Poker Face

Available on Now TV and Sky Atlantic

Fans of Rian Johnson’s hugely successful Knives Out franchise are likely to find a lot of joy in Poker Face, which sees the director further indulge in his love for old school murder mysteries. Inspired by Columbo and other such procedurals, the series focuses on Natasha Lyonne’s down-and-out casino worker, whose mysterious, innate ability to detect lies allows her to solve a spate of perplexing murders while on the run from a vengeful casino boss.

Lyonne is tremendous in the lead role and fully justifies Johnson’s decision to build his show around her, with her deadpan comic stylings standing her apart from almost all other leading ladies working today. Along the way, she is aided by an impressive guest cast, the most notable turns from which come from Adrien Brody, Chloë Sevigny, Hong Chau, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nick Nolte, and Ron Perlman, while Benjamin Bratt also impresses as a recurring antagonist.

Nonetheless, your opinion of Poker Face is sure to be shaped by the extent to which you enjoy its genre influences. If you’re like me, then you might end up finding its format more than a little repetitive by the time it reaches its mid-way point, which is why I’m not overly enamoured by the news that it has been renewed for a second season. By the time the admittedly tight final two episodes come round, Poker Face had outstayed its welcome in my house, but different-minded viewers will no doubt find it a thrill all the way through.

If only one thing is certain about this show, it’s that it reiterates Lyonne’s unique star quality, which was rightfully acknowledged by her recent Emmy nomination.