Pose
Pose
#2Pose
Posted: 6/4/18 at 11:32pm
Some great performances (Billy Porter in a part he was born to play, the stunning trans girl with the beautiful afro) and a lot of wish-fulfillment ballroom vogue-ing scenes (MUCH glitzier a look than the Paris Is Burning doc originally boasted)-- all led to a lot of juicy entertainment. So yay for that. I was sorely disappointed in the lame-o dance solo the homeless boy managed to pull off in his "Flashdance"-y audition sequence for the New School of Dance. That choreography was really atrocious and anyone macking on the judges like he was doing would have been kicked off the property in about 2 seconds.
Regardless, I'll certainly tune in every week, in hopes that the "Billy Elliott" storyline comes up to the level of the other plot threads. Ryan Murphy hooks me again!
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#4Pose
Posted: 6/5/18 at 1:42am
loved it.
It captured the feel of what it was like back then in that culture. They are highlighting the trans community which is great. Back then I knew trans people participated in these balls but the closest I got was my male gay friends who were vogueing before it was called that. Brought back lots of memories. There has to be a storyline so I was ok with the dance scene with the homeless boy but yes, it could have been choreographed a bit smoother. I think they were trying to convey his raw talent and that he came from a small town and didn't know how things worked in the big city. I think they concentrated too much on his nervousness and he should have let loose as he kept saying it was his passion.
loving MJ Rodriguez. The part fits her like a glove.
Also i love the storyline about the married man. A very real part of that time.
It will be interesting to see where they take this. I will be watching.
Oh, and the 80's music! About to download some Kate Bush. Haven't listened to her in a while.
I hope the younger gay community embraces this show. The 70's and, especially the eighties for me, were an incredible time in the gay community.
I know we fought for our rights and inclusion, but there was something special and it felt more like a community back then. JMO
Just give the world Love.
Updated On: 6/5/18 at 01:42 AM
#5Pose
Posted: 6/5/18 at 9:22am
I didn't like the "Pre Title Card" scene at all but it got better as it went. I didn't love it but I enjoyed it enough to want to watch the next episode.
Someone in a Tree2 - I completely agree about the dance. When it was over, I said out loud, "What the hell was that?" For a character that is supposed to be the house's "Secret Weapon" because of his dancing skills - plus it was established he had training in the first scene with him - I was expecting a killer dance audition. He basically just threw his body around and leaped all over the place. I have no clue how that made the cut.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#6Pose
Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:59pm
I had the same thoughts about the dance as previous posters but the character did reveal himself and express himself freely and proudly through the movement thus making the performance somewhat fearless. That is what got him into the school not his technique or impulsive choreography,
#7Pose
Posted: 6/5/18 at 9:10pm
This show was sooo much better than I was anticipating. Hearing what the I read the plot would be, I thought that this show would be a huge mess, but right from the beginning it grabs your attention and holds it. The acting and the music were both beyond incredible, Again Evan Peters must be Ryan Murphy's muse, because he continually plays characters that you care deeply about, no matter how flawed they are. Kudos to the entire cast for their amazing portrayals, I cannot wait until next week to see what happens next!
#9Pose
Posted: 6/21/18 at 2:32am
I just binged the first 3 episodes, and am IN LOVE with this show! It's moving, theatrical in all the right ways, campy when it needs to be, and full of truly spectacular performances. It's so wonderful to see such a diverse cast, full of some great new faces. The actress playing Angel is a standout (and just stunning to look at). Her chemistry with Peters is palpable, and their scenes together have been fascinating to watch. I've loved everything Peters has done, even in some of the weaker Horror Story seasons he still was great, but this is by far the most nuanced, touching work he's done so far.
I'm hooked now, but I wish I would have waited until all 8 episodes have aired to binge watch together. I think each episode flows so nicely into the next. When Charlaine Woodard's character visits her sick student in the hospital, it becomes crystal clear why she let Damon into the school, Apparently her character was originally played by Tatiana Maslany, and they (wisely) decided to go another direction. Maslany is great, but Woodard is a perfect choice here. Billy Porter is also giving a career highlight performance in a role he was born to play. The actress playing Elektra has presence for days whilst serving full on Grace Jones realness. There's a complexity to all of the characters that makes for truly engrossing television.
I don't get the point of James Van Der Beek's character. Maybe he has more to do later on. Christine Ebersole's cameo in the Christmas episode was fun. And the music they've chosen perfectly captures the era and the emotions of the characters. The scene between Peters' character and Angel, set to Kate Bush's "Running Up the Hill", is a highlight.
I'm so glad they chose to highlight the trans-phobia within the gay community.. The hypocrisy of a bar full of gay men applauding Blanca's removal by the police was heartbreaking to watch. Pose is full of these kinds of moments that expose issues that have long been swept under the rug.
Hoping the show is able to stay this strong for the rest of the season. I'm always skeptical when starting a Ryan Murphy show, but this may just prove to be his best series yet.
"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"
#10Pose
Posted: 6/21/18 at 11:27am
My personal hope is that this show finds a strong audience. Shows like these are so important, and yet have been cancelled by the networks because they failed to make money. If I had this show when I was growing up, god knows I'd be on that stage right now turning looks only Alyssa Edwards and can pull off turning out the party the way Peppermint does. I also love the very core history this show will be forced to portray - the generation destroyed by AIDS, but surrounded by real people living their lives in a fulfilling way in the middle of a epidemic and not like how most movies /show have depicted the AIDS generation so far.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#12Pose
Posted: 7/7/18 at 10:35pm
When Ryan Murphy fahks it up, he really fahks it up. When he nails it, he really nails it. I think it's excellent. I'm so sad there's only three episodes left. MJ Rodriguez is so, so good. I can't wait for the big confrontation that's gonna come next episode. Gonna be juicy af. This show really deserves a second season at least. It's really powerful. I find myself crying a little bit every time. This is the show that most of the trans community has asked for, and most seem to really enjoy it- and I think that's an awesome, beautiful thing. It's not perfect but it's raw and not afraid to show the darkness of that era and just how desperate everything was. I do have one question for those who were out at that time--while I know there was a lot of transphobia, would police really have been called on trans women at a gay bar? I mean, police and gay bars didnt have a great history even then...
Gizmo6
Broadway Star Joined: 6/16/17
#14Pose
Posted: 7/12/18 at 8:21am
I love POSE on FX by Ryan Murphy but I find it problematic and wondering does anyone else feel the same.
It seems to be viewing history through modern day identity politics. It has completely erased drag queens from the ball culture. I understand the need for trans visibility but that shouldn't be at the expense of history.
Something that really stood out the other night was, a character referred to a trans character as a person but went on to a homophobic slur. The absence of a transphobic slur stood out because of the juxtaposition with the homophobic one.
I do love the show so it's just some musings.
Also I didn't like the dubbed singing in the hospital, they sounded great but it took me out of the action and as a result had no emotional impact. It was very Glee. I'd have liked to have seen this moment of performance really raw in contrast to the slick ball scenes.
#16Pose
Posted: 7/12/18 at 1:00pm
Mildred Plotka said: "The actress playing Angel is a standout (and just stunning to look at). Her chemistry with Peters is palpable, and their scenes together have been fascinating to watch. I've loved everything Peters has done, even in some of the weaker Horror Story seasons he still was great, but this is by far the most nuanced, touching work he's done so far."
I love this story line.
Mildred Plotka said: "Billy Porter is also giving a career highlight performance in a role he was born to play."
He really slayed it in the most recent episode. Brilliant.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#18Pose
Posted: 7/12/18 at 8:04pm
Renewed for Season 2.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#20Pose
Posted: 7/12/18 at 10:09pm
So happy this got renewed for a second season. Shame that they're not eligible for this year's Emmys. Bold, truthful television like this is all too rare. This is Murphy's best season by far. Last week's episode was a real tear-jerker. Sad there there are only 2 episodes left, but at least we have more to look forward to next year. Hopefully this will only be the start of continued trans representation on television.
Gizmo6
Broadway Star Joined: 6/16/17
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#24Pose
Posted: 7/13/18 at 2:37pmGee, my most popular post!
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#25Pose
Posted: 7/17/18 at 1:49am
Super surprised and cheered that POSE is renewed-- I love that a rare show like this can find a devoted audience in this day and age.
On the other hand, wow was that a bitter pill of an episode last night! I guess they wanted to sink each and every character to the lowest ebb in her arc so that next week's finale can give some of them a reprieve and therefore a temporary happy ending. Even the ballroom "Category is.... BIZARRE" sequence seemed dark-dark-dark with barely any screen time for our beloved Billy Porter, just to deny us the glitter and glamour of their usual walk-offs.
I'm ready for rainbows and unicorns in the finale, however unlikely that may be...
