Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Smoke episode 6!Smoke episode 6 includes mention of an arson victim using the word “stipachio,” indirectly incriminating Dave as the culprit of the attack. Episode 6 saw a collection of characters in Smoke working for law enforcement begin investigating Dave as a possible arson suspect. Michelle opening up about her findings led to the secretive team being formed around her suspicions.

While Michelle’s beliefs about Dave have support from Ezra Esposito, other figures involved don’t have the same faith in her assessment. This includes Harvey, Dave’s boss and best friend, who is present for the investigation despite not believing Dave is an arsonist. However, his mind is changed due to the use of one word in Dave’s book: “Stipachio.”

“Stipachio” Was How A Young Arson Victim Pronounced “Pistachio”

A Mispronunciation That Could Get Dave Caught

After the investigation isn’t able to turn up conclusive evidence about Dave, Harvey threatens to walk away. However, while Dave’s narration of his novel plays, he describes a young boy who pronounces “pistachio ice cream” as “stipachio.” This makes Harvey pause, and ends up selling him on the idea that his best friend might actually be a serial arsonist.

Related

Smoke Episode 5: Why Taron Egerton’s Dave Did THAT After Freddy’s Fire

Smoke episode 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.

The novel’s portrayal is heavily inspired by a real fire that Harvey was in charge of investigating. A child who died during that same fire pronounced “pistachio” as “stipachio.” His grandfather told this to Harvey, who never put it in any of his reports. However, there’s one other thing he didn’t do that makes him even more suspicious of Dave.

Dave’s Use Of “Stipachio” Proves He Was At The Real Fire

Harvey Explains Why This Has To Be The Case

After listening to the audio in Dave’s arson book, Harvey explains how the term “stipachio” was told to him in complete privacy. He never even told Dave about the word, meaning there would have been no way for him to know about the term unless he was there. This proves to him that his friend is the arsonist they’re seeking.

The moment ends up impacting Harvey throughout the episode, even resulting in him cutting up his hand after punching a framed photo of him and Dave together. He’s now fully on board with the investigation that’s going to happen, despite the emotional revelation. But now he has irrefutable proof that his friend was responsible for that deadly fire.

Will “Stipachio” Be Enough To Bring Dave To Justice?

The Evidence Is Very Circumstantial

Unfortunately, even though Harvey knows for certain that Dave was behind the fire he wrote about, he can’t prove it for sure. The evidence involving his fictionalized rendition is circumstantial at best. The team is going to need something more concrete if they really want to bring him to justice.

Despite the obstacles that are bound to be in their way, Smoke showed Harvey is still on the case, meaning he’s going to be a huge help moving forward. Even though he doesn’t have any exact evidence that puts him at the scene of the crime, the knowledge he has regarding the fire means he’s committed to bringing Dave down.

New episodes of Smoke arrive Fridays on Apple TV+.

Smoke

7/10

Release Date

June 26, 2025

Network

Apple TV+

Directors

Kari Skogland

• 

  Taron Egerton

  Dave Gudsen

•