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"Rest in Metal"
Poker Face episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 4
Directed byTiffany Johnson
Written byChristine Boylan
Featured music
Full list
Cinematography byChristine Ng
Editing byGlenn Garland
Original release dateJanuary 26, 2023 (2023-01-26)
Running time47 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"The Stall"
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"Rest in Metal" is the fourth episode of the American murder mystery comedy-drama television series Poker Face. The episode was written by Christine Boylan and directed by Tiffany Johnson. It was released on Peacock on January 26, 2023, alongside "Dead Man's Hand", "The Night Shift", and "The Stall".[1]

The series follows Charlie Cale, a woman with the ability to detect if people are lying; after exposing a murder plot at a casino, she is now on the run from the owner's enforcer Cliff LeGrand. In the episode, Charlie works as a merch seller for a washed-up heavy metal band, Doxxxology. When the new drummer dies during a performance, Charlie finds that his death may not have been an accident.

The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the writing, performances (particularly Lyonne, Sevigny, and Cirillo) and tension.

Plot

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In Kenosha, Wisconsin, Ruby Ruin (Chloë Sevigny), vocalist for heavy metal band Doxxxology, recruits Gavin (Nicholas Cirillo) as a temporary drummer for a summer tour. She, guitarist Al (John Darnielle) and bassist Eskie (G.K. Umeh) attempt to write a song recapturing the success of their only hit song "Staplehead" but are constantly frustrated by Gavin's incessant drumming and distractible personality. During a performance, Ruby punches Gavin for stealing her signature scream note, but she apologizes later at their hotel. Gavin then performs a song he has drafted, "Sucker Punch". The group is stunned by the song's catchy quality but frustrated that all the kudos will belong to Gavin, as most of the royalties from "Staplehead" went to the band's original drummer. Predicting that "Sucker Punch" will bring them back to their 1990s glory, the band conspires to steal the song from Gavin by killing him; they fire their roadie Deuteronomy (Chuck Cooper) and rig Gavin's amplifier to fatally electrocute him during the climactic scream of "Staplehead". They then rewrite and sign the lyrics, burning Gavin's original lyric sheet.

A few days prior, Ruby hires Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) as the band's merch seller/roadie. She begins to bond with Gavin, noticing that he never wears shoes, has a camera pointed at his kick drum, and writes lyrics spontaneously based on his surroundings. She also scolds Ruby after the punching incident, prompting her to apologize to Gavin. The next day, she witnesses Gavin's death on stage after taking a Polaroid of the climactic moment. Charlie picks up on Ruby's lie when she says that the band "got lucky" to the coroner, who rules Gavin's death as an accident. While the band records Gavin's song the next day, Charlie meets a woman (Emily Yoshida) who hosts a true crime podcast called Murder Girl.

While cleaning her car ahead of a concert in Milwaukee, Charlie realizes that the lyrics to "Sucker Punch" correspond to advertising slogans on items in Gavin's pockets. When questioned by Charlie, Ruby admits that Gavin wrote the song but insists that the band needs a new hit so they can avoid going back to obscurity. Questioning Deuteronomy, Charlie learns that modern amps usually have three prongs as a safety measure. Finding Gavin's amp in the trailer, she realizes that an older and unsafe model was used on stage when Gavin died. Charlie also overhears Al, who has a habit of making up lyrics off the top of his head, singing about killing Gavin. Finally, Charlie uses Gavin's footwork camera to confirm that the band wore thick-soled Doc Martens during the performance to avoid electrocution themselves. She confronts the band about killing Gavin, but Ruby fires her and has security escort her away.

Charlie learns that a video of her punching the lead singer of Krampus, the band that Doxxxology is opening for, has gone viral. Cliff (Benjamin Bratt) suddenly appears and chases her; she flees into the concert and succeeds in escaping. As "Sucker Punch" leads to renewed interest in Doxxxology, the members prepare to sign a new recording contract. However, the deal is ruined once a record executive reveals that the rhythm to "Sucker Punch", which the band never modified from Gavin's original draft, is stolen from the Benson theme song. Furthermore, the band's crimes have been exposed in an episode of Murder Girl, with the host having been tipped off with Charlie's evidence.

