POKER FACE Season Finale Recap: (S02E12) The End of the Road
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Poker Face episode, 'Day of the Iguana' Poker Face, 'The End of the Road'
We open with Charlie (Lyonne) and Alex (Harrison) on the road, en route to Beatrix Hasp's safe house in Greenville, Indiana. Alex pores over a large map, but still struggles to get them going in the right direction. She begs Charlie to turn on her phone so they can use the GPS. Naturally, Charlie is hesitant, what with the FBI, the five families and a mysterious, deadly assassin all on her tail. Still, she allows Alex to do it for a few minutes.
That's when Luca (Simon Helberg) calls Charlie. Luca, who's with Agent Milligan (Taylor Schilling), explains that the Iguana killed Beatrix's son. Well, after the Iguana slaughtered the Iguana. As it turns out, Real Todd was an Iguana, and Fake Todd assumed his identity. Of course, she hasn't an inkling who that is. Luca adds that the Iguana is the deadliest assassin in the world, suspected of at least 50 assassinations. And now Charlie is leading him to Beatrix. That's why he framed Alex. It's all a setup. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: (l-r) Taylor Schilling as Agent Milligan, Simon Helberg as Luca — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) On the Lam
Charlie orders Alex to cover her ears while she tells Luca that Beatrix's mafia bros are out for her. Luca texts Charlie footage of the prosthetics the Iguana used to transform into Fake Todd as they're washed away on the beach. Luca impresses the severity of the situation. If Alex dies and Charlie leads the Iguana to Beatrix, the FBI, CIA and NSA will be all over her. She'll spend the rest of her life in prison.
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Luca demands to know Beatrix's location. Charlie refuses to disclose this, instead hanging up on him. Luca and Milligan lose connection with Charlie's phone. Milligan states there are over 25 safe houses in Indiana. Meanwhile, Charlie pulls over to think. Alex proposes they head to a diner to fuel up on food and concoct a new plan. Perhaps they don't need to run to Beatrix.
Later, Charlie parks in the lot of a diner and a truck stop. Charlie and Alex nervously make a beeline for the entrance, realizing that anyone they encounter could be the Iguana. Alex heads to the bathroom while Charlie scopes out the diner patrons for anyone — and anything — suspicious. Alex returns with matching pink hats. You know, something to commemorate their impromptu, on-the-lam adventure. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: Patti Harrison as Alex — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) There's the Girl
Charlie spies one fella who looks mighty suspicious. He has a bandage around his hand. Charlie recalls the Iguana/Fake Todd (Justin Theroux) sporting a nasty gash on his palm. Perhaps this is the Iguana in disguise. Charlie and Alex barrel out of the diner. The man spots them, shouting, 'There's the girl!' Outside, Alex informs a handful of men in the parking lot that Bandaged-Hand Man (who could be the Iguana) is after them. The men proceed to beat the snot out of Bandaged-Hand Man as Charlie and Alex flee.
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Elsewhere, Luca meets with reps of the FBI, CIA and NSA, including SAC Darville (Lili Taylor). He tries to persuade them of the Iguana's role in all this and Charlie's importance. Dude goes to bat for Charlie. They remain unconvinced, though, and they refuse to disclose Beatrix's location. In fact, each agency only has one part of the password, as it were, so none of them truly know where she is.
Later, Charlie and Alex arrive at Beatrix's safe house. Charlie decides to meet with her first to soften her up before introducing Alex into the equation. After exiting her vehicle, Charlie gives Alex a stick of Big Red gum. If you recall, Alex told Charlie in episode 10 that she had a deadly cinnamon allergy. Hmm. The Real Iguana Is the Friend We Make Along the Way
While walking around the house, Charlie stumbles upon something awful. Alex gasps in the car. Charlie rushes toward her Barracuda to discover Alex is missing. Uh-oh.
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Charlie discovers a handful of slaughtered agents — muscle used to protect Beatrix — outside the house. Inside, she finds one agent in a pool of his own blood on the floor. A large pot of presumably spaghetti sauce is on the stove. An aerial shot shows Charlie roaming through the halls until she encounters Beatrix's (Rhea Perlman) corpse propped upright in her recliner in the living room, the TV blaring. RIP to a baking mafia queen. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK)
Then, Alex emerges from the corner, a gun pressed against her temple, making it appear that the Iguana has her. However, plot twist, Alex is the real Iguana. The new leather ensemble is a dead giveaway. Alex killed those FBI agents and Beatrix. Of course, Beatrix was the goal all along. Let's Get Expositional
Alex casts Beatrix's body aside and forces Charlie to sit in the recliner. She points her weapon at Charlie. Now, it's time for an exposition dump, kids. How did the Iguana weasel her way into Charlie's life? We learn that Alex is a talented contract killer. She's taken out presidents, queens, kings, billionaires, etc. However, something was missing from her life. It all became rote.
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At one point, Alex sliced her hand to feel, well, something . Then, her agent called her with a new assignment: Beatrix Hasp, a mafia boss. The agent mentions Charlie as a potential hurdle. She's close to Beatrix and has her innate lie detector. Alex embraces the challenge, though. No one has caught Alex in a lie since she was five. Pulling the wool over Charlie's eyes would keep her sharp.
