S01.E07: Pink Slip 2018.07.15

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Quote

Blanca makes a startling revelation about Lil Papi that changes the House of Evangelista forever. Meanwhile, Elektra rethinks her means of survival when the House of Abundance is evicted from their apartment.

Promo:

[Scarlett45]

Chris Meloni- I am not surprised, he was very direct with her before her surgery. What I am surprised by is that she hasn’t been saving a least a portion of her cash allowance all these years. Electra you’re almost 40- you should be smarter than that! It’s very sad though, now that she’s had bottom surgery, she’s not a sexual novelty and cannot market herself in the same way. There are plenty of black women her age who are gorgeous with great figures if a man wanted a kept woman that fit that demographic......Electra!! Just ugh  

Papi, Papi, Papi- Blanca had very right to throw you out after you broke house rules Repeatedly!!

Why did Angel go back to the Pier?! Honey your job at the peep show was much safer. I am not surprised by her and Stan though, Angel was the fantasy....a pornographic magazine come to life. He wasn’t going to leave his world to be in hers.

[ShadowHunter]

They were watching My Two Dad's ahh 80's shows.

Those bitches stole Papi lol.

I knew things were too sweet and lovely with Stan and Angel. He was right he so did not fit in. He either does not know what he wants or he wants everything. He could have left Angel some furniture.

I felt bad for Elektra but still she should have tried to save some money.

Will Patty take Stan back? He will probably fall in love with someone new next season. Naturally he was able to keep his job.

Not sure if I care about the girls starting a new house. They are good for a few laughs that is it. The acting is a bit campy.

Edited July 16, 2018 by ShadowHunter

[ZuluQueenOfDwarves]

WTF was with Lulu and Candy’s bitchy attitudes? Last week they were friendly with Blanca, now they’re reading her in the street for no reason?! And it’s not because they give two shits about Papi, because I know they don’t. 

[SimoneS]

I didn't think that this was a good episode.  I felt for Ricky more than Papi, never thought that would ever happen.  Angel was wrong to blame Ricky for Papi's criminal behavior.

Elektra's situation would have been moving if the acting wasn't so damn bad.

Unfortunately, Stan abandoning Angel wasn't a surprise.

Edited July 16, 2018 by SimoneS

[BloggerAloud]

It's fascinating to see how stuff plays out on this show because of the people behind the scenes working on it because they take non-super trope ways of dealing with these stories.

[tennisgurl]

So I guess the message is, if your life is dependent on a person supporting you, you should probably have a plan B, especially if your an adult in an adult style relationship with this person. Always have a nest egg, y'all. 

I figured that would be how things would go for Stan and Angel. He might really like her, and be excited by her "exoticness", but he wont fully fit into her world, and she wont fit into his. He cant be working his corporate head hunter job Monday through Friday, then heading out to the Ball scene with Angel in his golf club wear every weekend. That just cant work long term. I knew he would leave her when the fantasy fell apart, but it was still sad to see Angel back on the streets working the docks. Go back to the peep show, it seemed safer at least!

Oh Papi, you idiot. I get why Blanca kicked him out (he broke her biggest rule over and over) but I still felt bad for him getting kicked back to his sketchy drug dealer buddies place. Now he ends up with this new house, but thats certainly temporary. Even his goofy, skinny self should be able to figure out those girls are just using him as an errand boy. But, I dont blame Rickey for telling the truth about him. He feels loyal to Blanca now, and he didnt want to lie to her, and risk getting kicked out. It sucks all around, and I feel for pretty much everyone involved to different extents, but its not Rickie's fault. He just didnt want to lie to the woman who gave him a home, its understandable, 

You can never tell if Lulu and Candy are going to be cool with Blanca, or be cussing her out in the street. Guess it depends on the day. 

I felt awful for Elektra, stuck in the peep show to make ends meat, but she had to have seen this coming. Chris Meloni was pretty clear about what would happen if she got the surgery, and when she did, he did exactly what he said he would do. She should have at least sold some of the stuff for cash before he found out what she did. And maybe been nicer to her kids, so they wouldn't ditch her as soon as she fell down. 

[Lonesome Rhodes]

What would it be worth for someone as mixed up and scared as Blanca to be validated and affirmed by someone as awesome as Helena?  What would it be worth to you?  Me?  It would be just about the most significant thing EVAH.  That scene made this entire series worth it.  Real truth.  Real wisdom.  Real love.  

