Pose- Page 4
Pose
#75Pose
Posted: 7/11/19 at 10:12pm
I agree it was a weak episode, the weakest of the season which started out on a high note, but Murphy directed the episode (the first of the season) and I just think he is largely style over substance especially when he’s directing from scripts he helped write. He does not seem to have a good ear for dialogue and ways to capture the natural way people talk while also making it compelling. It’s more noticeable here because you have many actors and actresses who are relatively new to acting professionally so can’t really sell the clunky dialogue. Sadly that includes Sandra Bernhard who, while not a novice, is not a good actress. Billy Porter and Indya Moore are doing the best job on the series. I also was impressed with Hailie Sahar’s acting in this episode.
I see some similarities with Glee. Both were rightfully considered ground-breaking, but it quickly became clear it was more stylized with no understanding on how to develop storylines or three dimensional characters. However, I watched Giee until the end. I will also continue to watch Pose whatever its flaws. It’s a much more important series than Glee which makes the mishandling of it so frustrating.
I admit I’ve never watched AHS. But my favorite Murphy-related production is HBO’s adaptation of The Normal Heart, which goes to my point that Murphy does best when he is directing scripts he didn’t have a heavy hand in writing. Yes, he has a co-write credit, but it is based largely on Larry Kramer’s play. That movie never fails to leave me a sobbing mess.
#76Pose
Posted: 7/12/19 at 3:02am
They should not have devoted the entire episode to Candy's death. The script felt contrived and having the spirit of Candy have conversations with everyone became redundant. And it was easy to predict that Porter's character would decide to take the pills.
I do not know about anyone else, but I cringe whenever they take the AZT because they have no idea what it did to people's bodies as the years progressed.
#77Pose
Posted: 7/12/19 at 5:56am
I’m very hot and cold with this show, but admittedly have enjoyed my viewing experience more so than any other Murphy production. That last episode, however, really got me. I was fine until that Stephanie Mills scene, which reduced me to tears. A truly magical moment.
Candy finally got her 10’s.
#79Pose
Posted: 7/12/19 at 12:08pm
Does this show have issues with writing? Yes.
Does it all seem a little too earnest? Yes.
Are some of the performances cringe-worthy at times? Yes.
But I will continue to watch because whether you like the guy or not, Ryan Murphy is providing a platform for the underrepresented. A contemporary Norman Lear, he is shining a light into the often ignored margins of our society. Listen, I loathed everything about Glee, and could never take more than three episodes of even his Jessica Lange-led projects, but he is providing work and entertainment that would otherwise not exist. By extension, he is changing lives and the landscape of modern television.
But yes, Glee was an abomination.
#80Pose
Posted: 7/12/19 at 12:12pm
What you're essentially saying is that people should just take what they can get. And I get it and I ain't mad at you for it and I'll continue to watch "Pose" for the same reason and that it has some actors I really love. But what I'm saying is that if these past two weeks are any indication of things to come, we can expect the downfall of quality here has just begun.
#81Pose
Posted: 7/12/19 at 12:34pmThe good news is a perusal of IMDb indicates that Murphy didn’t direct any of the upcoming episodes. However, he still has a co-writing credit. Unfortunately, the director of the first 2 episodes of the season (the strongest of the series in my opinion) is not attached to any of the upcoming episodes. But as others have said, I’ll continue to watch. I’ll watch because it’s groundbreaking television and because I lived through this era albeit more via the mostly cisgender gay white male community who occasionally went to Sunday drag shows in Oklahoma, but lost many friends to AIDS.
luvcaroline
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
#88Pose
Posted: 7/16/19 at 11:41pm
I think it is capturing the community and the time period pretty well.
That mish mash of years for the Solid Gold segment was strange though. That show didn't happen, which we may find out, and the some of the music they used had come out a few years earlier. At least the Janet Jackson song had.
Just give the world Love.
#91Pose
Posted: 7/17/19 at 9:58am
Jordan Catalano said: "And the Madonna vogue audition without any Madonna music was odd.
And one more thing - Blanca needs to paint her goddamn walls already. She’s lived in that apartment for years at this point, don’t tell me they can’t go into a store and steal a few cans of paint."
Yeah, I immediately wondered if they couldn't use her music due to rights or something. But that would seem weird. I was thinking at first that we might get a surprise cameo from her but after her music wasn't being used, that left my mind.
The walls don't bother me. Lots of places like that back then and in a lot of cases, landlords wouldn't let you paint.
Just give the world Love.
#92Pose
Posted: 7/18/19 at 10:10pm
I think Damon is a really mediocre dancer. In the last episode when his teacher pulled him out to show the class he was marking during the number. I just can’t buy he’s an amazing dancer.
That being said I enjoy this show more than any other at the moment. The characters are great and it’s Murphy’s most consistent show.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#93Pose
Posted: 7/18/19 at 10:43pm
I agree about the dancing. None of these “dancers” would’ve made it as voguers back in the day. I also agree with another poster on another thread that they’ve pushed out drag queens to rewrite history to make it almost exclusively about transgender people. Not every person who wore a dress back then was seeking gender reassignment surgery.
I thought this was a slight improvement over the week before which I thought was pretty bad, but it didn’t accomplish much other than perhaps leading Damon & Ricky to reconcile. I’m not sure what the point was in having them audition for the Blond Ambition Tour. We knew to be historically accurate, they wouldn’t get the job plus they’d have to probably leave the show while they were on “tour.” But most importantly, finding out they weren’t cast was handled in the most anti-climatic way possible.
With the expert acting, directing and writing occurring on Big Little Lies, When They See Us, Euphoria, and Years and Years, this really pales in comparison in almost every way. I know many trans actors and actresses haven’t been given as much opportunity to hone their craft so it’s laudable that they’re given that opportunity here. On the other hand, Transparent and Euphoria (to name two) have proven that trans actresses can do outstanding work when given good scripts and direction. So that suggests the biggest hurdles for this show are the writing and direction. It’s doubtful they’ll feel the need to fix that. They’re being lauded (including award noms) for what they’re doing now and viewership is reportedly growing so why would they?
I know they’re partially just going for Camp, but they also want us to care about these characters and as written, they come across as less than three-dementional. Electra is the least believable. One minute she is ready to have Damon hobbled and then after very briefly talking to Bianca, she changes her tune. Still, in this day and age with that THING in the White House, I’m glad this show exists. I’ll keep watching. I just wish it did a better job of honoring those who lived and died during this important era (and those who still fight today). Instead it often feels like we get cardboard cutouts walking through important events of the era. I loved the first episode of the season. For me it’s the best episode of the season thus far. I hope they can return to that.
LuPita2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/11/18
#95Pose
Posted: 7/19/19 at 2:51pm
Loved this episode, I have missed seeing Ricky as much this season. Great dancer.
The walls don't bother me. Lots of places like that back then and in a lot of cases, landlords wouldn't let you paint.
Exactly. They are poor and the apartment's walls and furniture represent that. Wouldn't make sense otherwise.
#96Pose
Posted: 7/19/19 at 6:30pm
I think the show has good intentions and has a lot to say about community. Even though the characters within the community can get catty with one another they still have each others backs when push comes to shove. So I am willing to overlook the quality of the production in terms of writing, acting and historical accuracy. When I put all of that aside and open myself up to the world of the characters I find I rather enjoy the show even when some episodes are better than others.
It is like I love the movie TRICK. If one wanted to get critical it could picked apart to the bone. But the intentions are pure and the Village sequences make a lovely background to the story. The movie makes me feel good and Pose does the same thing though its bravery in it's themes and the communities it represents.
