Poker Face star Rian Johnson talks about a key sequence from Season 2 ending; says "Peacock was a little nervous"

The Season 2 finale of Poker Face delivered a cliffhanger moment so classic, it came with a freeze frame and a “To Be Continued” message—only for the story to resume after the commercial break. Now, Rian Johnson, the show’s creator, has revealed that this old-school TV homage made Peacock a bit jittery behind the scenes.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson explained that he was “just giggling in the edit room” while putting the moment together. The sequence sees Charlie Cale and The Iguana in a high-stakes showdown that ends with a car flying off a cliff. As the screen freezes and the dramatic “To Be Continued” message appears, it feels like a full-stop ending—until the action continues moments later. Rian Johnson said,

“Peacock was a little nervous about that. They were like, ‘Ehh, do you have to put To Be Continued?’ I was like, ‘I think it will be fine.’”

The moment was carefully timed, and according to Johnson, it was less about suspense and more about honoring a TV storytelling style that had a strong hold on his imagination growing up.

The Poker Face gag that made Johnson “giddy” in the edit room

Johnson had no doubts about including the fake cliffhanger. It was, for him, a direct reference to the kind of TV he loved as a kid. Reflecting on the sequence, he said,

“It brings me so much joy. Because I know that we are going to play fair after that break. I hope nobody stops watching after that!”

He compared it to the kind of action-packed mid-episode pauses you’d find on shows filmed at the Universal backlot.

“A car would go off the ramp at the Universal backlot, the show would freeze frame and it would be like, ‘How are they going to get out of this one!’” Johnson said.

It’s a vintage storytelling tactic, complete with dramatic flair and a wink to the audience—only this time for Poker Face, delivered through a 2020s streaming lens.

Streaming twists and viewer confusion: a gamble that paid off?

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While the gag landed well for many, it did carry a real risk—especially for viewers watching with ads. Those on the ad-supported tier of Peacock might have seen “To Be Continued,” assumed the episode was over, and missed the resolution that played out post-commercial. In a streaming era where “cliffhanger” often means “see you next season,” Johnson’s stunt was a risky move.

Nevertheless, the moment emphasizes the broader ambition of Poker Face, which is to combine timeless narrative arcs with contemporary pacing. The show has embraced its legacy constantly, from the Columbo-style mysteries to the retro cinematography. This last episode of Poker Face, which was self-directed by Lyonne, stylistically paid tribute to the subversion of both homage and innovation. It pushed form to the limit without actually going overboard.

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