Good on TPTB for following through on the Papi check they wrote!  It's a little late, but danged if they did not go there.  Most never do.  The separation scene was very realistic to me.  It was awkward as heck and there were drastically conflicting emotions running through everyone all at once.  Well done, imo.

There are prices to be paid in this world if one dares to be something the monied class does not wish them to be.  To thine own self be true?  Rotsa ruck.  Elektra is not the first and won't be the last to be broken.  She will fall further than most, though.  

The Ball was a hoot!  Pray in full flower/voice and the contestants BROUGHT IT!!!!  

You know what was the saddest part of this ep?  Papi didn't even take his trophy with him.  And now he is indentured to Cinderella's sisters.  

Edited July 16, 2018 by Lonesome Rhodes

[BloggerAloud]

45 minutes ago, ZuluQueenOfDwarves said:

WTF was with Lulu and Candy’s bitchy attitudes? Last week they were friendly with Blanca, now they’re reading her in the street for no reason?! And it’s not because they give two shits about Papi, because I know they don’t. 

I feel like Lulu and Candy are just like Elektra when it comes to how they deal with Blanca. Mainly being competitive and winning trumps being nice every single time.

[AgentRXS]

I guess that because last week was his episode to shine, we only got like 5 minutes of Pray Tell this week. Which would be fine if this season wasn't only 8 episodes long. Boo!

Even though Stan stuck out like a sore thumb at the ball scene anyway, that night's particular theme probably just pushed him over the edge sooner than he was expecting. Damn Stan, you could've given Angel the place for the rest of the month before clearing it out and placing all her stuff in a garbage bag. Cold af.

Loved the "My Two Dads" clip and that Stan's boss was unbothered by the fist fight--of course, he would love/approve of such antics. I also loved Shannon's "Let The Music Play" in the background. I was wondering if/when it was going to show up on this series. That song is forever my jam.

Well, Electra, you can't say he didn't warn you. Men with money and power will never have a shortage of women looking to fulfill their fantasies for the right price. The fact that he replaced her with someone younger and lighter was not lost on me either. Just another kick in the face.  Someone as street savvy as her should have known better.

Now I'm scared for Angel's life. Why is she on the piers and not at the peep show?! I'm afraid that she is going to get in the car with wrong person and get hurt or worse. Go back to the peep shows, Angel!

Edited July 16, 2018 by AgentRXS

[Scarlett45]

6 hours ago, AgentRXS said:

Well, Electra, you can't say he didn't warn you. Men with money and power will never have a shortage of women looking to fulfill their fantasies for the right price. The fact that he replaced her with someone younger and lighter was not lost on me either. Just another kick in the face.  Someone as street savvy as her should have known better.

Yes. And it wasn’t lost on me that the second she wasn’t under his protection the bell man threatened her with violence and called her a freak. I knew Chris Meloni would get rid of her and he would do it just that way. I know her surgery has given her a boost of confidence but she’s got to be careful! As evil as Electra is I don’t want her to get hurt either. 

[qtpye]

2 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

Yes. And it wasn’t lost on me that the second she wasn’t under his protection the bell man threatened her with violence and called her a freak. I knew Chris Meloni would get rid of her and he would do it just that way. I know her surgery has given her a boost of confidence but she’s got to be careful! As evil as Electra is I don’t want her to get hurt either. 

I just can not believe she did not save a dime after being supported for a decade. I get that NYC rent and the surgery was expensive, but she had to know this day was coming. Also, the man told her he would not keep her if she had the surgery. I stil feel bad for her. I also think she should stop trying to get a sugar daddy as a transsexual/transgender female, because those guys are probably looking for a pre- op lady. Electra is supposed to be the most “real” so she should have no trouble getting other types of guys.

I wonder what Stan would of thought if it was “butch business man/eighties yuppie day”? Would he have been less freaked out? Maybe he would have been amused that the people at the ball were trying to be him?

Edited July 16, 2018 by qtpye

[Scarlett45]

Just now, qtpye said:

I just can not believe she did not save a dime after being supported for a decade. I get that NYC rent and the surgery was expensive, but she had to know this day was coming. Also, the man told her he would not keep her if she had the surgery. I stil feel bad for her. I also think she should stop trying to get a sugar daddy as a transsexual/transgender female, because those guys are probably looking for a post op lady. Electra is supposed to be the most “real” so she should have no trouble getting other types of guys.

