Is the Apple TV+ series Smoke a worthy successor to Dept Q.? Explained in depth

If Netflix's recent crime thriller drama, Dept. Q, caught your eye, then Apple TV's Smoke might be the next best thing for you to binge. The nine-episode-long mini-series is set in young America instead of an older Britain. However, the show features a bunch of British actors in leading roles and has kept its audience hooked on the show so far, mostly owing to the fact that it is a bit different from the regular crime thriller shows, although many of the tropes used in the show are quite common to the genre.

The show is based in an unnamed city in young America and follows the life of Dave Gudsen, played by Taron Egerton, who is also the executive producer of the series.

READ MORE: Smoke cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the Apple TV+ crime drama?

Smoke might be the next worthy binge for those who enjoyed Netflix's Dept Q

Smoke is a nine-episode-long mini-series that follows the life of Dave Gudsen, a firefighter turned arson investigator, as he navigates a case while battling with his inner demons that compelled him to give up his former career.

Dave is on the lookout for two arsonists, one of whom sets off multiple fires in public areas, while the other is known for burning down people's houses with cooking oil. However, the protagonist ends up getting a lot of flak from his boss for not being able to track down either arsonist.

He is then paired with Michele Calderon, who is a detective from another police force. Calderon's character also comes with its own baggage, mostly including a toxic relationship with her former boss and her own trauma caused by fire that she unsuccessfully tries to push deep down. However, as expected, the two characters feel a certain sense of animosity towards each other as they are forced to work together.

While most of these tropes are those that have been heavily explored within the crime thriller genre earlier, what makes Smoke stand out exceptionally is the quality of the cast and the script, as well as the setting of the show.

The setting is that of a young America, which is also set in darker grey-greens that perfectly contrast with the bright yellows that are used to depict the fires all around. Moreover, the dialogues also pack a punch, with Egerton's character often narrating hard-hitting lines about the impact that fire has on people's lives.

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Overall, the show is quite an enjoyable watch and a worthy addition to the watchlist of anybody who enjoyed Netflix's Dept. Q.

READ MORE: Smoke’s real villain may not be who you think – and that’s the point

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