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    "Poker Face" Is One Of The Best New TV Shows, So Here's Why You Need To Watch It

    Poker Face is a stellar mystery series that is not bluffing...

    On the heels of Glass Onion, the second film in the Knives Out universe, Rian Johnson returned to the world of murder mysteries with Poker Face, an exceptional throwback that puts a contemporary spin on the classic murder-of-the-week formula.

    Peacock

    It's true that Poker Face has taken social media by storm, and this Peacock original series truly deserves every word of praise it has received so far. Just in case you're on the fence regarding the series, here are 19 reasons why enjoying Poker Face shouldn't be much of a mystery at all:

    1. The series brilliantly utilizes the "Howcatchem" format, which was popularized by the iconic detective series Columbo.

    A blonde woman in a knit robe makes a phone call from the front seat of her car
    Peacock

    The "Howcatchem" format turns the murder mystery story on its head, as you know who did the killing and why, and the hook of the show comes in watching them attempt to cover up the crime yet fall victim to their own hubris, ineptitude, or an ultimately fatal flaw in their plan. While a traditional "whodunit" is always a fun time with the "guessing game" element, the "Howcatchem" dedicates more time to the criminal and cop characters, and watching as the cop begins to piece the mystery together based on information we already know provides the audience with some agency and turns the mystery toward how everything is going to shake out once the unknown becomes known.

    2. Natasha Lyonne delivers both comedy and emotionally-charged drama in a fantastic, potentially career-defining performance.

    A blonde woman with aviator sunglasses and a trucker hat stands in a trailer park
    Animal Pictures / MRC Television / Album

    Fresh off her time with Netflix's Russian Doll, Natasha Lyonne is really exceptional as the de facto lead of Poker Face, embodying a no-BS amateur detective who comes across various murder cases while working odd jobs (though there'll be more on that later). In addition to her natural charisma and flighty physicality, Natasha Lyonne delivers both comedy and emotionally-charged drama in a fantastic, potentially career-defining performance that feels entirely dependent on her ability to interweave both elements, including getting the audience to laugh during intense moments and gasp when a flippant comment leads to a shocking revelation.

    3. Rian Johnson is one of the most fun and exciting filmmakers working today, and Poker Face is yet another reason why.

    The cast and crew of "Poker Face" line up for a photo at the series' premiere
    Billy Bennight / AdMedia via ZUMA Press Wire / Alamy

    If you want to base your whole life on the 8th Star Wars movie, go right ahead, but for those of us paying attention, Rian Johnson is one of the most fun and exciting filmmakers working today. Whether its creating one of the best bottle episodes in television history with Breaking Bad's "Fly" or redefining genres with films like Brick and Looper, Johnson has proven his value as a storyteller time and time again, and his wonderful work as both a director and executive producer on Poker Face is more evidence that he's got much more in the tank.

    4. While the show isn't a comedy in the most traditional sense, you can't deny that Poker Face doesn't offer a few solid laughs with every ensuing entry.

    Peacock / MRC Television

    As with most of Rian Johnson's projects, humor plays a major role in Poker Face, including laugh-out-loud reveals (including the deleted picture folder in the pilot and the DVD reveal in Episode 3), gut-busting one liners, and the subtle, clever use of irony throughout.

    5. Taking a cue from Columbo as well as Johnson’s own star-studded murder mysteries, Poker Face presents an impressive amount of guest stars from episode to episode.

    A man in a Hawaiian shirt is comforted by his wife in a pink jacket and tanktop
    Peacock

    From big names like Adrien Brody and Lil Rel Howery to rising stars such as Hong Chau and Colton Ryan to the against-type character actor casting of Tim Meadows and John Ratzenberger. Whether they’re a murderer, victim, or one of the strange weirdos caught in the crossfire, Poker Face does a great job of delivering a familiar face in a fun role at every turn.

    6. Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) is one of the most unique protagonists on television right now.

    Peacock / MRC Television

    An extroverted twist on the Marta Cabrera character in Knives Out, Charlie Cale is one of the most unique protagonists on television, an eternally optimistic and trusting person drawn into solving murders by her curiosity and belief in the goodness of others. Moreover, Charlie Cale is a more human hero than we usually get in the genre: She's vulnerable, she embraces her vices, and she's not afraid to self-deprecate if the occasion calls for it, which is all the more enhanced by Lyonne's stellar comic timing.

    7. The show has an incredible array of villain characters that often make the episodes even better.

    Two older women put on big smiles in conversation
    Peacock

    One of the most refreshing things about Poker Face is the presentation of its villains, whether they be prototypical villains like those in the series' first two episodes or more complicated villains who are driven to murder out of desperation. However, half the fun of Poker Face is the reveal of the villain's true nature, especially in Episode 5, which pulls an incredible bait-and-switch nearly halfway through the story.

    8. Poker Face has the scale and depth of most anything you'd see on the big screen without ever looking cheap or lazy.

    A woman in aviator sunglasses and cowboy-chic attire bathes in a glaring sunlight
    Animal Pictures / MRC Television / Album

    Though it's not much of a statement to say that Poker Face has theatrical production value, given now that 80% of scripted television often looks better than the latest Transformers or MCU outing, it's still quite enjoyable that Poker Face has the scale and depth of most anything you'd see on the big screen without ever looking cheap or lazy. Add in the sense of location, the incredible wardrobe choices, and the many moving parts it takes to pull off a murder-of-the-week show with truly only one or two consistent characters and Poker Face is a show that can be admired on a sheer production level in addition to its narrative successes.

    9. Poker Face further features a roster of impressive talent behind the camera, namely with its directors.

    A woman with a red vest and bowtie stands in a mock-up kitchen during a stage production
    Peacock / Sara Shatz / Peacock

    Beyond its extraordinary cast, Poker Face further features a roster of impressive talent behind the camera, including horror master Lucky McKee (May), Iain B. MacDonald (Episodes), Janicza Bravo (Zola) and, of course, Rian Johnson himself, who helms no less than three episodes of the 10-episode inaugu