The Smoke (2014) User Reviews

I'm a sucker for Jamie Bamber

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 6 October 2023]

Jamie Bamber gives a fantastic performance in "The Smoke," which was either a miniseries or a regular series that didn't last long.

I can tell you that firefighters loathed this show so we can assume it was highly inaccurate.

Bamber plays a firefighter, Kev, trapped in a building with a baby and told an aerial ladder is en route. It never comes - the baby dies, and Kev suffers catastrophic burns and is out of commission for a year.

His wife is played by Jodie Whittaker, the next Dr. Who, so it was heavily promoted. She loves her husband and vice versa, but due to his injuries, he can't have sex. In a graphic scene, we see what has been done to his body.

Now he's back on the job and determined to find the people responsible for the fire, which he can't stop watching on his computer.

I thought the firefighters were very unlikeable and acted like children. Very annoying.

Bamber adopted a low-class accent for the role, and he is wonderful. But I can't say I liked the series.

Great Drama

[jackieandtodd · 8/10 · 5 January 2024]

I wish they would have had a second series. I really liked this show. I know a lot of the reviews were complaints about it not being accurate enough. A lot of shows that I've seen about Fire, Police, etc. Have not been accurate, but I still watch them if the writing and acting is very good like this one. I love Jamie Bamber's work since the late 90's. His character in this series made me sad. He was dealing with so much. He almost burned to death and the baby he was trying to save didn't make it unfortunately. He was dealing with that, PTSD, relationship problems, etc. The other actors were good too. I just wish it would come back for a proper ending.

Amazing Series

[jobennett-963-750981 · 10/10 · 1 April 2014]

This series is fantastic, gripping with an underlying story running the whole way through along with different story lines each week. It is also very funny. It contains great characters and addresses many issues, abuse, relationships, racism, sexism, adoption etc. The relationships between the characters is very well portrayed and believable and I like the various situations fire fighters are required to attend rather than just showing fire after fire each week which a lot of previous shows have provided. The gritty situations particularly between Kev and ASBO are heartfelt but passionate which makes for a great central story. I will be sad when this finishes, I have loved every moment.

The Smoke

[Kathryn-lisle · 10/10 · 16 March 2014]

Read the other comments with interest.

However, I would point out, this is an entertainment programme, not a factual documentary on firefighters.

Chill and enjoy!

Programmes like The Smoke are not meant to reflect real life.

They are there purely to entertain.

I think The Smoke does entertain and not for one moment am I daft enough to think it is a true reflection of our fire service.

I guess there are those out there who believe aliens haven't come to Earth because they think Torchwood exists!!

Or does it?

Has the makings of a fantastic show.

[Old_Man_From_Scene_24 · 10/10 · 20 February 2014]

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

This is cringe worthy TV

[banterandcraic · 23 February 2014]

I am sorry but after watching the first episode, I just had to write a short review about this terrible inaccurate representation of the Fire Service. I am an active firefighter for over 25 years, and this kind of stuff makes me cringe.

I am so angry at the makers of this programme, it is complete rubbish. There are so many things wrong in this drama that I don't know where to start. I for one will not be looking at any more episodes.

I hope many more firefighters voice their concerns about this programme.

I could not even rate this as one star.

UK firefighter

Dire Rubbish

[tonyorourke · 1/10 · 7 March 2014]

Having just retired recently after 32 years in the Fire Service, I settled down to watch the first episode of "The Smoke".

Your fire adviser named in the credits is Nick Warner. What is this guys fire service background? As the procedural aspect of the incidents are alien to me and the on station antics and dialogue hark back to the 1970s. Not up to date at all.

London's Burning at least had an operational adviser who was working with the LFB at the time which although pandered to entertainment actually portrayed station life pretty well and used up to date procedures and story lines.

I also am enjoying "Chicago Fire" which knocks spots off "The Smoke" for production values, though they may have a bigger budget. The scripts for "The Smoke" are poor, the acting wooden and the stories not worth watching. I can imagine the "public" would view it as entertainment along with the titillating nudity. Surely this drama can be good without this kind of stuff. It comes across as any other drama with a bit of flame and uniform to help it fit the title.

What is it with so many characters smoking their way through the programme. My experience of people in the service is that on a watch there are almost no smokers any more, like there used to be.

It just seems that stories are fed into a fire service time warp from the past. Because of the poor advising by Nick Warner, this programme falls short and after watching the second episode tonight, I'll not be watching any other episodes.

This could have been so good, yet it has been let down in so many ways. Sorry for this criticism, but having been a professional firefighter, feel it doesn't do me or my colleagues justice, or in a good light.

The Smoke is great

[Stuart76 · 10/10 · 10 April 2014]

What can I say, well first off more please.

The Smoke is brilliant, great cast and good story lines. Asbo – Taron Egerton plays his part so well and its great to see the action between him and Kev – Jamie Bamber develop.

Realistic on screen scenes and shows the type of injuries our firefighters can suffer while doing their dangerous job. We have to remember that while most of us our running out of a burning building, they are going in.

Episodes 1, 6 and 7 are for me the best episodes, the scenes in the tunnel with the tanker were excellent.

Please do series 2, can't wait to watch what happens next.

What a load

[ipad-937-600409 · 1/10 · 2 March 2014]

I don't know what SKY we're thinking of when they gave this production the green light, was no one available to give them technical advice on how the Fire Service works !!! or any advice on how to make a decent drama !!!!!

