I love detectives, and especially when the main character knows how to recognize lies with unusual skills, such as “Lie Me”, so the synopsis of this series immediately interested me.
I expected that the plot of the series will be more horizontal, so when I realized that here vertical (each series a new story) even more excited, because you watch as a separate film and a week while waiting for the release of the new series, you will not forget the important moments.
The cases Charlie uncovers are quite interesting. What's unusual is that we're shown at the beginning who committed the crime and how, and then it's shown that Charlie realizes that she's being lied to and starts investigating, because often I watch detectives to find the killer and guess even faster than he does. But for the series, such an unusual approach is even on hand.
The style of the series is amazing, especially the camera work. I got goosebumps when the camera's slow approach began, it looked very atmospheric and added drama to the scene.
Anyway, I got high watching, now I'm looking forward to next season.
In 2019, I watched the TV series “Lives of Matryoshka” and was fascinated by the play of Natasha Lyonne. It radiates such vital enthusiasm that you get carried away and mesmerized follow the course of the plot. If it weren’t for her, the series wouldn’t be so interesting.
Since the first series, Pokerface has become something close and dear to me. I liked the light, the warmth of the picture, the detective and the victory of the truth at all costs. After all, Charlie (the main character) has a unique gift - she unmistakably recognizes the lies in the speech of the interlocutor. Very convenient for a detective.
The series is built on the principle of "Colombo", when the killer is known immediately. Each episode begins with new characters, conflict and murder. Then our review opens and we see a replay of these events, but also with the participation of the main character, as if for the first time she remained behind the scenes. Somewhere she's a waitress, somewhere she sells merch, and somewhere she works in a hospice. And gradually, not wanting to remain indifferent and attached to other characters, Charlie leads his investigation and brings out the real villains.
In the pilot series, Charlie begins her journey of escape from her employer – the owner of the casino – and in the 10th series she encounters a big boss.
And of course, on this journey, Charlie recognizes herself – trying to figure out if this life is her choice or not. Some may find the show boring, but I enjoyed the atmosphere. I definitely want to continue.
It was a very decent series. Sometimes there were doubts when viewing, but by the end they remained, viewed with pleasure. Each episode presents a separate detective story. Despite the fact that the detective genre is usually template, Pokerface looks fresh.
The director manages to preserve the overall style of storytelling of each series, and at the same time, make each series unique. That's the highlight. It's very nice to watch unless you watch more than two episodes in a row. In general, I am opposed to the fact that the series looked sloppy, you need a break between series, so that there is no burnout.
When watching, there is interest in events and compassion for the characters, and the main character is not bored. Through the season, a trip to America is presented, each series is a new place, a new atmosphere, a new climate. Since the genre of detective, the plot is filled with surprises. Famous actors are invited. It's nice to watch them play. Dialogues are filled with quality humor, satire. Here you have both drama and comedy.
Of course, the series is inspired by the films “Get Knives” and “Glass Onion”. In the latter, even Natasha Lyonne lit up on the screen in a video call with Daniel Craig. In general, whether you are a lover of detectives or not, watching will do you good. It was a good product from Peacock. Colorful, juicy. Actress Natasha Lyonne was not in vain in the top 100 personalities of the American magazine for charisma.
I was praised for the new American TV series Pokerface, 2023-..., created by Ryan Johnson, who directed Get Knives. It is compared with the series about Colombo - this is the so-called "inverted detective" - we first see the story as if from the outside, and then the same story we see with the participation of the main character - Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), which because of the peculiarities of her character each time manages to get into a criminal history with a murder and, thanks to the peculiarities of her character, unravels this story, sometimes with great danger to herself. She's so naive about bringing killers out, almost always telling them to their faces, that she's always walking on the razor blade. At the very beginning, we learn her story, she once earned good money, traveling from one casino to another, winning enough money for a good life, and she did this not because she knew how, as it happens, “count cards”, but simply by figuring out which of the players was bluffing, she could always unmistakably guess who was lying and who was telling the truth. For her, this ended in failure, and then a tragic story, after which she had to go on the run, because the owner of a large casino chain at all costs wanted to catch her, despite the fact that he at one time put her out of the casino and forbade her to let. She decided he wanted to kill her. And so we see history after history happening to her during her wanderings. The end of the season does not bode well for the future, and the next casino chain owner is in battle. The series is filmed with a very large share of sarcasm and irony, the lead actress is very colorful, so those interested in a “freak” detective, though with quite serious crimes, can watch.
If you have high expectations for this series that it will show micro-facilitations like 'Lie Me' or formulas like 'Sherlock', then drop it. For some reason, there is a parallel with Colombo, but I disagree. The main character has a gift to recognize lies, she just knows who is lying and who is not, and that’s it. Personally, I easily accepted this convention, as I was fascinated by the series more by the actress and her character.
