Rian Johnson’s creative decisions on Poker Face series have shaped the mysterious and unconventional journeys of its protagonist, Charlie Cale, as she navigates a world of deceit and danger. Recently, a behind-the-scenes revelation emerged about a scrapped episode so ambitious that even Johnson and Natasha Lyonne agreed it was impossible to film.
An Episode Fans Will Never Witness
The idea for the lost episode drew direct inspiration from one of Agatha Christie’s most celebrated works, envisioning a murder mystery aboard a train. Johnson colorfully described it as
s***** Murder on the Orient Express.
—Rian Johnson, Creator. The plan was to place Charlie Cale, portrayed by Natasha Lyonne, in the midst of a puzzling crime on an Amtrak journey. According to Johnson,
It would have been a train mystery set on an Amtrak. It was a great script, but…trains are tough, man.
—Rian Johnson, Creator. Technical limitations and the tight spaces of actual train cars proved prohibitive, ultimately leading Johnson and Lyonne to abandon the script despite their enthusiasm.
While other shows such as Dark Winds have succeeded in filming train-set episodes thanks to resources like George R. R. Martin’s private train, Poker Face lacked similar luxuries. Therefore, audiences will never see Charlie Cale uncovering murderers among the commuters on the Northeast Corridor rail line.
The Premise and Unique Approach of Poker Face
The series stars Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a quick-thinking woman whose unique gift—she can always spot a lie—puts her at the center of ongoing mysteries. The first season introduces her working as a casino cocktail waitress, where she unravels the killing of her friend by the casino’s manager, Sterling Frost Jr., a role played by Adrien Brody. The fallout from this discovery forces Charlie to flee, pursued relentlessly by Sterling Frost Sr. (Ron Perlman) and his hired hand Cliff LeGrand (Benjamin Bratt), setting up a thrilling, cross-country chase in her Plymouth Barracuda.
Charlie’s escapades continue as murder and high-stakes deception follow her from minor league baseball diamonds to unexpected locales like alligator farms, marking her journey with the presence of celebrity guest stars. Each episode adheres to the show’s unique formula, showcasing the crime and the perpetrator upfront, then drawing viewers into the process as Charlie unravels lies with her uncanny perceptiveness.
Critical Response and the Show’s Ongoing Appeal
Poker Face, co-created by Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne, stands as a tribute to crime drama classics like Columbo. While the second season maintains a strong 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, some critics, including Aidan Kelley of Collider, have expressed conflicting feelings, observing that it
doesn’t pack quite as strong a punch as its predecessor.
—Aidan Kelley, Critic. Despite these mixed reactions, the series remains a draw for fans intrigued by its episodic mysteries and the evolving danger surrounding Charlie Cale.
Looking Forward
Poker Face continues to stream on Peacock, drawing audiences into new mysteries fueled by Rian Johnson’s creative decisions on Poker Face series. For fans invested in the ever-complicated life of Charlie Cale, the show promises more unpredictable turns—even if some daring ideas, like the train-set mystery, will remain unrealized concepts. As excitement for upcoming episodes builds, both longtime fans and newcomers remain eager for updates on what’s next for the relentless investigator and her adversaries.