Production

[edit]

Development

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The series was announced in March 2021, with Rian Johnson serving as creator, writer, director and executive producer. Johnson stated that the series would delve into "the type of fun, character driven, case-of-the-week mystery goodness I grew up watching."[2] The episode was directed by Tiffany Johnson, while Christine Boylan wrote it. Boylan worked in making sure that every detail of the episode added to an impact of the story, saying "My motto is 'use everything'. Use every piece of furniture around you. If there's a bottle of water, then what's interesting about that bottle? Use it somehow. And if it doesn't work, you can cut it out."[3]

Casting

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The announcement of the series included that Natasha Lyonne would serve as the lead actress.[2] She was approached by Johnson about working on a procedural project together, with Lyonne as the lead character.[4] As Johnson explained, the role was "completely cut to measure for her."[5] Benjamin Bratt also joined the series in the recurring role of Cliff, whose character chases Charlie after she ran away from the casino in a previous episode.[6][7]

Due to the series' procedural aspects, the episodes feature several guest stars. Johnson was inspired by the amount of actors who guest starred on Columbo, wanting to deem each guest star as the star of the episode, which allowed them to attract many actors.[5] The episode featured appearances by Chloë Sevigny and Nicholas Cirillo, who were announced to guest star in June 2022.[8][9] The episode also featured an appearance by John Darnielle, who also worked in writing the songs of the episode.[10]

Critical reception

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"Rest in Metal" received extremely positive reviews from critics. Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A−" grade and wrote, "How often can Charlie find herself in a situation where a stranger she meets ends up six feet into the ground? But it's still early into the show, so I'm not complaining. The Columbo-esque gimmick is paying off richly. I'm thrilled there are six more episodes of Charlie finding herself in a mess she has to dig herself out of."[11]

Alan Sepinwall wrote, "It's also the one of these four that most effectively uses the Knives Out/Glass Onion rewind gimmick, as seeing Charlie hanging out with the doomed drummer adds even more value to her desire to catch his killers than the glimpses of her friendship with Natalie do in 'Dead Man's Hand'. And the payoff to the drummer's seemingly random Benson love is, like the trash can bit in 'The Night Shift', a great bit of sleight of hand. As the playwright Anton Chekhov once wrote, if you put a Robert Guillaume sitcom on the screen in act one..."[12] Amanda Whiting of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Of the initial episode drop, 'Rest in Metal' is the first in which the crime feels genuinely 'getawaywithable' to me. Some of that might be because Ruby, thanks to Sevigny's steely interpretation of what it looks like to be a woman in despair, is the first killer we've met who really seems to have her whole heart in the game."[13]

See also

[edit]
  • "Zooropa", a song by U2 whose lyrics are also a series of advertising slogans

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"Rest in Metal" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American anthology crime comedy-drama television series Poker Face, created by for Peacock. The episode, directed by Tiffany Johnson and written by Christine Boylan, originally premiered on , 2023. It centers on Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), a nomadic with the ability to detect lies, who takes a job selling merchandise for the washed-up heavy metal band Doxxxology during their tour across the American Midwest. When the band's newly hired drummer dies unexpectedly, Charlie investigates the circumstances, suspecting murder amid the group's internal tensions and creative struggles. The episode features a guest ensemble portraying the members of Doxxxology, including as the no-nonsense lead singer Ruby Ruin, (of ) as guitarist Al, and supporting roles by actors such as G.K. Umeh, Nicholas Cirillo, and Chuck Cooper. Running approximately 45 minutes, "Rest in Metal" exemplifies Poker Face's procedural format, blending Columbo-inspired mystery elements with humor, character-driven drama, and nods to heavy metal culture, including the band's fictional "Staplehead." Production highlights include original music composed for the band's performances, with Darnielle contributing to the songwriting process to authentically capture the sound of a fading '80s metal act. Upon release, "Rest in Metal" received positive reception for its witty script, Sevigny's charismatic performance, and the episode's satirical take on rock band dynamics, earning a 7.6 out of 10 rating on based on over 4,000 user votes. Critics noted its effective balance of and , with outlets praising how it fits into the series' tradition of standalone stories while showcasing Lyonne's charm as the truth-seeking . The episode also drew attention for its guest casting, particularly Darnielle's acting debut, which added authenticity to the metal scene portrayal.

