Pose Season 2 Ep. 7 Recap: 'Blow'

Photo: FX

Pose has taken quite a few creative left turns these past few episodes, with dream and fantasy sequences, musical numbers and ghostly visitors dominating the narrative. With "Blow," the series brings things back to reality, once again exploring how the characters' personal struggles intertwine with their political activism.

Damon's still teaching the white girls how to vogue, but his trio of pupils is a far cry from the packed classes he taught not too long ago. Like all underground trends that go mainstream, voguing's popularity is waning, and so are Damon checks. As a co-worker succinctly puts it: "Remember. White folks like to visit. But they never move in."

Pray Tell, who's cast a mighty side eye to the notion "Vogue's" success would mean success for ballroom community, gets in a quick "I told ya' so." But he encourages the kids to keep doing what they doing best: turning it out with creativity, charisma and nerve, because sooner or later, the "looky-loos" will be back to sample a taste of the ballroom's flavor. But coming down off the high of the mainstream's embrace isn't easy. Damon's classes get canceled and Ricky can't get booked as a tour dancer, so the two spend their days sipping wine coolers and watching cartoons. Meanwhile Lulu, still reeling from Candy's death, is an absolute mess, falling down at work and likely dabbling in drugs.

Blanca's at a loss at what to do, but Pray Tell has a plan, excuse me, a caper, to get the kids back on the right track: wrap a giant condom around Frederica's country house. It's a plan designed to simultaneously promote safe sex and clap back at the tycoon, who's been using the press to whip up AIDS-induced homophobia and transphobia against Blanca in their ongoing legal battle. Like other storylines this season, the stunt is based on historical events, in this case a 1991 ACT UP protest where activists placed a giant condom over the home of homophobic senator Jesse Helms.

One of Pose's strengths, particularly this season, is how it incorporates LGBT history in a way that feels completely natural to its own fictional world. Sometimes, as was the case with the St. Patrick's Cathedral protest, Candy's murder or Elektra having to store a mummified body in her closet, those stories are sobering, violent and tragic, feelings the series has never shied away from exploring. But others, like the condom caper, reveal the show can depict protest while still reveling in its campier side.

The protest trip also brings new depth to Pray Tell and Ricky's relationship. The two have a meaningful conversation about the lack of gay elders and mentorship, bottom shaming and the responsibility that now comes with being sexually active. The last topic hits close to home for Ricky, who reveals his ex Chris called and told him he was HIV positive. Ricky reveals he only got head, but Pray emphasizes the importance of getting tested and telling Damon.

In the end, the stunt succeeds in both bringing Damon, Ricky and Lulu out of their downward spirals and getting press attention. Lulu tells Blanca she's going to enroll into the Bronx community college to get her accounting degree, while Damon's going to...well she's off the couch so that's something.

Blanca also wins her suit against Frederica. But you already know Frederica  isn't the type to tuck her tail between her legs and run. Mama comes in the salon looking snatched and ready with the quips, acknowledging Blanca as a worthy adversary while throwing in a vague threat or two. "Underestimate me at your own peril," she snaps, turning Blanca's words on her before walking out. This ain't over. Not by a long shot.

Ricky's post-protest mood is dampened considerably after he takes Pray Tell's advice to get tested. His results come back positive, and while Damon isn't there to hold his hand, Pray Tell is there to hold him while he cries.

"Blow" also shows Papi and Angel in full couple mode, but also implies being booed up may not the best thing for either of them. Angel has been invited to an upscale party at Nells. On top of that, she's also the new BeBe Girl. A full-fledge modeling career is at her fingertips. However, there are still nagging fears. She's afraid she'll be clocked and outed, afraid she really doesn't belong in the world of high fashion. Alhough Papi encourages her to believe in herself, from the moment they walk into at Nells, their eyes and mouths wide open, it snaps into focus how green they both are to this slice of New York nightlife.

The party is fabulous, with all the accoutrement of the fast life, including narcotics. Papi warns Angel about doing coke, reminding her of Blanca's strident anti-drug attitude. But the beautiful people present call it "pharmaceuticals," not coke, which is enough to convince them to take a sniff. Then they're off, dancing to Bel Biv Devoe and making love in the apartment. It would've been easy to write their dip into decadence as one-time thing if Damon didn't catch sight of a vial of coke they stashed in their room. Angel tosses it out the window and vows to leave it alone. It's a vow she ultimately breaks, strolling into a crucial photoshoot  high and hung over. Luckily Ms. Ford, who's seen many girls "dim their own light," is stern but forgiving. While Papi certainly loves Angel, is he strong or mature enough to realize love also means not enabling her or being a co-conspirator in her self-sabatoge?

Angel's self-destructive turn is maddening to watch--if Candy hadn't played such a large role last week, this would've been the perfect time for a "Bitch get your shit together" style read--but also relatable. The things we want the most often scare us. While watching her make the wrong choices is infuriating, it's also deeply human. Though things go from bad to worse when the sleazy photog from the season premiere shows up for the shoot.

Talk about your bad days.

Other Thoughts/The Shade of It All

• Though she berates herself for being stupid, Lulu reveals herself to be very adept at getting want she wants. Not just anybody could convince Elektra part with $1500 to help fund the condom caper, and become her dominatrix protege to earn the rest of the cash.

• I mentioned it above, but Billy Porter and Dyllon Burnside played off each other really well this episode. It's nice to see a dynamic between an older and younger gay man that isn't predatory or competitive. Burnside in particular really shows his dramatic chops when Ricky learns he's tested positive.

• "Get 'cho ass up and do somethin'." The wittiest line ever? No, but mother Blanca meant that shit.

• "TV stations love angry gays."

• "This ain't a yellow brick road bitch!"

• "Underestimate me at your peril." A word.

• "Girl stop. Hammertime?!"

• "Look at these boozy bitches!"

• "Brunch is for some alcoholic bitches who ain't got to work!"