What might you get up to if you could tell with near certainty anytime that someone lied to your face? Ideally, you'd never have to use this weird skill. But if you're Charlie Cale, former casino waitress, you'd end up fleeing across the country, staying one step ahead of dangerous individuals, and only lingering in any small town just long enough to solve a strange new mystery.
Natasha Lyonne gives an outstanding performance as Charlie, the mostly agreeable protagonist who makes friends easily, but can also whip out an attitude and tends to not approve of being fed any malarkey. Alongside her is an extensive list of guest stars, one of several components that make this feel like a throwback mystery show from the 70's. Over ten episodes in the first season alone, such varied actors as Adrien Brody, Ron Perlman, Lil Rey Howery, Chloë Sevigny, Jameela Jamil, and Tim Blake Nelson all make appeareances (there are many others). But it's really Natasha's show, and her ability to make Charlie both unpretentious and doggedly determined yields a compelling new entry in the long list of amateur sleuths on television.
If you're a fan of Brick, Looper, the rather divisive Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, or any of the Knives Out films, then you should really check out Poker Face. While Rian Johnson has directed some sporadic TV episodes here and there, this series remains his sole foray into television with a show that he created himself. His love for classics like Columbo, The Rockford Files, and Magnum, P.I. is evident in the style and structure of this two-season gem. Unfortunately, the second season remains exclusively on Peacock and has no current DVD release date, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the first season's ten quality episodes, available at a branch near you.
