The show tips its hat to those shows of the 70s and 80s, and even 90s, such as Columbo, Murder, She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder. They show you the murder in the beginning, and then here comes a person who is not a detective or part of the police department who wants to solve the murder mystery. Cinefiles will be delighted by the non-stop references and homages to classic cinema, but the real gold lies in the myriad of industry-facing inside jokes, from stagehands to actors and producers to directors. This series plays out a little strangely but holds your attention, wondering what is going to happen next.
The Storyline
Rian Johnson is a master at creating puzzle boxes to solve, so what better way to show off that talent than an homage to “Columbo” and other murder mystery shows of the ’80s? Even if the time frame is weeks or months that she’s at each murder scene in a workplace situation, it is still pretty far-fetched to think she just stumbles onto a murder every time she relocates to find a new place to hide and work for cash under the table.
The More About Season 2
The whole vibe of it sort of like in the 70’s/80’s, almost like a filter, for a modern day series is magic and music on point. The amateur detective solves a mystery-of-the-week formula is a nostalgic throwback. And it’s a vehicle for Charlie to exhibit her talents and her empathy. Really, empathy is also a superpower of hers, in addition to her unfailing ability to detect when people are lying. The writer, director, and editor have been channelling Tarantino also. It is a treat for those who are highly critical and picky about what they enjoy.
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The Characters
Natasha Lyonne was fabulous, and Benjamin Bratt was a standout. Plus some great guest stars like Adrien Brody, Ron Perlman, Simon Helberg, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Hong Chau and Brandon Michael Hall, to name a few. This has been one of the best things we have seen in a really long time. With its Columbo inspiration, each episode is wildly different and themed. Natasha Lyonne is, as always, absolutely phenomenal.
Should You Watch This?
Most stories have twists, which are interesting, keep you on your toes. The best lineup of guest stars from Adrian Brody, Joseph Gordon Levitt. Poker Face struggles to come out of the gates in the beginning of each episode, but picks up speed once Natasha Leone comes on screen with her Colombo meets human lie detector Clouseau.
Sheer buffoonery abounds as one supporting character is more dim-witted than the next, but the fun is in the cartoonish nature of the comedic fluff. A light-hearted but not quite saccharine sweet series with an exceptional lead actor, Poker Face attempts to bluff its audience with some tricky twists but achieves cleverness less frequently than it lands with a thud. With an open mind and a loaded bowl, one should definitely give it a try.
IMDb Rating – 7.8/10
Written by Nilesh Shiv