After the announcement of Poker Face’s cancellation, creator Rian Johnson is already thinking about bringing it back.
Reviving a show on a streaming platform is relatively rare, especially for a show that’s on Peacock.
Adding Johnson’s desire to recast the lead makes the possibility of a revival even harder to sell.
While Poker Face Season 2 might not have been some of the best TV, it’s still one of the few shows in recent years to preserve the genre of the murder mystery.
And as much as I love the show, I don’t think that bringing it back would be the best idea.
We Love Lyonne!
A huge selling point of Poker Face is that the talented Natasha Lyonne stars as loveable Detective Charlie.
As a character, Charlie is both charming and easy to love, making her the perfect main character to follow through different stories.
A pivotal detective whom the audience likes is essential to a murder mystery show — after all, that’s what made shows like Columbo succeed and endure for so long.
Ultimately, no matter how original the show’s mysteries are, what matters most is having someone relatable to root for.
I’m sure Peter Dinklage, whom Johnson wants to cast in the leading role, would do a great job if given the chance.
But like other Poker Face fans, I’ve already grown attached to Charlie and wouldn’t want to see her replaced.
Additionally, it would be hard to win over an entire fanbase’s hearts because if Poker Face continues with the same title, people will constantly compare Dinklage and Lyonne’s performances.
The solution of recasting the main character feels like a lose-lose, as it would be unfair to both actors to essentially pit them against each other.
And given how invested we are in Charlie, it’s hard to imagine the show without Lyonne’s energy.
Would Poker Face Even Be the Same?
The basic premise of Poker Face is relatively simple, so the decision to retain the show’s name while changing the lead and other key elements feels confusing.
Considering how successful the show has been, this feels like an attempt to ride on the original success without establishing anything new.
I wouldn’t be against Rian Johnson creating another mystery series; all I ask is that it be something new rather than a revival of something beloved.
That’s particularly true since he’s created the iconic Knives Out movie series; Johnson clearly has the creative chops to create long-lasting mystery franchises.
So, it just doesn’t make sense for him to be constrained to a Peacock show that has been cancelled and go through the tough job of finding a new home for the series instead of developing a new one.
Even though Poker Face may have only been around for a short time, this series has already been thoroughly appreciated and has proved that Johnson can translate his love for the mystery genre into a television series.
Given this, it’s time to lay the series to rest and start fresh with a new title and a new premise.
There’s no need to recast and fight the unnecessary battle of finding a new network or streaming service willing to invest in this strange vision for the show’s future.
The least we can ask for is to let Poker Face end in dignity.
What do you think about the possibility of Poker Face returning? Is it futile to replace Natasha Lyonne with Peter Dinklage?
Are you skeptical or hopeful that this murder-mystery show can be successfully revived?
Comment your thoughts below!
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