Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Smoke episode 5!Smokeepisode 5 sees Freddy set another fire, but it also features a wild decision by Dave once he learns the other arsonist has become active again. WhileSmoke’s true story elementsare what inspired many aspects of the show,the arson attacks committed by Dave and Freddy are fictional. This makes the exact events of the series wildly unpredictable.
AsMichelle investigates Davebecause she correctly suspects he’s one of the arsonists,Freddy has continued his activities while also trying to build a new lifefor himself. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the management job at Coop’s he’d been going for. This influencedFreddy’s next attack, causing him to set a fire that, because of its brutality, Dave responded to.
Dave Sets A Fire After Learning About Freddy’s Arson Attack
He Burns Down A Store On His Way To Investigate
Freddy’s next fire ended up targeting the interviewerfor his prospective management job. In the middle of the night, he snuck over to his house and placed multiple milk jugs full of gasoline nearby, causing a massive blaze. The resulting fire ended up killing two people, with the show indicating it to be the interviewer and his wife.
Since the fire happened when Dave returned from his convention, he was asked to respond to it. However,before going to the scene of the crime,he created one of his own. As previous episodes established,Dave doesn’t care for human life, which is why, after learning about Freddy’s fire, he set his own.
Dave ends up burning down a storeon his way to investigate Freddy’s arson attack. He appears nonchalant about doing so, as if it was the proper way to respond when learning about the arson attack he didn’t commit. Dave’s fire is seemingly in retaliation to Freddy’s, as if he wanted to send a message to the other arsonist.
How Dave’s Arson Attack Is A Response To Freddy’s Fire
Dave Didn’t Want Freddy To Get All The Attention
The protagonist first learned about Freddy’s fire from Harvey, who told him about how it resulted in two people getting killed. The fact two people died seems to be more tragic than anything Dave’s ever done with his own fires, meaning it’ll get a lot of attention.Dave doesn’t want attention diverted from his fires, though.
Dave sets his fire to ensure Freddy doesn’t become the center of attention.He knows Freddy killing two people will make him the primary arsonistin the minds of law enforcement. But, even thoughSmokehas seen him attempt to get Michelle off his trail, Dave still thrives off the attention, something that’ll dampen if he doesn’t set more fires.
