Dennis Lehane has emphasized that this isn’t a straightforward procedural retelling, instead, it’s a psychological exploration of the minds behind both the crimes and the investigation.
Smoke Cast: Taron Egerton as Dave Gudsen, the arson investigator at the center of the story. Known for his breakout performance as Elton John in “Rocketman” and his previous collaboration with creator Dennis Lehane on Apple TV+‘s “Black Bird. Jurnee Smollett, an Emmy Award nominee, stars as Detective Michelle Calderone, the police detective who must work alongside Gudsen despite their differences.
The supporting cast: Greg Kinnear, Anna Chlumsky, John Leguizamo, Rafe Spall, Adina Porter, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson.
Lehane’s approach to adapting the “Firebug” podcast demonstrates his understanding that true crime adaptations work best when they focus on character development and psychological complexity rather than simply recreating events. His vision transforms a straightforward investigation into a nuanced exploration of human nature under extreme circumstances.
Episode 1 Songs – S01E01
Episode 2 Songs – S01E02
Episode 3 Songs – S01E03
One of the most exciting aspects of Smoke is its musical score, composed by the duo Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans. These composers, known for their work on “Ozark”, “Speak No Evil“, “The Outsider”, “Enemy”, “Presumed Innocent“, “The Gift”, “The White Tiger”, “The Staircase”, “The Devil All the Time”, “Boy Erased” and “Tokyo Vice” are scoring the new Apple TV+ limited series.
Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans have established themselves as one of the most innovative scoring duos in contemporary television and film. Their collaboration began in 2011, and since then, they’ve created atmospheric, tension-filled soundscapes that perfectly complement psychological thrillers and crime dramas.
Smoke represents Apple TV+’s continued commitment to producing high-quality, original content that stands out in the competitive streaming landscape. The nine-episode format allows for deep character development while maintaining narrative tension throughout, avoiding the pacing issues that can plague longer series.
Available exclusively on Apple TV+, “Smoke” is proving once again that the platform knows how to select and develop content that resonates with both critics and audiences alike.