Russ's Final Pitch: Was It Murder?

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Poker Face season 2, episode 5.

In the conclusion of “Hometown Hero,” the fifth episode of Poker Face season 2, Charlie Cale orchestrates a plan to make Russ “Rocket” Waddell, Simon Rex’s struggling baseball pitcher, achieve his best throw ever. Following her discovery in the previous episode (season 2, episode 4) that Gaby Hoffman’s Fran was responsible for Kumail Nanjiani’s character, Gator Joe’s death, she left Florida and took up a job as a ball girl for a nearby minor league baseball team. Over the course of Poker Face season 2, Charlie has been solving a variety of murders, some premeditated (like in episode 2) and others accidental (such as in episode 3).

In the narrative of “Hometown Hero,” we find Charlie being unintentionally struck by a baseball outside a stadium, thrusting her into the realm of Russ “Rocket” Waddell’s struggling minor league baseball team in Montgomery, Alabama. This team is so poor that Russ and a select few of his players devise a plot to manipulate game outcomes and wager against themselves to amass a modest fortune.

However, their scheme begins to unravel before it reaches fruition when the newcomer pitcher, Felix Domingo, discovers Russ’s plan outlined in a notebook. Offended by Felix’s remark that he had missed his chance at the major leagues, Russ retaliates by hurling a fastball at Felix’s head, resulting in an immediate and fatal injury.

Poker Face Season 2 Episode 5 Cast & Cameo Guide

Who Stars In “Hometown Hero”

In episode 5 of Poker Face season 2, Natasha Lyonne’s character Charlie Cale takes the lead. Joining her is Simon Rex, recognized from films like Red Rocket and Blink Twice, who portrays Russ “Rocket” Waddell, the episode’s murderer. Steve Buscemi lends his voice for a brief appearance as Good Buddy at the episode’s start. Newcomers to Poker Face this season include Brandon Perea as Felix, Gil Birmingham as team manager Skip, Carol Kane as team owner Lucille, Ego Nwodim, and B.J. Novak. Noah Segan, who played Sheriff Parker in season 1, reappears as Lew Dundee in season 2.

Natasha Lyonne reprises her role as the unconventional character, Charlie Cale. She is recognized for her performances in television series such as “Russian Doll” and “Orange is the New Black,” as well as movies like “His Three Daughters” and “American Pie.” Additionally, Lyonne has contributed to writing and directing in the second season of “Poker Face.

In a career that began as an MTV VJ, Simon Rex later stepped into acting, first appearing on “Baywatch” in 1989. Some of his most recognized roles are in TV shows like “Jack & Jill” and “What I Like About You”, as well as films such as “Red Rocket” and “Blink Twice”. He is also known for playing George in three movies from the “Scary Movie” series.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the captivating talent of Brandon Perea. Known for his exceptional portrayal of Alfonso ‘French’ Sosa in the acclaimed Netflix series The OA, Perea has also left an indelible mark on the silver screen with his roles in blockbusters like Nope and Twisters. His latest venture sees him sharing the limelight with Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie in the eagerly anticipated Kogonada film, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.

Gil Birmingham is primarily recognized for his performances as Billy Black in the Twilight series and Thomas Rainwater on Yellowstone. His latest works encompass X-Men ’97, Tracker, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Siren.

As a seasoned movie critic, let me share my thoughts on the talented actress, Ego Nwodim. This versatile performer has been captivating audiences since she joined Saturday Night Live in 2018 as a regular cast member. Prior to this, you might have seen her gracing your screens on shows like “Adam Ruins Everything” and “The Real Bros of Simi Valley.” Her acting prowess doesn’t stop there; she has also appeared in films such as the highly anticipated sequel, “Good Burger 2,” and the captivating production titled “Players.

Known for his role as Ryan Howard on “The Office” and contributing to fifteen episodes as a writer, Novak has also made appearances in films like “Inglourious Basterds” and “Saving Mr. Banks”. Recently, he’s been starring in shows including “Vengeance” and “Lessons in Chemistry”.

As a follower, I’ve had the privilege of being part of some of Rian Johnson’s remarkable projects. I’ve been seen in films like Knives Out, Glass Onion, Brick, and Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi. More recently, you might have caught me in Blood Relatives and Dead Money.