This series is like a road movie. Each episode is a new city, a new story, a new business, a new temporary profession, new (quite popular) actors. The motives of the killers are quite different, from revenge 30 years later, to the murder of a musician who wrote a good song.
Natasha Lyonne plays her character to the fullest, I would say that she is the one who drags this series, which I began to watch a binge in fact just because of her. It's simple, it's the most common, not to say that it's very smart, physically not strong, it's often not very lucky, but it doesn't bother at all and it catches rather with this charming simplicity. She does not remember any simple things, does not know much, so she often has to resort to help other people on some issues that are related to this or that activity, so that she could solve the case. Although this is not even her vocation, she just wants to do the right thing, goes somewhere eyes look and often gets involved in their own affairs, or she is haunted by trouble.
The series is light, slightly funny, does not load. Therefore, if you want to distract or you are in a bad mood, I recommend watching.
Pokerface is a thrilling and intense TV series that will keep you on edge from start to finish. The series tells about the life of a group of professional poker players, how they move around the world of high stakes gambling.
One of the distinguishing features of the series is the outstanding cast of characters. Each is unique and compelling, with its own motives and personal struggles. The actors bring these characters to life so that you’ll be fascinated by their stories from the very first episode.
Another highlight of Pokerface is its stunning cinematography and attention to detail. The series takes you into the world of professional poker with its high stakes, tension and drama.
The script is action-packed, the plot develops at a fast pace, with many twists and surprises that do not let you relax. The series also delves into the personal lives of the characters, allowing a deeper understanding of who they are and what motivates them.
In general, Pokerface is a must-watch series for fans of crime dramas, psychological thrillers and high-stakes gambling. The combination of intense tension, captivating characters and stunning production makes the series stand out in the crowded world of television. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend giving Pokerface a chance.
The 10-episode project of Ryan Johnson, shot on the principle of “Colombo”, i.e. the murderer will be revealed to the viewer from the very beginning, and then you will have to watch how the brave detective Natasha Lyonne, who, because of her gift, can not be called otherwise than a cheater, will get to the truth. Here the creators in the production plan did not strain at all. The first episode looks like a standard movie for the 90s or as an ordinary TV product of the time, except that a little richer. Bright colors and textured actors (Browdy, Brett - to play them, however, there is nothing special) please the eye, but no more. Everything is quite fresh and smooth, humor crumbs, no visual or directing chips and highlights, which is sad, given who is the creator. Plus, despite the good rhythm, for such a "village detective" and standard banal crime, the series at 1:07, in my opinion, is too much (the subsequent ones go within about an hour). The whole story could have been laid out in 45, 50 minutes. As a result, as a “background series for household chores” – will do. In addition to the procedural part, a background and a Maloma through story will be added. Unpretentious, simple, and someone may, and lamp. I was a bit bored because everything was too standard, without frills.
If Colombo was a woman and hid from gangsters in the twenty-first century
Rian Johnson, director of comedy detective ' Get Knives', recently released an ambitious detective series ' Pokerface'. The first series received rave reviews and a rating in IMDB equal to 8.3 points.
So, 'Pokerface' is a story centered on a girl with a special gift. It is only a glimpse of the face of a person can easily determine whether he is telling the truth or lying. A kind of Dr. Lightmann from 'Lie Me' whose ability is based not on scientific knowledge, but on intuition.
We meet her when she works at a Las Vegas casino. Her friend sees something illegal in one of the hotel rooms, informs the management, and is killed. Of course, it will not be possible to hide it from the main character. As a result, she will have to run far away, and at each stop she - like Miss Marple - will always meet mysterious murders, which will be quickly declassified.
Viewers will know who committed the crime and how. Just like in the legendary series 'Colombo' we first see the crime, and only then the main character appears on the screen. But the creators of 'Pokerface' play with the narrative more gracefully. First, in each episode, we see the events of the crime, then go back in time and learn how our heroine was connected with the criminals and their victims shortly before. And then we already watch how, by bits and accidental circumstances, she manages to do the work of a detective and help ensure that the culprit is punished.
' Pokerface' quite a fun and interesting project, which is sure to get a second season. However, it is highly personalized. The main role in it is played by Natasha Lyonne, known to you from the TV series 'The Life of Matryoshka'. She created a very bright and rude image for this series. Together with a rather unusual appearance, the actress strongly dominates the narrative and all other characters, so if she can not cause you sympathy, then the story told will lose value.
If you loved the comedy ' Get Knives' and you enjoyed watching the projects listed above 'Lie Me', 'Colombo' and 'Miss Marple' then 'Pokerface' has every chance of becoming your favorite in 2023.