Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Smoke season 1, episode 9!Smokestar Jurnee Smollett details the season 1 finale’s major Michelle twist, explaining how it connects to the show’s riveting conclusion. Theending ofSmokesees Michelle finally bring Dave to justice after his string of arson attacks. However, one of her biggest pieces of evidence involved framing him for a fire at Steven’s house after she accidentally killed him.
Speaking withDeadline, Smollett explained how Michelle justified Steven’s death inSmokeas necessary to catching Dave, even if it makes her a monster too. The actor analyzed the final scene with Michelle and Dave in the interrogation room, explaining how both of them are being dishonest about themselves, even to each other. Check out what Smollett said below:
Do the ends justify the means? Oftentimes, to her, they do, and yet I still think certain circumstances contribute to her finding herself in a situation she never thought she’d be in. I think Michelle feels it’s justice, because he’s killed little kids. He’s killed innocent women and children and taken parents from their kids. To her, he has committed unforgivable sins. I think in her mind, she has justified what has happened with Burke as something that is an unfortunate [necessity]. They’re so aware of how they’re staring at each other [in the interrogation], but they’re really staring at parts of themselves. They’re both lying to themselves, saying that they are one thing that they are not, and they present this mask to the world that is in stark contradiction to who they actually are inside. I think that is one of the main things they recognize in each other is the lie that they are trying to desperately sell.
What Jurnee Smollett’s Statement Says About Michelle’s Ending In Smoke
A core theme of the Apple TV+ drama is how thecharacters inSmokeall have some skeletons in their closets. From Harvey skimming money from his job to buy a vacation home to Ezra’s shady adult film business, everyone in the show has something to hide. For Michelle, that’s her relationship with Steven, and, subsequently, his death.
Based on Smollett’s response, it seems Michelle is willing to justify the accidental death because of what it means for Dave getting caught. If she hadn’t killed Steven, then she wouldn’t have as much physical evidence tying Dave to his arson attacks, even if she had to stage one. For her, it’s enough justification because he was brought to justice.
Michelle’s twisted morality was first hinted at in episode 2, when she shot Scotty and made up a story about why she broke into his house.
At the same time, though, her justification is just as twisted as Dave’s, who also harmed numerous people with his fires but didn’t care. Just like him, there’s also evidence floating around that she was the real culprit of Steven’s house fire: her brother, Benji, saved footage of her from that night on a flash drive, cementing her sins.
Our Take On Michelle’s Smoke Ending
WhileSmokeis inspired by a true story, Michelle’s storyline and her conflict with Dave are fictional, allowing the narrative to bolster various themes surrounding both characters. In this instance, it seems like, while the arsonist has done much more damage than his captor, her actions have still resulted in people getting hurt. However, it seems she won’t be caught.
Because of how muchSmokedabbles in moral gray areas with its characters, it makes sense for Michelle to get away with her actions while still not justifying what she’s done. For her, Steven’s death was part of the journey to catching Dave. It emphasizes her willingness to do whatever it takes in the pursuit of perceived justice.
Smoke
Cast
Smoke unfolds as an arson investigator joins forces with a police detective to thwart two arsonists. As they navigate the investigation, they become ensnared in a complex web of secrets and suspicions, driving the narrative forward in this gripping tale of crime and trust.
