Poker Face Season 1 Episode 9 Review, Poker Face Season 1 Episode 9 Recap
by Subhashree M | Updated Mar 09, 2023
Poker Face Wiki
Poker Face is a comedic crime drama television series developed by Rian Johnson for Peacock, a streaming service. The show follows a "case-of-the-week" murder mystery format and features Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a casino employee who becomes entangled in several mysterious deaths of strangers. Peacock officially announced the series in March 2021, with Lyonne and Johnson attached as director. Co-showrunners were named as Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman. The first season of Poker Face premiered on January 26, 2023, consisting of 10 episodes, and has been highly praised by critics. The series was renewed for a second season in February 2023.
Poker Face Season 1 Episode 9 Review
Poker Face's penultimate episode, "Escape From Shit Mountain," takes things to the next level. This season, Charlie has found herself in several dangerous situations, but none have been as life-threatening as the one she faces in this episode. Even her initial escape from Nevada in the first episode, "Dead Man's Hand," did not bring her as close to death as she comes in "Escape From Shit Mountain." However, considering how the episode concludes, it may only hold the title of the most dangerous episode for a short while.In the episode, Charlie becomes the victim of a hit-and-run and is trapped in a dilapidated motel with the person who hit her - a murderer, no less. This makes for an unusual Thursday for Charlie, to say the least.
The fact that Charlie is the hit-and-run victim is the episode's most significant twist, which, in retrospect, I should have anticipated. The show's decision not to reveal the victim's face and to mislead viewers into thinking it was Morty are all indicators. However, despite being aware of the show's tendency to play with viewers' expectations, I did not foresee this twist until the very moment she was hit.The twist in the episode is surprisingly effective, considering its simplicity. In fact, the entire episode exceeds expectations and is far better than it should be. Although the case of the week in "Escape From Shit Mountain" is the least compelling and most generic of the season, it still manages to be one of the most satisfying episodes. There are no subversions or misdirections, except for the twist involving Charlie's hit-and-run. Despite this, the episode remains engrossing and thoroughly entertaining, thanks to its excellent craftsmanship and execution.
The episode benefits greatly from the return of Rian Johnson to the director's seat. Similar to "The Orpheus Syndrome" directed by Lyonne in Episode 8, "Escape From Shit Mountain" has a more cinematic feel than previous episodes. Johnson's strong visual storytelling is evident from the opening montage that introduces Trey, a character whom we immediately feel invested in, even if it's just to hate him. Johnson keeps the story moving quickly and skillfully builds tension and suspense through the use of visuals, such as the claustrophobic atmosphere inside the cabin that amplifies the danger to Charlie.The episode also features strong performances from the cast, especially from Natasha Lyonne as Charlie. She brings depth and nuance to her character, showcasing her resilience and determination as she fights for survival. The chemistry between Charlie and the person who hit her adds an intriguing dynamic to the episode.
Overall, "Escape From Shit Mountain" is an excellent episode that elevates the quality of the show. It successfully combines the elements of suspense, mystery, and drama to create an engrossing and satisfying viewing experience. With its unexpected twists, strong performances, and expert direction, it is a standout episode in the first season of Poker Face.
Poker Face Season 1 Episode 9 Recap
Hello again, wanderers! We've arrived at the second-to-last episode of Poker Face, and things have gotten intense. Once more, Rian Johnson is directing, and the script by Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman is fantastic. "Escape From Shit Mountain" is, without a doubt, the best episode yet. It's a well-crafted mystery that puts Charlie at the center of a murder investigation. She ultimately identifies the culprit, and helps the authorities discover other victims. Charlie proves to be a total badass, even though she's not perfect (she curses using Bea Arthur's name).The episode begins with no music, only the sound of the wind. We see Trey (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who leads a mundane life of bike rides, smoothie-making, and games. He also orders takeout without tipping, much to the delivery driver's annoyance. The driver leaves Trey's order outside his gate, which he struggles to reach, revealing that he's on house arrest. Trey's parole officer informs him that his ankle bracelet isn't working due to a power outage caused by a blizzard. The officer will visit Trey at 7 am to ensure he hasn't broken parole conditions.
