Television viewers looking for a show that touches on the world of poker may want to check out the Peacock Network’s Poker Face, starring Natasha Lyonne. Poker has been a regular part of the small screen for years – from the card-playing in the Old West in Maverick to the regular card game featured on the classic The Odd Couple.
Like some of those, Poker Face is a show with poker tangentially playing a part, but still an important part of the action and the series recently began casting for the second season. The 10-episode crime drama debuted in 2023 and recently announced the addition of several new cast members, including Katie Holmes.
Details on the Series
In the series, Lyonne plays a former poker player who uses some of those skills for reading people learned at the tables to help find out who is responsible for a friend’s murder. That includes reading bluffs – whether suspects are telling the truth as she attempts to crack the case.
The series features even more gambling-related action. Poker Face is set in Laughlin, Nevada, where Lyonne works as a casino cocktail waitress named Charlie after getting blackballed from the area’s poker games. Oscar winner Adrien Brody also plays a tough casino boss.
“Charlie … offers a new spin on the crotchety detective archetype,” the Wall Street Journal notes. “For one, she’s not actually a detective, she’s more of a drifter trekking across America working odd jobs who just happens to come across a number of killings that need solving.”
Solid Reviews
The series has earned nice reviews from viewers and critics alike, scoring 98% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and 81% with audience members.
The show received four Emmy nominations for the series including one for Lyonne along with a Golden Globe nomination for the lead actress. Filming for the second season is currently underway, but a release date has yet to be announced.
** Photo courtesy Peacock Network
