5 reasons you should be watching Pose
By Reed Gaudens
Are you still wondering whether you should watch Pose? Well, we have five reasons why you should check out Ryan Murphy’s brilliant new series.
Once the calendar strikes summer and all of our favorites depart for hiatus, a slew of new series vie for that coveted slot on our watch lists. From the latest high-brow premium cable fare to the lower brow escapist fun (like ABC’s Take Two), there’s something for everyone to binge-watch during the hotter months. But FX’s Pose is the one new series you seriously can’t miss.
Much like Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s Glee before it, Pose centers on a community and family of outcasts, albeit against the backdrop of the 1980s house ball scene in New York City. Very rarely does a show as inclusive and committed to representation arrive with panache, poignancy, and pacing as pristine as Pose. Here are five reasons you should start bingeing right now!
1. Representation, representation, representation.
When a series like Pose debuts so self-assured and completely itself, that fact can’t be talked about enough. From the cast, the characters, to the creative team, the series features the voices of multiple transgender women, transgender women of color, and other LGBTQ+ people of color. And with this vital perspective, the show carefully and consciously discusses important topics such as the AIDs crisis, gender confirmation surgery, and existing in an unwelcoming world. In fact, it’s unfortunate that Pose hasn’t been championed by or received more attention from mainstream media for its remarkable representation.
2. It’s refreshingly nostalgic.
And not in the way that reboots and revivals are nostalgic. Sure, catching up with the Tanner family on Fuller House and the wily bunch on Will & Grace is like a long overdue family reunion. But Pose is nostalgic in a greater sense than being a period piece with a killer soundtrack (though the ’80s throwbacks don’t hurt). Beyond its pressing subject matter and conceptual setup around ball culture, it’s a return to bare bones character-driven storytelling. It’s uplifting and heartbreaking and free of gimmicky twists. Series this pure and honest are few and far between.
3. You’ll fall in love with the cast and characters.
Even though Evan Peters, one of Ryan Murphy’s casting staples, rounds out the cast, it’s the crop of previously unknown performers that will absolutely win your heart. MJ Rodriguez is fearless as new house mother Blanca, Dominique Jackson goes for broke as the fierce Elektra Abundance, Indya Moore taps into the emotional duality of Angel, and Ryan Jamaal Swain perfectly embodies the green optimism of an NYC newbie. Pose boasts one of the strongest ensembles on television, including James Van Der Beek as a thinly veiled caricature of a certain someone.
4. It’s a celebration, not an exploitation.
Of course, there’s always a fine line between celebration and exploitation when it comes to entertainment about marginalized groups. However, Pose isn’t in the business of using its story or characters to belittle the history of ball culture, the LGBTQ+ community, or the issues faced then and now. It’s not a series that capitalizes on the horror stories of being othered by society, but rather it uses its platform to shine a light on the truthful conversations and experiences that aren’t often given the proper space — like sex, access, health, and building a chosen family.
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5. It’s just plain good.
When you find a new show that makes you feel seen, heard, and like you’ve been given the best hug of all time each week, you guard that show with your life and tell everyone you know to watch it. So, here’s the bottom line: Pose is damn good, and you need to be watching it, whether you’re queer or straight and cis-gendered. These impactful stories demand to be told. There’s no doubt that any viewer will be hooked and emotionally invested within minutes of the first episode. Don’t let a series as distinctly important and compelling as Pose slip through the cracks.
Pose airs Sundays at 9/8c on FX.