The Joy That is ‘Poker Face’

Giancarlo Esposito and Natasha Lyonne in Poker Face | Credit: Peacock

Poker Face follows Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), an eccentric woman who has a special skill: she can tell when people are lying. This unusual talent of hers takes her on all sorts of adventures, and gets her into some interesting types of trouble.

I grew up watching unorthodox detective shows like Murder, She Wrote and Columbo. I’ve always loved this type of story, where the main detective appears to be unqualified (and sometimes is), but is brilliant enough to solve the puzzle. As a lover of puzzle-solving, this has always been incredibly satisfying to me.

Poker Face is a wonderful entry in this particular genre. There are so many times while watching that Charlie reminded me of Columbo, Natasha Lyonne’s performance drawing inspiration from Peter Falk’s, while making it completely her own.

Charlie is really rough around the edges, but she has a heart of gold. Despite her unorthodox methods, living situation, and jobs, she has a deep desire to help people. When she learns that someone is in trouble, she just wants to help them. She manages to see the best in people, even with this unique ability, which makes this character even more interesting.

In season two, Charlie desires to get settled and find community once she no longer has to be on the run. When she’s no longer in danger, she seeks to find a place where she belongs, which leads her to some really interesting places with really interesting people.

I love this motivation for Charlie because it’s just so human! Even for the most introverted among us, we still long to have a connection with others. Charlie has always been more of a lone wolf, but she knows that she can’t live that way forever. She has this unusual gift, a quirky personality, and a strange living situation that not everyone will be able to relate to, but her desire for connection and belonging is something that we all feel. What a brilliant choice for this show to make!

Natasha Lyonne and John Mulaney in Poker Face | Credit: Peacock

The dialogue in Poker Face is also brilliant! It’s so smart while never being self-serious. Natasha Lyonne always has wonderful timing, which is such a key component of good comedy. Each character that Charlie comes into contact with is more colorful and unique than the last, forming an interesting kaleidoscope of people.

Each episode also plays with typical filmmaking tropes. One episode is filmed like a 1970s detective show, while another is filmed more like a horror movie, and yet another takes on the shape of a rom-com; each of these filmmaking choices helps the emphasize the story, making the characters really shine. The different filmmaking styles help to highlight the unique nature of each location and mystery that Charlie finds herself embroiled in.

Many of the episodes follow a typical structure, but the show also isn’t afraid to change that up when needed for greater impact. It’s always exciting to see these departures and the added creativity from the writers who have created something that feels fresh and new, even in the detective genre.

Poker Face is an excellent comedy that’s full of heart. There are plenty of dramatic moments as Charlie moves from situation to situation, encountering some of the most interesting characters you’ll see on TV these days. Each mystery is so unique and filled with smart writing that will make you laugh out loud.

If you haven’t seen Poker Face, I highly recommend it, especially for fans of old-school whodunnits!