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Rian Johnson’s clever twist on a case-of-the-week murder mystery earned instant praise when Stan Original “Poker Face” first aired in 2023. But it was Natasha Lyonne’s messy, always on the run charm as Charlie Cale, who turned the show into a full-on obsession.
Over ten episodes, Charlie exposed murderers, dodged casino bosses, and left behind a trail of wacky, small American towns. After a huge season of cat-and-mouse, fans were on the edge of their seats when she finally turned the tables on the bad guys in the Season 1 finale, and set off on the run once again.
The ending delivered one last gut punch and set the stage for something even bigger in Season 2. Now, with new episodes dropping weekly on Stan, fans are captivated once again. Here’s what they’re rewatching, decoding, and wildly predicting next.
The Adrien Brody episode that started it all
Let’s take it all the way back to Episode 1, which is still a fan favourite. It was a bold move to cast Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”) in the series premiere only to kill him off before the credits rolled. But that’s exactly what hooked us all in. His performance as the smirking, greedy casino heir Sterling Frost Jr. introduced the show’s high-stakes tone and dry, dark sense of humour. The episode also set up Charlie’s season-long goose chase with Frost’s father and made us realise just how unexpected and cinematic “Poker Face” could be.
The theme song Reddit can’t stop talking about
You only need to hear the first few seconds of “Poker Face”s delicate banjo jingle theme to be instantly transported into Charlie Cale’s dusty, dangerous world. From the very first episode it sounded oddly familiar, and there are entire Reddit threads racking their brains to figure it out. Is it a video game homage? A sample from a ‘70s hit? A perfectly composed earworm designed by geniuses? (Yes.) The score has become as iconic as the show itself and superfans are hoping it continues to play a throughline in Season 2.
The best guest stars
An impressive roster of guest stars became one of “Poker Face”s most addictive elements, and none caused a bigger stir than Judith Light and S. Epatha Merkerson as two murderous old ladies in episode five. Playing political radicals Irene Smothers and Joyce Harris, their episode was the type of casting no one expected, but everyone loved. Fans still cite it as one of the most memorable moments of the first season.
Charlie’s superglue
A detail small enough to miss, until you realise it shows up in nearly every episode. After learning the trick from Marge (Hong Chau) early in the season, Charlie uses her trusty bottle of superglue to help heal wounds on Jed (Colton Ryan) in episode two and Gavin (Nicholas Cirillo) in episode four. It’s an oddly comforting motif, and a handy life hack. We’ll be keeping an eye out in Season 2: will the glue return and, more importantly, who will she help patch up next?
The big finale
After a season of town-hopping and impromptu crime-solving, Charlie left behind a trail of neatly solved murders all while dodging Cliff LeGrand (Benjamin Bratt) and the wrath of casino boss Sterling Frost Sr. (Ron Perlman). The final episode brought more drama as Frost was betrayed and killed, and Charlie set off once again. This time, as a target of an even bigger criminal empire headed up by another scary mobster, Beatrix Hasp (Rhea Perlman).
What can viewers expect from Season 2
“Poker Face,” now streaming only on Stan, debuted with the first three of 12 episodes. The guesses are starting to roll in for where this season will take Charlie. A showdown between Charlie and Beatrix Hasp is inevitable, but it won’t be as expected. Some fans are even imagining a dramatic Cale family reunion, with Charlie’s sister (played by Clea DuVall) helping save the day. But what do viewers want most? More high stakes, more backstory crumbs, and more of Charlie being Charlie.
Ready to get stuck into the new season? “Poker Face” is now streaming, with new episodes dropping every Thursday.
Watch the Stan Original “Poker Face” every Thursday, only on Stan.