What happens when a rent control at a Manhattan apartment and a suspicious death have in common? "A New Lease on Death" delivers a classic Poker Facew twitst filled with dark comedy, scheming charmer,s and a killer mystery that only Charlie Cale can crack, Here's my recap and thoughts.
When Anne (Lauren Tom) attempts to adopt her granddaughter Maddy (Awkwafina) as her daughter to preserve her rent-controlled apartment, things take a strange and delayed turn. Enter Kate (Alia Shawkat), Anne's charming new romantic partner, whose sudden presence threatens the delicate balance between Anne and Maddy. Maddy quickly becomes suspicious and uncovers that Kate isn't who she claims to be. But before Maddy can act on this knowledge, she's killed in a tragic accident involving mixed cleaning chemicals in the laundry room.
Charlie (Natasha Lyonne), now lying low at Good Buddy's apartment, bonds with Anne and Maddy during a viewing of Michael Clayton. But after Maddy's death, Charlie begins to suspect foul play and starts putting the pieces together. As always, her uncanny lie-detection instincts guide her investigation.
As Kate progresses with her relationship and obtains a marriage license with Anne, Charlie's sleuthing intensifies. Things come to a head after Charlie talks to Anne about her suspicions of Kate killing Maddy, only for Kate to have Anne leave and then push Charlie out of the apartment window. But in a classic Charlie fashion...it was all part of her plan, thanks to an earlier conversation with the firefighters about having an inflatable airbag nearby as the fall is cushioned. Kate is exposed, and Anne learns the truth.
"A New Lease on Death" brings back the beloved Poker Face formula with a delightful blend of style and suspense. Alia Shawkat shines as Kate, balancing charm and menace beautifully. Her interactions with Lyonne are lively, witty, and brimming with tension. At the same time, David Alan Grier offers just the right amount of comic relief as Otto, the building supervisor. His hilarious efforts to catch Charlie sneaking around Buddy's apartment are sure to have you laughing out loud, and his timing is spot-on.
The combination of humor, heart, and a murder mystery is exactly what Poker Face excels at, and this episode truly strikes all the right chords. With its intriguing dark twists, clever callbacks, and captivating character dynamics, "A New Lease on Death" feels like a triumphant return to form in the most wonderful way. It's a tightly crafted episode that has that classic feel, complete with a fantastic guest cast and some unforgettable comedic moments. Overall, I’m excited to rate this episode an 8.5/10!
What did you think of this week's episode of Poker Face? Leave a comment.
You can catch Poker Face Thursdays on Peacock.
No comments:
Post a Comment