Recap: Pose “Giving and Receiving”

Just in time for Pride month, Pose premiered in early June on FX. According to FX, “Pose features the largest cast of transgender actors in series regular roles, as well as the largest recurring cast of LGBTQ actors ever for a scripted series.” It can be a bit formulaic at times and a little overly tender (Ryan Murphy, amirite?), but the show is beautifully made and a heart-rending joy to watch.

Here’s FX’s official description: “Set in the 1980s, Pose is a dance musical that explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe and the downtown social and literary scene.”

Hmmm, a blah description if you ask me. Pose takes us into the world of 80s ball culture, but with that comes the struggles and inequality faced by LGBTQ individuals (and the inequality within the LGBTQ community), the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic, and how family is made. I have A LOT to say about LGBTQ representation and all of the issues that I just mentioned, so if you’d like to chat about that, meet me in the comments below.

Rather than try to recap the first 2 episodes, I’ll try to touch on some key points about the characters as I recap, but you really should watch all the episodes. FX has a great breakdown of the characters to help you catch up.

Rolling Stone has a great article on ball culture that is well worth a read and adds a lot to an understanding of what’s happening in Pose.

The category is Best Dressed High Class in a Fur Coat

Set at Christmas time, the episode focuses on the heartbreak that the holidays can be and on the homes and families that we create. Blanca (Mj Rodriguez) and House Evangelista are preparing for the holiday, but it’s a time when not being accepted by one’s family is felt keenly. Angel (Indya Moore) in particular struggles with negative feelings related to bad childhood experiences at Christmastime.

Later, Damon (Ryan Jamaal Swain) convinces Ricky to walk in his first ball, and we’re all glad he did. Afterwards, Blanca agrees to let him join House Evangalista on a trial basis, but she’s worried about what he’ll bring to the house (because that boy is trouble).

Pray Tell (Billy Porter is my everything) shows us there’s more to him than a fashion genius when we see him visit his boyfriend in the hospital with complications of HIV/AIDS. Later with Blanca he questions the possibility of finding love in a world where they ones we love can disappear in what feels like a moment. Blanca responds with her determination to build a legacy through her house in spite of her disease.

Angel got her apartment! And it is beautiful. Stan (Evan Peters) makes me nervous, but it’s so great to see her happy (Angel is my for real favorite on this show).The apartment gives Angel some security, but at what cost? She asks him to come for a little while on Christmas, and he says he will. The relationship is real now, but where’s it headed?

Damon is trying to teach Lil Papi to dance, and oooff, it is not going well. He rushes off to class where his dance instructor calls him out for his lack of dedication. She’s just learned that one of her most dedicated students has died as a result of HIV/AIDS, so it’s no wonder she’s angry at a student for wasting the chance he’s been given. When Blanca goes to see her later, she gives Mother Evangelista a dose of reality about what it’s going to take for him to make it. When Blanca tells Damon he’s off Balls for a month, her tough love sends him storming to his room.

Stan’s boss Matt (James Van Der Beek) is a creepy sexual harasser. I need a trigger warning before every scene he’s in, I swear. Matt’s not happy when Stan starts making moves at work. To get back at Stan, he shows up at the Bowes’ home in suburbia to plant the seed of doubt in Patty’s mind, and also to hit on her, of course.

Elektra (Dominique Jackson), mother of House Abundance, visits the protégé of the doctor who helped become Elektra. The clinic she went to has closed down now, partly due to being overwhelmed by the AIDS epidemic and partly from discriminatory attitudes from the board. This new doctor is reaching out and offering Elektra gender reassignment surgery, but the cost is steep. At home, Elektra lashes out at her children for pushing her to ask for more from her daddy, revealing that perhaps Elektra’s financial situation isn’t as ideal as she lets on. However, to take care of her family she’ll do what it takes, including robbing a Salvation Army kettle (given the Salvation Army’s attitude towards LGBTQ folks, I’m not judging). With the cash in hand, Elektra signs up for the surgery.

Stan does a little Christmas shopping with his daughter, but buys a gift for Angel alongside his gift for Patty. When Patty questions Stan about working so many late nights, he reassures her. When he gave her both gifts, my heart broke a little for Angel, who waits in the city for a man who isn’t coming.

The Category is Stone Cold Face

House Evangalista does well at the ball, but felt Damon’s absence. After, Blanca finds Damon at home. He mourns all that has been taken from him, but is grateful for his new mother. When Christmas comes, Damon works to build new traditions with Ricky, and take the next step in their relationship. Christmas at House Evangelista, plus Pray Tell, becomes a night out after dinner goes up in flames, but the family finds joy in each other.

Pose is fun and sad and lovely and important, and it airs Sundays at 9/8c on FX.