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| Photo: FX |
Since it began, Pose has committed itself to being both an unabashed celebration of life and an unapologetic look at how the horrors of AIDS and the threat of violence affects the lives of its character. However, between "Butterfly/Cocoon" and the emotional tour de force that was "Never Knew Love Like This Before," the emphasis has been more on the latter than the former.
"What Would Candy Do?" is perhaps the lightest episode of the season so far, using the professional opportunity of a lifetime--dancing on Madonna's groundbreaking Blond Ambition Tour--as a backdrop to check in on the state of Damon and Ricky post-breakup.
Voguing has become a national craze, as suburbanites pack YMCA classes and curious journalists likes NYC luminary Sue Simmons cover what's now the latest mainstream dance trend. And Damon is reaping the benefits, teaching rooms of rhythmically-challenged white folks to strike a pose like there's nothing to it. A scout who covertly posed as a student gives him a card to an audition for the Material Girl, while Ricky hears about the audition through the dancer grapevine and earns a spot as well. As with other episodes, Pose weaves Damon and Ricky's story into a larger, historical narrative; in real life, Madonna did pull from the ballroom scene, recruiting Jose and Luis Xtravaganza after watching them vogue at The Sound Factory one night. The duo went on to help choreograph the "Vogue" video and dance with her on The Blond Ambition Tour.
Ryan Jamaal Swain and Dyllon Burnside definitely have chemistry, and it's beautiful the show is allowing them--and us--to have a respite from the heavier subject matter to indulge in a little "will they or won't they?" That said, I think we'd be more invested in that question if we knew more about Ricky. Yes we see the bitter end of his breakup with Chris. But what else has he been up to since he left the House of Evangelista? We know a love of dance drives Damon. But what drives Ricky? We get hints he's largely been aimless, been drinking a little too much and fears being alone. But throwing us a scene or two without Damon may have given us more insight into what makes Ricky tick.
The episode also takes another opportunity to juxtapose Blanca and Elektra's mothering styles. Blanca is all pep talks and pragmaticism--she's excited about the opportunity but insists Damon get permission from his dance teacher Helena before auditioning--while, Elektra's a provider, offering her coin and little else. While Blanca is happy for Damon, Elektra can only think about what Ricky's success could mean for her. What she wants more than anything is access to power, which Madonna represents. And when it looks like Damon may beat out Ricky, mother gets downright diabolical.
"What would Candy do?" Elektra asks her children, pulling out her legendary hammer and ordering one of her children to use it to "accidentally" break Damon's foot. The kids object, but Elektra leaves the hammer behind with the promise that the child who comes through for mother will get to go to Madonna's birthday party. This girl is delusional, invoking her late daughter's name for some fuckery she would not be down for. Make no mistake: Miss Candy was most definitely with the shits. But she usually popped off when she felt she'd been wronged. Trying to cripple one of kids? I could be wrong, but I don't think Candy would stoop that low.
Luckily one of the house hopping bitches has some sense and spills the beans to Papi, who of course tells Blanca who rips into Elektra, explaining the opportunity is bigger than both Ricky and Damon. It's a chance for their entire community to be seen. Elektra sees the error of her ways, and hands the hammer over. "You ruin all my plans mongrel," she says with a small, knowing smile. But girl, why do your children always have to remind you to have a conscience?
Neither Damon or Ricky make the final cut. But like Issa and her girls' ill-fated trip to Beychella, it's beside the point. Being so close to one another for the first time since they split allows Ricky to low key admit he cheated ("I messed up") and for Damon to set firm boundaries. Said boundaries being that they keep things strictly professional. And who cares about Madonna when you can be part of Solid Gold reboot?
Was Solid Gold still the jam in 1990? Help me out Gen X queens! Whatever, it's a gig, with the boys dancing to one pop classic after another.
"What Would Candy Do?" may not go down as one of the great Pose episodes. However it provides a breath of fresh air as the series prepares to go back into more dramatic territory for the season's final stretch.
Other Thoughts/The Shade Of It All
- This episode, with its lighter mood and subject matter, was the right showcase for Swain and Burnside, who don't yet possess the scene-stealing power of Billy Porter, Dominique Jackson and MJ Rodriguez.
- Angel's modeling career is still flourishing. She's booked another Wet N' Wild campaign and a possible Essence cover. Papi still carries a torch for her, and is working double shifts to pull his weight.
- Blanca was serving pure Jessie Spano with that big bow. Or was it a nod to Madonna circa '85? Also, one of the Wintour children was wearing a shirt emblazoned with "Who's That Girl," her second tour.
- "Boy bye?" I have confirmation from the mature girls that the kids were not saying this in 1990. It would've been "Child bye!" or "Child boo!" Also, respect on our name? C'mon Pose!
- "These bridge and tunnel bitches are terrifying."
- "Please. Like that specimen of perfection would be desperately seeking to spend a moment with any of you peasants."
- "If your swerve game was so good, you wouldn't need a map to find my G spot."
- "Learn to swallow your pride as well as you do men and maybe you wouldn't end up alone."
- "Quack quack boo boo."
- "Oh you mad?"
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