I have now very painfully watched 2 episodes of this "drama" and WILL not be watching this again as the only accurate facts seem to be that we drive around in big red fire appliances with blue lights and wear fire kit. The program shows we run around fires with Breathing Apparatus on our back and self commit in to a fire with no regards to procedures or even fire fighting media. It's worse than BBC 1 Casualty and that's saying something.

You need to get you facts right on how the fire service works correctly.

I hope this program will be deleted and never made again.

The worst firefighting drama of all time!

[jinja-colin · 28 February 2014]

When I saw the trailer for 'The Smoke' it looked promising. I remember watching London's Burning as a kid and when I became a firefighter the series was just ending and not to soon as it had become very unrealistic.

So a new British firefighting drama on Sky, this must be good as Sky have produced some cracking dramas. As a serving firefighter for 13 years now I want the public to see a good representation of the UK fire service but in a drama that will win awards. The fire service has gone through a lot of monumental changes since I joined and unless you are in the job or know someone who is then I feel the general public will not appreciate what happens.

'The Smoke' so far has been a disastrous representation of the UK fire service and makes me and other firefighters angry. The procedural errors and wholly inaccurate work environment really doesn't show the UK fire service in a good light, and makes us look like a bunch of incompetent buffoons.

Firefighters of the UK Fire Service are highly trained and highly competent professionals and whom strive to serve their local communities.

Unfortunately 'The Smoke' gets a big thumbs down and is a huge disappointment, at least 'London's Burning' had the backing and technical adviser support of the London Fire Brigade.

Accurate and Entertaining!

[firemedic-03023 · 9/10 · 11 November 2019]

I was a firefighter in the States for 18 years. Imagine my excitement to see such a high quality show where they clearly strived to make the calls and the station life so realistic. They nailed it on both counts! This show is very well crafted and the acting is superb. Everyone involved does an excellent job, especially Taron Egerton. This puts other modern-day series about the fire service to shame. My only regret is that there aren't more episodes. A very big "Thank You" to everyone who worked on this, you've successfully captured what it's like to work in the Fire Service, and you've done so with honor by showing that every person alive has their own demons to battle as well.

A wonderful surprise

[kendallann-70351 · 10/10 · 12 July 2019]

Honestly, I found this because of Taron Egerton and I wasn't planning on making it past episode one, but wow. Binged the whole thing. I'm not even a fan of medical/firefighter dramas, but what can I say, I loved it. Unique plot with suspense, excellent acting (especially between Asbro + Kev). All the characters had dimension, which is probably not easy to do with only 8 episodes, and it wasn't predictable, not at all. It's too bad there isn't more.

Rubbish!

[roysquires · 1/10 · 7 March 2014]

I cannot believe this was allowed air. If technical advisor's were used they must have chosen to ignore everything suggested. I have seen better, more technically correct footage on "Fireman Sam" Seriously. I was hoping for much better than this.

Years ago I watched "London's Burning" A bit over the top but they used characters that were true to life. Fat ones, thin ones, father figures & an idiot. Just like the real thing. The story lines were often technically correct and contained plots to suit everyone.

If you lined us up in a shower, viewers would be physically sick!

Serving Firefighter (37 years)

Absolutely awful

[pbolah · 1/10 · 4 March 2014]

This is the first time I have written an IMDb review, but I felt compelled after watching the first two episodes of this awful drama.

I had such high hopes and whilst I cant pick up on 'procedural inaccuracies' what I can say is that the script,plot and acting are clichéd and cheesy in the extreme. It's so bad its almost a classic!!

The banter between the firefighters is forced and lacking any subtlety. The cockney accent of the lead character is painfully over acted. The story (especially the god awful council estate scene) left me with my mouth hanging open for all the wrong reasons. Didn't anyone watch this back afterwards and wonder, 'what the hell are we doing?'.

All in all its one of the poorest efforts I've seen from Sky in a long time. I was caught up in the trailer hype (which seemed to got on for months!) and it didn't deliver .

worth viewing again not just for Jodie.

[ib011f9545i · 27 August 2017]

with Jodie Whittaker going to be the next Doctor Who this drama is cheap on DVD at the moment.

It was heavily promoted when it was broadcast but got a mixed reaction. It is interesting but flawed.

It is too influenced by American style concentration on the lives of the characters rather than the job (fire and rescue). But it is worth a watch,good cast and interesting stories.

What's the point?

[al_2368_99 · 1/10 · 29 March 2014]

:Possible spoilers (though, if you watch much TV these days you'll probably know what's coming already...):

What is the point of this programme?

Seriously? If the programme is just going to be about people having sex with each other and then getting angry about it, why bother setting it in a fire station? To be honest, given that we already have about a thousand programmes using that template, why bother making it at all?

As I firefighter myself I knew there were going to moments of artistic licence but I looked forward to seeing a dramatised representation of what we actually do that might be good entertainment.

The first episode seemed promising but that was as far as it went. Every episode since then has been like Eastenders with big red lorries in the background.

Firefighting is an interesting and exciting subject, I can tell you that for sure. The 'relationship' (i.e. bed-hopping) drama that TV writers always fall back on when they run out of real stories, though? Not so much.

I'll stick with Chicago Fire: it hurts my 'suspension of disbelief lobe' less.