As of August 1, seven of the total nine episodes of the Apple TV+ crime thrillerSmokehave aired. The series marks the second team-up betweenTaron Egertonand writerDennis Lehane, following the huge success of their previous Apple TV+ series,Black Bird. With just two episodes remaining, tensions are higher than ever, although the quality, according to fans, is not.
Compared to the near-perfect98% scoreearned byBlack Bird,Smoke’s critics' rating on the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoesis just 71%, although it’s the audience score that poses the most concern. Since its opening episode,Smoke’s audience score has continued to drop,with it now falling below the 50% mark ahead of thefinal two episodes. Not only is this thelowest audience score in Egerton’s television career, albeit from just a few small-screen projects, but it’s also one of his worst scores compared to his film work. 49% is the lowest rating for Egerton since 2018’sRobin Hood, in which Egerton played the titular heroic outlaw.
InDavid Caballero’sreview ofSmokefor Collider, he awarded it a decent 7/10, writing, “Despite its shortcomings, ambition-wise, there is simply too much talent inSmokefor it to be anything other thannine great hours of televisionfrom a streamer that consistently deliversbrilliant miniseriesthat sadly remain underappreciated.” He then added, “It might not be an instant smash hit like other shows that become addictive from the get-go, and a few too many similarities toBlack Birdmight make it seem a bit been-there-done-that, but in the end,Smokeis nothing less than a carefully assembled crime drama.”
What Else Is Popular on Apple TV+?
PerFlixPatrol, as of August 11, 2025,Smokeis the third most-watched show on Apple TV+ in the U.S. Right now, the show is beating several high-profile titles, including the likes of the acclaimed comedy sports seriesTed Lasso, the raucous period dramaThe Buccaneers,Jason Momoa’s brand-new seriesChief of War, the ever-popular, award-winningSeverance, and much more. However, despite being a podium place, third is still behind two in the Apple TV+ ranks. In second is theOwen Wilson-led AppleTV+ dramedyStick, which many are calling the newTed Lasso, and the current top spot is held by thehit science fictiondramaFoundation.
Smokecontinues on Apple TV+. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest film and TV stories.
Source:Rotten Tomatoes,FlixPatrol
