Poker Face Season-Finale Recap: Cold Blooded

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Kudos to those who predicted it weeks earlier, whether it was the hint from the pumpkin spice latte or the Carolyn Hester song “Warning” – Alex turned out to be the main villain all along. If your detective instincts are sharp, you might not have been surprised by the revelation when it happened, but the way it unfolded, with exceptional performances by Natasha Lyonne and Patti Harrison, as well as brilliant direction from Lyonne herself, was a standout moment for season 2 of Poker Face. Although some more recent episodes, including last week’s less impressive one, have hinted at a sophomore slump, we’re ending the season on a positive note. I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes if the series gets a third season.

The final episode continues where we last were, with Charlie and Alex heading towards Beatrix Hasp, evading FBI agents, gangsters, and a skilled assassin in hot pursuit. Luca makes another desperate plea for Charlie to reverse course. He hypothesizes that the murder was staged to lure the Iguana, the world’s most elusive assassin, to Hasp (although he’s incorrect about the motive), and warns that if Hasp dies, Charlie will end up in federal prison. Skeptical, Charlie ends the call before Agent Milligan can complete the trace. She has narrowed down Charlie and Alex’s location to Indiana, but with too many safehouses in the state for a full search. However, when Luca pleads with SAC Darville and heads of NSA and CIA to disclose Hasp’s location so he can protect her, they dismiss him. The Iguana is believed to be retired, having been silent for over a year. Furthermore, they question how an oyster shucker could find the safehouse. In a passionate speech, Luca likens Charlie to a hawk, Sherlock Holmes, and an English bulldog, stating that she has “an extraordinary ability to solve mysteries that no one else can.” I was even reminded of him calling her the “embodiment of destiny.

In essence, Charlie isn’t doing well; she’s quite apprehensive due to Luca’s warning that the Iguana could be anyone, causing Lyonne to portray a sense of unease in her scenes. They meet up with Alex at a diner, where Charlie feels unsettled about the potential trap. She proposes they hide out until Hasp testifies in two weeks. However, when a figure resembling Justin Theroux, disguised as a cowboy, approaches, they flee. Despite involving locals to confront the likely assassin, they must continue their journey to the safehouse. Upon arrival at the house in Greenville, Indiana, Charlie remains jittery. She requests gum from Alex, and the tension eases slightly with the singing of the Big Red jingle. Charlie leaves Alex in the car, instructing her to honk if danger arises. Unfortunately, the danger had already arrived. Charlie knocks on Hasp’s door but receives no response. As she approaches a side entrance, a startling realization hits her. “Alex,” she says, as her friend begins frantically honking the horn. By the time Charlie returns to the car, it’s abandoned.

As I delve into this gripping climax, the scene takes an ominous turn when I find myself surrounded by slain federal agents within the supposed sanctuary. In a sweeping bird’s-eye view, we witness me cautiously entering the living room, where Beatrix is frozen in front of the Wheel of Fortune, a chilling bullet wound on her forehead. (A cruel twist that would have meant more Rhea Perlman in the finale!) Suddenly, Alex steps into the frame with a gun pointed at her own head, but I’ve already cracked the case. “Enough games,” I retort, my suspicions confirmed. “I know who you are.” The enigmatic figure known as Alex then reveals herself in a menacing leather outfit. “I was merely toying with you,” she explains, her voice noticeably transformed from what we’ve grown accustomed to. That’s because the woman before me isn’t Alex – there never has been an Alex. The person standing in front of me is the Iguana (for the sake of simplicity, I’ll continue referring to her as Alex in this recap). Her sole blunder was the Big Red gum, which would have proven fatal had she been truthful about her cinnamon allergy. This slip-up confirms her status as a master manipulator, a theoretical figure hinted at in episode eight, and the only individual capable of deceiving me without being found out.

In this setting, we delve into Alex’s (or the Iguana’s) past. After spending her entire adult life eliminating the wealthiest and most influential individuals globally – even refusing to work for the Vatican due to their inability to meet her price for assassinating the Pope – she found herself growing weary. On the verge of retiring from her line of work and the world of the living, she received an intriguing proposition: a task deemed impossible – taking out Beatrix Hasp, who had only one human connection, a woman who couldn’t be deceived. The initial scene where Alex unintentionally lied to Charlie about her coffee order? That was the Iguana probing her ability to successfully mislead a human lie detector. She managed this by suppressing all involuntary responses. Essentially, she was “cutting off the roots of my humanity.” However, it proved effective, and Alex continued to deceive Charlie relentlessly. The task provided a renewed sense of excitement. Harrison portrays her as finding a certain appeal in encountering someone who could match her cunningness. “Lying to you was like having great sex,” she tells Charlie. “I assume. I don’t really engage in physical pleasure.

