Natasha Lyonne is back as Charlie Cale in Season 2 of Peacock’s Poker Face. If the first three episodes, which dropped on May 8, are anything to go by, then the show hasn’t missed a beat. It’s somehow funnier and more captivating than before, with plenty of avenues left to explore in upcoming episodes and future seasons.
Season 2 picks up where Season 1 left off, with Charlie still on the run. So far, the main difference between the first and the second season is that Season 2 leans more into standalone episodes. Even though the end of episode two sets up the third, the stories remain largely self-contained, allowing each instalment to play with plot and tone while maintaining the show’s signature Columbo-style whodunnit structure. It’s a joy to watch.
Poker Face Episode One: “The Game is a Foot”
Written by Laura Deeley and directed by Rian Johnson, the season opener is a head-trip. Led by an exceptional turn, or rather five, from Cynthia Erivo, who plays quintuplets, The Game is a Foot is a twisted tale of childhood fame, maternal manipulation, and deadly sibling rivalry.
It’s a high-camp delight, with Erivo slipping into DJ Bebe, Professor Cece, manipulated Amber, and more, while Lyonne remains the sardonic heart of the episode. There were so many moments where I said out loud, “She is just so good at this.” Lyonne was born to play a character who is as equally inquisitive (she still calls “BS” the minute she hears it) as she is caring.
The narrative is tightly plotted, akin to a murder mystery written during a fever dream that never misses a beat. Naturally, this episode is confusing in the best way and leaves you eager for more. It remains unclear why Peacock decided to release the first three episodes together, but it’s a decision you’ll be glad they made as you load up the second.
Poker Face Episode Two: “Last Looks”
Last Looks is so entertaining, it almost makes you forget the recent news that Lyonne plans to make her feature directorial debut using “ethical AI” that is built on copyright-cleared data. Written by Alice Ju and Lyonne herself, and directed by Lyonne also, this episode is set inside a family-run funeral home turned film set. When a person goes missing, Charlie uses her skills of perception to unravel the mystery. If she instils claustrophobic-induced panic within you along the way, you’ll be grateful for the experience.
Katie Holmes – who will break your heart as a woman trapped in a marriage and suffocated by the death that surrounds her – and Giancarlo Esposito – who is easy to hate here as the workaholic husband who would rather murder another than watch his wife leave – make welcome appearances, but the real thrill is watching Lyonne act her way out of a literal coffin. While we know Charlie will always make it out alive, the stakes still feel high, which is a testament to the show’s ability to create nerve-wracking tension no matter the scenario.
Lyonne is more than talented enough to transfer those directing skills to film, without the use of AI, and Last Looks proves it.
Poker Face Episode Three: Whack-A-Mole
Of the three episodes dropped simultaneously, this might be the most that feels like Poker Face, which is not a bad thing. On the contrary, it’s nice to see a TV series utilise different concepts and excel in whatever form it chooses to take across either of its seasons.
Written by Wyatt Cain and directed by Miguel Arteta, Whack-A-Mole is centred on the mob with FBI rats, double-crosses, and John Mulaney as a sleazy fed on the mafia’s payroll. Mulaney gets the best lines, most notably calling Lyonne “prince of the city,” which is delivered so calmly it will make you howl.
Elsewhere, Rhea Perlman is a joy as ever, and the supporting cast, including Simon Helberg and Richard Kind, round out another gripping 44 minutes that go by way too quickly.
Poker Face Season 2 launches with complete confidence. Natasha Lyonne is as watchable as ever as Charlie Cale, meaning your enjoyment of the show will never falter so long as you take it for what it is. If anything, the episodes aren’t long enough.