So, Alex orchestrated her first meeting with Charlie at the coffee shop in NYC. She learned to subdue the common triggers one associates with lying to trick Charlie. Of course, Charlie eventually caught on to Alex, hence why she gave the latter that stick of Big Red. But the cinnamon allergy was a lie. Compulsive Do-Gooder
Anyway, Alex hired Fake Todd, the world's second greatest assassin, to kill Beatrix's son. She poses as the superior he chats with on the phone at the wedding, disguising her voice. Then, she situates herself in the boathouse so he makes her the patsy and frames her for Kirby's murder. And if you're wondering what happened to Fake Todd, Alex made quick work of him, disposing of him in the water.
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All of this transpired according to plan — even getting blamed for murdering Beatrix's son. As for Bandaged-Hand Man, Alex sliced his hand in the bathroom, hence why he shouted 'There's the girl!' and chased her and Charlie out of the diner. Charlie and Alex debate whether Charlie truly likes people. Alex accuses her of being a 'compulsive do-gooder.' Everyone lies to Charlie all the time, including Alex.
Of course, Alex's lying inevitably caught up with her when it became too arduous to continue the ruse. I love this idea of Charlie's big nemesis having the ability to lie undetected. Well, for the most part. Alex pivots, claiming she now has to kill Charlie since her assignment is complete. Beatrix is dead. Wild Goose Chase
However, Charlie finds another challenge for Alex to overcome. She turns the stove on with the pot of sauce. It overflows and triggers the smoke alarm. Luca, who's keeping an eye on all the safe houses in Indiana, gets an alert from said alarm. He and a team, along with local authorities, park outside the safe house.
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Next, Alex emerges with a gun to Charlie's head, holding her hostage. Charlie's always getting held hostage. She shoves Charlie into the Barracuda and zips away. Luca, Milligan and the others give chase. During the pursuit, Charlie wonders what Alex plans to do next. Alex claims it's the end of the road. There's nothing left for Alex to accomplish.
Then, Milligan gets an order from the tippy-top. Like, the big boss. They are to shoot to kill. Stop that vehicle at all costs. The authorities lay down a chain to pop the Barracuda's tires. Agents train their weaponry on the approaching car. Alex speeds up. Charlie insists that Alex actually can't lie to her. 'You've never done it when I'm trying to catch you,' she says. Interesting. Thelma and Louise
Alex swerves down a side road, catching the authorities off guard. They pursue her, but, of course, most of them pop the tires on their vehicles because of the chain on the road. Luca and Milligan realize there's a cliff not far ahead. Alex means to drive her and Charlie off it, Thelma & Louise -style.
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Alex plays another game of Two Truths and a Lie as she did in episode 10. If Charlie wins, Alex will let her live, and she'll have a Sherlock to her Moriarty. A bona fide rival. A legitimate challenge. However, if Alex wins…
Then, Alex begins the game. She claims she had a dog named Puddles as a child. Next, she asserts she's double-jointed. Finally, she plans to drive the car off the cliff regardless of who wins. Charlie states they're all true. Alex tries to slam on the brakes, but unfortunately, the Barracuda is on her last legs. She brakes malfunction. Unable to stop, the vehicle flies off the 500-foot cliff. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: (l-r) Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, Simon Helberg as Luca — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) To Be Continued
But that's not the end of this story. The car freezes mid-air, and the text 'To Be Continued' materializes on the screen. Thankfully, we're not concluding the season on this very literal cliffhanger. After the camera lingers on the spinning wheels and details of the Barracuda, we rewind time. Before the car careens off that cliff, Charlie jumps out.
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Charlie rolls over the side of the cliff but grabs a few tree roots before she falls with the Barracuda. With Alex still inside, the car explodes in a fiery blaze upon hitting the ground. Luca, whose vehicle was hot on the Barracuda's heels, quickly helps Charlie to her feet.
Luca reveals that, with Alex out of the equation, Charlie is now wanted by the FBI. She broke a bevy of laws, from aiding and abetting a serial killer to leading that killer to someone in witness protection. Beatrix is also dead, so there's that. However, Luca gives Charlie a way out — a head start, really. He offers her his coat and apologizes, but the next time he sees her, he will have to arrest her. Charlie realizes she's officially on the run again as she tearfully bids farewell to Luca. What a heartbreaking scene, performed beautifully by Lyonne and Helberg. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: Taylor Schilling as Agent Milligan — (Photo by: PEACOCK) On the Road Again
Meanwhile, Milligan checks out the wreckage at the bottom of the cliff to find that Alex is gone. Just like that. Moriarty is on the loose. Elsewhere, Charlie hitchhikes on a snowy highway. She meets a homeless dog and takes him in. A truck driver stops for her, revealing he's heading to Wichita, Kansas. Charlie claims she's fine with that as she gets in the truck with her newfound pup buddy.
Poker Face is now streaming on Peacock.
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[email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
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