Being someone who lamented the loss of Sirens recently, I was hoping for another take on the emergency services, as anything which pays testament to their duty in a tasteful way has my complete blessing.
The Smoke did not disappoint.
Opening with a darkened set for a dark plot moment, the visual effects were more than eye-catching and bestrewed realism from the off. This is matched by a shocking moment near the pilot's end (you'll know it when you see it), with both of these moments being sandwiched by some truly brilliant acting. Jamie Bamber is as good as ever, but his supporting cast has proved in only forty minutes that they are up to the task of making this show high-quality in all departments for, hopefully, a long time to come. The humour and playful banter was rife, but easily replaced by a realistic notion of severity when on-the-job.
The job of a fireman itself is portrayed as brutal in many aspects, with evidence proving that the oh-so important work isn't always respected by pedestrians, and with the possible injuries sustained being showcased as truly horrific. The Smoke pulls no punches in this regard, and it certainly fits its 9PM time slot. But I have no complaints. I don't shy from what some may label 'gratuitous' threat, as it smacks of the realism I want the entire show to be associated with.
Although there is much more to come, this one episode has given me hope for the future. If the rest of the series lives up to what I've just watched, we're in for a dramatic roller-coaster of a show.
10/10
