As a lot because it didn’t at all times appear that means, nothing is clearer after the season 1 finale of Poker Face than the truth that the present has at all times recognized what it wished to be. Whether or not what it desires to be is what it ought to be is as much as interpretation, and one other matter completely. Learn on for my evaluation of “Escape From Shit Mountain” and “The Hook”:
Beginning 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 change for an increase off the mountain, however issues slowly go awry when Charlie’s automobile 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 automobile and dumped right into a gap in the course of the woods) ultimately leads the pair to a cabin-style motel within the mountain, however unbeknownst to them, their hosts (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Castañeda) often is the ones liable for Charlie’s near-death – in addition to the disappearance of a well-liked snowboarder on the identical mountain 10 years earlier.
This episode was insane. Mainly a full film in itself, “Mountain” was filled with twists, turns, intrigue and power. By far one of the best hour of the season, and positively a competitor for greatest tv episode of the yr, the episode juggled suspense and wit, humor and horror with ease. With Charlie’s life within the steadiness for a lot of the episode, clearly the stakes really feel increased than standard, and the hour regularly pays off all that prime pressure with each determined, heart-pounding second. Despite the revelation that the occasions of the episode allowed Charlie to unintentionally faux 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.
After which, fairly actually, nothing occurs.
In “The Hook,” we get to see what Cliff had been doing for the complete yr(!) he had been chasing Charlie on Frost’s behalf. Spoiler: it was a number of nights in crappy inns. His resentment for his boss rising, when Frost decides to have Cliff not kill Charlie, however as a substitute carry her to him so he may give 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 a substitute. 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 best way (a sure-to-be-reprised cameo from Clea Duvall).
The entire level of “The Hook” is to subvert expectations. After an intense, thrilling episode like “Mountain,” we count on a serious finale, however as a substitute the thriller and its decision are slightly low-key. We expect 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 imagined to be thrilling” appears like a little bit of a cop-out.
Nevertheless, extra vital than that’s that “The Hook” instructed us, within the easiest language potential, precisely what Poker Face is making an attempt to be, and can proceed to be in its not too long ago introduced second season. I’ve touched on it just a few instances already, however this present isn’t trying to break the mildew or do something too new. As an alternative, it’s trying to match precisely the mildew, meet precisely to folks’s expectations – the hope is simply that it’s accomplished nicely.
I feel that that is truly a manifestation of a captivating current development in media; the concept that folks don’t essentially need issues to be “unique” anymore. Films like Prime Gun: Maverick garnered heaps of reward final yr not for his or her skill to provide us something new or sudden, however for his or her skill to hit on each plot level we wished; to very exactly execute each trope within the e book. This type of method – utilizing conference not as a listing of issues to keep away from however as a recipe for what to incorporate – naturally received’t hit nicely for everybody. However I can’t say it’s 100% a nasty factor. In any case, Maverick was a fairly first rate film, and despite its occasional beauty flaws I totally loved Poker Face. What this finale, this present, and this development total are doing is betting that individuals need familiarity now greater than ever, and so they’re keen to sacrifice their attachment to a property’s uniqueness to get a few of it. It’s a jarring change for sure, however it’s not prefer it’s not a working technique.
Again on the only matter of Poker Face, although; one factor about it that’s not strange about this present is that it has Natasha Lyonne. Lyonne might be one in all only some working actors right this moment 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 fake 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 neglected efficiency in Russian Doll we have to get her one other Emmy. Take into account me the pinnacle 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 truth that the Hasp plotline ensures that the second season may have primarily the identical overarching plot as the primary is worrisome. It touts its visitor stars, after which usually under-utilizes their abilities. Am I hoping I see just a few extra “Escape From Shit Mountain” episodes in season 2 than “The Hook”-type ones? Completely. However 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 traditional thriller exhibits I’d watch as an elementary schooler. It’s formulaic, sure, however it desires to be, and generally that’s annoying, however principally it’s simply…good.
It’s simply actually good.
