POKER FACE Recap: (S02E05) Hometown Hero
Poker Face Season 2 Episode 5, 'Hometown Hero,' finds the sun setting on the murderer's rocky baseball career while it rises on the murdered as he enters the scene. Classic case of a jealousy-fueled killing. It's not the show's strongest outing, but solid performances and a great guest cast bolster it. This is Poker Face , after all. The guest stars are most of the appeal (that and Natasha Lyonne's Columbo-style character and trademark raspy voice).
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Poker Face episode, 'The Taste of Human Blood' Poker Face, 'Hometown Hero'
We open on the Velvety Canned Cheese Stadium, home of the Cheesemongers, a minor league baseball team. A team name after my own heart (and arteries). The team's star pitcher, Russ 'Rocket' Waddell (Simon Rex), takes to the pitch to kick things off. However, he's since lost his fastball. During this particular game, Russ can't get his pitch above 83 miles per hour. Unfortunately, the other team wins, contributing to the Cheesemongers' incredible losing streak.
After the game, Lucille Lubinski (Carol Kane), the owner, gives Russ Velvety Canned Cheese® soup to comfort him. Yum. She also lets it slip that Russ is soon being put out to pasture. The coach, Skip Dooley (Gil Birmingham), confirms this. Bet on Losing Dogs
Russ reunites with his teammates at the bar for post-game drinks. Lew (Noah Segan), Goose (Ruffin Prentiss), Carl (Jacob Lynn), and Hunter (Anthony Carvello) learn that Skip is giving Russ five more games as a starter before his baseball career blips out of existence. The fellas learn that folks have been betting on the Cheesemongers losing because, let's face it, they've been losing for far too long. These 'fans' have raked in quite a lot of cheddar.
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So, Russ has a plan. What if they bet on themselves losing? All the team needs to do is lose the next five games, and the payout will be massive. Sure, it's illegal for team members to bet on themselves. However, it's made all the worse because they'll intentionally throw each game. Russ's teammates and pals agree to this scheme, though.
What transpires next is a montage of the next four games, with the Cheesemongers — you guessed it — losing. Gilda Deacon (Ego Nwodim), the game announcer, feasts on cheesy dishes, drowning her sorrows in that Velvety goodness. Painfully relatable. New Blood
By the fifth game, Russ's last go-round, Skip brings in a new pitcher — Felix Domingo (Brandon Perea). He's a young kid with a ton of promise. This means Russ won't be the starter for this particular game. The team might actually win this time. Lew pulls Russ aside. They have to remedy this. Felix can't know they're trying to lose on purpose.
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Next, Russ chats with Felix, who admits he idolizes the former. Russ's 100-mile-per-hour pitch is the stuff of legends. Felix cuts their conversation short, deciding to survey the pitch before the game. He's a pro. Russ and the guys meet pre-game to discuss next steps. Carl suggests beating the snot out of Felix, but Russ believes they can oust the new pitcher without resorting to violence. POKER FACE — Season 2 Episode 5, 'Hometown Hero' — Pictured: (l-r) Simon Rex, Brandon Perea (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK)
Then, Felix takes his place on the mound. Goose informs Russ that he laced Felix's gum with acid, hoping this would hinder Felix's performance. However, the acid only unlocks the new pitcher's potential. He even does backflips on the mound. The crowd eats it up. The Payout
Russ and the guys up the ante on intentionally throwing the game to make up for Felix's star — albeit acid-fueled — performance. They eventually lose. That means a significant payout for Russ and the dudes. Those losing bets made them win big.
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Later, at the afterparty, Russ asks Carl if he disposed of Felix's acid-laced gum. When the latter says no, Russ takes it upon himself to search for it. That's when Felix confronts him. He realizes Russ and the others laced his gum to throw him off his game so they would purposely lose. Felix also knows about the bets, having found scribbles from Carl in his notebook. Carl was trying to divide a couple of million between five people. Oh, Carl.
Felix won't report Russ's illegal doings (and submit the notebook as evidence) to the police if he gives Felix all the money he won from the bets. All three million and some change. Then, Felix will quit baseball and move to Belize to find God. Acid really opened his mind. Russ tries to compromise, offering Felix half of that amount instead. Felix refuses to budge, though. How Rocket Got His Groove Back
A resigned Russ eventually agrees to this. As Felix walks away, he claims Russ can have the notebook once the latter wires him the money. Suddenly, Russ throws a baseball at Felix. It's a rage-filled pitch. He lobs it so quickly that the ball strikes Felix squarely in the back of the head, the impact killing him. Russ notes that that was a 101-mile-per-hour throw. He's got his groove back. His joy is quickly extinguished when he realizes he killed Felix.
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So, Russ launches into action to cover his crime. He turns on Rambo, a pitching machine, up to max. He removes the notebook and puts a bat near Felix, making it look like a tragic practice accident.
Okay, let's rewind time a bit. We check in on our lead gal, Charlie (Lyonne), who's reading Jorge Luis Borges' Labyrinths in an empty office. She hears the printer malfunctioning but struggles to fix it. It's hard to believe that printers, of all things, are still these impossible technical beasts in the Year of Our Lord 2025. Charlie takes a smoke break in her car while chatting with Good Buddy (Steve Buscemi) on the radio. He's back! The Smack After the Smack
We learn that Charlie was inspired to work in an office after binge-watching The Office . She got this job after one business decided not to return to the office, as it were, after the COVID pandemic. So, she remains in the building for tax purposes and so it isn't torn down. Good Buddy offers sage wisdom, claiming that sometimes, the smack after the smack can be life-changing. Naturally, Charlie is perplexed by this.
