This week's Poker Face episode offers a fresh take without early murder. It focuses on a layered con that leads to tragedy, tension, and a rare justice win. With strong performances from Melanie Lynskey and John Cho, this installment stands out as a character-driven thriller about deception, loss, and a satisfying power reversal. Here are my thoughts.
We open on Regina (Melanie Lynskey), a lonely woman who strikes up an innocent conversation with the charming Guy (John Cho) over coffee at a hotel bar. What starts as flirtation turns into a full entry into Guy's world of high-level cons against shady individuals disguised as vigilante justice. However, after being encouraged to participate in the scam, Regina, believing she has made a real connection and come into money, discovers it was all a trick and ends her life.
Enter Charlie (Natasha Lyonne), who wanders into the same bar with a coupon for a free breakfast and her morning beer. She crosses paths with Guy, sees through his con man charm immediately, and is coon drawn into his crew's world of ethical scamming (known as Dexter of Con Artist). But everything changes when she realizes that their last target, whom they scammed out of thousands, was none other than Regina.
Charlie decides to flip the script and scam the scammers. Guy, of course, is already planning his next move, but Charlie literally beats him at his own game. What follows is a tense standoff involving Guy, his muscle Manny, and their newest mark, Sketch, who, in a clever twist, turns out to be Manny's husband, Robin.
A scuffle breaks out, and both Manny and Sketch/Robin are injured. Guy escapes with what he believes is a bag of cash, only to find it filled with coupons. The real money? Charlie swiped it earlier and gave it to Manny and Robin (who weren't hurt), but decided that Charlie would keep the money and donate it to the bank in honor of Regina, ensuring her death wasn't in vain.
"The Sleazy Georgian" is truly a standout episode! Instead of sticking to the typical murder-investigation format, it takes a refreshing turn with a con artist storyline that still brings so much emotional depth and high stakes. The writing gives each character their moment to shine, especially Regina, whose brief yet powerful story arc adds a lot of heart to the episode.
John Cho brings his usual charm to the role of Guy/Alec, perfectly balancing suave with a touch of sleaze. However, it's Melanie Lyskney who truly steals the show, beautifully portraying Regina's vulnerability and quiet desperation, which makes her fate feel even more impactful. Nastasha Leyonne continues to impress as Charlie, whose strong moral compass serves as the emotional center of the series.
Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.
What did you think of the episode? Did you like the episode twist? Leave a comment.
You can catch Poker Face Thursdays on Peacock.
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