A must-see summer television program: Smoke
In the summer of 2025, the cultural zeitgeist is not currently focused on a single TV show, a stark contrast to previous years. This shift can be attributed to several factors that have contributed to a perceived drop in the overall quality of TV shows during this season.
Despite the abundance of streaming options, many shows suffer from low budgets, poor production values, and rapid cancellations. These factors have led to a proliferation of poorly made content, as perceived by both audiences and critics alike. Streaming services like Netflix have also replaced high-quality licensed shows with a large volume of in-house productions, many of which are made cheaply and do not progress beyond the first season.
Audience skepticism and brand fatigue are other key contributing factors. Consumers have become wary of brands and platforms due to inconsistent quality. Even previously trusted providers can deliver variable quality content, eroding viewer confidence in the reliability of streaming offerings.
Some formerly high-quality shows have experienced narrative declines, reflecting broader creative struggles in sustaining engaging storylines or satisfying conclusions. This affects the overall reputation for quality. It's worth noting that while many services struggle, some streaming platforms, such as Apple TV+, maintain their reputation by focusing on quality over quantity, offering star-studded, well-produced shows and documentaries. However, their smaller libraries have limited impact on the broader impression of streaming content in summer 2025.
Amidst this void, Apple TV+ is releasing a show called "Smoke" to help fill the gap. Dennis Lehane, the crime novelist GOAT, is helming this miniseries. The show follows the chase of two serial arsonists by a detective (Jurnee Smollett) and an investigator (Taron Egerton). Smollett delivers a livewire co-lead performance, while Egerton portrays a tortured arson investigator building on the goodwill he accrued with last fall's "Carry-On."
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine delivers a genuinely unsettling performance as one of the fire-setting freaks in "Smoke." Smollett's character abuses her power recklessly, hinting at potential character development. The show feels more like Gillian Flynn's style than Dennis Lehane's, with its Difficult Woman co-protagonist, whodunit shell, and small-town weariness.
However, some critics have noted that the first two episodes of "Smoke" can feel clichéd and reminiscent of an SNL digital short spoofing Zodiac. Despite this, Alan Sepinwall's review of "Smoke" promises a good twist that makes the show worth sticking with.
The summer of 2025 is feeling more like summer 2005, with fewer TV options. HBO Sunday is mentioned as a supposedly-fallen institution, and the penultimate season of Game of Thrones started in July. The tentpole spin-off House of the Dragon followed in June. Emmy juggernaut The Bear always comes through during the summer months.
One of the most bizarre viewing experiences of the summer, however, is The Morning Show. As the summer TV landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how shows like "Smoke" will fare and whether they can break through the clutter and deliver quality entertainment.
[1] Source: The Hollywood Reporter, "The State of Summer TV: Why 2025 Feels Like a Washed-Up Season" [2] Source: Variety, "The Summer of Streaming: Why Quality is Suffering Amidst an Overload of Content" [3] Source: The New Yorker, "The Decline and Fall of Dexter: A Case Study in Creative Missteps" [4] Source: The Guardian, "The Rise and Fall of the Big Three Streaming Services" [5] Source: The Verge, "Apple TV+: A Streaming Service Focused on Quality Over Quantity"
- The style of Apple TV+'s new show, "Smoke," leans more towards Gillian Flynn's works, showcasing a Difficult Woman co-protagonist, a whodunit plot, and small-town weariness.
- Despite initially giving off a repetitive feel, similar to an SNL digital short spoofing Zodiac, Alan Sepinwall's review promises a good twist in "Smoke" that might make it worth sticking with.
- Amidst the decrease in overall quality of TV shows in summer 2025, it remains uncertain whether shows like "Smoke," with their promise of entertainment, will successfully break through the clutter and earn a place in the landscape of summer entertainment.
