Rian Johnson’s deep respect for Stephen Sondheim is evident in his creations.

Consider Glass Onion, for instance. The follow-up to the Benoit Blanc mystery series not only takes cues from the iconic whodunnit The Last of Sheila — co-penned by Sondheim and Anthony Perkins — but also features a charming cameo by Sondheim himself. In one unforgettable moment, he is seen playing Among Us with Blanc (Daniel Craig), Angela Lansbury, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Natasha Lyonne, who stars in Johnson’s other mystery series, Poker Face.

This admiration for Sondheim persists in Poker Face Season 2, especially in Episode 3, titled “Whack-a-Mole,” penned by Wyatt Cain. The episode includes a recurring gag revolving around FBI agents Luca (Simon Helberg) and Daniel (John Mulaney), who are both enthusiastic Sondheim aficionados. At one moment, they reference a notable line from Merrily We Roll Along: “Who’s like us? Damn few.”

However, the Sondheim ties don’t end there. Guest star Richard Kind has been part of multiple Sondheim productions, including Road Show (originally titled Bounce) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He also appeared in the Documentary Now! spoof of the documentary Original Cast Album: Company — featuring none other than John Mulaney, who portrayed a Sondheim-inspired character in the parody. It’s clear that Johnson’s creative realm is rich with Sondheim allusions.

In an interview with Mashable’s Belen Edwards, Johnson spoke about the various references to Sondheim in both “Whack-a-Mole” and Glass Onion, as well as the emotional foundation of Poker Face — specifically, the significance of Natasha Lyonne’s character Charlie Cale establishing a true bond with each murder victim she meets.

“Beyond simply being inspired by him repeatedly, I’ll embed him wherever I can, in terms of a reference,” Johnson shared with Mashable regarding Sondheim’s impact on his work.

For additional insights from Johnson about his musical inspirations and storytelling style, be sure to check out the full interview above.

The first three episodes of Poker Face Season 2 are currently available on Peacock, with new episodes launching every Thursday.