POKER FACE Recap: (S02E09) A New Lease on Death

Poker Face Season 2 Episode 9, 'A New Lease on Death,' finds Charlie trying to put the kibosh on her nomadic lifestyle. However, she's still a magnet for bullsh*t, murder and mayhem. 'A New Lease on Death' is another delightful episode, bolstered by solid guest performances. It's giving Only Murders in the Building vibes (in a good way). This love letter to NYC and its melting pot of people reminds us not to judge a book by its cover.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Poker Face episode, 'The Sleazy Georgian' Poker Face, 'A New Lease on Death'
We open with Anne Saint Marie (Lauren Tom) trying to adopt her adult granddaughter, Maddy (Awkwafina). Yes, you read that correctly. Why? Because it'll ensure the penthouse Anne has resided in since 1972 stays in the family and that it continues to be rent-controlled. It's a neat little scheme. Then, we see Maddy start her day as a bike messenger. Her grandmother is a retired poetry professor. They run into Otto (David Alan Grier), the stringent landlord, who's in the process of erasing defamatory graffiti on the side of the building.
Next, Anne meets Kate Forster (Alia Shawkat) while picking fruit outside a grocery store. Kate recites poetry, sweeping Anne off her feet. Shawkat here is radiating the same vibes as her Search Party character, especially in the later seasons. Grandma's Got a Girlfriend
That evening, Maddy and Anne watch Jeopardy! as part of their nightly routine. Anne suggests they watch Michael Clayton for the umpteenth time. However, her head is in the clouds as she thinks about Kate. Later, Maddy walks in on Kate pleasuring Anne. Hey, grandma needs some, too. That said, I, too, would inadvertently pepper spray my eyes to remove the image of my g-ma, you know…
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Anne and Kate explain that they've been dating while Maddy puts a compress to her eyes. Anne reassures Maddy that while she loved her late husband, she dated men and women during her youth. Maddy just wants her grandmother to be happy. Aw. Then, Anne reveals she asked Kate to move in with them. Maddy's loving expression morphs to one of annoyance.
Later, our trio is watching Michael Clayton . Kate disparages it as a 'dumb' film. Of course, Maddy takes offense to this, considering it's Anne's favorite movie. However, Anne claims it's all gravy. After this, Maddy makes a copy of Kate's license and asks Ricardo (Angel Rosario Jr.) to dig up some dirt on Kate. Kate Is Amelia
Next, Maddy confronts Kate in the laundry room with her findings from Ricardo. As it turns out, Kate's real name is Amelia Peek, and she's from Oregon. Amelia has a slew of offenses on her record, including assault in the fourth degree. She's clearly trying to scam Anne out of the latter's rent-controlled apartment. To be fair, that's akin to finding a pot of gold in New York City.
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Maddy orders Amelia to pack her sh*t and get out. She whips out her pepper spray to show Amelia she's not messing around. Amelia threatens Maddy, insisting she doesn't want to meet the woman in this file. Amelia could make Maddy's life hell. Suddenly, the spin cycle on the washer behind them shakes said washer enough to knock off the Coke can on top of it. It's a nice button to a perfectly tense moment. Amelia agrees to leave but asks for a few days to let Anne down gently. Maddy gives her one.
After this, Amelia removes the doorknob on the laundry room door and installs a new one. She spills chemical descaler on the floor. Then, she puts an open container of bleach on top of a washer. She turns it on. Maddy in the Laundry Room With the Chlorine Gas
Later, Maddy pulls Amelia aside, demanding to know why the latter is dragging her feet. It's time to go . Amelia insists she's on the way out; however, she'd like some alone time with Anne to end the relationship. She asks Maddy to take her last load of laundry out of the washer and put it in the dryer in the meantime. Maddy acquiesces.
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In the laundry room, Maddy searches for Amelia's supposed last load. Suddenly, the spin cycle starts on the running washer, knocking off the bleach onto the floor. It mixes with the descaler, causing a release of chlorine gas. Maddy tries to escape, but the door is locked. RIP, Maddy.
Flashback time! Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) chats with Good Buddy (Steve Buscemi) on the radio. She's looking to put down roots in the city. Good Buddy has an apartment in Brooklyn that he hardly lives in. It's just collecting dust. He offers it to Charlie. She parks outside the complex, which happens to be the one Anne and Maddy live in. There, she meets a resident, Noreen (Myra Lucretia Taylor), who's peeling potatoes. Moving In
Inside, she runs into Otto. Otto explains that subletting is illegal. Charlie reveals she's here to water her friend's cacti. Otto adds that cacti only need watering every 10 days, so she'd better scoot on out of there afterward. Once in the apartment, Charlie collapses on the bed. She's finally in a place she can call home.
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Next, at the grocery store, Charlie asks Abdul (Pej Vahdat), the proprietor, if he's hiring. This is where she encounters Amelia/Kate, who's trying to return a 'bad' melon in exchange for five mangoes. Charlie clocks her bullsh*t out of the gate. However, she respects Amelia's fruit scam. Initially, Amelia is irritated, but then she pivots, asking Charlie out for dinner.
