Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Smoke episode 9!The Apple TV+ original miniseriesSmokehas concluded, with the final episode revealing the fate of Taron Egerton’s Dave and those around him. Loosely inspired by areal-life arson investigation,Smokehas been building to the moment when Dave is going to face punishment for the fires he’s set. All this while he’s leading the investigation to cover his tracks.
Othercharacters inSmoke, like Michelle, have been investigating him, though have had trouble finding concrete evidence pinning him to the fires. However, episode 8 of theApple TV+ original seriessaw her accidentally kill Steven. She decided to set his house ablaze, planting a glove Dave left in her car to make him look like the culprit.
How Dave Gets Caught In Smoke’s Final Episode
Dave already knew Michelle was on his trailwith an investigative team, but he managed to parse out they didn’t have any real evidence, since they had yet to arrest him. However, instead of playing it safe, he got cockier, going back to work and investigating his own fires again. That was until he learned Steven’s house had burned down.
He realized he was about to be framed, and while he begged his ex-wife, Reba, to vouch for his whereabouts, she refused. This made him feel like he was being backed into a corner. He threatened to expose Harvey skimming federal funds before setting off to investigate a fire with Michelle, taunting her all the while about her past.
The new arson attack they’re investigating triggers a forest fire, which Dave drives the pair into. He tries to kill Michelle in the process, but she manages to get the upper hand and arrest him. While there’s no concrete evidence she can use to charge him with arson, she can charge him with attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and assault.
Michelle Managed To Cover Her Tracks After Killing Steven
After killing Steven, Michelle tried planting evidence and burning down his house to frame Dave for an arson attack. However, she didn’t notice the neighbors' outdoor camera aimed at the house until the next morning. Panicked, she calls her brother, Benji, to have him sneak into the house and delete the footage of her outside that night.
While never directly stated, it’s implied Benji started the forest fire as a distraction to ensure Steven’s neighbor wouldn’t return, and to disrupt the investigation of his house in the area. This gave him the perfect opportunity to sneak into her home and delete the footage. It also ensured Michelle’s framing of Dave wouldn’t cause anyone to question his guilt.
Esposito Finds The Evidence That Confirms Dave’s The Arsonist
After Dave is imprisoned, Michelle is tasked with questioning him, hoping to get a confession regarding his arson attacks. However, it’s Ezra Esposito and Dawn Hudson who end up finding physical evidence that Dave is the serial arsonist. The pair begin searching through his car after securing a warrant, hoping to find concrete evidence of his burnings somewhere inside.
After a tedious search, they finally discover Dave’s arsonist outfit. The sunglasses, hat, and jacket were inside his car, the pair sending the images to Michelle. She shows them to Dave, but he’s still in denial that the evidence points to him being the arsonist. However, the physical evidence also backs up even more circumstantial points from their interview.
New Passages From Dave’s Book Incriminate Him Further
Earlier in the show,Dave’s book incriminated him, with Harvey recognizing a young boy calling pistachio ice cream “stipachio.” It was a detail from a real-life fire he’d investigated, leaving that detail out of all reports, meaning Dave had to be there. While in custody, Dave is read another passage that further points to him being the serial arsonist.
In this part of the book, Dave described his fictional arsonist setting a fire with “a scrap of paper and some charcoal dust.” He admits this mirrored a fire at the Hancock Hardware Store in 2019. However, Michelle points out his report was inconclusive, while the method was actually discovered by the store’s investigator, who never shared that information.
Dave’s convenient knowledge of evidence mirrors how he first showed Michelle an incendiary device he left in a store in episode 1.
However, Dave still does his best to wiggle his way out of being suspected. He explains how anyone involved with the investigation, from the lawyers to private investigators, could have knowledge about what really happened. By trying to obfuscate the truth, Dave is shifting blame to other parties that had nothing to do with his own investigation, nor his book.
What Dave’s Final Vision & Transformation Really Means
Near the end of the episode, however, Michelle says something that sticks with him: she believes that, when he looks in the mirror, he sees Donald, not himself. Ever since thestory of Dave’s mother leaving, it’s been clear his issues are rooted in the past. But, upon glancing at his reflection, he sees an older version of himself.
This goes even further after he realizes he will be punished for his crimes. He ends up having a vision of Ashley and Emmett packing up boxes that include pictures of him. However, he looks much older. In addition, he sees his arsons through a different lens, as if he’s behind the version of himself that’s been committing them.
These visions and Dave’s subsequent transformation into an older version of himself emphasize how the heroic way he views himself is nothing more than a facade. In actuality, he’s a monster unwilling to accept who he is, trying to play himself up as a heroic investigator when, in actuality, he’s nothing more than a disgruntled arsonist hurting other people.
How Smoke’s Ending Sets Up A Possible Season 2
AlthoughSmokeends on a fairly definitive note, the miniseries still leaves some room open for a possible season 2. While deleting footage of Michelle at Steve’s house, Benji seemingly puts it onto a hard drive, meaning the footage still exists. This could lead to some conflict between the pair if the show were to be renewed.
The show also didn’t entirely finish Dave’s story, since it’s only implied he’s going to be found guilty of his crimes. If the show did come back, it could work off its final twist and reveal more about Dave’s inner workings through him getting put on trial. This could open up old wounds for other characters involved with the investigation.
With its final series of twists and turns,Smokeended by seeing Dave get brought to justice, while also wrestling with the morally gray areas of other characters' actions. The conclusion brought with it some introspection surrounding the show’s focus and themes, emphasizing how everyone sees themselves as the heroes of their own stories.
