Poker Face Stacks the Deck

by

Natasha Lyonne’s character, Charlie Cale, muses in the depths of Poker Face‘s second season that her ‘normal’ might be just a tad peculiar. As the clues accumulate, it becomes evident: over 10 out of 12 episodes shown to critics for review, the human lie detector Charlie is deceived by an elementary student reminiscent of both Wednesday Addams and Damien Thorn, achieves spiritual enlightenment while staring into a captive alligator’s eyes, and more than once mirrors Bugs Bunny’s carefree, snacking nature. Charlie’s peculiarity is consistent, but it’s not exactly groundbreaking. What sets the second season apart is how Poker Face highlights its villains instead of Charlie. This more episodic approach allows the show’s antagonists to truly shine. In essence, the second season of Poker Face has a formidable roster of baddies.

John Cho looks even more attractive with sunglasses, James Ransone reappears as the charming yet dangerous Ziggy Sobotka, and John Mulaney gets angry when someone misquotes Stephen Sondheim. Simon Rex uses his smooth-talking abilities, Method Man portrays a con artist in a new light, and Alia Shawkat shows her tough side that we missed in the third season of The Old Man. The new season of Poker Face has improved upon some previous issues: it abandoned a continuous storyline about Charlie’s past with cards, which sometimes slowed down the series, and reduced its reliance on law enforcement for plot development. As a result, the show feels more flexible and focuses on a series of short crime stories inspired by Elmore Leonard. By mimicking Bugs Bunny, Poker Face turns Charlie into an easy-going observer who reacts to the madness with a casual “Check out this craziness!” This new approach makes the show more entertaining!

Initially, it takes some time for the show to reach its peak, but after the season-one finale “The Hook”, which saw Charlie escaping from a mob enforcer, witness testimony against a corrupt casino owner, and an ultimatum from the casino owner, Charlie finds himself on the run from assassins in the first three episodes airing together on May 8. Regrettably, the season premiere “The Game Is a Foot” feels overly ambitious with Cynthia Erivo portraying five sisters vying for their mother’s inheritance. This episode showcases the flashiest aspects of Poker Face – rapid costume changes, various accents, quick cuts around a funeral where there’s little genuine sadness, and commentary on Hollywood’s treatment of child stars once they age out of their roles. However, this urgency in “The Game Is a Foot” is something that the show thankfully leaves behind, and once episodes like “Last Looks” and “Whack-a-Mole” wrap up the organized crime storyline, the series really starts to pick up pace.

Poker Face thrives when its stories are intricate and focused on the turmoil of ordinary individuals pushed to their limits. As the series progresses into season two, it finds a comfortable rhythm as Charlie travels across the U.S., contemplating her life’s direction. A noteworthy detail showcasing survival off the grid is when Lyonne inquires about a job opportunity, “Does it pay cash?”

Charlie seems to yearn for a sense of community. She discovers it among animal-rights activists in Florida and a pair of grandmother and granddaughter who share bonding moments over Jeopardy! and Michael Clayton in their affordable NYC apartment.

Love? Corey Hawkins portrays a superstore manager who develops feelings for Charlie during her food delivery jobs at an Indian restaurant, demonstrating both charm and kindness.

Are the police always on her tail to rescue her? Not frequently, making the season’s conclusions feel less repetitive compared to the first one. The new relationships that Charlie encounters this season add depth to her characterization. Some of these connections prove successful, others turn tragic, all impacted in some way by Charlie’s uncanny ability to detect deceit – ultimately enriching her character overall.

With Poker Face firmly establishing its unique mystery format and reinforcing its unwillingness to disclose its inner workings (“That’s not really the point,” Charlie states), it now delves deeper into Charlie’s past, beyond her trickery. Jilliane Lyonne softens Charlie’s character traits with a charming smile and relaxed demeanor as she becomes more comfortable around new acquaintances, only to sharpen them again with sharp line deliveries and a constant glare as the burden of so much death takes its toll on her. The turbulent emotions within Charlie serve as a compelling long-term narrative for Poker Face compared to her repeated escapes from both the police and the Five Families. This emotional focus provides a strong foundation that allows the show’s comedic elements to flourish.

The humor in Charlie’s over-the-top actions, such as eating a massive turkey leg or vaping inside a coffin; the clever dialogue like “You want me to snitch on my informant, like a snake?”; the delight of an entire episode dedicated to emulating Michael Mann’s masterpiece Heat and another that pays tribute to the real-estate-related violence in Only Murders in the Building. After the first season of Poker Face, it was uncertain how long the series could maintain its momentum with its Lyonne-as-Columbo premise. However, the second season’s renewed confidence and reorientation raise the stakes for its continuation.

Read More

2025-05-08 02:07