Poker Face Season 2 Episode 5 Recap: What was the point of Charlie’s acid trip?

Have you ever been drawn to a mystery show where the main character always seems to stumble into trouble but somehow comes out on top? That’s the magic of Poker Face. Season 2 keeps that charm alive, especially in Episode 5, titled "Hometown Hero." But unlike its usual twisty-turny nature, this one plays out a little too straight.

Let’s break down what worked, what didn’t, and where this episode hits and misses.

The episode kicks off at Velvety Canned Cheese Park (yep, it’s as weird as it sounds), where the Montgomery Cheesemongers are once again losing. It’s a sad day for the team and an even sadder one for their pitcher, Russ Waddell, who can’t throw a fastball anymore.

The coach, Skip Dooley, decides it's time for Russ to hang up his glove and become the team’s groundskeeper.

But instead of taking the news with grace, Russ and his teammates cook up a risky scheme to throw games and bet against their own team. That’s when things start spiraling.

Now, where’s Charlie in all this? As always, she finds herself tangled in the chaos. After getting knocked out by a rogue fly ball, she’s hired as the team’s new ball girl. Classic Charlie move: right place, weird time. Her entry is fun and silly, setting the stage for another one of her unexpected mystery adventures.

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Star power on screen

This episode brings in the legendary Carol Kane, playing Lucille, the team’s quirky owner. Watching her share the screen with Natasha Lyonne is a treat for fans. Their scenes together are filled with charm and promise... but unfortunately, the show doesn’t dig deep into their chemistry. It feels like the writers missed a golden chance to let two icons really shine together.

Let’s face it, the Cheesemongers are a joke in the league. With Russ throwing more duds than darts, the team is drowning in losses. Skip’s plan to push him into retirement seems fair, but it kicks off a chain reaction of betrayal. Russ, along with Lew Dundee, Carl Sandberg, Goose, and Hunter, decides that if they can’t win, they might as well lose on purpose and profit from it.

The players' idea? Bet against their own team and rake in the cash. If you thought fans losing faith was bad, imagine the team doing it too. It's a desperate move, but they figure they’ve got nothing left to lose.

Things get dark when someone dies, killed by a 100mph fastball. That's way faster than what the old pitching machine could handle. Naturally, Charlie smells something fishy.

Enter Rocket, a young, intense pitcher whose talent seems... suspicious. Could he be hiding something?

The coroner's report confirms what Charlie suspected: the pitch that killed the victim was going way too fast. It couldn’t have come from a machine. That’s all the proof Charlie needs to lock onto Rocket as the killer.

Charlie’s detective brain kicks in. She cleverly tricks Rocket by saying there’s a major league scout in the stands. Rocket, too proud to resist the bait, fires a 101mph pitch in front of the cops. Boom, case cracked.

But it’s a little too easy this time.

Usually, Poker Face dazzles us with curveballs, both literal and narrative. But here, the mystery wraps up too neatly. Once Charlie reads the report, everything unfolds exactly as expected. No shocking twist. No unexpected left turn.

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That acid trip

In a strange sequence, Charlie takes an accidental acid trip. It’s meant to be wild and wacky, kind of like the meth gator scene in the previous episode. But here’s the thing: it drags on way too long. It’s not very funny, and it doesn’t really add anything meaningful to the story.

Sure, it’s visually trippy, but it feels like filler more than fun.

This episode had all the ingredients for greatness: a fun setting, great guest stars, and a juicy murder plot. But the recipe didn’t quite come together. The comic pairing of Lucille and Charlie? Underused. The trippy sequence? Unnecessary. The mystery? Too predictable.

In the end, Rocket takes the bait and shows off his fastball. That seals his fate. The cops move in, and the case is closed. But it feels more like a single than a home run. We’ve come to expect mind-blowing endings from Poker Face; this one barely gets to first base.

Underneath the baseball and comedy, this episode quietly explores some serious themes: greed, aging, and the fear of losing relevance. Russ doesn’t want to let go of his past, and Rocket wants to skip the line to fame. Both choices come with consequences.

“Hometown Hero” is a decent episode, but it’s not top-tier Poker Face. It has charm, some fun moments, and a simple mystery, but it doesn’t pack the punch fans are used to. It’s still worth watching, especially for the performances, but don’t expect the usual rollercoaster ride.

While “Hometown Hero” delivers a solid enough story with some great moments, it misses the wild unpredictability that makes Poker Face so special. Charlie still works her magic, but the script doesn’t challenge her, or us, the way it usually does. Here's hoping future episodes get back to playing hardball.

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