In this episode’s numerous nods to Sherlock Holmes, Alex compares herself to Watson, stating that the gym murder, though unplanned, advanced things by making her Charlie’s “quirky sidekick.” This won Charlie’s trust and taught Alex how to manipulate her because of her altruistic nature. She enlists the services of the second-best assassin worldwide to eliminate Hasp’s son, murders the other hitman (Justin Theroux, may he rest in peace), and waits for Charlie to lead her to Beatrix, the only one who could save Alex from her predicament. Although Charlie acknowledges the plan’s intricacy as unusual, it was part of the plan from the start. “You, Charlie Cale, are the most challenging case of my career,” Alex remarks. “You gave me a reason to keep living.” Despite knowing Alex’s true identity, Charlie responds with emotion to this. This emotional response is a testament to her humanity, something she can never suppress, and she appreciates it keeps her from becoming a heartless killer like the Iguana. Additionally, discussing their situation helps Charlie stall until Alex is about to shoot her. However, the smoke alarm goes off just in time, due to Charlie increasing the heat in the safehouse. “You’re clever,” Alex says, hopefully not referencing a Peacock promotion for a new Jurassic World film. As Luca and Milligan arrive with backup from both the FBI and local police, Alex uses Charlie as a shield to escape in the Barracuda.

Charlie queries Alex about their plans, possibly sensing that he won’t be pleased with the response. “I outsmarted unflappable Charlie Cale, my closest rival, so what’s left?” Alex retorts. “This is where our journey ends.” They are en route to Indiana’s renowned Grand Canyon Gorge, and Alex is preparing a dramatic finale reminiscent of Thelma & Louise. Charlie begs for one more chance to catch Alex in a falsehood, piquing the assassin’s interest. She agrees to play a final round of Two Truths and a Lie. If Charlie wins, Alex will spare them both – the Iguana will have found a worthy counterpart, a “Sherlock to my Moriarty,” making it worth continuing. Fortunately, even in her distress, Charlie manages to detect the lie or perhaps it’s wishful thinking that Alex isn’t telling the truth when she says she’ll drive off the cliff regardless of the game’s outcome. True to her promise (at least for this instance), Alex slams on the brakes, but the car – which has been struggling for a few episodes now – doesn’t stop and plunges into the gorge.

It appears we’re on the brink of a rather aggravating cliffhanger. Thankfully, the scene reverses, revealing that Charlie managed to roll out of the car in the nick of time. She grips onto a tree root hanging off a canyon wall, while the Barracuda plummets into the Grand Canyon and explodes below. Luca arrives moments later to rescue her, but his news isn’t promising. Charlie has been assisting a serial killer, resulting in the death of a federal witness, among other severe crimes – making her the FBI’s most wanted. In an unexpectedly poignant moment, the duo exchange tearful goodbyes, with Luca warning Charlie that he’ll have to arrest her when they meet again. However, it seems the FBI might not be the only ones pursuing her: Agent Milligan finds the Barracuda empty at the bottom of the gorge, suggesting Alex could be anywhere. For now, Charlie is focused on escaping trouble, resuming her nomadic lifestyle on the open road. She saves a dog from a collision ahead of an oncoming truck and continues her journey. Kansas becomes their next destination – a suitable choice for both Charlie and her new canine companion.

Just One More Thing

It’s no coincidence that the waitress who informs Charlie about the Buy One Get One Free deal on parking lot Xanax is called Glinda, a reference to the character from “The Wizard of Oz.

After considering everything, what are your thoughts on the overall second season of Poker Face? I must admit that I’ve been surprised by some of the criticism I’ve encountered online, yet at the same time, I can’t ignore my own reservations throughout the series.

If a third season occurs, having Charlie on the run again will revert the series to its initial state, albeit with her now escaping federal authorities. It’s intriguing to consider how the show might manage to blend its episodic format with the Iguana serving as an ongoing main antagonist (and it surely wouldn’t hurt to have Patti Harrison back in the mix).

As a devoted cinephile, I must confess that my “Good Buddy” theory as the main antagonist seems to have hit a snag. The plotline feels incomplete, leaving me with a strong hunch that Steve Buscemi will make a tangible appearance if the series manages to secure another season.

It seems Beatrix Hasp may have inadvertently simplified the task of locating her, as she once again shared her home address publicly on Instagram. While I understand that Alex desired a challenge, it’s quite possible for them to have tracked down their target without such explicit assistance.

In the production of “Poker Face,” creator and frequent director Adam Arkin makes a brief appearance, portraying the CEO who meets an untimely end in a panic room located 300 feet beneath the Alaskan tundra.

I was especially thrilled about the Harvey Fierstein vocal appearance. He portrays Cedric, the Iguana’s agent, who contacts her regarding the Hasp job. “He’s the epitome of the world’s largest sociopath,” Alex remarks.

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2025-07-10 15:58