Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Smoke Episode 3.
After last week’s two-part debut, Smoke continues its path with an episode that features strong character work. Whereas other procedural shows would spread clues over their entire runtime before revealing the criminals, Smoke‘s first two episodes unveil the identities of the two arsonists terrorizing this community: Freddy Fasano (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) and the show’s protagonist himself, Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton). Now, Episode 3, “Weird Milk,” deals with the aftermath of those two revelations, as well as the trauma Michelle (Jurnee Smollett) is facing following her reckless attack on Arch (David James Lewis).
‘Smoke’ Episode 3 Reveals Michelle’s Intensity and Dedication
Smoke Episode 3 starts with Michelle at a therapy session. The therapist tries to address any lingering feelings from the attack on Arch, but a defensive Michelle shoots down all her attempts and disregards any potential trauma; after all, she’s been in active service on the battlefield, so shooting a criminal in the legs is no big deal. The therapist insists, “You will run out of road one day.” Michelle deflects: “But not yet.” She continues her investigation into Dave, who is at home, preparing for Emmett’s (Luke Roessler) arrival. In that regard, Dave clumsily tries to show his support for Ashley (Hannah Emily Anderson), but she remains unconvinced.
Michelle visits every site of the D&C’s previous fires, questioning witnesses and searching for a similar incendiary device to the one Dave gave her before (the cigarette with the two matches attached). Since it’s all meadows, she’s obviously having trouble until she realizes D&C probably threw the device at a stop sign. Using quarters to determine how far the device could’ve gone, Michelle goes through every stop sign, and after a while, her patience pays off, and she finds a discarded device.
‘Smoke’ Episode 3 Sees Freddy Pursuing Greatness
At Coop’s, an impatient and somewhat jealous Lee (Dakota Daulby) berates Freddy, telling him his dreams of climbing the corporate ladder are ridiculous. When a fire breaks out, Lee puts it out and yells at Freddy, only for Freddy to push him against a wall and intimidate him without so much as saying a word. Meanwhile, Dave realizes the Milk Jug arsonist must be using a shopping bag to conceal the oil-filled jugs he uses.
Meanwhile, Michelle learns that all her hard work tracking the cigarette was for naught because the lab won’t analyze it, since she has nothing to connect it to D&C, and it is thus an unprosecutable crime. However, Dave’s new insight leads to an actual breakthrough, as examining the jug debris reveals the shopping bags were black, and only two grocery stores use black bags. Michelle suggests tracking them with a QR code, but is shot down by an ironic Harvey (Greg Kinnear), who reveals they don’t have the budget for it.
Related
Taron Egerton’s New Crime Series Just Beat a Kingsman Movie in One Crucial Way
The Golden Circle has been usurped.
At the Coop’s HQ, Freddy fills out the forms and interviews for the manager position. The interviewer, Roger Tillman (Kurt Long), is very kind and even tells Freddy a bit about his family and a previous vacation in Hawaii. However, the interview is very awkward, as the incredibly shy Freddy only gives one-word answers to Tillman’s questions. When Tillman asks him why he wants to be a manager, an excited but creepy Freddy replies, “I want to be more… for Coop’s.” Tillman merely smiles, clearly taken aback. Back at the restaurant, Freddy sits alone at a table and accepts Lee’s apology but shoots down his invitation for a beer. Instead, he stays there, constantly refreshing his inbox, waiting for an email with more info; the second round of interviews is the following morning, after all.
‘Smoke’ Episode 3 Provides More Insight Into Michelle’s Past Trauma
Throughout the episode, we learn Michelle’s mom is up for probation. Her brother, Benji (Mishka Thébaud), wants to see her free and tells Michelle not to go to the hearing. Mrs. Calderone has found religion in prison, working with the other inmates and earning quite a good reputation. Michelle shows up and claims her siblings disapprove of her being there because they want to see their mother free; she doesn’t. Between tears, she states her mother “destroys lives” and “eats souls,” leading to an inference about what happened to Michelle as a child: her mother was on drugs, locked her in the closet, and set the room on fire.
Michelle says that, contrary to what others think, her mother was her real self when she caused that fire, and while she may have found God in prison, she hasn’t fully atoned, at least not to her. The prison chaplain fires back, saying that, in her drug-fueled state, Mrs. Calderone believed she was saving Michelle’s life, so what does she have to apologize for? Facing the scrutiny of everyone in the room, not to mention her siblings’ disapproving looks, Michelle runs out crying. This whole sequence is a real showcase for Smollett, who keeps Michelle’s stern facade intact but lets the very obvious trauma lurking underneath shine through. Her monologue is short but impactful, conveying all that needs to be said.
D&C attacks again, this time targeting a woman’s fancy car. The woman can’t get a good look at the attacker, so she’s not much help, but that doesn’t stop Dave from flirting with her. At his daughter’s birthday party, a drunk Benji condemns Michelle for her testimony at the hearing. When she tries to leave, he aggressively holds her back, but Michelle breaks free and leaves the house as Benji yells that she is just “as crazy” as their mother. Replaying all that’s gone wrong in the last couple of days in her head, Michelle finally breaks down in her car. Despite the issues in her personal life, Michelle is more convinced than ever that Dave is D&C (she’s right, of course), while Dave’s progress on Milk Jug’s investigation brings him one step closer to catching Freddy.
Smoke
Both Michelle and Dave make progress in their investigations, while Freddy tries to climb the corporate ladder.
- Release Date
-
June 26, 2025
- Network
-
Apple TV+
Pros & Cons
- Episode 3 is a real showcase for Jurnee Smollett, who does some of her most emotional work.
- Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine also shines during Freddy’s awkward and unsettling interview scenes.
- The investigation into Milk Jug and D&C keeps moving at a nice pace.
- Most of the supporting cast and Egerton himself get very little to do.
- The episode takes its time with Michelle’s story but feels rushed everywhere else.
