Smoke, a new Apple TV+ crime thriller created by Dennis Lehane, premiered on June 27, 2025, diving into the hunt for two serial arsonists in the fictional Pacific Northwest city of Umberland. Former firefighter turned arson investigator Dave Gudsen, played by Taron Egerton, is paired with Detective Michelle Calderone, played by Jurnee Smollett.. Episode 2, “Your Happy Makes Me Sad,” shakes up the narrative with a shocking twist.
The episode follows the duo’s investigation into the “D&C” arsonist, known for targeting chip aisles in supermarkets, and the “Milk Jug” arsonist, who strikes Trolley Town. Calderone spots inconsistencies in the D&C suspect’s limp, hinting at deception. The episode’s climax delivers a jaw-dropping revelation about the true culprit.
Inspired by the Firebug podcast about real-life arsonist John Leonard Orr, Smoke blends fact and fiction. The opening of Joe Chappelle’s Smoke episode 2 set up a dramatic game of cat and mouse. Fans are left questioning Gudsen’s motives and the investigation’s future.
Smoke Episode 2’s Shocking Reveal Turns Dave Gudsen into the D&C Arsonist
Episode 2 of Smoke, flips the script with a stunning twist: Dave Gudsen, the arson investigator played by Taron Egerton, is revealed as the “D&C” arsonist. The episode, “Your Happy Makes Me Sad,” tracks Gudsen and Detective Michelle Calderone as they investigate two serial arsonists.
The D&C arsonist sets fires in supermarket chip aisles, using a divide-and-conquer strategy to strain emergency services, while the Milk Jug arsonist targets Trolley Town with fry oil in jugs. Calderone notices the D&C suspect’s limp, seen on security footage, seems staged, but Gudsen diverts her focus to the Milk Jug case, targeting Freddy Fasano, a Coop’s Fried Chicken worker. The climax shows a hooded figure with a limp igniting a chip aisle fire, then reveals Gudsen’s face, smiling in sunglasses and a baseball cap.
Egerton told People that Gudsen’s “lizard-like” toxicity drives his immediate, non-Machiavellian actions. The series, inspired by the Firebug podcast about John Leonard Orr, hints Gudsen’s book-writing mirrors Orr’s novel, Points of Origin, which detailed his crimes. Calderone’s suspicions grow, setting up a tense chase, as noted by Variety. The episode ends without confirming if the scene is real or part of Gudsen’s novel, leaving viewers hooked for the nine-episode run ending August 15, 2025.
Calderone’s Discovery of the Staged Limp Shifts the Arson Investigation
Detective Michelle Calderone, played by Jurnee Smollett, uncovers a key clue in the D&C arson case. Studying security footage, she notices the suspect’s limp is inconsistent, suggesting it’s faked to mislead investigators. She shares this with Gudsen, who downplays it and shifts focus to the Milk Jug arsonist, later identified as Freddy Fasano.
Calderone’s observation pivots the investigation, hinting the D&C arsonist is a current or former firefighter with insider knowledge. Her pursuit leads to a mistaken takedown of another suspect, Archie, a doomsday prepper with illegal weapons, not the arsonist. This error, covered by Showsnob, boosts Calderone’s reputation but deepens her suspicions about Gudsen, especially after his evasive behavior.
The episode’s end reveals Gudsen as the D&C arsonist, raising questions about whether Calderone’s hunch will unravel his deception in future episodes. Filmed in Vancouver, Smoke premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, per Wikipedia.
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Arvind is a Senior Writer and Editor at Hilvaro, specializing in anime, entertainment, and pop culture. With a BSc in Transportation Technology, his passion for storytelling led him to a career in journalism. He has previously contributed to Sportskeeda and GameRant, covering anime and entertainment with a keen eye for detail.
Outside writing, Arvind loves gaming and is fond of anime, binge-watching movies and television series. He spends some of his free time listening to rock music and writing poetry. What Arvind appreciates most about pop culture is the theme that makes it more alive and engaging for this generation; thus the possibility of such content reaching readers across the globe.
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