Episode background

Series context

Poker Face is an American murder mystery comedy-drama anthology television series created by for the streaming service Peacock. The series stars as Charlie Cale, a peripatetic cocktail waitress with an innate ability to detect when someone is lying, forcing her to flee after uncovering dangerous secrets. This lie-detecting gift propels Charlie into solving crimes across the American heartland while evading pursuit from a shadowy antagonist. The first season premiered on January 26, 2023, with its first four episodes released simultaneously, followed by the remaining six self-contained episodes released weekly on Peacock. In February 2023, the series was renewed for a second season, which debuted on May 8, 2025, with 12 episodes, expanding Charlie's road-trip adventures into new locales and mysteries. In November 2025, Peacock canceled the series after its second season, with no third season planned on the platform; however, Johnson is seeking to develop further seasons elsewhere. Johnson serves as alongside Lyonne, with the show drawing inspiration from classic procedural formats to blend episodic storytelling with character-driven depth. At its core, Poker Face employs a "howcatchem" structure reminiscent of , where the perpetrator's identity is revealed upfront, shifting focus to how Charlie unravels the crime through her intuition and interactions. Each installment features a rotating roster of guest stars—ranging from to —and directors, allowing for diverse tones while maintaining the anthology format that keeps narratives standalone yet loosely connected by Charlie's overarching journey. The series explores themes of misfit outsiders navigating societal fringes, often highlighting moral ambiguity in everyday American lives where commit extraordinary wrongs. It pays homage to vintage detective television like and , reviving the procedural's charm through Johnson's modern lens on truth, deception, and human frailty.

Production overview

"Rest in Metal" is the fourth episode of the first season of the mystery series Poker Face, originally airing on Peacock on January 26, 2023. The episode runs for 47 minutes. It was directed by Tiffany Johnson, marking her debut as a director on the series. The teleplay was written by Christine Boylan, who previously served as a writer and co-producer on the ABC series . The Poker Face series, including this episode, was first announced in March 2021 by creator .

Production details

Development and writing

The episode "Rest in Metal" drew inspiration from heavy metal band culture, incorporating themes of faded glory and interpersonal tensions within aging rock groups, while integrating research into real-life incidents like grisly electrocutions to inform the mystery elements in line with Poker Face's character-driven format. Christine Boylan handled the scriptwriting, emphasizing the desperation of a once-successful band seeking relevance and the contrasting dynamics among its members, such as the self-serving attitudes of veteran musicians versus the naive insight of a younger roadie. Boylan's approach ensured clues emerged organically from character behaviors, blending humor and in the music industry setting. Rian Johnson, as creator and executive producer, provided oversight for the series' anthology structure, which prioritized standalone, guest-star-focused episodes like "Rest in Metal" to showcase diverse worlds and mysteries. Johnson approved key creative ideas during development, including humorous motifs tied to the episode's themes. Pre-production followed the series' announcement in March 2021, with the full 10-episode order greenlit by Peacock; Boylan's script for the episode was developed in the and completed as part of the season's scripting phase in 2022 ahead of filming.

Casting

reprises her starring role as Charlie Cale, the intuitive protagonist who joins a struggling metal band on tour in "Rest in Metal." The episode features notable guest stars portraying the members of the fictional has-been metal band Doxxxology. plays Ruby Ruin, the band's desperate lead singer seeking a comeback hit. Nicholas Cirillo portrays Gavin, the young drummer whose arrival sparks tension within the group. , frontman of the band , appears as Al, the band's guitarist. G.K. Umeh rounds out the core band as Eskie, the bassist. Additionally, recurring cast member briefly reprises his role as Cliff LeGrand, Charlie's stepfather. The casting process highlighted personal connections and expertise to enhance authenticity. Sevigny's role was influenced by her longtime friendship and prior collaboration with Lyonne on the series Russian Doll, allowing for a natural on-screen dynamic as Ruby develops a rapport with Charlie. Darnielle was selected partly due to creator Rian Johnson's longstanding fandom of , leveraging Darnielle's musical background and knowledge of metal culture to authentically depict the aging rocker's demeanor. His involvement extended beyond acting, as he co-wrote original songs for the episode to capture the band's gritty sound.

