As a lot because it didn’t at all times appear that approach, 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 needs to be is what it ought to be is as much as interpretation, and one other matter completely. Learn on for my overview 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 collection of unlucky occasions (together with however not restricted to Charlie being gravely injured by a automobile 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) could be the ones answerable 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. Principally a full film in itself, “Mountain” was stuffed with twists, turns, intrigue and power. By far the most effective hour of the season, and definitely a competitor for finest tv episode of the yr, the episode juggled suspense and wit, humor and horror with ease. With Charlie’s life within the stability for many of the episode, clearly the stakes really feel larger than typical, and the hour regularly pays off all that prime stress with each determined, heart-pounding second. Regardless of the revelation that the occasions of the episode allowed Charlie to unintentionally faux her personal dying, 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 total yr(!) he had been chasing Charlie on Frost’s behalf. Spoiler: it was quite a lot of nights in crappy accommodations. His resentment for his boss rising, when Frost decides to have Cliff not kill Charlie, however as a substitute deliver 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 anticipate a serious finale, however as a substitute the thriller and its decision are quite low-key. We predict 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 search 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 presupposed to be thrilling” appears like a little bit of a cop-out.
Nevertheless, extra necessary than that’s that “The Hook” informed us, within the easiest language doable, 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 a couple of instances already, however this present isn’t seeking to break the mildew or do something too new. As an alternative, it’s seeking to match precisely the mildew, meet precisely to folks’s expectations – the hope is simply that it’s carried out nicely.
I feel that that is truly a manifestation of an interesting latest development in media; the concept folks don’t essentially need issues to be “unique” anymore. Films like High Gun: Maverick garnered heaps of reward final yr not for his or her capability to offer us something new or surprising, however for his or her capability to hit on each plot level we wished; to very exactly execute each trope within the ebook. This type of strategy – utilizing conference not as an inventory of issues to keep away from however as a recipe for what to incorporate – naturally gained’t hit nicely for everybody. However I can’t say it’s 100% a foul factor. In any case, Maverick was a fairly respectable film, and regardless of its occasional beauty flaws I totally loved Poker Face. What this finale, this present, and this development general are doing is betting that individuals need familiarity now greater than ever, they usually’re prepared to sacrifice their attachment to a property’s uniqueness to get a few of it. It’s a jarring change for sure, but it surely’s not prefer it’s not a working technique.
Again on the only subject of Poker Face, although; one factor about it that isn’t odd about this present is that it has Natasha Lyonne. Lyonne might be one in every of just a few working actors at the 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 straightforward 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 could be half pretty much as good as it’s with out her. Most actually, 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. Take into account 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, regardless of itself, just too formulaic to care about. The truth that the Hasp plotline ensures that the second season could have basically the identical overarching plot as the primary is worrisome. It touts its visitor stars, after which typically under-utilizes their skills. Am I hoping I see a couple of 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 basic thriller exhibits I might watch as an elementary schooler. It’s formulaic, sure, but it surely needs to be, and typically that’s annoying, however largely it’s simply…good.
It’s simply actually good.