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However, it all coalesces with clarity when Charlie gets the printer to work by smacking it, promptly followed by a baseball whizzing through the window and smacking her in the head. Listen, that's a textbook concussion. How she's functioning properly in the aftermath is a product of Hollywood magic (I've had two minor concussions).
Next, Charlie returns the ball to the Velvety Canned Cheese Stadium. She chats with Lucille, who hopes Charlie isn't the litigious type. Charlie is all peace and love. Lyonne and Kane in a scene feels right. Charlie has a career change, getting a job at the stadium as the Cheesemongers' resident ball girl. Lucille shows her the ropes and introduces her to Rambo, the innocent pitching machine that Russ will eventually make the scapegoat in Felix's murder. The Yips and God in Belize
Later, Charlie checks out Russ while he signs cans of Velvety Canned Cheese for fans. She learns who he is courtesy of Benny Caudill (Lance Roberts), a superfan. He and Suzie (Kristin Minter) debate whether Russ has the yips. Can he physically not pitch at 100 miles per hour anymore, or is it all in his head?
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That evening, Charlie formally meets Russ at the bar. She learns he has five more games as the starting pitcher before he's gone. They discuss whether lugging a ball is a true life calling. He returns to the table with his buddies, and it's here he proposes they illegally bet on the team losing to score cash. After this, Charlie watches Felix pitch for Russ's final game. She catches up with him afterward as he doodles in his notebook. Charlie compliments his pitching skills. POKER FACE — Season 2 Episode 5, 'Hometown Hero' — Pictured: Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale — (Photo by: Sarah Shatz/PEACOCK)
However, Felix is ready to quit the biz and find God in Belize. Charlie realizes instantly that he's high as a kite. Charlie finds his gum and takes a piece for herself. Unfortunately, it's the acid-laced gum that Goose gave Felix. Once Charlie leaves, Felix finds Carl's poor addition scribbles — the evidence he needs to confront Russ about throwing the game. Save the Stadium
Russ, who's en route to locate the acid gum, spots Charlie walking away in the hallway. He tries to avoid catching her eye. Charlie starts tripping, seeing vividly colored animated visuals all around her. She meets Hiram Lubinski (B.J. Novak), Lucille's grandfather, who invented Velvety Canned Cheese. He encourages Charlie to save the stadium. She's been feeling directionless, but this is her purpose. Charlie emotionally vows to do all she can to help Lucille.
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Later, Charlie wakes up the following morning. Lucille finds her. She wonders what transpired last night. Lucille leads Charlie to poor Felix's corpse as the police survey the crime scene. Benny is also present. We learn he's an ex-cop, so he understands how these things work. So far, the running theory is that Felix was practicing with the pitching machine and got thwacked in the skull. Lucille blames herself, citing that Rambo is an old piece of equipment. Benny admits that Lucille should brace herself for a potential wrongful death lawsuit.
Charlie reveals that Felix was high the night before. His gum was laced with acid. However, a round of testing indicates that said gum is drug-free. Of course it would be. Russ switched out the gums. Charlie can't believe it. Felix was tripping hard (and she was, too). Afterward, she chats with Skip. Their conversation pivots once they watch an intriguing news segment. One fan won three million from betting on the Cheesemongers losing. Hmm. This gets the cogs whirring in Charlie's brain. Solving the Case
Then, Charlie asks Carl if anyone had it out for Felix. She believes his gum was spiked. Carl immediately acts defensive before admitting that, yes, they laced Felix's gum with acid. Carl feels remorseful but insists that Felix's death was an accident. Hunter waltzes into the locker room with a swanky fur coat and all the accoutrements of the newly wealthy. That's not suspicious at all.
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Next, Charlie and Benny have beers at the bar. Charlie explains that Carl and the others spiked Felix's gum so they'd lose the game and win the bet. They're not criminal masterminds. All the police need to do is check these guys' bank accounts. Benny reveals the cops need a search warrant for that, and there's not enough evidence for such a thing. Charlie wants to save the stadium, though. A lawsuit will undoubtedly shutter the doors of the Velvety Canned Cheese Stadium. After all, it's already on its last legs.
Benny receives a copy of the autopsy report, which concludes that Felix died by blunt force trauma to the head. Charlie takes a peek, noting that the ball that killed Felix was going over 100 miles per hour. Benny remarks that he didn't think Rambo could pitch with that kind of speed. Charlie Cale Calls…
So, Charlie confronts Russ, who's preparing to go on as starting pitcher for the next game. He has another chance. Charlie knows about the laced gum and the illegal betting. She didn't expect Russ to be involved, though. Russ denies killing Felix. She calls bullsh*t.
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Charlie notes that Rambo pitched over 100 miles per hour. Can it really do that? More importantly, can anyone on the team do that? Russ brushes her off, claiming he needs to stretch for the game. Charlie informs him that a scout from the majors will be in attendance. He'd better give his A-game.
So, does Russ deliver his best pitch now that he knows he can throw over 100 miles per hour again? Or does he purposely under-deliver? Charlie gets the crowd to cheer for 'Rocket.' He shoots a dirty look at Charlie. Russ spots the aforementioned scout, who's measuring the speed of his pitches. The first one falters, but his second throw clocks in at 101 miles per hour. The audience bursts into raucous cheers. POKER FACE Season 2 Episode 4, 'The Taste of Human Blood.' Photo by: PEACOCK Show Me What You Got
However, that scout? He's actually a cop. The man radios to his fellow officers that Charlie was right; Russ Waddell is a prime suspect in Felix Domingo's murder. Said cop orders the officers to block all exits. Russ shoots another dirty look at Charlie before stiffly tipping his hat to her. 'Show me what you got, kid,' she mutters as the crowd cheers for Rocket. Russ throws another pitch, which falls squarely into the catcher's mitt.
Poker Face drops new episodes every Thursday 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.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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