Trey gets into his car, newly invigorated, and goes for a drive, as long as he's back by 7 am.While driving, Trey swerves to avoid hitting a stag but hits a person instead. He puts the person in his trunk and calls his friend Jimmy (David Castañeda) for help. Jimmy owns a nearby motel and helps Trey bury the body. There's tension between the two, and it's clear they haven't spoken in a year. Trey was put on house arrest after his law firm betrayed him, and he's already served six months of a 14-month sentence. After burying the body, Trey and Jimmy return to the motel, where they drink coconut rum and catch up.The door suddenly banged loudly, and when Jimmy and Trey opened it, they saw the body they had just buried lying in front of it. A car pulled into the parking lot, and Trey called out to the driver, claiming that the person on the ground might be hurt. Charlie arrived on the mountain during springtime and met Luke, who persuaded her to follow him to a second location. They spent time near a shimmering lake nestled in between the mountains, where they made love, went fishing, cuddled by a campfire, and jammed on the guitar. Later, Charlie slipped on a patch of ice and fell, and Morty was there to help her up. Morty offered to pay for gas if Charlie drove her to Denver, which was her next destination. They hit the road with a full gas tank, and Morty explained how she got creative with where and how she accrued funds.
Charlie spots what appears to be the same stag Trey sees later, and she swerves but winds up careening off the road. Charlie wakes up after being buried alive by Trey and Jimmy and claws her way out of the hole. She crawls to the motel's front door and bangs on it, bringing the men to her. She loses consciousness right as Morty arrives at the motel in her car. Next, Charlie wakes up inside the motel lobby, with Jimmy and Trey watching her closely. They ask her what she remembers, and Charlie struggles to piece together her fragmented memories. Charlie and Morty realize that the "stabby stick" Charlie used to break free of the hole is a human bone. Charlie wonders if the bone belongs to Chloe Jones, the missing snowboarder, and asks Jimmy if he has the missing poster. The guys offer to make up a room for Charlie and Morty so they can spend the night. Charlie voices her concerns regarding their hosts, noting how Trey is wearing an ankle monitor, but Morty counters that "rich guys" who do "light crimes" are generally sentenced to house arrest.
Poker Face Episode 9 Cast
Cast
Poker Face Episode 9 Location
Natasha Lyonne, Chloë Sevigny, Clea DuVall, Judith Light, Luis Guzmán, and Rhea Perlman are among the cast of the enigmatic series 'Poker Face,' which recently premiered on Peacock. The first season of the show was filmed in various locations throughout New York State, including Poughkeepsie, Beacon, and New Paltz. Take a look to see if you recognize any of the landmarks featured in the show.
Poker Face Season 1 Episode 9 Ending Explained
Due to the severe pain from the car accident, Charlie attempts to reach for her keys to escape but is unable to move. Surprised by the attached photo of Trey and Chloe on her keychain, she grabs it. Jimmy returns with sleeping pills, and he shares with Charlie that Chloe was once a talented snowboarder who quit due to pressure. Charlie takes the medicine and passes out immediately. Trey returns to the hotel to clean up after finishing off Morty, while Jimmy and Trey continue their argument outside. Charlie wakes up in the motel and pretends to have taken the pills, but actually spits them out into a nearby cup.
When she tries to take her keys, Trey and Jimmy notice her suspicious behavior. Trey takes her keys and prepares to carry out his plan to murder Charlie. She attempts to convince Jimmy not to trust Trey due to his previous murder of Chloe. Despite Jimmy's efforts, Trey ends up killing him. With a rifle in hand, Charlie becomes Trey's next target, but since the gun doesn't work, he resorts to stabbing her instead. Charlie is buried alongside Jimmy and Chloe in the graveyard. Trey goes to the motel to clean up the murder scene and drinks from the cup with the sleeping pills, which he swallows. He manages to keep his composure and avoid passing out while walking back to the house.Due to her multiple issues, she was unable to be rescued and ultimately perished. Upon realizing she no longer has a name, she bursts out laughing, though the euphoria won't last for long. Cliff is stationed outside the facility, waiting for a chance to murder her. Having read the news report, Cliff now knows Charlie's location.
Poker Face Season 1 Episode 9 Review - FAQs
In this episode, the contestants continue to compete in various poker games and challenges to stay in the competition and win the grand prize.
The contestants face a variety of challenges including playing high-stakes poker games, bluffing their opponents, and competing in physical challenges.
The show is hosted by comedians and poker players Joe Stapleton and Maria Ho.
The show is rated TV-14 due to some mature content, so it may not be suitable for younger viewers.
Yes, you can watch the episode on various streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play.