The Apple TV+ miniseries Smoke continues to captivate viewers with unexpected developments, centering on Taron Egerton’s character, Dave Gudsen, a former firefighter turned arson investigator. Set in Umberland, the show follows Dave and detective Michelle Calderon, played by Jurnee Smollett, as they navigate a complex investigation into a series of arson incidents, with the story unfolding in increasingly surprising ways that deepen throughout the episodes.
Early Revelation of Arsonists Shapes the Series’ Unpredictable Narrative
From the start, Smoke breaks traditional suspense conventions by revealing that Dave, the lead arson investigator, is himself one of the arsonists. This twist, unveiled by the end of the second episode, shows Dave working independently while also linked to another arsonist, Freddy Fasano, portrayed by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine. This bold plot choice alters the show’s direction by challenging viewers’ expectations and reframing the character dynamics in a more complex light.
Taron Egerton emphasized that this initial twist serves merely as the beginning of multiple surprises within the story. He explained,
The thing that I really liked is that that twist about him being the arsonist is only really the first of a series of twists, and I love that,
adding,
You mentioned Dennis not wanting the characters to be put in boxes, and I think that’s what really defines the show. None of the characters are totally good or totally bad. They’re all very complex, all very challenging.
—Taron Egerton, Actor
Creator Dennis Lehane further clarified the reasoning behind revealing the arsonist’s identity early. He remarked,
We just thought that we’d play fair with it, and then we’d reveal it as fast as we can,
and continued,
And then we get to the real story, which is what the hell’s going to happen now?
—Dennis Lehane, Writer
Lehane’s approach stems from real-life inspirations, aiming to develop nuanced characters rather than relying solely on shock factors. As the series progresses, egregious behaviors of Dave are exposed, including in episode 4 where he commits an extreme act while engaged in a disturbing scenario, highlighting the dangerous depths of his psyche.
Lehane remarked on the intricate layering of the narrative from the beginning, saying,
We layered stuff in right from the very beginning. The very first thing you see is a man running through a fire to himself. That’s right off the bat,
and explained the timing of the reveal,
Audiences are extremely intelligent now. We knew that holding off on that turn, that reveal, for more than two episodes would be idiotic.
—Dennis Lehane, Writer
The Challenge of Concealing Dave’s True Nature in Early Episodes
For Taron Egerton, portraying Dave before the major twist posed a unique acting challenge. Since the audience is unaware of Dave’s dark secret in the initial episodes, Egerton had to carefully calibrate his performance to avoid giving too much away prematurely.
Reflecting on this difficulty, Egerton described his experience:
How did I approach playing him without giving away who he really is? It was a nightmare,
before adding,
Thankfully, it only really applied for the first couple of episodes because you gained a big insight into who he is at the end of the second episode. I found those two episodes really challenging because, well, I’m an actor. I want the character to be interesting and compelling.
—Taron Egerton, Actor
He also credited the editing process for helping to carefully manage what was revealed on screen, saying,
I think it’s also been something we’ve been able to modulate in the edit, where anything that felt like it gave the game away early on, we’ve tucked out of there. But yeah, hopefully it all feels kind of well judged.
—Taron Egerton, Actor
Until the pivotal reveal at the end of episode 2, Egerton had to restrain the portrayal of Dave’s darker layers. He acknowledged the paradox of the role:
It’s a bit of a poison chalice because it’s a phenomenally interesting character, but if I’m too interesting in the first two episodes, I’ve blown it. It was tough,
and noted the supportive working environment on set,
We have great directors, and Dennis is eternally refreshing, no nonsense about it in his Bostonian kind of way of just being like, ‘We’ll be fine, get on with it.’ Meanwhile, I’m freaking out.
—Taron Egerton, Actor
Smoke’s Provocative Storytelling Continues to Unfold Weekly
Smoke, based on the vision of Dennis Lehane, builds its narrative using morally ambiguous characters and increasing tension to engage its audience. The decision to disclose the arsonists early sets the stage for a story focused more on psychological complexity and the consequences of hidden truths rather than mystery alone.
As Dave’s descent into darkness grows more apparent, viewers can expect future episodes to delve deeper into his motivations, the unfolding investigation with Michelle Calderon, and the broader implications for Umberland’s community. The series airs new chapters every Friday on Apple TV+, maintaining a steady pace of unveiling new layers and confrontations.
With a talented cast featuring Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett, and the involvement of acclaimed writer Dennis Lehane, Smoke offers a gripping experience that challenges typical crime drama formulas and invites viewers to expect the unexpected at every turn.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Taron Egerton LGBTQ?
A. After people questioned his sexuality, Egerton clarified that he enjoys supporting his gay friends, but he is not gay himself.
Q. Is Taron Egerton LGBT?
A. After his grandmother passed away from motor neurone disease, he became a representative for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. People have guessed about his sexuality, but Egerton shared that he loves supporting his gay friends, even though he isn’t gay.