Then, Charlie returns to the apartment complex. Unfortunately, Otto spots her and tries to chase her down. She barges into the laundry room and locks the door. Maddy's in there, removing the chains from her bike for work. We see the chemical descaler perched on a shelf within the wall. Maddy informs Charlie that this place is a death trap, and Otto hasn't fixed the laundry room door yet. She removes the door off its hinges before asking Charlie if she likes Jeopardy! POKER FACE — Season 2 Episode 9, 'A New Lease on Death' Pictured: (l-r) Awkwafina, Alia Shawkat, Lauren Tom — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) Pay It Forward
Later, Charlie joins Anne and Maddy in their apartment to watch Jeopardy! and Michael Clayton . Ricardo pops on by. We learn that he works at the library. Charlie asks if they're hiring. Maddy vows to hook her up with a job. She's got connections. Ultimately, Charlie decides that remote work is the route for her.
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The following day, Charlie sits outside a cafe with her laptop. She meets Alex (Patti Harrison), who offers her a free coffee. The cafe messed up her order and gave her an extra coffee. Charlie accepts it. Alex only asks that Charlie pay it forward. Keep up the assembly line of kindness.
After this, Charlie returns to the apartment to discover that there's been a tragic accident. One firefighter, Micky (Paul Douglas Anderson), reveals he's a resident there. Charlie learns she lives above him and compliments his tap dancing skills. Micky used to be on Broadway, but being a firefighter pays the bills. Charlie encourages him to pursue that passion again. A Pineapple of Condolence
Charlie gets more info about the accident from Noreen, who used to be a journalist for Vague . What did they cover, you ask? This and that. Admittedly, this elicited a chuckle from me. It's prime dad joke material. Anyway, Noreen shares that Maddy was locked in the laundry room and died by chlorine gas inhalation. After this, Charlie stops by Anne's place with a pineapple of condolence. Amelia answers the door and refuses to let Charlie in. Charlie's seeing red flags now.
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She encounters Otto again and voices her concerns regarding Maddy's death. It doesn't seem accidental. They head to the laundry room, where Charlie questions him. Did he kill Maddy? Of course not. Charlie believes him. However, had he known about Anne and Maddy's rent-control scheme, he might've tried. Anyway, Charlie spots the descaler on the wall. Otto admits it wasn't there before.
Additionally, he fixed the doorknob on the laundry room door, but someone installed a new, faulty one. Charlie finds a sticker on said knob and traces it back to its origins. Meanwhile, Anne tearfully tells Amelia that she wants to sell the penthouse. She can't stay here anymore. It's too painful. Naturally, this throws a wrench in Amelia's scam. Amelia recovers her record, which Maddy got from Ricardo. She plans to pay Ricardo a visit. Artwork and Threats
At the same time, Charlie asks Abdul about who purchased the doorknob. We learn that Abdul has face blindness; however, he remembers regulars based on their orders. Thankfully, he's a fan of Charlie. He pinpoints the doorknob purchase on a woman who complains incessantly about the fruit she buys. Bingo.
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Elsewhere, Amelia threatens Ricardo while brandishing a knife. He's read her record; he knows what she's capable of. Ricardo agrees to keep his lips sealed. He won't tell anyone about her. To ensure his silence, Amelia takes one of his expensive pieces of artwork. While Amelia ascends the staircase with the artwork, Charlie, not knowing the killer is a few feet away, knocks on Ricardo's door. After she heads inside the apartment, Amelia eavesdrops on their conversation.
Charlie asks Ricardo questions about Amelia. He claims ignorance; he doesn't know who that is. Charlie doesn't realize that Ricardo is simply trying to protect himself. Amelia pulls the fire alarm. Tenants flood the sidewalk outside. In the lobby, Ricardo discovers his artwork vandalized. The girl in the portrait now has a slash on her throat. It's a not-so-subtle threat. Catching a Killer
Charlie chats with Micky, who claims he owes her. He's got an audition coming up. Charlie tries to hail Ricardo, who's speeding away on his bike. He's getting the hell out of Dodge. Charlie attempts to confront Amelia, but the latter brushes her off. Amelia returns to the penthouse to find Otto in the middle of a viewing. A man named Ted (Kareem Rahma) wants to rent it. Uh-oh.
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Amelia confronts Anne. Anne told her she didn't want to live there anymore. She suggests they head to the countryside. Amelia broaches the idea of marriage. Perhaps they can wed now and then explore the country as a married couple. It'll be more fun that way! Amelia leaves to gather the appropriate paperwork. Charlie utilizes her absence to get Anne's attention. She discloses everything to Anne. Upon Amelia's return, Anne and Charlie confront her. Amelia killed Maddy and will inevitably bump Anne off, too.
Amelia swears up and down that she didn't commit murder. She urges Anne to switch out her laundry in the laundry room while she chats with Charlie. Uh, that sounds like code for, 'I'm going to kill you like I did your granddaughter,' to me. With Anne out of the penthouse, Amelia shoves Charlie off the balcony. However, Charlie lands safely, thanks to Micky and the firefighters. Anne returns with Mr. Leung (Christopher Chan), who was facilitating Maddy's adoption at the beginning of the episode. He recorded Amelia's attempt to murder Charlie. POKER FACE — Photo by: PEACOCK Endings Are Beginnings
Later, with Amelia behind bars, Anne resumes the moving process. She gives Charlie a book of poetry. Anne is ready to move on with her life. Meanwhile, Ted and his pals are ready to renovate the penthouse to his liking. Endings are beginnings and vice versa.
Poker Face drops new episodes every Thursday on Peacock.
KNIVES OUT 3 Reveals First Look of Benoit Blanc With Long Hair Contact:
[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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