Smoke: Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot (2025)

The pilot episode of Smoke opens with Dave Gudsen, a former firefighter turned arson investigator, narrating about the indiscriminate and destructive nature of fire. The scene sets a dark, intense tone as Dave reflects on how fire consumes everything without prejudice.

Dave is introduced as a troubled man, struggling with personal issues including a recent rejection letter from a literary agent, which fuels his jealousy toward his partner Michelle Calderone's success in making a big arrest. Michelle is a detective and former Marine assigned to assist Dave in investigating a series of serial arsonists terrorizing the Pacific Northwest.

The investigation reveals there are two distinct arsonists. One uses small fires involving chips as distractions for larger blazes, while the other employs milk jugs filled with gasoline to set more personal, targeted fires. Dave theorizes that the chip arsonist might be a former or current firefighter, and Michelle gains access to personnel records to investigate this lead.

Michelle focuses on a man named Archie, who reacts defensively when questioned, suggesting he may be hiding something. Meanwhile, Dave suspects the second arsonist works at a fast-food restaurant because the fires involve cooking oil as an accelerant. This leads to the introduction of Freddy Fasano, a lonely, overworked fast-food worker who dreams of fires and lives a solitary life.

Freddy is shown stalking a happy couple after a night out. Despite the couple leaving their newborn with a babysitter, Freddy sets their house on fire, severely burning the father while the wife and child escape. This act confirms Dave's theory about Freddy's pattern of targeting happy people.

Tensions rise at home for Dave as his stepson Emmett arrives emotionally distressed. Dave's awkward attempts to comfort Emmett escalate into a violent exchange, revealing Dave's fragile emotional state. Dave then steps out to cool off.

Michelle celebrates her recent arrest at a bar, where Steven questions her about covering up evidence related to a suspect named Stanton. Michelle admits Stanton is not the arsonist and hints she has another suspect in mind.

The episode ends with a shocking twist: the camera reveals Dave Gudsen himself walking away from a convenience store fire he has just set, smiling at his work. This revelation exposes Dave as one of the two serial arsonists they have been investigating, adding a complex layer to the narrative as Michelle remains unaware of her partner's double life.

Throughout the episode, the story carefully builds the dual investigation while exploring the personal struggles and motivations of the main characters, setting the stage for a tense and psychologically complex crime drama.

At the end of Smoke Season 1, Episode 1 ("Pilot"), it is strongly implied that Dave Gudsen, the arson investigator played by Taron Egerton, is secretly one of the serial arsonists they are hunting. The episode closes on a tense note, setting up a cat-and-mouse dynamic between Dave and his partner Michelle Calderon as the investigation unfolds.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The episode builds through the investigation of two distinct arsonists: one targeting grocery stores, specifically the potato chips aisle, and another targeting residential homes using fry-oil-filled milk jugs as incendiary devices. Dave and Michelle, partners in the arson investigation, approach the case with contrasting styles--Dave is methodical and somewhat enigmatic, while Michelle is more direct and determined.

As the episode progresses, viewers see Dave deeply involved in the investigation, but subtle hints emerge that he may be more than just an investigator. In the final scenes, after a fire at a grocery store, Dave is shown in moments alone that suggest a hidden agenda. The camera lingers on his expressions and actions, implying he has knowledge and involvement beyond what he reveals to Michelle or the team.

The closing moments reveal Dave in a private setting, possibly near the scene of a fire, with a look that conveys both control and menace. This visual cue strongly suggests that Dave is orchestrating or directly responsible for at least one of the fires. The episode ends without explicit confirmation but leaves the audience with a chilling sense of foreboding about Dave's true nature.

Michelle remains unaware of Dave's duplicity, setting up a tense partnership where trust is fragile. The episode closes on this unresolved tension, promising a complex narrative of deception, investigation, and moral ambiguity.

In terms of character fate at this point, Dave remains free and active in the investigation, hiding his role as an arsonist. Michelle is committed to solving the case but is unknowingly partnered with the very person she is pursuing. The episode's ending sets the stage for a psychological thriller exploring identity, trust, and the duality of human nature.

The TV show Smoke Season 1, Episode 1 ("Pilot") does not have a post-credit scene. The episode ends with music playing over the final moments and the end credits, but no additional scene or teaser appears after the credits.

The episode concludes with a focus on the characters and the unfolding investigation, followed by the soundtrack music during the credits, without any extra narrative content or post-credit teaser.

The pilot introduces two arsonists: one who sets small fires using chips as distractions for larger blazes, suspected to be a firefighter or former firefighter with access to personnel records; and another who uses milk jugs filled with gasoline and cooking oil, targeting happy people in a more personal way. The latter is revealed to be Freddy, a fast-food worker living a solitary life and dreaming of fires.

Dave Gudsen is a former firefighter haunted by a near-death experience where he was trapped in a burning house and mistook his own reflection for another firefighter. This trauma causes him nightmares and deeply influences his approach to investigating arson cases. He is also an aspiring novelist, adding complexity to his character.

Michelle Calderone is a detective assigned to assist Dave in tracking the arsonists. She is cautious about her personal life, with hints of a stalled career possibly linked to a problematic affair with a superior. Calderone suspects the chip-setting arsonist might be a working firefighter and focuses on a suspect named Archie, who reacts defensively to her accusations.

Freddy Fasano is portrayed as a lonely, struggling fast-food worker who dreams of fires. He uses gasoline and cooking oil to set fires, targeting happy couples to instill terror. His psychological profile suggests he lacks control and envies the powerlessness he inflicts on others, reflecting his own feelings of isolation and despair.

By the end of the pilot, it is revealed that Freddy is one of the arsonists actively setting fires, and the investigation is closing in on him. Additionally, there is a strong implication that Dave himself may have a deeper connection to the arson cases, as later episodes reveal he is the grocery store arsonist, which dramatically shifts the narrative perspective.

The TV show Smoke, season 1 episode 1 ("Pilot"), is not family friendly and is rated TV-MA due to mature content. It contains harsh language including frequent use of strong profanity, graphic and cringe-inducing burn injuries, and sexual content that may be upsetting for children or sensitive viewers. The show also features dark, tense, and moody atmospheres with scenes involving fire-related violence and trauma, which can be disturbing.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Graphic depictions of burns and fire injuries, including skin peeling and flesh damage.
• Frequent harsh and offensive language, including f- and s-words.
• Sexual scenes and sexual themes present in the first episode.
• Dark themes involving trauma, violence, and psychological distress.
• Intense scenes involving arson and its destructive consequences.

Given these elements, Smoke is intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for children or viewers sensitive to violence, strong language, or sexual content.