As a lot because it didn’t all the time appear that method, nothing is clearer after the season 1 finale of Poker Face than the truth that the present has all the time recognized what it needed to be. Whether what it desires to be is what it ought to be is as much as interpretation, and one other matter completely. Read on for my evaluate of “Escape From Shit Mountain” and “The Hook”:
Starting with “Escape From Shit Mountain,” we discover Charlie stranded within the Rocky Mountains for the winter after a protracted tryst turns bitter and leaves her with out cash or fuel. A pleasant, kleptomanic stranger who Charlie solely is aware of by the pseudonym Mortimer (Stephanie Hsu) agrees to assist Charlie out in alternate for an increase off the mountain, however issues slowly go awry when Charlie’s automotive will get caught and an intense blizzard blocks off all of the roads. A sequence of unlucky occasions (together with however not restricted to Charlie being gravely injured by a automotive and dumped right into a gap in the midst of the woods) finally leads the pair to a cabin-style motel within the mountain, however unbeknownst to them, their hosts (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Castañeda) would be the ones answerable for Charlie’s near-death – in addition to the disappearance of a preferred snowboarder on the identical mountain 10 years earlier.
This episode was insane. Basically a full film in itself, “Mountain” was stuffed with twists, turns, intrigue and power. By far the most effective hour of the season, and positively a competitor for greatest tv episode of the 12 months, the episode juggled suspense and wit, humor and horror with ease. With Charlie’s life within the steadiness for many of the episode, clearly the stakes really feel greater than ordinary, and the hour regularly pays off all that top stress with each determined, heart-pounding second. In spite of the revelation that the occasions of the episode allowed Charlie to unintentionally pretend her personal demise, the ultimate twist of the hour is that Cliff had discovered her anyway, and was able to strike at Frost’s command.
And then, fairly actually, nothing occurs.
In “The Hook,” we get to see what Cliff had been doing for the complete 12 months(!) he had been chasing Charlie on Frost’s behalf. Spoiler: it was a whole lot of nights in crappy resorts. His resentment for his boss rising, when Frost decides to have Cliff not kill Charlie, however as an alternative convey her to him so he can provide her a job, Cliff lastly snaps. With the assistance of rival on line casino proprietor Beatrix Hasp (Rhea Perlman, VO solely), he plans to off his boss for good and body Charlie for the crime as an alternative. This results in a large-scale manhunt for Charlie as she tries to flee from the regulation, and runs into somebody from her previous alongside the way in which (a sure-to-be-reprised cameo from Clea Duvall).
The complete level of “The Hook” is to subvert expectations. After an intense, thrilling episode like “Mountain,” we count on a serious finale, however as an alternative the thriller and its decision are moderately low-key. We suppose as a result of Cliff has discovered Charlie, he’ll strike, or that since he follows Frost’s orders so faithfully, he likes the person. It’s not a refined level, both – Frost himself mainly says it, taunting Charlie when she chooses to remain and listen to him out simply to seek out out why he didn’t have her killed instantly. The subversion itself labored, however the episode nonetheless felt a bit underwhelming, and brushing it off by saying “it wasn’t supposed to be exciting” looks like a little bit of a cop-out.
However, extra necessary than that’s that “The Hook” instructed us, within the easiest language attainable, precisely what Poker Face is making an attempt to be, and can proceed to be in its lately introduced second season. I’ve touched on it a number of instances already, however this present isn’t seeking to break the mould or do something too new. Instead, it’s seeking to match precisely the mould, meet precisely to folks’s expectations – the hope is simply that it’s achieved effectively.
I feel that that is really a manifestation of an enchanting current pattern in media; the concept folks don’t essentially need issues to be “original” anymore. Movies like Top Gun: Maverick garnered heaps of reward final 12 months not for his or her skill to present us something new or sudden, however for his or her skill to hit on each plot level we needed; to very exactly execute each trope within the e book. This sort of method – utilizing conference not as a listing of issues to keep away from however as a recipe for what to incorporate – naturally gained’t hit effectively for everybody. But I can’t say it’s 100% a foul factor. After all, Maverick was a fairly respectable film, and despite its occasional beauty flaws I completely loved Poker Face. What this finale, this present, and this pattern total are doing is betting that individuals need familiarity now greater than ever, they usually’re keen to sacrifice their attachment to a property’s uniqueness to get a few of it. It’s a jarring change for sure, nevertheless it’s not prefer it’s not a working technique.
Back on the only real subject of Poker Face, although; one factor about it that’s not extraordinary about this present is that it has Natasha Lyonne. Lyonne might be one in all just a few working actors immediately who may actually, actually promote the “modern-day Colombo” character like this present wanted her to. She elevates each scene, creates viewers curiosity the place plot doesn’t present it, makes it simple to like Charlie, to root for her, even within the quiet moments. If this present was going to go for a formulaic mannequin, it wanted Lyonne as its star, and I can’t faux like this present can be half pretty much as good as it’s with out her. Most definitely, she’ll be ignored come awards season, however between this and her criminally missed efficiency in Russian Doll we have to get her one other Emmy. Consider me the top of the marketing campaign, and that marketing campaign begins proper now.
I nonetheless have some reservations about Poker Face. At instances, it may be uneven, unengaging, and, despite itself, just too formulaic to care about. The indisputable fact that the Hasp plotline ensures that the second season may have basically the identical overarching plot as the primary is worrisome. It touts its visitor stars, after which typically under-utilizes their abilities. Am I hoping I see a number of extra “Escape From Shit Mountain” episodes in season 2 than “The Hook”-type ones? Absolutely. But God, even in any case that, is that this present enjoyable. And it rings with a nostalgia for the procedurals of years previous; jogs my memory of the basic thriller exhibits I might watch as an elementary schooler. It’s formulaic, sure, nevertheless it desires to be, and generally that’s annoying, however principally it’s simply…good.
It’s simply actually good.