Apple TV+ is rapidly establishing itself as an essential streaming platform for Taron Egerton enthusiasts. The actor’s newest part in Apple’s “Smoke,” where he plays an arson investigator alongside Jurnee Smollett, is a crime drama miniseries crafted by author and screenwriter Dennis Lehane (for those unfamiliar, imagine Lehane as the Stephen King of dark crime narratives). The series, which includes a shocking twist in the second episode, draws inspiration from the “Firebug” podcast detailing a serial arsonist in Southern California.
If you watch “Smoke” and discover that you not only enjoy it but crave more, I would suggest another series on Apple’s platform that also features Egerton and equally warrants your view: “Black Bird,” which interestingly is yet another crime drama by Lehane. Launched in 2022, this series shows Egerton as Jimmy Keene, a once-promising young man turned prison inmate, while Paul Walter Hauser gives a remarkable performance as the suspected serial killer Larry Hall. One aspect that makes the show particularly engaging, at least in my opinion: The series boasts nearly flawless ratings on Rotten Tomatoes — 98% from critics and 95% from viewers — which is exceptionally rare for television (it’s no assurance that you’ll enjoy it, but still a statistic rarely encountered).
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