2025 · Based on 1 season, 9 episodes through August 14, 2025 ·
Smoke is a crime drama show about an arson investigator named Dave Gudsen and a police detective named Michelle Calderone. They team up to find two serial arsonists in a small town. The show has visible themes about toxic masculinity and male ego. These themes appear in the main character's actions and how the police force is shown.
Community feedback
Was our 57% Woke rating accurate?
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Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Smoke.
Woke representation / casting
Detective Michelle Calderone is played by Jurnee Smollett. She is a very capable black female detective. Some other bosses and suspects are also played by minority actors. This shows that the makers wanted a diverse cast. But these roles fit the modern story well.
30%
Woke political dialogue
Some dialogue talks about male egos and the troubles women face at work. It also covers gender dynamics in the police force. However, the show does not have preachy speeches. It relies on subtext instead of lecturing the audience.
28%
Production
Identity-driven story themes
The main theme is toxic masculinity and male entitlement. The main character, Dave, looks like a good husband and a hero. But he is actually a violent monster. The show directly connects his actions to fragile male egos. The female lead also struggles in a male-dominated job.
48%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show portrays the police and fire departments in a bad light. It shows them as places where men with fragile egos cover up bad actions. It critiques these traditional civic institutions. The story frames these groups as flawed because of male entitlement and corruption.
42%
Woke character or canon changes
The show is based on a real-life arsonist named John Leonard Orr. However, the show is fictionalized. It changes the names and moves the setting to the modern day. This allows for more diverse casting than the real 1980s case.
10%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Some viewers complained online that the show has a 'men are dicks' message. They felt it pushed a feminist agenda. However, this backlash was small. It was mostly on quiet discussion boards rather than a big public fight.
32%
Creator track record context
The creators have a mix of scores. Dennis Lehane and Kary Antholis focus on gritty crime with social themes. Director Kari Skogland and actor Taron Egerton often support progressive casting and themes. This gives the team a moderate background.
32%
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