The Category Is: Live... Work... Pose (Season Finale)
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"Okay, if you wanna be a beautiful corpse, then fine."
- Blanca
*tears* This episode opens with my sweet, beautiful flower Elecktra... Homeless. She works at the peep show but everybody knows Elecktra ain't about that life no more. I mean, she's sleeping on a park bench in a pair of stilettos for the love of the cows! I was so glad when Blanca plucked her mother from a life of obscurity. Elecktra may be... Well, Elecktra but shit was hard to watch. Probably because I love her so much. *sighs* I could not stand to see her that way.
Next up, we have tweedle dee and tweedle dumb, otherwise Ricky and Damon. Damon wants Ricky to audition for the Al-B-Sure video. Before they can get all kinds of naked, Blanca brings Elecktra home and makes them give her their room. That's not before Elecktra orders some new decor... Which she is not getting. Nope. Ricky and Damon look super, duper ubber offended.
Oh! Blanca found Praytell a date! She even got the digits for him but that's not before he spills the tea on the new members The House of Ferocity have snatched up. I'm proud of them as friends in this episode. I mean, you could always see their love but in this scene, you can truly see just how selfless Blanca is. She wants Praytell's happiness above her own and that kind of love, in anyone, is rare.
As mentioned, Blanca plucks Elecktra up like the refined daisy she is. The job ends up being a huge puzzle that her jagged little piece fits right in to. She's so proud and you can tell.
As for the Al-B-Sure video, both Damon and Ricky get invited on tour and Ricky and Damon are kinda boring so Imma sum it up right here: Blanca finds out from his teacher that he's been approved for another year at school. At 1st he's unsure but Blanca talks (Without actually saying so... She pretty much gives him her opinion and he runs with it in order to make her proud. She's already proud but I'm glad he cares) him into staying in school.
Speaking of Al-B-Sure, Elecktra's reaction to their audition was EVERYTHING! "Holy shit! He's the Marvin Gaye of our time!" She went from reminiscing about the times her and Daddy Dick made love to his music to running excitedly to get the tape. She was so giddy! It was refreshing to see her let her guard down.
Praytell goes on his date and runs into... Who else? My darling Elecktra Abundance. They acknowledge one another's come up but what I adore about this scene is how fast Praytell admits he's positive. The fact that his date was not only thankful, he asked what he could do to help... a thing of beauty, is what it was. They start to kiss then stop upon hearing Elecktra reading a patron at the door. Oh Elecktra, never change!
Angel... Angel... Angel... *sighs* Angel became an alpha in this episode. She started it out boo hooing over Stan but ended it standing tall and proud. Someone FINALLY slid her a copy of Side Booty Reporting For Duty. I have been a side dish many times in my life. Shit like that seems all fine and great until you start to change and grow as a person... That's when you reallize you were not in control of anything. Actually, you were settling for scraps and you were easily tossed into a bag and forgotten because you were replaceable. You were trash. It is known. *coughs* Anywho... It was refreshing to see her grow into her own. Especially after Blanca picked her up like a baby and told her she had to get it together, go to night classes cuz she was gonna hafta take care of the house because as we all know, Blanca is positive and now Angel knows. In the end, Stan runs back to her (I'll get to why momentarily) and she finally finds the strength to tell him to go back to his wife and kids because her family loves her for her and it's time she has their back like they have hers.
And now, Patty Cake... I have nothing against Patty Cake, cows knows I don't, but bitch was tripping balls this episode. She pretty much told Stan fuck him and his "Started from the bottom now we here" looking ass... She wanted him to quit the job he busted his ass (Literally... Dawson's Creek tore that ass up... Never forget) to get and get a local one. Also, to sell the car. She wants homeboy to get a job where he will be off in time to be home with the kids so she can go back to school for her Master's so that by the time the kids are old enough to understand how fucked up things truly are, she's ready to be on her own providing for them. Uh, wait... what? Why not just divorce Stan and get that alimony? Use that to live. Take the kids to daycare while you take classes during the day. Back in those days, there was no fight. If you got divorced, you literally got half. FOH Patty Cake. I was feeling bad for you but you pushing it. I mean, I 100% legit get that Stan hurt her, I really do. My thing is this tho: Why fuck up your own bag? Idiot.
