by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
Esteemed writer/director Rian Johnson continues to assert himself as the premier name in modern whodunits. After Knives Out and Glass Onion breathed fresh air into the genre, Johnson pivoted to television to explore a more procedural format with Poker Face. He teamed with Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a human lie detector with an uncanny ability to stumble into high-stakes murder cases. The first season stunned with a singular hilarious tone, standout guest appearances, and an iconic protagonist that practically demanded more adventures. This year saw the release of the followup season, with an ending that similarly teases future endeavors.
To some extent, Poker Face lives and dies on Lyonne’s leading performance. It’s somewhat humorous given that she only appears in about half of each episode due to the show’s structure, which spends the bulk of the opening introducing the episode’s core mystery. Regardless of the screen time, her presence is undeniable in every scene. She has a distinct wit and compassionate aura that allows the audience to believe that so many people would immediately invite her into their lives during their lowest points. Her intelligence is believable, and is shown to far surpass her someone supernatural intuition for untruths. Casting directors would struggle to find a replacement for this role, which fortunately shouldn’t be an issue, because Lyonne’s love for this character shines throughout the season. The climactic finale even manages to push her to some new emotional lengths, challenging potential stagnation for the character after 22 episodes with a relatively strict formula.
However, redundancy is a concern that may be worth considering when production of the next season rolls around. Admittedly, it comes with the territory. Part of the charm is the comfortable routine that the audience shares with Charlie. The fact that viewers more or less know what to expect, yet still stay engaged across multiple seasons, is a testament to the cast and crew’s ability to spice up familiar tropes.
Unfortunately, a few storylines this season lean too heavily on the same subversive elements that made earlier episodes stand out. It almost feels like Johnson’s thesis for the series is that the whodunit is a timeless storytelling device, sustained through constant creative innovation. Knives Out is a spectacular example of establishing a modern classic by reframing the story in a bold way. That just makes it all the more underwhelming when a big twist relies on clever little techniques that were previously employed to greater effect.
It should be noted that the team seems aware of this potential pitfall, as the final two episodes of the season set up a substantial status quo shift. That, paired with the new emotional range achieved by Lyonne, is more than enough to justify further entries. And to be clear, there are still plenty of interesting twists and turns throughout the series. Given the procedural format, each episode is effectively its own isolated short story. Some continue to push the structure in the same ways as Johnson’s other projects. “Whack-A-Mole” and “The Sleazy Georgian” are the two best examples, introducing some twists that challenge and engage. Others are enjoyable yet forgettable. Not necessarily a devastating sin, but one that could lead to fatigue in a saturated television market.
They also deserve kudos for preemptively addressing another potential flaw of the format. Charlie is a detached nomad, quick to jump in and save the day but hesitant to form long-term bonds. This doesn’t always flow with a long-form series, because an audience wants some deeper emotional attachments. Viewers need people to root for and appreciate growth that occurs over weeks and months instead of days.
There are several recurring characters here that allow us to see far more depth in Charlie and in this world. Simon Helberg returns from the first season as Luca, the FBI agent who is showered in promotions due to his proximity to Charlie’s genius. Steve Buscemi voices a trucker who meets Charlie on a random radio station, slowly shifting from stranger to companion to armchair therapist and more. These are the types of connections that make the world feel more genuine and believable, which is crucial when the buy-in to the premise is so high.
This strength is a natural extension of another defining feature of the series: the unmatched star power of its guest performers. The seemingly boundless cast is such an achievement that any positive review risks becoming a laundry list of memorable names. Each actor brings their A-game to every moment, and avoids falling into the modern habit of reducing talent to a brief cameo. This season’s highlights include Giancarlo Esposito, John Mulaney, Cynthia Erivo, and Method Man, just to name a few. But by far the most memorable addition is I Think You Should Leave alum Patti Harrison as Alex. Her character begins to occupy the Watson role toward the end of the season, allowing Harrison to continue flexing her comedic chops and establish herself as a force in comedy television.
Johnson and Lyonne’s passion project Poker Face continues to be a highlight among streamer original series. It is heartfelt, stylistically bold, and endlessly funny. Potential redundancy was a theme of this review, but that comes with a crucial caveat. Some people, myself included, can easily see past that. If they continue down this path and release several more seasons with limited evolution of the model, it will still have a well-deserved audience.
There is something uniquely comforting about a charismatic lead who uses their talents to spread positivity and justice across the country. A series that exudes positivity and community without feeling even remotely preachy. The labels “mystery of the week,” “monster of the week,” or even just “sitcom” can be used to diminish the value of a show. But the power of a familiar, somewhat predictable comfort show in a turbulent world can be almost therapeutic and promote empathy in a significant way.
Whether or not they continue to reinvent the genre, the crew of Poker Face continues to offer one of the most welcoming worlds on the small screen. Which is somewhat shocking, given the fact that Charlie seemingly can’t throw a stone without hitting a cold-hearted killer.
Rating: Loved It
Poker Face is currently streaming on Peacock
You can read more from Jack Grimme, and follow him on Bluesky and Letterboxd