Pose Season 3, Episode 5 recap: Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Pose Season 3 goes all-in for Angel’s (Indya Moore) wedding preparations as Elektra (Dominique Jackson) splurges on the wedding of Angel’s dreams. One might ask themselves–how the heck did Elektra come across all this cash?

Her sudden riches are explained away when we learn that she is in cahoots with the Italian mafia. She launders their money to make it clean and in exchange, she is given the cash she needs to keep her phone sex business going. It’s a win-win for Elektra who is quite literally drowning in more money than she’s ever seen or asked for.

She sets herself up nicely (a bougie NYC apartment, all the caviar in the world), but the first thing on her agenda is to treat her family. As far as Elektra is concerned, her money is her family’s money, and she intends to give them everything she knows they deserve.

The episode plays out in quite an opulent manner as Elektra gives Angel every single thing she desires for her upcoming nuptials. But, as always, drama and destruction are around the corner–and this week’s episode of Pose Season 3 is no different.

Pose Season 3, Episode 5 recap: The wedding event of the year

Elektra sets up the House of Evangelista by swapping out all the old furniture and even adds in a nice dining table for Blanca (MJ Rodriguez) who loves to have people over. She has a little something to offer to everyone, even Lulu (Hailie Sahar) who rejects Elektra’s offer to pay for her to go to rehab. She’s not exactly receptive to the idea, but it gives Lulu a bit of screentime that she normally wouldn’t get, so there’s that.

During their family dinner, Angel announces that she and Papi (Angel Bismark Curiel) have set a wedding date. Elektra promises to pay for the entire wedding, but when Papi finds out later, he’s not as excited about the idea. He feels like he’s being emasculated and that everyone will think he’s not capable of paying for his own wedding.

Luckily, Blanca and Elektra are quick to explain why his and Angel’s wedding is so special for not just the two of them, but for their entire community. So many of them never thought a day like this could be possible, and with Angel getting ready to walk down the aisle, they have to make sure they go big for everyone.

That’s enough to convince Papi to go along with the plan, and with that, wedding planning is a go!

Pose Season 3, Episode 5 recap: Say yes to the dress!

With Papi’s blessing, Angel goes wedding dress shopping with Elektra and the girls. It’s a beautiful moment between all of them, and a moment that feels so monumental and important. I love how Ryan Murphy and his creative team could bring it to life in such a profound way.

Of course, with the happiness of it all, comes the realization that life for the LGTBQ+ community has never been easy, especially during this time. After deciding on a dress, the shop owner is called in to congratulate Angel, but after taking one look at them he says they are not “real women”, and refuses to do business with them. It’s a jarring reminder of the state of the world then, and even now.

Before the girls head out, Elektra gives the shop owner a piece of her mind, and it’s as glorious as can be. She puts him in his place, and then promptly asks her mob friends to rob the store blind of all the dresses. That will serve the shop owner right!

There is one thing that makes me nervous about all the things Elektra does in this week’s episode, and I felt it’s hinted at randomly throughout the hour. She keeps referring to her newfound wealth as “permanent” which makes me feel that destruction is right around the corner. How long could her gig last for anyway? And the way she’s spending money left and right is quite nerve-wracking.

She splurges beyond belief on Angel’s bachelorette party by buying out a day at the spa, dinner with all of their ballroom friends, and a night out with strippers. It’s almost too good to be true, but for now, we’ll enjoy the happiness they’re all sharing together.

Pose Season 3, Episode 5 recap: Papi’s past

Meanwhile, Papi is given some heartbreaking news when he learns an ex of his died from an overdose. And in the wake of her death, she’s left behind a five-year-old kid, his five-year-old kid. With all the things going so perfectly for him and Angel, it’s not a shocker that something like this would pop up.

It’s certainly thrown a wrench in the whole wedding thing, and after meeting his son in person, Papi is determined to make him a part of his life. But when Angel comes home from her party to the news, she’s not exactly receptive to the idea of becoming a stepmother so quickly.

As we head into next week’s episode, there are a lot of questions about where everyone’s lives are headed, especially given this is the final season. Will Angel and Papi be able to work out this new obstacle in their life? Will Elektra’s wealth indeed be “permanent”? Tune in next week to see how this story progresses.

Here’s to another amazing episode of Pose Season 3!

What did you think about this week’s episode of Pose Season 3? Tell us in the comments below!