The House of Ferocity (Gah, I hate saying that damn name) shows up tonight for the Princess Ball. They read Blanca and I wasn't here for it. Shit was offensive and they weren't even talking about me. It wasn't even a funny read. Shit was just gross. Blanca's house is a house built on love not on hate so Elecktra (Who showed up looking like a Amazonian Goddess, might I add) had to show up and show them how it's done. I'm mad at Candy and Lulu cuz last episode they backed Blanca against Cornball Darius and this week they were back to their shitty ways. Before she reads them so bad their future generations will feel it, Elecktra helps Blanca with her make up and talks to her about learning what it means to have value... and Blanca gave her that. Blanca has always been her heart and I was impressed to see her admit that. Now, about this read... As soon as I find it in its entirety, I will be posting it because words cannot express how brutal this was. She ended up taking Lil Papi back to his mother (Yaaaaasssssss!) and snatching up Lamar and Cubby like baseball cards. That shit was EPIC.
When Blanca saw (Time out! I just noticed Elecktra hugging Angel in the background) Lil Papi had returned, she gathered her baby in her arms cuz you could tell she missed him so.
And now... For the moment we've all been waiting for... Category is... House vs House
Ferocity vs. Evangelista
Leiomy! Leiomy! Leiomy! I remember her from America's Best Dance Crew... Vogue Evolution... Dude, girl, get those coins! She's a choreographer on this show and in this episode she's playing Florida Ferocity... Talk about a come up! Jiggly is back serving "Mother of the bride" realness.... I agree with Praytell. Wtf is she wearing? There are ways to dress a big body. I do it all the time. Do better.
Angel... Angel showed up and showed out in this ball. When she fell out on the judge's table and Lil Papi caught her... I went to screaming! I'm sorry but, I love me some Evangelista but how Lulu spun into view was EVERYTHING. Praytell called the category and poof! She spun into view... She pisses me off but bitch served that! (Sidebar: The judges on this show were all in Paris Is Burning. I heart that)
Evangelista won by a fraction of a vote but a win is a win! They started racking up trophies after that left and right. Blanca running to hug her momma was too cute! This ball was giving you everything you ever wanted and shit you didn't know you needed.
Can we please talk about this dress Elecktra has on?! She looks stunning serving the children.
Speaking of children... *coughs* Candy, who we all know can't vogue, is irritated cuz they're losing. She runs out onto the floor and her and Praytell go at it until the judges join in. Next thing I know, dude is like: "Hold my purse!" At 1st I thought Candy was fleeing but she went to get a hammer. They start acting a fool on the floor and I am just laughing my ass off. Shit was hilarious.
It's now time for the prestigious Mother Of The Year award, which I just found out was represented by real houses in the ballroom circuit. That made me happy to hear. Praytell announced the Category then gave this beautiful speech. The longer he talked, the more I knew he was talking about Blanca. When Elecktra (Who apparently won before... Picture that) handed Blanca that trophy, my eyes teared up. She had already changed into this flowing yellow number that Praytell had made. It looks amazing on her. Damb, Blanca. Do that.
"The 1988, Mother of the year goes to... My sista, Blanca" Me: *buckets of tears*
The show closes out with them having a family celebration meal at a restaurant. I'm glad Ricky and Lil Papi made up. I'm glad Damon's dance teacher is accepted into the fold but you know what made me the happiest?
You could tell the creators weren't sure about getting a Season 2 or not. Even if the announcement had not happened and this was the last episode, it was satisfying. It didn't end in tragedy or dramatics. It ended in smiles. I saw a lot of reviews who thought this was too neatly done but fuck those fools. Had this been the last episode and they filled it with an ass of cliffhangers and then Season 2 not been greenlit, people would be pissed cuz they'll never know how it ends. This way, had there been no season 2, as a stand along mini series, this was enough. I loved this series. I'm glad we're getting a Season 2. I've never been more proud of our community than I've been while watching Pose.
Thank you, Ryan Murphy. I appreciate you and everyone who believed in your project. (I still can't believe Showtime passed on this show. I mean, they gave me Queer As Folk) I love all the characters but most of all, I love watching them be who they are. No apologies. No regrets.
That, dear reader, is the foundation true bravery will always be built on. See you in Season 2! 💋
Later