Filming and technical aspects

Principal photography for "Rest in Metal" took place entirely in New York's region, substituting for the episode's Midwest setting, as part of the broader season 1 production that spanned April through October 2022. Specific scenes, such as those at the home improvement store where character works, were shot at the Restaurant Depot in . This location-based approach allowed the production to capture the gritty, on-the-road feel of a metal band's tour without extensive travel, aligning with the series' episodic structure that utilized regional sites across the U.S. Set design emphasized the chaotic, lived-in world of a fading rock band, replicating elements of a touring lifestyle through practical interiors like a merch table for Charlie's role and backstage areas stocked with rock tropes, including a candy bowl from which green M&Ms were notably removed as a nod to classic band rider demands. Venue interiors for performance sequences were constructed or adapted to evoke rundown concert spaces, enhancing the episode's atmosphere of faded glory and tension among the band members. The tour bus scenes, central to the narrative's roadie dynamics, were filmed using confined set builds to convey claustrophobia and interpersonal friction. Cinematography, overseen by series contributors including Jaron Presant for select episodes, employed a documentary-like style inspired by to capture the episode's tour chaos, with director Tiffany Johnson focusing on dynamic framing to build suspense in close-quarters interactions. Key technical crew included editor , who handled the pacing of band sequences, and co-supervising sound editor Dhyana Carlton-Tims, whose work amplified the raw energy of live performance audio layers. Production faced logistical challenges in coordinating the band's performance scenes, particularly as non-musician actors required specialized training—such as drummer Nicholas Cirillo's summer preparation—to ensure authentic stage presence without relying on professional musicians. This authenticity extended briefly to casting choices, where performers like embodied lived-in rock personas through live vocal recordings blended with professional singers for key musical moments.

Narrative elements

Plot summary

In the episode "Rest in Metal" from the television series Poker Face, Charlie Cale, a fugitive leveraging her innate ability to detect lies, takes a job as a merchandise seller for the once-popular but now struggling heavy metal band Doxxxology during their Midwest tour. The band is led by singer Ruby Ruin, with members including guitarist Al, bassist Eskie, all grappling with faded glory and creative frustrations as they perform in small venues. Tensions simmer among the group, particularly around the new drummer Gavin's enthusiasm and contributions, setting the stage for an unexpected tragedy that disrupts their hopes for a revival. The plot unfolds with Charlie integrating into the band's chaotic road life, bonding with the members while subtly observing their dynamics. During a performance stop, suffers a fatal on stage, initially ruled an accident but quickly raising suspicions for Charlie due to the circumstances. As the tour continues without him, the remaining bandmates—, Al, and Eskie—rally around a new song called "Sucker Punch," which Gavin had composed and which they claim as their own to fuel a potential comeback. Charlie's investigation begins informally as she pieces together clues, including equipment anomalies and interpersonal motives, revealing that the band orchestrated Gavin's death to seize ownership of "Sucker Punch" and eliminate his share in future royalties. Her lie-detecting gift proves crucial in interrogating the suspects, exposing inconsistencies in their stories about the incident and the song's origins. The climax builds during a recording session for a true crime podcast hosted by "Murder Girl," where Charlie confronts the group, using the live audio to broadcast their confessions and unravel the plot, ensuring the truth about Gavin's murder and the theft comes to light. The exposure also reveals that "Sucker Punch" is a plagiarism of the theme from the 1980s sitcom Benson, further dooming the band's attempted revival.

Music and themes

The episode's music centers on original compositions for the fictional heavy metal band Doxxxology, with "Sucker Punch" serving as the central disputed hit that the band steals from deceased drummer Gavin. of , who appears as band member Al, collaborated with of to create additional tracks like "Staplehead," the band's from the 1980s, and "Merch Girl," evoking the era's hair metal sound with bombastic riffs and satirical lyrics. The soundtrack features licensed heavy metal and rock tracks, including the instrumental "Rumble" by & His Ray Men, which underscores moments of revelation and tension during the band's tour. Series composer Nathan Johnson provides a custom score that emphasizes suspense through unconventional instruments like and tuned wine glasses, creating a dissonant Americana vibe that contrasts the metal energy while heightening the episode's underlying unease. Thematically, "Rest in Metal" delves into faded dreams within the music industry, portraying aging rockers who tour relentlessly to recapture the brief success of their hit, reduced to playing dive bars and hardware store gigs. among artists emerges as a core motif, exemplified by the band's internal schemes to claim credit for a new song, highlighting the cutthroat dynamics of creative ownership. The authenticity of rock personas is scrutinized, contrasting borrowed ideas and plagiarized melodies with the illusion of original , as the group grapples with their diluted legacy. Charlie's perspective as an outsider and merch seller offers a fresh lens on the band's dysfunction, underscoring themes of amid artistic infighting. Cultural references nod to metal subculture through exaggerated tropes of excess, such as rock star demands reminiscent of the infamous green M&M clause and scenarios inspired by This Is Spinal Tap, amplifying the satire of hair metal's theatricality. The episode also incorporates elements of true crime media, structuring its narrative like a Behind the Music-style documentary that exposes the band's hidden conflicts. The band name "Doxxxology" further evokes metal excess by stylizing "doxology"—a traditional hymn of praise—with added 'x's, subverting religious solemnity into profane rock bravado.

