Poker Face Season 2 Episode 4 Review: The Taste of Human Blood

Poker Face Season 2 Episode 4, “The Taste of Human Blood,” is a meditation on police corruption and sexism with a delightful comedic turn from Kumail Nanjiani. It also introduces a potential multi-episode narrative arc with Steve Buscemi’s enigmatic “Good Buddy” character. 

She’s Acquired a Taste for Human Blood

Tonally, this outing is quite different from previous episodes. While the series leans more heavily on comedy than drama, “The Taste of Human Blood” barrels down the path of slapstick. It pokes fun at Florida and law enforcement. There’s a running gag sequence where characters find “enlightenment” by gazing into an alligator’s eye. 

At face value, one might assume this pivot in tone will crash and burn. Sure, it’s not Poker Face‘s strongest episode, but it deserves kudos for swinging for the creative fences. Even the “fakeout” at the beginning, where we think Fran will bludgeon Gator Joe to death with a statue, cleverly subverts expectations. The beating heart of the series remains, though — Charlie Cale solves a murder with her innate lie detector and anachronistic charm. 

Despite the more lighthearted vibe, the aforementioned meditation on police corruption and sexism still resonates as truthful. “The Taste of Human Blood” rides that wave of levity while making a statement. The pacing here is also an improvement from the triple-episode premiere. It moves more organically, and equal time is distributed in each act. Of course, as per the show’s episodic formula, Charlie solves the case at the last minute. 

Performances

Any time Kumail Nanjiani appears, you know you’re in for a good time. He really leans into his country hick persona while also reading as a complete tool in the wake of his fame going to his head. He’s a hilarious bright spot as Gator Joe. 

Gaby Hoffmann delivers a nuanced, compelling performance as Fran. You feel for Fran’s plight, even post-murder. Fran’s a unique kind of murderer for this series — not because she accidentally killed Joe, but because she was willing to face the repercussions for her actions. She even embarks on the path of redemption by the episode’s end, volunteering to work with alligators on Hutch’s commune after resigning from the force. 

Her ex-boss’s willingness to look the other way certainly speaks to the corruptive nature of cops and their sole objective to protect their own. In addition to that, Poker Face addresses sexism in the force and beyond. Even the nominee placard at the FlopaCopas tackles this head-on. While Fran’s credentials qualify her for Officer of the Year, Joe’s only states he has 12.8 million followers on TikTok. 

Good Cop, Bad Cop

Interestingly, “The Taste of Human Blood” shows that, before Fran loses her way, she is a “good cop.” That said, the episode questions whether this is possible. Is there such a thing as a truly good cop? Or is this an oxymoron because officers cannot be good within the context of an inherently unprincipled system? The beautiful thing about this outing is that you can analyze these moral questions or simply enjoy what you see onscreen — thematic exploration not included. 

“The Taste of Human Blood” gets kooky and quirky, defends alligators, and sees Charlie thrive in the aftermath of the mob storyline. It’s not perfect, but few things are. Here’s hoping our modern-day Columbo’s travels take her to someplace safer. Why not solve a “safe” murder next time, sans dinosaur-like creatures? 

Stray Observations:

• “Meth Gator” is the name of my new film. It’ll be bigger than Sharknado. 
• Hutch has never eaten bread? Has he never experienced pure, unadulterated joy in his life? (She asks, with a potential gluten intolerance.) 
• “Gator due process” is an amazing turn of phrase that I shall incorporate even when not referencing alligators. 
• Kumail Nanjiani really pulls off the Florida mullet. 
• The janitor removing his beard and producing a gun to prove he’s a cop had me in stitches. 

---

What did you think of this episode of Poker Face? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Critic Rating:

Audience Rating:

 

Poker Face streams new episodes every Thursday on Peacock.

Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!