Abhiroop Das
Episode 8 of AppleTV+’s ‘Smoke‘ chronicles a tug of war between the protagonist, Dave Gudsen, and a team of officers led by Captain Steven Burk. They intend to take him down, knowing that he is, among other personas, the infamous D&C arsonist who has terrorized Umberland for years. However, this investigation also entails a personal angle for Steven, as it gives him a chance to work with Michelle Calderon, who at one point was his junior, and much more. As the case starts to take its toll on all the characters involved, Michelle and Steven head out to his house to relax. The conversation that follows brings their complicated dynamic to the forefront, reopening old wounds and enveloping new prospects. However, the direction this intense exchange ultimately takes alters the trajectory of the story forever. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Steven Burk Dies at the Hands of Michelle Calderon
The eighth episode of the show ends in tragedy as Captain Steven Burk is killed by none other than Michelle Calderon, his former subordinate and romantic interest. This comes as the climax of their confrontation, with Steven pressing for a rekindling of their relationship, much to her disappointment. Although Michelle establishes clear boundaries in their dynamic, Steven refuses to budge and instead threatens to derail her career. Having heard enough, she prepares to leave, but is forcibly held back. The exchange soon turns violent, and Michelle hits Steven square in the neck, rupturing his windpipe in the process. As the captain tumbles and chokes, he requests her help, indicating the use of a pen for an emergency tracheostomy. However, at this crucial juncture, Michelle freezes and watches him die instead.
When Steven finally stops breathing, the gravity of the situation hits Michelle, and she realizes that the only way out of this situation is to frame this as the work of the D&C arsonist. In a twisted sequence of events, she prepares an incendiary device akin to his and douses her former boss’s dead body before setting it on fire. As a final touch, she leaves behind Dave’s gloves, erasing every proof of her presence in the process. This marks a cruel end to her dynamic with Steven Burk, which started out as a steamy affair but quickly turned into a bitter separation due to her disinterest in committing to him. As such, the Captain, who has already divorced his wife, is left alone and spends the rest of the season desperately trying to get back with Michelle, not knowing that this would eventually spell his demise.
Michelle’s actions find their roots in her complicated history, starting with her childhood. Michelle’s mother, a drug addict, once killed a person in a motel before locking her daughter inside and setting the place on fire. The arson took two more lives, but Michelle was rescued and ultimately testified against her mother in court. This incident left a permanent scar in her psyche and is part of what informs her decision to contribute to Steven’s death. Burning down the scene of the crime serves as a nod to cyclicality, bringing to light how trauma can affect a person. We have seen Michelle do similar things in the past, when she accidentally shot Arch Stanton in the first episode and labelled it as self-defense. This, coupled with the malicious influence of Dave, ties every element together to bring out Michelle’s darkest side yet.
Rafe Spall’s Role in the Story Has Likely Come to an End
With Steven Burk dead, the probability of Rafe Spall reprising the role as a prominent cast member has slimmed down considerably. However, it is possible that he might reappear in the form of flashbacks, fleshing out his importance to the narrative in the aftermath of his passing. This is substantiated by the episode itself, as right after his death, Michelle’s mind goes back to their affair, with positive memories juxtaposing with her real-time actions. These flashes continue for a while, and as such, might find their way in the following episode, the finale.
Actor Rafe Spall brings his own unique touch to ‘Smoke’ with his portrayal of Steven Burk. We see the character go from an aggressive, petty man to a bearer of great responsibilities and conflicting emotions, and Spall captures every bit of this arc in perfect detail. In an interview with Pop Culturalist, he displayed his keen insight into Steven, particularly about the significance of his death. He stated: “(…) what’s on the page is a mercurial character—someone who swings wildly with his emotions and can’t regulate them. That’s something I can relate to in my own life. I’ve been there. Sometimes you let yourself down, you overreact, you say things you regret. It’s very human.” Additionally, Spall brings up the idea of the audience not just being entertained by his performance, but also learning a bit about themselves in the process.
Read More: Smoke: Is the Apple TV+ Show Based on a True Story?
