# POSE (2018)

> A dance musical following Black and Latinx trans women in 1980s New York's ball culture as they build chosen families amid wealth, ambition, and the AIDS crisis.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/68154

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 59 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, music
- Created by: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy, Steven Canals
- Network: FX
- Cast: Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, Kate Mara, Lillah Indya Moore, Evan Peters, Angel Bismark Curiel, Angelica Ross
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7562112/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Tone: glamorous, defiant, heartfelt, exuberant, bittersweet

## What critics say

Acclaimed for its groundbreaking queer and transgender representation, its vibrant ball culture dance sequences, and its emotionally resonant performances, particularly from its lead cast.

## Synopsis

Pose (2018-2021) is an American FX drama created by Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy, and Steven Canals, a dance musical set in 1980s New York across three seasons and 26 episodes. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez plays Blanca, a trans woman who leads her own ballroom house and takes in young runaways, while Dominique Jackson plays Elektra Abundance, a glamorous rival, and Billy Porter plays Pray Tell, a master of ceremonies. Their engine is the struggle to build a family and win competitions in ball culture while facing poverty, discrimination, and the spreading AIDS epidemic. Each episode weaves voguing battles and musical numbers into the daily lives of the characters. The show also follows Kate Mara's Patty and Evan Peters' Stan, whose luxury Trump-era world brushes against the ballroom scene and the downtown literary circles. The tone is warm, glamorous, and defiant, balancing exuberant spectacle with heartbreak and resilience. Fans of Paris Is Burning, It's a Sin, and Angels in America will find resonance in its portrayal of chosen family and queer history. Its look is lush and theatrical, shot with an eye for movement and color.

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