Episode 2 of "Smoke" kicks off with Calderone meticulously scrutinizing CCTV footage, his eyes gleaming as he unearths a crucial clue. Our enigmatic arsonist, the one with the telltale limp, curiously appears sans limp in the footage from the most recent blaze, weeks prior. This revelation suggests a deliberate attempt to mislead the investigating team, a game of cat and mouse he seems all too eager to play.
Excitedly, Calderone shares her discovery with Gudsen, who can't help but be impressed by her detective prowess. Meanwhile, Gudsen's literary endeavors are flourishing, his book serving as a muse that ignites his creativity. He even ropes in Ashley to lend her discerning eye to his prose, which she finds strikingly immersive, as if she's walking through the pages herself.
Yet, Ashley posits that the narrative is overbalanced with male characters, urging Gudsen to introduce more female voices to round out the story. Their conversation is riddled with subtle undertones of tension, foreshadowing stormier waters ahead. Gudsen attempts to convince himself that his relationship with Ashley remains on solid ground, but the truth is a strained, laborious dance, one he papers over with a forced, cheesy smile.
Switching gears back to the case, Gudsen has made significant headway in tracking down their Milk Jug arsonist. A compelling sketch of the suspect materializes, a tangible breakthrough in their quest to bring him to justice. As we already know, this mystery man is none other than Freddy, currently clocking in at his fast food gig.
There, Freddy becomes the butt of jokes from Brenda, a regular patron who teases him about his bashfulness, hinting that his quiet demeanor might just mask a sharp intellect worth keeping an eye on.
Freddy harbors ambitions to elevate his life's trajectory and finds himself contemplating an application for a managerial position, particularly after being captivated by a promotional video emphasizing the significance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the company. Undeterred by his colleagues' pessimistic views, which label the role as a cul-de-sac, Freddy remains steadfast in his desire to at least give it a try. Meanwhile, his concerns about evading police attention may inadvertently also be alleviated by Brenda's invitation to visit her salon for a haircut. Struggling with insecurities about his appearance, Freddy finds solace in Brenda's reassuring demeanor and expertise.
Elsewhere, Calderone and Gudsen exchange playful jibes at the police station, still reeling from their abortive stakeout of Archie. Yet, Michelle remains relentless in her pursuit. She infiltrates Archie's caravan, where she discovers grenades nestled in the fridge and a clandestine underground compartment concealed within the floorboards. Upon exploring this hidden realm, she uncovers a doomsday bunker stocked with an array of weapons, provisions sufficient to sustain life for months, and an unexpectedly perverted twist—a sex dungeon.
Archie's arrival, armed and dangerous, prompts Michelle to shoot him in the knees and demand the truth. Through interrogation tinged with torture, she seeks answers, but Archie maintains his innocence regarding the arson attacks. Realizing her mistake, Michelle ventures outside, her mind in turmoil. In a fit of desperation, she grabs some of Archie's firearms and stages an elaborate scenario to justify her actions. To everyone's astonishment, her discovery of the bunker catapults her to the status of a hero.
As Gudsen catches wind of Michelle's unexpected accolades, he receives a disheartening email from his literary agent. The agent cites struggles with weak character development, particularly the lack of strong female characters, in Gudsen's novel. His morale plummets, but Ashley too grapples with her own share of problems. Gudsen's familial strife stems prominently from his strained relationship with Emmett, his stepson, a connection marked by underlying tension and distance.
He stands as the unmistakable elephant in the room, as Ashley strives valiantly to navigate the complex waters for her son, Emmett, who is firmly entrenched in his tumultuous teenage rebellion. Adding another layer of intricacy to the situation, Emmett's father is relocating a whopping 2000 miles away, placing Emmett in an excruciating dilemma.
That fateful night unfolds in discord when Gudsen, losing his composure, nearly unleashes a torrent of curses upon Emmett. Just in time, he catches himself, replacing the rage with a chilling smile that sends shivers down the spine.
While Michelle is lauded as a hero, her actions do not impress everyone; Steven Burke remains unconvinced. Outside, he confronts Calderone bluntly, reminding her of the perilous close call when she almost struck Archie in the femoral artery, a mistake that could have proven fatal. Burke is acutely aware that she has narrowly escaped a grave consequences.
When Burke inquires about the leads in the case, Calderone responds cryptically with a mere "just one," leaving them at somewhat of an impasse. However, the episode takes a dramatic turn when, at its climax, another potato chip display is ignited. As the perpetrator retreats, a glimpse of his face reveals a eerily familiar smile – it's Dave Gudsen, leaving us with more questions than answers.
