From horror shows to court rooms, surgery tables to 1950s Hollywood, Ryan Murphy has taken television audiences all around the world. What’s next for him? A stop at the 1980s ballroom scene in New York City, a place where the LGBTQ+ community could escape the problems of the real world and find solidarity amongst their peers while competing in competitions of dance and fashion.
Pose is a landmark for television, with an ensemble of largely unknown trans actors sharing the spotlight with A-listers, and a writers room made up primarily of trans women of color. There’s never been a show quite like this on TV, and it marks an important moment in television.
But… is it any good?
One thing’s for certain: it is definitely a Ryan Murphy production, with many characters, flashy editing, on-point soundtrack choices, and inability to focus on one thing for too long. But, the man sure does know how to direct an opening scene, and the first few moments of Pose make up the strongest hook into a series since Breaking Bad.
Within just a few minutes of footage, and minimal dialogue, Murphy introduces a majority of the main members of the cast, the central conflict, and key themes about the different cultures found in NYC during the ’80s – all while thoroughly entertaining the audience. It is a stunning moment that ranks amongst Ryan Murphy’s best-directed moments.
Luckily, he mostly manages to maintain that same level of quality as he dives into the series’ various subplots. At the series’ center is Blanca (MJ Rodriguez), a trans woman who dreams of making a mark on the ballroom scene and decides to form her own house: the House Evangelista. This, however, leads to a rivalry with her old house, the House Abundance, led by the fierce Elektra (Dominique Jackson) who does not take the new of her “child’s” departure lightly.
The rivalry between these two houses might seem like a relatively simple storyline, the two actresses playing the housemothers have stunning screen presence and their rivalry is electric. Jackson knows how to chew scenery in just the right way, while Rodriguez is incredibly lovable and sympathetic, delivering a touching monologue in the final moments.
The most effective subplot, however, involves Damon, a 17-year-old who is kicked out of his home for being gay, and is forced to live on the streets while struggling to break out as a dancer. But, a chance encounter with Blanca gives him the possibility of finding a home – as well as success on stage. Murphy, who has discovered talent before, has found a real star in Ryan Jamaal Swain.
While traumatic coming out stories are becoming a bit overdone across all forms of media, Swain’s emotive eyes make those scenes all the more painful – you can feel his sadness through the screen. But he has also brings such life and energy into the role, and a dance scene he has near the end of the premiere is such a cathartic moment entirely due to his skills as an actor and performer.
Perhaps the weakest storyline, however, involves a star-crossed romance between Angel (Indya Moore), a trans sex worker, and Stan (Evan Peters), a cisgender yuppie working for Donald Trump and living with his family in New Jersey. Now, Peters has proven himself to be a good actor, especially with his campy turn in American Horror Story: Hotel, but Murphy tends to cast him in parts that don’t fit his screen persona at all.
Here, he is hopelessly miscast, coming off as far too young to be a father of two, and lacking the necessary spark with his co-star to make a believable couple. Even worse, much of this subplot – at least in the premiere – is told through Stan’s point of view, which feels quite boring. It would be wise for the series to reframe the subplot around Angel, especially since her portrayer, Ms. Moore, lights up the screen.
Some will complain about Pose reveling in melodrama – these are, undoubtedly, story threads we’ve seen before. But Murphy is television’s undisputed king of melodrama and, here, he brings the melodrama to a social circle not typically explored on mainstream television. These are stories we’re familiar with, yes, but they’ve never been told in this way. And, with a stunning ensemble and incredibly amount of energy at its disposal, Pose has the potential to be a new addition to the ever-growing list of Must See TV series.
Overall rating: 8 out of 10
Pose airs Sunday nights on FX.
https://youtu.be/2Jg6fiC1VpY
