Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Poker Face Season 2.
Coming into Season 2 of Poker Face, the most intriguing aspect was how the series would rectify what was arguably the biggest mistake of Season 1: restarting Charlie Cale’s (Natasha Lyonne) run from the mob, but with Beatrix Hasp (Rhea Perlman) as her new pursuer, rather than Sterling Frost Sr. (Ron Perlman). It was clumsy and repetitive, but thankfully, the show made the bold and correct decision to wrap this storyline up permanently following Episode 3 of Season 2, “Whack-a-Mole.” This left endless possibilities for where Poker Face might take Charlie now that she is free, and whether it would become an anthology series or somehow maintain a new throughline.
One of the first indications that Poker Face Season 2 would be heading in a new direction comes at the beginning of Episode 4, “The Taste of Human Blood.” While the episode still goes through the same “howcatchem” murder mystery structure, Charlie is introduced to a disembodied voice via her car radio, who seems to belong to somebody she can connect with. The casting of this new character is key, implying the high likelihood that viewers will see them on screen at some point this season. However, I believe this would be the worst choice that Poker Face could make. So much could be taken away from the character if we see them in person.
Who Does Charlie Cale Meet Over the Radio in ‘Poker Face’ Season 2?
As previously mentioned, the road is so open for Charlie that it almost leaves too many possibilities available. While she lets fate decide her next destination by blindly pointing at a map at the end of Episode 3, she doesn’t seem very pleased with the results and ends up lounging in her car, waiting for some true inspiration to hit her. This leads us to Good Buddy.
While quoting Out of the Blue on her CB radio (which she received in Episode 2 this season, “Last Looks”) via lines such as “Disco sucks! Kill all hippies!” a familiar voice — belonging to Steve Buscemi — answers her, immediately identifying the references. Because of this, both Charlie and the audience know she can trust this person, and the exchange allows Charlie to open up to who she refers to as “Good Buddy.” The instant connection also gives the episode direction after Charlie’s hesitation, as she claims she is “at a place that feels like an ending, but it’s still a middle,” to which Good Buddy replies, “You need a beginning.” It’s a sign that he could be an important catalyst for Charlie’s character growth, since she’s seeking a new purpose after being on the road for so long.
Steve Buscemi’s Casting Makes It Incredibly Likely We’ll See Him On Screen in ‘Poker Face’
For those like me who have watched The Studio recently, there is a certain irony about the fear that Steve Buscemi is too recognizable an actor for Poker Face to refrain from showing him on screen. (In Apple TV+’s hit comedy, an entire episode revolved around whether he was a big enough name or not to lead a pivotal marketing strategy.) IPs rarely cast a big-name actor just to have them operate in a voiceover capacity, which makes it feel inevitable that we will meet Good Buddy in person. There is hope that this isn’t the case for now, as Season 2 showrunner Tony Tost told ScreenRant that viewers shouldn’t currently be expecting “for him to intersect with the bigger plot” at the moment. Some may see this as a slam dunk that we’ll never see Buscemi, and it is something I take as reassuring. However, it wouldn’t be the first time viewers have been told one thing so as not to spoil an inevitable cameo later on; even Tost included an ominous “I don’t know” in his comments.
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The series is led by Natasha Lyonne.
Good Buddy Is Far More Effective Off-Screen in ‘Poker Face’
All that aside, I love Buscemi, and normally, I would jump to see him on screen. However, Good Buddy is perfect as he is — a good buddy — and he should stay that way in Poker Face. Because he isn’t present physically, it allows Charlie to maintain her independence without having her be too isolated. Charlie is also enabled to lean into overall character growth without feeling pressured to make any choices that could jeopardize her friendship with the one person she consistently interacts with. Charlie meeting Good Buddy could end up becoming a distraction from her story.
Given how in sync Good Buddy seems to be with Charlie, it feels there is more to this character than meets the eye, but I really hope there isn’t. Tost described him as a “consummate New Yorker, driving a big rig across America,” and that is how he should stay. I understand the pull of bringing an actor like Buscemi into the show in a bigger role, but Poker Face already feels so refreshingly unique compared to most other TV shows on streaming at the moment, and doesn’t need to fall into a predictable storytelling trap. Poker Face revealing Good Buddy on screen would be unnecessary and take away everything that is currently great about the character. Sometimes, just having a dude to vibe with is enough.
Poker Face
- Release Date
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January 26, 2023
- Network
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Peacock
- Showrunner
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Lilla Zuckerman
