If the thought of multiple Cynthia Erivos serving multiple personalities doesn't get you excited for the new season of Poker Face, then rest assured, season two is every bit the addictively digestible watch you remember.
Natasha Lyonne returns to head the quirky whodunnit series, taking human lie detector Charlie Cale to fresh, new idiosyncratic depths. The debut season was widely praised, and sits with a near-perfect 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The season picks up from that stunning cliffhanger which saw gangster Beatrix Hasp (Rhea Perlman) vow to hunt down Charlie in pursuit of her abilities.
Charlie is on the run, with mobsters on her tail, but there's always time for a new murder case – or a dozen as season two extends the show's run from 10 episodes to 12.
Wicked's Erivo was the first guest star to usher in the brand new series and kicked the season off with one of the strongest episodes in the bunch. The Defying Gravity star was utterly entertaining in the role(s) of the quintuplets, in an episode she dubbed "manic".
While we hesitate to say too much for risk of spoilers that will sap the fun, we will concede that the first episode retains that preposterous, oddball spirit that fans loved about season one. Erivo's performance helped to steer that energy as she ping ponged from sister to sister, embodying juxtaposing characteristics of their personalities.
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It would, however, be a pretty sad follow-up season if it were all downhill from ep one. Thankfully this is not the case.
Creator Rian Johnson's storytelling is just as clever as ever, made even wittier by Lyonne's captivating husky drawl and fiery wit. Charlie was fizzing with energy despite her desire to live the slow, low-key life.
Once again, her moral compass draws her into precarious predicaments that become more and more fantastical as the series progresses and yet Johnson's writing makes it easy to lean into the incredulous nature of the unfurling adventures.
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The narrative is sharp and cleverly mapped out, so that knowing who the killer is becomes obsolete in terms of your investment in the story.
There's fun to be had in watching Charlie piece the puzzle together and watching the killer evade her questioning, creating this interesting cat and mouse dynamic.
Some of the mysteries manage to keep the audience guessing. Even when you think you know who the culprit is, do you really?
As with the previous season, each episode features a different guest star, however this is no cheap gimmick for viewers. They earn their place in Charlie's story beyond their star power.
Perlman returns to the series with a sharp fierceness that is in step with the comedic elements of the show while still feeling imposing. She is joined by new guests such as Giancarlo Esposito (who brings his trademark grace to his chilling role), Yellowjacket's Melanie Lynskey, Kumail Nanjiani and Katie Holmes.
Lyonne was also reunited with her Orange Is the New Black cast mates Taylor Schilling and Adrienne C. Moore for more nefarious storytelling.
It's murder but it's fun. It's serious at times but stops short of becoming too dark. Johnson's writing permits you to feel sympathy for the killers, contempt for some victims, but no one is without understanding. It's all about perspective, which demonstrates Poker Face's ability to be layered.
The show's second season builds on the previous one, moving the story forward to avoid things feeling repetitive. It allows Charlie character growth while still staying grounded in its effortlessly funny nature.
Poker Face season 2 begins on May 8 on Sky Atlantic and streams on Sky Go/NOW in the UK. Season 2 will also be available on Peacock in the US on the 8th.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