Release and reception

Broadcast and distribution

"Rest in Metal," the fourth episode of the first season of Poker Face, premiered exclusively on Peacock on January 26, 2023. The episode, with a runtime of 48 minutes, became available for streaming as part of the series' weekly release schedule on the platform. Internationally, the episode was distributed through various platforms following the U.S. debut. In the , it aired on and became available to stream on NOW starting May 26, 2023, with all season 1 episodes released as a complete on that date. Additional territories included Stan in and in , where the full season, including "Rest in Metal," was made available for streaming shortly after the U.S. premiere. Post-premiere, the episode has been included in season 1 box sets and digital bundles. Physical releases, such as the DVD and Blu-ray collections of season 1, were made available for purchase starting in September 2023, containing all 10 episodes. Digital purchase options for the season bundle, encompassing "Rest in Metal," launched on platforms like and in March 2024. As of 2025, with the renewal and premiere of season 2 on Peacock in May, season 1 episodes like "Rest in Metal" remain accessible on the streaming service, supporting continued viewing in the context of the ongoing series. In the UK, the episode continues to be offered via Sky Max and NOW alongside the second season's availability.

Critical reception

The first season of Poker Face garnered widespread critical acclaim, achieving a 98% approval rating on based on 116 reviews, with many outlets highlighting "Rest in Metal" for its vibrant energy and seamless blend of mystery and . Critics appreciated the episode's ability to subvert procedural expectations through clever twists and clues, such as the unexpected victim reveal and Charlie Cale's (Natasha Lyonne) perceptive deductions involving everyday items like rubber boots and a Polaroid photo. The A.V. Club awarded the episode an A− grade, lauding its tense mystery structure and Chloë Sevigny's commanding performance as Ruby Ruin, the faded heavy metal frontwoman whose sharp, profanity-laced dialogue—such as her exasperated rant about capturing a "bejeweled fucking "—anchors the early scenes with precision and charisma. gave it 4 out of 5 stars, praising the episode's sharp humor in satirizing the has-been metal band Doxxxology's absurd Midwest bar tours and their obsession with recapturing past glory through a single, ridiculous hit like "Staplehead." Reviewers noted the episode's homage to tropes, particularly in Charlie's decision to anonymously tip off a "Murder Girl" host with incriminating evidence, adding a layer of ironic to the band's downfall. While most critiques were positive, some reviewers pointed to minor pacing challenges in establishing the tour's chaotic setup before Charlie's integration, though this was overshadowed by acclaim for Lyonne's effortless chemistry with the guest ensemble, including Sevigny and John Darnielle as the eBay-addicted guitarist. Outlets like CBR described it as "another absolutely delightful hour of television," emphasizing its rock biopic-inspired portrayal of fame's dark underbelly without descending into clichés. Overall, the episode solidified Poker Face's reputation for inventive, guest-star-driven storytelling.

Viewership and legacy

"Rest in Metal" contributed to the strong debut of Poker Face's first season, which amassed 547 million minutes viewed across its initial four episodes during the week of January 23–29, 2023, according to Nielsen data. This performance helped propel the series to the spot on Nielsen's streaming originals chart, underscoring the episode's role in the show's early success and subsequent renewal for a second season in February 2023. Audience reception has been positive, with the episode earning a 7.6/10 rating on from over 4,000 user votes. Online discussions, including Reddit threads from 2023 and as recent as September 2024, have praised the episode's plot twists and its authentic depiction of a fading metal band's internal conflicts. In terms of legacy, "Rest in Metal" has inspired fan analyses in podcasts like Murder Magnets: A Poker Face Podcast, which dedicated an episode to exploring its themes of metal music and mystery. It garnered no specific awards, though the broader series earned critical acclaim. Guest star John Darnielle's portrayal of guitarist Al marked his acting debut and drew attention from music fans, introducing his work with to new viewers. The series was canceled after its second season in November 2025, but season 1 episodes including "Rest in Metal" remain available for streaming on Peacock.

References

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