In the past few years, Rian Johnson has become the darling of the mystery world. With the 2019 release of Knives Out and its recent Netflix sequel, Glass Onion, Johnson has proved that he can craft complex, gripping mysteries full of sly humor and vivid characters. Now he's applying that brilliant mind to the series Poker Face, streaming exclusively on Peacock.
This case-of-the-week mystery show centers on Charlie Cale, played by the iconic Natasha Lyonne. Charlie has the incredible ability to always know when someone is lying—a skill that surely helped her as a casino worker. But after she gets tangled up in a suspicious death, her boss at the casino is on a mission to hunt her down. Fleeing across the United States, Charlie can't seem to help stumbling into a series of unusual crimes.
While no one can say this series is a literal remake of anything, many have noted the similarities between Poker Face and Columbo. The show follows the same format as the beloved cop show—presenting the murder and the killer in the first act before unfolding how the investigator catches the culprit. It also frames Charlie as an underdog who tends to set her sights on the unapologetically rich, powerful, and corrupt. So how does Poker Face compare to the 70s classic?
Poker Face proudly boasts a 99% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a 79% audience score. Furthermore, it has an IMDB rating of 8.2/10, while 85% of Google users reported enjoying the show. While some reviewers like Ben Travers of IndieWire noted some weaknesses in the series, for a first season Poker Face has proven to be a generally strong story, in no small part due to the charisma of its leading lady.
Lyonne is joined on the series by other impressive names as well. Benjamin Blatt and Ron Perlman have recurring roles, while guest appearances are made by the likes of Adrien Brody, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Stephanie Hsu, David Castañeda, Tim Meadows, Lil Rel Howery, Chloë Sevigny, and more.
This 10-episode season is currently halfway through, with new episodes dropping every Thursday. Get a sneak peak with the trailer below, then dive into the show on Peacock!
