Pose
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Pray Tell has come home and sits in front of his vanity mirror.
He removes one lash.
He slowly and carefully removes his makeup.
Hes staring at himself but also past himself.
The camera knows to stay with him, letting us take in every second of this moment.
Like the best moments on the show, this scene is powerful because of its simplicity.
The moment speaks volumes for the amount of information it withholds, a restraint thatPoseso rarely affords itself.
But that didnt blunt its impact one bit.
The season has, in a way, been always leading to Prays death.
We should be thankful he went out on his own terms after one brilliant, incandescent ballroom performance.
Speaking of which: Aint No Mountain High Enough!
Thats it, thats the tweet.
You really just have to bask in its fabulousness.
It requires no further commentary.
Other, perhaps, than to remind us of the joy these ballroom scenes have captured throughoutPoses tenure.
No matter what was happening outside, the community inside those walls offered comfort.
It makes sense Pray would feel he could finally let go after such a deliciously joyous send-off.
This was a statement about what television could be.
About whose stories can be told.
About who gets to tell said stories.
A pile of dead white people is a national tragedy.
Heres where the mothering the show has so championed became an obvious community-building philosophy.
Its what made those protest actions feel so urgent.
They remain uncomfortably timely.
Images of police officers assaulting peaceful protesters and throwing Black bodies to the ground.
Visions of angry civilians calling for the government to do better for its marginalized communities as many are dying.
To watch those scenes in 2021 is to have history speak in the present tense.
The line, of course, is mirrored yet again.
Franklins voice was speaking for those of us who have watchedPoseduring its three-season run.
Theres an intimacy there that doesnt begin or end on one side of the screen.
We may be parting and, but well always havePose.
How beautiful was that moment between Prays two mothers?
These girls came to the city to have sex?
(Aside: FYC for Dominique Jackson in the Best Supporting Actress - Drama category at the Emmys.
Happy endings are for movies, Blanca says.
Its why she believes one should celebrate happy moments, no matter how fleeting, instead.
As beautiful a philosophy to live by as anything else Grandmother Blanca doled out during this episode.
(Reminder: FYC for Mj Rodriguez in the Best Actress - Drama category at the Emmys.
