“The Hook” wasn’t simply Poker Face’s season one finale—it was additionally, apparently, Rian Johnson’s “love letter” to Benjamin Bratt.
There are solely two constants on the Peacock hit: lead character Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), and Bratt, whose steely safety goon Cliff is on Charlie’s tail. Since his introduction within the present’s pilot, Cliff typically seems as soon as an episode to overlook Charlie by a hair. However the Johnson-scripted (and Janicza Bravo-directed) finale put Cliff entrance and middle, monitoring him as he excursions the nation in the hunt for his elusive goal. However finally, uninterested in his task, he decides to activate his boss, Sterling Frost (Ron Perlman), killing him and framing Charlie for the crime.
Simply as she’s performed all 12 months, Charlie evades the regulation. She then seeks Cliff’s assist, not realizing that he’s answerable for Frost’s loss of life. She finally escapes Cliff’s grasp…solely to wind up on the radar of Frost’s rival, Beatrix Hasp (Rhea Perlman), who employed Cliff to hold out the homicide. In the meantime, FBI agent Luca Clark (Simon Helberg) returns to arrest Cliff.
Early within the episode, Cliff chillingly recites the Blues Traveler’s “Hook” to Charlie: “The hook brings you again,” he says. It’s “inevitable.” On the finish, on the verge of going to jail for the remainder of his life, with a slick smile and a bloody eye, Cliff shakes his head and easily says, “inevitable.”
“In a method, there’s a cynical resignation,” says Bratt, “however I actually imagine there’s a twinkle in his eye as a result of he is aware of he’ll be again.”
Vainness Truthful: We lastly acquired our massive Cliff episode!
Benjamin Bratt: How about that finale? Holy cow.
I’ve to start out with essentially the most urgent query: What’s the preliminary response when you’re informed that the climax of the finale goes to be you getting punched within the face with a dildo ring?
Nobody informed me that was going to occur. [Laughs.] I found it as I learn the script for the primary time, and I instantly fell into uncontrollable laughter. However that is actually emblematic of Rian and his writing. He is acquired such a singular sensibility, and never solely is masterful at constructing these thriller puzzles, but additionally inserting a unusual sensibility. So though it was stunning, it wasn’t essentially stunning, and it is simply one thing you roll with. I will most likely embody it in my reel: “The scene the place I acquired stabbed within the eye with a dick ring.” It will be my most memorable second on the small display screen.
Earlier than getting deeper in “The Hook,” what was it about Poker Face and Cliff that initially satisfied you to signal on?
I had been informed that they wished to supply me the function, and step one was to have a dialog with Rian. They despatched me the script, simply one of the best script that I had learn in three years. Cliff remained a little bit of an enigma, although. So I actually wished to speak to Rian. We acquired on the telephone, and, clearly, I used to be a fan of his as a result of he is simply an unbelievable filmmaker, and I informed him, “Look, my reply is already sure, however are you able to enlighten me as to what you are pondering?” He stated, “Properly, all I can let you know is that it will all repay, that it will be price it.” And so with that promise, it was sufficient to leap on board.
