Review: Poker Face - Throwback to another Era!
A detective program recently came out on the Peacock streaming service in the United States. I read a review that piqued my interest and watched the first episode of the series. It instantly reminded me of other detective programs that used to run on TV in the old days – (days) when we only had live TV. We used to know the program schedule by heart, and we knew with certainty what day and time 'Columbo' or 'The Rockford Files' would be on the TV. We all looked forward to the new episodes every week, followed by conversations at home and in the office. What was so special about those programs? I think the main characters had magnetic personalities in different ways. Also, both programs had a layout that was not like other detective programs that used to run (in those days).
Rockford and Columbo!
In 'The Rockford Files', you witness the private life of the detective. You see Rockford in his untidy mobile home on the beach in Malibu in California, and you get to know Rockford himself, his family (his father) and his friends (policeman Denis Becker and ex-prisoner Angel). The person himself comes first in this episode, and after that comes his detective work, which is also quite interesting.
In Columbo's case, on the other hand, you don't see him at home at all. But he has exceptional qualities as a detective. You see a murder happen at the beginning of each episode, and then Columbo targets the murderer. Columbo seems forgetful, and the criminal underestimates his abilities. But when Columbo is about to leave after asking the criminal his questions, and that same criminal is finally breathing a sigh of relief, Columbo turns back to him/her and asks him/her the critical question, which starts like this: “Oh and one more thing…”
But what about the new program 'Poker Face'?
The show's creators, Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne, combined elements of 'Columbo' and 'The Rockford Files' to create this modern detective program. Natasha Lyonne is also the detective Charlie Cane in this new series. Natasha is a first-rate actress, who has starred in the famous series 'Orange is the New Black' and 'Russian Doll'. In this series, Charlie used to work as a card sharp in poker tournaments, but she has now retired from that job. She is now a wanderer traveling from place to place doing temporary work. You see Charlie struggling in her private life, and in that way the program is similar to 'The Rockford Files'. She is not an official detective, but murders happen wherever she goes, and she finds out who committed them. Charlie has a special ability that used to be useful to her when she was playing poker, and is also useful to her as an amateur detective. Charlie is a 'lie detector', because she knows whenever someone is telling her a lie. That ability comes into play in the program, and it helps her in her pursuit of the murderer.
The program has a great layout, in my opinion. First, unlike most other detective programs and like 'Columbo', you see the actual murder. Then, you go back earlier than that in the same place, to the time Charlie arrived on the scene. Charlie observes every detail, especially anything that happens in conjunction with the murder. Then she puts all the clues together to piece together an accurate picture of the murder.
Charlie catches the murderer out, when she asks him/her a lot of hard questions. Eventually, the murderer can no longer deny the truth, and admits his/her guilt.
It's a great approach, and I love that last part, when Charlie – the cat, faces the murderer – the mouse! Charlie wins every time without question!
I recommend you watch this series as soon as possible. I don't think it's available in Ireland yet, but no doubt it will be before long.
English 
Gaeilge