Well, that's rather polarising, isn't it? The finale of Smoke delivers precisely the kind of ending that will either vindicate your investment in the series or leave you feeling thoroughly shortchanged.
I went in with high expectations after a rather good series, despite a filler penultimate episode, but got just a 6.5/10 - not bad, but didn't match expectations.
The episode focuses heavily on psychological revelation rather than plot mechanics, which proves both its greatest strength and most significant weakness. Egerton delivers his finest performance of the series, particularly during the extended interrogation sequences that form the episode's backbone. The psychological warfare reaches genuinely compelling heights.
However, the series commits the cardinal sin of mistaking ambiguity for profundity. Whilst some character revelations provide closure, virtually every practical plot thread remains frustratingly unresolved. Those expecting concrete answers about various characters' fates will find themselves thoroughly disappointed.
The visual metaphors feel rather heavy-handed, though they serve the thematic purposes adequately enough. The action sequences provide genuine excitement even if they feel somewhat disconnected from the series' psychological focus.
Michelle's character development throughout the season deserved more substantial exploration than the finale provides, despite Smollett's consistently committed performance.
Bottom Line: A finale that prioritises character study over narrative resolution, which will either feel profoundly satisfying or maddeningly incomplete depending on your expectations. Excellent performances cannot quite compensate for the abundance of loose threads left dangling.