In my humble opinion, Carol Kane has graced the screens of some truly memorable films, such as “The Princess Bride,” “Addams Family Values,” “Scrooged,” and “The Pacifier.” More recently, she’s left her mark on television with appearances in “F is for Family,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” and “Hunters.

Steve Buscemi reappears in brief role as Good Buddy: In episode 5 of season 2, Steve Buscemi makes a short appearance as Good Buddy. This Emmy-winning actor is recognized for his iconic roles in shows like Fargo, Reservoir Dogs, Boardwalk Empire, and more recently, he played himself on The Studio.

How Charlie Discovered Russ Waddell Killed Felix Domingo

She Caught Russ In A Lie About His Fastball Being Gone & Not Coming Back

In my humble opinion as a movie critic, before the truth about Felix’s murderer was unveiled, there were whispers that an aged, faulty pitching machine was the perpetrator – a narrative cleverly orchestrated by the supposed culprit, Russ. However, upon learning that Lucille might be facing a wrongful death lawsuit, my curiosity piqued and I began to dig deeper.

I eventually uncover the truth: Felix was probably drugged by his baseball gum, a revelation that turns out to be accurate. Yet, Russ had cunningly replaced the gum to dodge suspicion. As I tuned into the local news and heard about a $3 million win from an extraordinary parlay against the Cheesemongers team, a light bulb went off in my head. The connection was clear: this victory was linked to a baseball player’s new “grillz.

After Charlie finds out about the spiked gum incident, she deduces that a gang of Cheesemonger teammates had fixed the game and won a huge wager. In Felix’s autopsy report, Charlie observes that the ball which struck and killed Felix was moving at least 100 MPH. Upon rechecking the malfunctioning ball machine, known as Rambo, she uncovers that it can barely throw a baseball faster than 83 MPH. This raises her suspicion when Rex lies to her, saying “As you said, my fastball’s gone and it’s not coming back“. Charlie calls him out on this and suspects that Russ was the one who threw the ball that killed Felix.

Charlie’s Acid Trip & B.J. Novak’s Guest Appearance Explained

Charlie Speaks With The Inventor Of The Cheese Spread That The Team Is Named After

Before Charlie manages to make Russ admit to fixing some games and benefiting from his own shortcomings, she unintentionally consumes some LSD-laced gum. This leads her on a bizarre journey filled with seemingly unrelated images and events, yet it ultimately helps Charlie realize that Felix was under the influence during and following his last baseball game. While Felix asserted he would leave baseball to seek God, Charlie encountered B.J. Novack’s character Hiram Lubinski in what appeared to be a vision. Hiram said to Charlie, “It’s your responsibility to save this ballpark and this team.” Hiram was the creator of the cheese spread that gave the team its name, the founder of the ballpark, and the grandfather of Lucille.

Why Charlie Tricked Russ Into Throwing A 101 MPH Fastball

She Convinced Him That An MLB Scout Was Waiting To See Him Play

After wrapping up episode 5 of the second season of “Poker Face”, it’s clear that I, as a shrewd observer, have sussed out Russ pretty well. With the chewed gum trick, fixed matches, and all other factors taken into account, I firmly believe that Russ has rediscovered his pitching prowess and used it to take down Felix. However, even though my suspicions seem spot on, Russ flat-out tells me that I’m lacking concrete evidence and he’s about to step up to the plate one last time in a stadium full of spectators to demonstrate just how washed-up he’s become in his final game of baseball.

In a twist of events, Charlie manages to persuade Russ that a Major League Baseball scout was present to watch him play, causing him to perform at his peak. When he hurls a fastball at 101 MPH, he believes it’s his passport to The Show. Unfortunately, Charlie had deceived him, and the scout turned out to be an undercover cop. It appears that Russ was allowed to complete the inning, if not the entire game, before being apprehended by local law enforcement. Whether or not Russ escapes this predicament by the end of Poker Face season 2, episode 5 remains uncertain, but he undeniably becomes Felix’s prime suspect in a murder case. All Russ can do is tip his hat to Charlie in acknowledgment.

2025-05-22 13:43

Russ’s Final Pitch: Was It Murder?