Poker Face Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Hometown Hero

Poker Face Season 2 Episode 5, “Hometown Hero,” Charlie tries to save a floundering baseball stadium after a new star pitcher is murdered. Bolstered by a host of stellar guest stars like Simon Rex, Carol Kane, and Gil Birmingham, “Hometown Hero” finally digs into what plagues Charlie and her main motivations in life. That alone is a breath of fresh air, since Charlie is often more of a plot device than a fleshed-out character. 

She Can Read Your Poker Face

Now, this show knows what it is. Its charm lies in Natasha Lyonne’s compelling screen presence as a modern-day Columbo and all the incredible guest stars it brings into the fold. There’s also no straying from the episodic formula: We see the events leading to the murder, the murder happens, and then we learn how Charlie fits into the equation before she solves the case at the last possible minute. 

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this format. It works as an homage to Columbo and the ’70s media it seeks to emulate. However, part of what makes “Hometown Hero” the season’s weakest episode so far is the pacing. The back half needs more time to breathe. I would’ve loved to see Lyonne interact more with Rex and perhaps establish more of a bond. We already see hints of mutual attraction, so why not explore that a bit?

Additionally, it would’ve been interesting to shake up the narrative structure a bit with “Hometown Hero.” Not so much the Columbo format, but making the case more of a struggle for Charlie to solve. The ending here is also quite abrupt. Despite all this, Lyonne and Rex boast excellent chemistry.

Rex, in particular, is a fun addition to the Poker Face universe. Kane is fantastic, and she and Lyonne deserved more scenes together. Their innate quirkiness matches each other so well. Birmingham is solid, as always, making the most of his scenes. He has a few fun comedic beats, but again, I would’ve loved more time with his character. Brandon Perea also nails it as the young hotshot threatening to steal Russ Waddell’s thunder. 

A Higher Power, A Higher Purpose

Beyond its cast, where “Hometown Hero” excels is the exploration of Charlie Cale. Her new pal Good Buddy (Steve Buscemi) advises that the “second smack gets ya,” which is cleverly incorporated into the story. Firstly, Charlie smacks the printer to life and then gets smacked in the head with a baseball. Secondly, Felix gets “smacked” by the revelation about Russ and the team’s illegal activities before Russ’s fastball smacks the life out of him. 

Now that Beatrix Hasp and the mafia are no longer on her tail, Charlie has an open road’s worth of possibilities before her. Yet she feels directionless. We hear her tell Good Buddy that she believes she needs a change of career pace, hence the switch to an office setting. However, a pencil pusher, Charlie Cale is not. 

When Charlie’s tripping on acid, she communicates with the spirit of Lucille’s grandfather, who clocks that she’s striving to find her life’s purpose. There’s an undercurrent of religion and higher callings throughout the episode. Lyonne taps into Charlie’s inner fears beautifully, especially with her heightened emotions during her trip. But this is how she really feels — she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life. 

Potential Growth 

Will Charlie inadvertently stumble into murder investigations forever? Could we see her take up an official private eye mantle? This week’s Poker Face lays the groundwork for potential — and much-needed — growth for Charlie by introducing these questions. 

While “Hometown Hero” is far from perfect, there’s still plenty to enjoy. I appreciate the show’s willingness to swing for the fences in terms of silliness, especially the trippy imagery in this week’s and last week’s episodes. Here’s hoping something, narratively or creatively, comes along to subvert certain aspects of the formula. 

Stray Observations:

• The Velvety Canned Cheese Cheesemongers is a team name that, as a non-sports person, I can get behind. 
• I’ve never related to someone more than I have watching Gilda Deacon, the game announcer, eating cheesy foods to cope with the Cheesemongers’ incessant losses. 
• Is the “Rocket” moniker a nod to Simon Rex’s award-worthy turn in 2021’s Red Rocket? I think so.
• How is it that, in the year 2025, printers are still a scourge of society? And that all it takes is a smack to get it going again?
• Spicy seafood-flavored cheese substitute sounds vomit-inducing. 
• As someone who’s had a minor concussion, getting whacked in the head by a fastball would knock Charlie unconscious for a good, long while. Not sure how she’s still walking and talking, to be honest. 
• Will we ever meet Good Buddy? Or is he doomed to remain faceless in perpetuity?

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Poker Face drops new episodes every Thursday on Peacock. 

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