Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Smoke episode 8!Smokeepisode 8’s major character death and the impact it will have on Michelle has been explained by a series star, who unpacks the shocking moment. Conflict between Michelle and Steven came to a head in episode 8. Michelle accidentally killed him by punching in the throat; she covered his death with a fire, leaving othercharacters inSmokeoblivious.
Speaking withColliderabout his character’s death,actor Rafe Spall explained the consequencesSmoke’s penultimate episode will have on Michelle. He explained the intricacies of the ending that made it so unique, praising director Jim McKay while explaining how it compromises Michelle’s belief that she’s always doing the right thing. Check out what Spall had to say below:
It’s a very original scene. I’ve never seen a death like that that goes from something instinctive that you might actually applaud, which is, from the audience’s point of view, she’s punching him in the face, he’s being kind of an asshole before, and then he’s saying he’s going to ruin her career, and turns out it’s on his neck. Then he’s suffocating, and then we see her choose not to help him, which then puts our protagonist in a completely different light, which I think speaks to the writing throughout the series, where it’s very difficult to know who to back, who to root for, which I think is ultimately very human. This is full of people who think they’re doing the right thing, that make mistakes, and I think it’s one of the things that make it compelling.
In terms of shooting that episode, that was directed by Jim McKay. We spent a lot of time on it, and I really liked the scenes that build up to it. They were some of my favorite scenes that I’d shot, when actually, you see them having quite a nice time. That was nice. I just think that it’s great that you were surprised by it, which I think is the point of it. It’s great that it’s a shock. That’s just a testament to the brilliant writing of Dennis and his excellent team.
What Rafe Spall’s Statements Say About Michelle Going Into Smoke’s Final Episode
As Spall said,Michelle didn’t mean to kill Steven. The pair were arguing about what their relationship meant, with her superior finally blowing up at her over their affair ruining his marriage. However, she doesn’t feel the same connection to him, and tries punching him in the face. Instead, she accidentally kills him with a strike to the throat.
ThoughSmokeis inspired by true events, the show is entirely fictionalized. Shocking moments like Michelle accidentally killing Steven are made more brutal because there’s no way of knowing what will happen next. However, she sets his house on fire similarly to the way Dave’s been setting his fires; clearly, she wants to pin the blame on him.
While Dave will know the truth about what happened to Steven, nobody else in the show is aware of how he actually died. By covering up her crime,Michelle’s ensuring no consequencesfor herself, while tacking on a fire to the known arsonist’s tally. But the guilt she feels isn’t going to go away because she’s made her actions disappear.
Our Take On How Michelle Killing Steven Will Impact Smoke’s Finale
WhileMichelle might be able to convince everyone else involved in Dave’s investigation that he targeted Steven, he’ll still know the truth. It also doesn’t align with Ezra and Dawn having eyes on him at his ex-wife’s house, making it impossible for him to have started the fire. This could prove disastrous for Michelle if someone puts it together.
It seems unlikely others investigating will believe Dave, though if Ezra and Dawn put it together, Michelle could be looking at serious consequences. Whether the final episode ofSmokeshows her caught or not remains to be seen. But, if she can keep her story straight and not buckle under pressure, she might get away with her horrible mistake.
The final episode ofSmoke, titled “Mirror, Mirror,” arrives Friday, August 15 on Apple TV+.
