Smoke Episode 3 recap: Michelle finds evidence and Dave tries to mend damages

Smoke on Apple TV+ presents the story of an arson investigator, a detective, and their quest to catch two serial arsonists responsible for a series of fires. In a shocking twist at the end of Season 2, Smoke revealed that Dave Gudsen, the arson investigator, is also the arsonist, nicknamed D&C (Divide and Conquer) by the authorities.

Detective Michelle, on the other hand, followed her gut instincts to track Arch Stanton’s activities, which led her to shoot him in his bunker, where a huge number of guns were found. While Michelle has not yet successfully identified the arsonist, her suspicion that an active member of the fire department might be behind the D&C arson cases brings her closer to the culprit.

Smoke Episode 3 further demonstrates how Dave and Michelle are making progress in the case while also navigating the challenges in their personal lives. Let us now explore what happened in Smoke Episode 3.

Michelle investigates on her own in Smoke Episode 3

Since the method of the D&C arsonist was found to have resulted in failed attempts or premature fires, Michelle decides to investigate the faulty ignition devices behind those fires. She goes on a meticulous and tiring search but does not find anything helpful. However, she then decides to check the roadside bushes on the chance that the arsonist might have just thrown the device while driving their car.

This approach proves effective as she soon finds one ignition device, which becomes a key piece of evidence. While she did make this discovery, episode 3 also showed her going to therapy after shooting Arch. However, she did not seem to be bothered by that since the two did not have any emotional connection, and that man was rather rude to her.

The therapy, however, did offer a breakthrough as Michelle accepted that her job is her whole life, and the way she worked, she knew she would be burnt out at some point.

While this revelation does not significantly contribute to the main plot of the series, it does help lay the groundwork for Michelle’s character and serves as a developmental point in her arc.

Dave tries to make up with his family in Smoke Episode 3

In episode 2, before Dave’s reveal as the arsonist, he was shown to have a difficult moment with his family, where Emmett, his wife Ahsley’s son, shouted at him as he was upset over his father going away for a job. Dave’s attempts at befriending Emmett or acting as his father failed multiple times, and in episode 2, he had a near breakdown and eventually walked out and set fire to a store.

In episode 3, he attempts to mitigate the damage he caused and discusses his own childhood with Ashley, revealing that his father was extremely domineering. Proving to be different, Dave apologizes to his family. However, his family has no idea about his secret identity, and therefore, it is made further clear that Dave is indeed a complicated man.

It is also revealed that Michelle is already suspecting Dave, as she has a pinboard at her house, which lists Dave as one of the possible arsonists. Dave, of course, is not aware of this and continues working with Michelle, filling her in with more details about the milk jug arsonist, who was revealed to be Freddy, a man working at Coop’s who sets fire out of disappointment with his own life.

Episode 3 also shows Freddy’s attempts to change his life for the better, yet again, and failing. With his picture in their hands, it now remains to be seen how long it takes for the authorities to find him and how soon Michelle can figure out that she is working with the arsonist himself.

Smoke can be streamed on Apple TV+.

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