Natasha Lyonne on Poker Face Season 2’s Everyman Appeal

In a recent repost from MovieMakerMag’s Instagram, Natasha Lyonne and director Rian Johnson opened up about crafting Poker Face on Peacock as a series that welcomes every viewer. Showrunner Tony Tost added that Season 2 “continues a tradition of highlighting everyday Americans (and our ever-so-occasional lies).”

A Show For Every Viewer

Poker Face debuted in January 2023 with Lyonne starring as Charlie Cale, a drifter who solves episodic mysteries on the road. From small-town diners to minor league baseball parks, the show’s old-school, murder-of-the-week format blends humor, heart, and an offbeat charm. In the reposted image by photographer Emily Shur, Lyons and Johnson are seen chatting on set, hinting at the collaborative energy that fuels the series.

Lyonne, best known for Orange Is the New Black and Russian Doll, said she and Johnson “wanted to make a show for everyone,” regardless of familiarity with detective tropes. “Charlie’s just out there living life and calling out the BS,” Lyonne explained, noting that her character breaks the mold by refusing a traditional romantic arc. “You weren’t allowed to be a female character with an inner monologue not related to finding the guy,” she quipped.

Season 2 Keeps It Real

Showrunner Tony Tost—whose credits include Westworld—emphasized that the new season dives deeper into the lives of everyday Americans. Filming locations include a Midwest funeral home and a rural school, settings rarely seen in mainstream streaming fare. “We highlight folks who rarely get a turn in the spotlight,” Tost told MovieMakerMag. “And yes, we all lie sometimes—so we lean into those quirks.”

Rian Johnson added that the team leaned into inspiration from classic ’70s TV. “We binge-watched Columbo and Quantum Leap during the pandemic,” Johnson said. “Any great art, during the process of making it, is going to seem like a terrible idea that will never work—but that’s where the magic lives.”

Award-winning Lead

Further proof of the show’s broad appeal arrived via Lyonne’s own Instagram, where she celebrated winning The Astras TV Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. The post read: “The Astra for Best Actress in a Comedy Series goes to… Natasha Lyonne – ‘Poker Face.’ ” Fans flooded the comments with hearts and applause, underscoring Charlie Cale’s rapid rise to cult status.

Lyonne’s Next Moves

Beyond Poker Face, Natasha Lyonne is already eyeing her feature directorial debut Uncanny Valley, co-written with Brit Marling. The sci-fi thriller explores a teenage girl’s obsession with augmented reality gaming—and uses AI in its production pipeline. “Suddenly I became some weird Darth Vader character online,” Lyonne joked about early backlash to the AI angle. “It’s scary in there, if anyone’s wondering.”

With Lyonne at the helm of her own production company, Animal Pictures, and Johnson co-founding Asteria Studios, both creators are well-positioned to push streaming boundaries. As Lyonne told Marie Claire’s Power Issue: “Now I have more opportunities than I ever did.”

Season 2 of Poker Face promises more mystery, more Midwestern flavor, and more of Charlie Cale’s razor-sharp commentary. Whether you’re a longtime detective-show devotee or a newcomer to the genre, the series aims to keep you guessing—and laughing—every step of the way.

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Reshmi Das

 

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a content writer, covering parenting and films. She writes for Hollywoodjunction and Momjunction. Her interest in journaling and writing made this biotechnology postgraduate to take up content as her full-time profession.

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