Smoke: Season 1, Episode 5 - Size Matters (2025)

The episode "Size Matters" begins with Dave Gudsen preparing to attend an arson conference. Captain Steven Burke visits Dave's office early in the morning, waking him up and questioning whether Michelle will accompany him to the conference. Dave senses Burke's protective attitude, especially since Burke is aware of Dave's complicated relationship with Michelle. Harvey Englehart then arrives, surprised by Burke's presence, and denies any scheduled meeting, leading to a tense exchange between Harvey and Burke about Dave and Michelle's effectiveness as a team.

At the conference, Dave gives a confident presentation on arson investigation, demonstrating fire-starting techniques for effect. However, a woman in the audience heckles him, accusing him of lacking genuine depth and calling out his showmanship. Dave tries to brush off the criticism but is clearly unsettled by it. After the presentation, Dave meets a woman named Reba at a bar. They share a spark, and the interaction leads to them going to a hotel room together.

In the hotel room, Dave struggles with performance anxiety, unable to "get it up." This leads to the reveal that Reba is actually Dave's ex-wife. Despite both being married to other people, they engage in this role-playing game semi-regularly. Reba knows Dave well enough to connect his fragile ego and humiliation from the conference to his inability to perform. She shows little patience for his male fragility and sends him away. Dave wakes up alone, frustrated and emotionally raw.

Meanwhile, Freddy, another character, faces his own struggles. He arrives at work only to find he has been passed over for a managerial position in favor of Dev, a younger, more confident, and personable employee. Freddy is relegated to working the fryer, which fuels his anger and sense of inadequacy.

Back at the conference, Dave is abruptly called away by Harvey, who informs him that the arsonist known as Milk Jug has escalated his crimes. Milk Jug has burned a well-to-do white couple in an upscale neighborhood using six incendiary devices. Dave reacts with visible excitement at the news, showing eagerness to pursue the case. As Dave leaves the conference, a convenience store is seen burning in the background, and a smile creeps across his face, suggesting a complex mix of emotions--possibly excitement about the case or relief from his earlier personal frustrations.

As Dave drives away, he is suddenly involved in a severe accident when a truck T-bones his vehicle at an intersection. The collision is unexpected and abrupt, leaving Dave's fate uncertain at the episode's end. The shock of the crash serves as a cliffhanger, halting the narrative at a critical moment.

Throughout the episode, there are subtle tensions and power plays among the characters, including a charged conversation between Harvey and Burke about Dave and Michelle's partnership, hinting at deeper conflicts and secrets yet to be revealed. The episode closes with the escalating threat of Milk Jug's arson spree and the personal and professional turmoil engulfing Dave and Freddy.

At the end of Smoke Season 1, Episode 5, "Size Matters," Dave Gudsen is called away from a conference after learning that the arsonist known as Milk Jug has escalated his crimes by burning a wealthy white couple's home with multiple incendiary devices. As Dave leaves, a convenience store burns in the background, and a smile crosses his face. However, moments later, Dave is suddenly hit by a truck at an intersection, leaving his fate uncertain but implying a major turning point in the story.

The episode's ending unfolds as follows:

Dave Gudsen is attending an arson conference, where he is visibly shaken and distracted after being publicly humiliated by a woman named Joy, who is later revealed to be connected to his complicated personal life. This humiliation affects him deeply, even causing him to fail in an intimate moment with his ex-wife Reba, with whom he maintains a secret, dysfunctional role-playing relationship despite both being married to others.

While at the conference, Dave receives a call from Harvey, who informs him that the arsonist Milk Jug has dramatically escalated his attacks by setting fire to a well-to-do white couple's home in an upscale neighborhood using six incendiary devices. This news visibly excites Dave, who seems energized by the challenge and the opportunity to pursue Milk Jug.

As Dave leaves the conference venue, the camera shows a convenience store burning in the background, symbolizing the ongoing chaos and destruction tied to the arsonist's spree. Dave's smile suggests a complex mix of emotions--perhaps excitement about the case or a release from his personal frustrations.

Suddenly, as Dave drives away, his car is T-boned by a truck at an intersection in a shocking and abrupt collision. The impact is unexpected and serves as a cliffhanger, leaving viewers uncertain about Dave's condition or survival. The episode ends on this tense note, emphasizing the precariousness of Dave's situation and the escalating danger surrounding the investigation.

Regarding other main characters at the episode's close:

• Reba, Dave's ex-wife, remains entangled in their complicated relationship, which is marked by mutual dysfunction and secrecy. She is not present at the accident but is central to understanding Dave's emotional state.

• Harvey, who informs Dave about the escalation of Milk Jug's crimes, continues to play a role in pushing the investigation forward but is not directly involved in the accident.

• The arsonist Milk Jug's actions escalate the stakes dramatically, setting the stage for further conflict in the series.

Thus, the episode ends with Dave's fate uncertain after the crash, the arsonist's threat intensifying, and the personal and professional tensions around Dave reaching a critical point.

There is no specific mention of a post-credit scene in episode 5 of the TV show "Smoke," titled "Size Matters." The episode focuses on Michelle Calderone trying to track down Dave Gudsen's old partner, Ezra Esposito, while Freddy seeks revenge. The narrative builds tension as Calderone gets closer to uncovering Gudsen's secrets, and the episode ends with a cliffhanger that sets the stage for the rest of the series. However, there is no detailed description or confirmation of a post-credit scene in the available information.

The TV show "Smoke" is not family-friendly due to its mature content. Here are some aspects that might be objectionable or upsetting for children or sensitive people:

• Graphic Violence and Arson: The show involves arson and depicts scenes of fires, which can be intense and disturbing.
• Strong Language: Frequent use of harsh language, including profanity, is present throughout the series.
• Sexual Content: There are sex scenes and sexual themes that are not suitable for younger audiences.
• Drug Use and Cruelty: The series includes drug use and cruelty, which can be distressing for some viewers.
• Nudity and Violence: Episodes contain nudity and graphic violence, including scenes of burns and other injuries.
• Emotional Themes: The show explores mature emotional themes, such as suicide and intense psychological tension, which may be upsetting for sensitive viewers.

These elements are consistent with the overall tone of the series, which is dark and tense, set in the Pacific Northwest.