Poker Face

Follow Charlie Cale, a woman with an extraordinary ability to tell when someone is lying, as she hits the road and, at every stop, encounters a new cast of characters and crimes she can't help but solve.

Poker Face (2023-2025) is an American crime mystery series created by Rian Johnson for Peacock. Natasha Lyonne stars as Charlie Cale, a waitress-turned-wanderer with an uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying, who drifts across the country in her vintage Plymouth Barracuda. Each episode follows a new cast of characters and a fresh murder, with Charlie stumbling into the case and using her gift to unmask the culprit before the authorities catch up. Across two seasons of ten and twelve episodes, the format stays episodic in spirit while the wandering protagonist gradually builds a larger thread across her travels. Guest performers including Adrien Brody, Benjamin Bratt and Chloë Sevigny appear as suspects, rivals and figures who cross Charlie's path. The show is a wisecracking, retro-tinged caper that leans on sharp dialogue, bluffing and a playful sense of pacing, while still carrying a somber, desperate undercurrent in the lives of the people involved. Fans of Columbo, The Fugitive and Monk will find resonance in its blend of procedural puzzle-solving, sleuthing charm and a lonely heroine on the move. The result is a stylish, talky mystery built for viewers who enjoy watching a clever detective read people as much as evidence.

Viewers find Natasha Lyonne's charismatic lead and the case-of-the-week lie-detection hook engaging, though the convoluted execution and uneven episodes hold it back.

• Columboshared episodic case-of-the-week mystery structure with a charismatic detective and wry tone
• The Fugitiveshared road-trip format with a wandering protagonist encountering new crimes at every stop
• Monkshared quirky sleuth-with-a-gift premise and witty, playful crime solving
• Knives Outshared whodunit puzzle structure and clever reveals from the same creator's film sensibility

Created by

Rian Johnson

Release Date

2023-01-26

Episode runtime

57 min

Rating

7.7 / 10 (562)

What is Poker Face about?

A woman who can always tell when someone is lying hits the road and solves a new murder at every stop.

What is Poker Face like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Poker Face as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Poker Face violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Poker Face as moderate.

What did critics think of Poker Face?

Viewers find Natasha Lyonne's charismatic lead and the case-of-the-week lie-detection hook engaging, though the convoluted execution and uneven episodes hold it back.

Which shows are like Poker Face?

Shows with a similar feel include Columbo, The Fugitive, Monk, and Knives Out.

How long is Poker Face?

Poker Face: 2 seasons, 22 episodes.

Is Poker Face still running?

No, Poker Face was canceled.

Where can I watch Poker Face?

In United States, Poker Face streams on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus.