• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox

‘Pose’ Returns to Form (And Its Primary Storylines) [RECAP]

Bobby Hankinson July 31, 2019 Leave a Comment

POSE 207 0021r

After a few weeks of ambitious (though uneven) storytelling, Pose returned to its central characters and conflicts for a strong seventh installment of its second season.

I’ve spilled enough pixels bemoaning the creative choices of the last few episodes, so let’s focus on the positives: Once again, Pose is telling stories rarely glimpsed on television with a cast that could rival any prestige drama. Expertly written by Janet Mock and directed with extreme care by Jennie Livingston, the episode, “Blow,” made significant narrative gains.

Last night functioned as a something of a reset. The crushing popularity of Madonna’s “Vogue” seems to have waned, and, thus, so has the demand for ballroom culture in the mainstream. Ricky and Damon are depressed about the lack of gigs, and Lulu is still mourning the loss of Candy.

Instead of letting the three youngsters wallow in misery all summer, Blanca and Pray give them a task. They are going to wrap Frederica’s house in a giant condom as part of an ACT UP demonstration. It’s a perfect way to weave several stories together, and it grounds us in such a moment in time in terms of HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy.

POSE 207 0312r

Having this project and purpose energizes Damon, Ricky and Lulu. They decide to get a giant inflatable condom made for the task. The installation provides an opportunity for Ricky and Pray to bond a bit. Ricky admits he did cheat on Damon. (He didn’t sleep with other dancer, Chris, but he did let him go down on him.)

Even more important than the reveal is the conversation between Pray and Ricky. I struggle to think of examples wherein two gay black men discuss sexuality so naturally. Pray admonishes him for “bottom shaming,” and, although he was just recently tested, Pray wants him tested again.

It’s a small moment, but on any other show there would be one episode where the characters go for an HIV test. (Remember when Samantha Jones went for one and never again?) This is a huge part of these characters’ lives, and it should be an important part of the show, not the subject of “a very special episode.”

Ricky, Damon, Lulu — along with Blanca, Elektra, Pray and Judy — successfully get the condom on the house, humiliating Frederica and making an impactful statement in the process.

It also helps move along the conflict over Blanca’s salon. Frederica rushed their conflict to court and lost. (I wish we could have watched that courtroom scene rather than Pray’s hallucinations last week that barely reverberated in any meaningful way last night, BUT WHATEVER.) Frederica admits defeat, but is sure to threateningly warn Blanca about leaving late at night. The battle is over, but their war rages.

It’s not all victories, though. Pray takes Ricky to get tested, and Ricky learns he’s positive. There are hints that Ricky and Pray are developing a relationship of some kind, but is it mentor/mentee or something more?

POSE 207 0897r

The other major storyline focused on Angel’s blossoming modeling career and relationship with Lil Papi. They’re celebrating Angel booking a new campaign with Bebe. They hit a VIP club and do a little too much VIP cocaine. They also have sex, and, despite being high, it’s one of the most tender scenes the show has ever produced. It’s beautiful.

Unfortunately, Angel shows up hungover for the shoot.

Even more unfortunate? The photographer is the one who took her initial pro photos and tried to extort her.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger. Will Angel’s secret stay safe? How will Frederica get her revenge? What’s happening between Pray and Ricky? Share your theories in the comments!

Topics: AIDS, Entertainment, Film/TV/Stream, Living, towleroad More Posts About: Pose, Recap, Television, tv, TV Recaps

Related Posts
  • Chase Chrisley Posts Cryptic Message About ‘Getting Through’ Tough Situations After Todd Allegedly Paid Blackmailer
  • ‘RuPaul Drag Race’ Finale Finally Crowns a Winning Season 14 Queen
  • ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Plays a Game of “Catwalk” and Mouse with Willow Pill
  • Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

    Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

      Published by PopCrush   A man took to Reddit explaining he became frustrated after his co-worker began oversharing about her pregnancy with him. At first he didn’t mind talking to her about her pregnancy, but …Read More »
  • Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

    Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

    Published by AFP Simone Biles competing on the vault at the 2016 P&G Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis, Missouri Washington (AFP) – Gymnastics star Simone Biles, actor Denzel Washington and the late tech visionary Steve Jobs …Read More »
  • Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

    Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

    Published by Raw Story By Brad Reed A new report from the Washington Post provides more details about former President Donald Trump’s desire to match to the Capitol with supporters who would subsequently illegally break into …Read More »
  • In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

    In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

    Published by Reuters By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Arnd Wiegmann SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland (Reuters) – Alois Carnier, 57, and Peter Leu, 67, said “wholeheartedly, I do” to each other on Friday as same-sex marriages became legal in …Read More »
Previous Post: « Fred Karger Launches ‘Truth Squad 2020’ Campaign to Ensure Public Knows He Was the First Gay Presidential Candidate
Next Post: Mario Lopez Apologizes for ‘Ignorant and Insensitive’ Remarks About Transgender Kids »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Horseshoe crabs: ‘Living fossils’ vital for vaccine safety

    Horseshoe crabs: ‘Living fossils’ vital for vaccine safety

  • ‘A Disgusting Sight In Any Case’: Vladimir Putin Fires Back After G7 Leaders Joke About His Infamous Horse-Riding Picture

    ‘A Disgusting Sight In Any Case’: Vladimir Putin Fires Back After G7 Leaders Joke About His Infamous Horse-Riding Picture

  • Russia abandons Snake Island in victory for Ukraine

    Russia abandons Snake Island in victory for Ukraine

RSS Partner Links

  • Saturday 'Stache
  • Kathryn Gallagher Releases New Song 'Read It In The Paper' About Finding Out an Ex Was Engaged
  • Amanda Bynes Ditches Bright Yellow Hair for a Lighter Blonde Look (New Photos)
  • DM: The Palace buried the bullying inquiry to protect the ‘defensive’ Sussexes
  • “Brie Larson’s social media presence is a bit lonely and offbeat” links
  • Tessa Thompson Explains Why She Used To Speak In A British Accent While In London
  • Night Crumbs

Most Recent

  • Mac Engel Column: WNBA player speaks honest truth about Brittney Griner: ‘If this was Shaq, he’d be home’

    Mac Engel Column: WNBA player speaks honest truth about Brittney Griner: ‘If this was Shaq, he’d be home’

  • Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

    Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

  • Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

    Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

  • Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

    Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

  • In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

    In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

  • Valkyrie’s sexuality was a big topic of conversation, says Tessa Thompson

    Valkyrie’s sexuality was a big topic of conversation, says Tessa Thompson

  • ‘Soft’ playwright Donja R. Love uses his own HIV+ diagnosis to illuminate his theatrical work

    ‘Soft’ playwright Donja R. Love uses his own HIV+ diagnosis to illuminate his theatrical work

  • Analysis-After abortion, conservative U.S. justices take aim at other precedents

    Analysis-After abortion, conservative U.S. justices take aim at other precedents

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in