Creator Rian Johnson has confirmed that the second season of his hit series Poker Face was a success, despite some concerns from its streaming platform Peacock. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson discussed the show’s finale and the cliffhanger ending.
In the season two finale, Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) finds herself in a precarious situation after discovering she is now a wanted fugitive by the FBI. The show’s use of a “To Be Continued” cliffhanger left viewers on edge, only to reveal that Charlie escaped before her car took its cliff jump.
Johnson revealed that he deliberately included this twist to pay homage to classic TV shows from his childhood, where characters would frequently freeze frame during commercial breaks and the screen would cut back in with a cliffhanger ending. “I think it will be fine,” Johnson said when asked if the decision to include the cliffhanger was necessary.
The show’s format, which typically features standalone episodes, took a surprising turn this season as it introduced a new villain (Patti Harrison) who could lie to Charlie and go undetected. Johnson described the character as a ” Moriarty” for Charlie.
Johnson praised Lyonne for her performance in the finale, saying she was fully invested in the role and brought depth to the character’s emotional moment. He also expressed his excitement about the possibility of bringing back Harrison’s character in future seasons.
The show’s success has been attributed to its unique format, which allows each guest star and guest director to shine in their respective episodes. Johnson believes that this approach benefits from space and provides a refreshing viewing experience for audiences.
With its finale airing on Peacock, fans are eagerly awaiting news of a potential third season. Although there have been discussions about the possibility of a return, Johnson acknowledged that he doesn’t want to count his chickens just yet. He expressed his excitement about exploring new worlds and episodes in future seasons, describing it as an “open sandbox” with endless possibilities.
Johnson also hinted at a sequel to the highly anticipated Knives Out movie Wake Up Dead Man, but declined to reveal any further details for now.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/poker-face-season-2-finale-cliffhanger-peacock-rian-johnson-1236312018