10 burning questions for Poker Face Season 2

Poker Face has wrapped up its first season on Peacock and is a resounding success. The show not only got near-universal rave reviews but also renewed early for a second season.

The final episode also closed out one big storyline for heroine Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) but opened the door for a new path for Season 2.

This leads to several questions for fans and showrunners Nora and Lilla Zuckerman answered them in interviews. As fans await Season 2 of Poker Face, here are a few burning questions they have on the show’s future that can make the wait worthwhile.

Is the Sterling case really done on Poker Face?

The finale of Poker Face had Charlie framed for the murder of Sterling Frost Sr. (Ron Perlman), who was killed by his own supposedly trusted bodyguard Cliff (Benjamin Bratt). Charlie managed to clear her name and got Cliff arrested for killing her friend back in the pilot.

The Zuckermans and Rian Johnson confirmed this is the end of the main Sterling case. However, there is the little matter of Charlie inadvertently setting off a mob war and the possibility of Cliff returning at some point, although that would depend on Benjamin Bratt’s schedule. Yet, for now, Charlie has gotten away from the Sterling mess.

Will Charlie ever settle down?

Speaking to Variety, Lilla stated that there was never a plan for Charlie to take a job with the FBI or even a regular gig. She points out there’s a reason her car is a Barracuda, as Charlie is “like a shark, she’s always moving forward.” Thus, Season 2 will continue to have Charlie on the move, especially with a big enemy on her back.

Who is the new foe on Poker Face Season 2?

Just as Charlie had the Sterling case handled, she made a new enemy in Beatrix Hasp (Rhea Perlman), head of a major mob family. She had arranged for Sterling’s murder and wanted Charlie to work for her or she’d be hunted down for implicating Hasp in this.

Lilla confirmed that Perlman will be making an appearance, just not sure when or how but promises it will be a big deal.

"“She’s such inspired casting, and I think so much of the casting of this season is inspired because you get somebody that is beloved and famous for playing a certain type of role, and then we get to see them reveal a totally different side of themselves and play against type. And Rhea Perlman playing the head of the Five Families, an absolute killer, a sadistic cold-blooded hunter — I can’t wait to see what that looks like in Season 2. I don’t know what it looks like yet, but I can’t wait to write it.”"

Will it still be a “howcatchem?”

What makes Poker Face unique is the structure, referred to as a “howcatchem.” The audience sees who the killer is and how it was done. It then flashes back to show how Charlie got involved with the case and how she puts it together.

Nora and Lilla told Collider that they will keep the same formula but continue to find unique ways to tweak it like making it look like the killer is someone else before revealing the crime.

"“It’s never going to be a classic, cookie-cutter formula. We just have too much fun playing with it. But I still think we’ll remain true to the howcatchem. It’s such a joyful way to write a mystery. We’ve really enjoyed the process, and now we’ve learned how to do it and how to break it well in the room. So I think that will always remain.”"

Will Charlie’s sister return?

When on the run in the finale, Charlie reached out to her long-estranged sister Emily (played by Lyonne’s long-time friend Clea DuVall). Their conversation hinted that Charlie’s lie-detection abilities had caused problems in the family and Emily felt abandoned by Charlie.

Speaking to TV Insider, DuVall said she would love to return to the show, even as “I think a little bit more chaos would be fun. But probably for the safety of Emily and her childhood, [it wouldn’t be good].” However, it would be a good way to examine Charlie’s past.

Will we get more insight into Charlie’s past?

Despite a full season, the audience still knows little of Charlie’s actual past. She’s hinted at some wild times and the idea she’s been burned trusting the wrong people. Yet talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Nora said that while they like leaving mystery to Charlie, they want to explore how she’s not jaded, despite always knowing when people are lying to her.

"“Charlie somehow has survived, and somehow is still an optimist. She’s not a cynic. She doesn’t hate people. She doesn’t look at everybody as a liar. I think she looks at everybody as human. So part of me is curious, where did that optimism come from for Charlie? We will, I’m sure, get more into it. But I think it will be in small, very satisfying slices.”"

Will Charlie leave the U.S.?

With the mob hunting her down, Charlie is going to need some good hiding places. That includes the possibility of Charlie heading out of the United States for some international cases.

The Zuckermans joked on the idea of Charlie heading to France, given Rian Johnson’s love of the country. While that seems unlikely for Season 2, they did share a good question: Does Charlie’s lie-detecting ability work if she can’t understand the language? That alone is a good thread to pick up on in Season 2.

What guest stars will we see?

One of the best parts of Poker Face has been the bevy of amazing guest stars, either as killers or suspects. The Zuckermans confirmed that they want to continue that with Ted Danson mentioned as their dream pick.

They also mentioned paying further tribute to shows like Columbo by having some Season 1 guest stars return, now playing completely different characters. This mix might make Season 2 even better in the guest star range.

When will Poker Face Season 2 premiere?

Sadly, it does sound like it will be a wait before Season 2 premieres. The key problem is the scheduling, as Rian Johnson is busy with various movie projects while Natasha Lyonne is working on Russian Doll Season 3 and other projects.

It’s a matter of lining up everyone’s schedules, not to mention the various guest stars, so it’s unlikely Season 2 of Poker Face can premiere until, at best, late 2023 or even early 2024.

How long can Poker Face last?

A final big question is just how long can the series go on. The Zuckermans had always intended for the show to be a tribute to Columbo, which ran for ten seasons. In interviews, a common theme was both women making it clear they will write and showrun for the series for however long they can. This is good news for fans of Poker Face and its fun mysteries for the future.

Poker Face Season 1 streams  on Peacock.