Poker Face kicks off with a wildly inventive premise: Charlie Cale, played with that signature snark from Natasha Lyonne, can instantly tell when someone is lying. And she immediately calls: “Bullshit!” The first episode features Adrien Brody as a casino boss trying to prove himself in the footsteps of his father. Right away the show feels edgy and clever. An unexpected murder of Charlie’s good friend leads to a failed attempt at a con that had Charlie sitting in the driver’s seat. Charlie’s relentless need to uncover the truth of her friend’s murder gets her in trouble with the wrong people and by the end of the first episode Charlie is on the run. And so the stage is set for the entire first season.
But after that strong start, the show settles into a rather predictable rhythm. Each episode begins with a backstory that excludes Charlie, then she enters the scene, uncovers the deception, and solves the mystery. While a few episodes—like the standout first episode of the second season with Cynthia Erivo playing a gazillion different characters—breaks the mold, too many feel like reruns of the same structure.
That said, Lyonne’s dry humor and offbeat charisma keep things entertaining. She gives the series its soul and makes it worth watching, even though the same formula is wearing thin. Rian Johnson’s knack for clever storytelling (Knives Out, Glass Onion) shines, but perhaps his strengths are better suited to film or a limited series.
Poker Face is stylish, smart, and often fun—but like a bluff that’s played too many times, it eventually loses its surprise. I’m not sure how many more stories and how many celebrity cameos they’ve got left before it gets really repetitive.
Pulse Rating: ★★★★★
MVP Characters:
Charlie Cale – Natasha Lyonne
The Price Sisters – Cynthia Erivo
Where To Watch:
Peacock
