SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details from the first four episodes ofPeacocksPoker Face.
Shes not reading their faces or their body language.
Related Stories
Poker Face Review: No Lie!
Natasha Lyonne in ‘Poker Face’.Peacock
Rather than stick around and meet her own demise, Charlie goes on the lamb.
DEADLINE:So, Rian came to you with the idea for this series fairly early on.
How did you develop it with him intoPoker Face?
NATASHA LYONNE:We became pals through his brilliant wife, Karina Longworth.
I think we just started talking about our shared love of Philip Marlowe.
He really put pen to paper and I saw in practical tool why hes our premier puzzle box mastermind.
Nothing brings me joy than seeing a puppet master at work like that.
DEADLINE:Each episode feels very distinct, tonally and stylistically.
How did you come up with each of these mysteries for Charlie to solve?
LYONNE:First of all, its a huge task for Judy Reese, the production designer.
The fact that she was able to turn that into 10 distinct worlds was a huge undertaking.
Rian was so wise to bring with him his team, like Steve Yedlin as cinematographer.
That was a standard that we were all going to have to continue meeting in subsequent episodes.
DEADLINE:Theres also this guest star of the week aspect of the series.
How was it to be the only constant acting alongside this rotating cast of characters?
LYONNE:The best way I can describe it is almost like being a session musician or something.
We knocked on all the walls together.
Its not like Im jumping into any series.
Then it became very fun by day three, they were totally swimming alone.
Its an interesting exercise for sure.
You want to see them score so badly.
Im becoming a softie with age.
Im sort of entering my Sydney Pollack era, I think.
For example, when wed be discussing which department heads to hire and stuff, really weighing that correctly.
Its not a movie.
I mean, youre in it for the long haul.
Here, obviously, we never really got into recycled locations or anything like that, which is funny.
So I think that still something Im really able to bring with me.
It really is very helpful so it’s possible for you to have a much wider playing field.
Rian and I are also friends.
He came to the edit ofRussian Dolland I saw early cuts ofGlass Onionand be in it.
It just feels really safe and good to work with somebody who you feel that close to.
DEADLINE:Charlie is very much flying by the seat of her pants.
Why did you develop her that way?
LYONNE:I think we knew that we didnt want her to be a cop.
The practical reality of it is that it just sort of ends there.
He wrote that great line of like, Lying is like birds chirping.
The trick is to figure out why someone is lying.
At that point, she becomes just a very workaday sleuth whos got to crack a puzzle.
InRussian Doll, its almost like Nadia is on her own case.
Its an existential, psychedelic, philosophical, almost theological show.
So shes trying to ultimately crack her own case and find meaning.
She just saw no other way to live.
Cliff will catch up with Charlie eventually.
So whats in store for the next six episodes?
LYONNE:Benjamin Bratt does a beautiful job in this show.
I love working with him, and hes such a great actor.
Hes the ticking clock of the operation.
Janicza Bravo directed the finale, and Rian wrote the finale.
Rian says its a howcatchem, not a whodunit.