I wonder what Stan would of thought if it was “butch business man/eighties yuppie day”? Would he have been less freaked out? Maybe he would have been amused that the people at the ball were trying to be him?

I think you mean a “pre-op lady”? But yes you’re right. The issue also is that if a sugar daddy is looking for a tall attractive black woman as his sugar baby, there are MANY MANY women like that in NYC, younger and prettier than Electra. Granted she has the advantage that she cannot get pregnant, but her days of marketing herself as a niche kept woman are over. 

I don’t understand how she doesn’t have any money either!! If the apartment and utilities were all paid for, and she was given clothes and jewelery what did she spend all the cash on?! Taxis and restaurants were not that much in NYC in the 80s. Okay maybe she did take her cash and rent the flat for the House of Abundance but still.....she’s been in the game long enough to know better. And now she’s back at the peep show which has to be emotionally degrading (its honest work, she isn’t hurting anyone, and it’s safe so I understand why she’s there)- she cannot work there forever. And she’s too proud to actually learn a skill like Blanca did (as a manicurist)- which I think she should’ve been doing with her time while her gentleman friend was out of town all these years. 

I think Stan is “confused” about what he wants, which would be fine if he was some college kid, but he’s a grown man with a career, wife and two kids. Just disappearing like that on Angel was cowardly, she’s a person with feelings and he’s just jerked her around. What did he think her life was like? I can see him being uncomfortable, but it’s as if when Angel was a real person, with a life outside of being his doll he couldn’t deal. 

[Shadowcat2576]

4 minutes ago, qtpye said:

I also think she should stop trying to get a sugar daddy as a transsexual/transgender female, because those guys are probably looking for a post op lady. Electra is supposed to be the most “real” so she should have no trouble getting other types of guys.

Unfortunately both the end of her relationship and the outcome of her "date" were very predictable. The majority of guys, especially those that pay, want pre or non operable transgender women because they want that exotic porn experience or are gay but feel being with a transgender woman means they aren't. As a postop woman, all she's bringing to the table is just what 1,000s of other women can bring, plus a ton of baggage.

Now could Electra find a great guy? Possibly, but it's not going to be the kind of guy she wants. For one, her attitude would need a real adjustment. For another, especially for the time period, she would need to be stealth, which for all her talk of passing, she is nowhere near.

[Scarlett45]

4 minutes ago, Shadowcat2576 said:

Now could Electra find a great guy? Possibly, but it's not going to be the kind of guy she wants. For one, her attitude would need a real adjustment. For another, especially for the time period, she would need to be stealth, which for all her talk of passing, she is nowhere near.

I think we are supposed to take it at face value in the world of the show that Electra appears cis- IRL out of all the women in the cast she appears the least cis (to me). 

But Electra is a 40yrs old dark skinned black woman. Colorism is a live and well in the black community (white men would care lesss I think) and black women aren’t rare! We are everywhere for rich men that want one; and yes her attitude would need major adjustment. She could maybe work as a dominatrix?!! I could see her enjoying that and being paid well for it. She would need serveral clients rather than one, but she could support herself. 

[SHD]

I wonder if Angel went back to the docks because once she gave up her peep show spot, it was filled and she couldn't get back in. That would add another layer of tragedy to the break-up/abandonment. She not only lost material things and her dream life, but she lost her safety.

I gave the Electra acting level a pass a lot this year because I attributed the camp/overacting to a persona she was putting on. But that scene with Christopher Meloni really exposed her poor acting.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

OMG the music in this episode was A+ (as usual)! Let the Music Play by Shannon is still my jam. Every time I hear that song, I think about Joyce Wilborn's old floor routine (she did this at the 1986 Goodwill Games and was the highest scoring American - she won a bronze on vault and came in fourth on floor exercise):

Poor Angel. I knew it was only a matter of time before Stan hurt her. Part of me is glad that it was "only" him realizing that she doesn't fit in his world and then dumping her. I was so afraid in the first few weeks that he would freak out and kill her so in comparison, this was a relief (even though I know Angel must be very hurt by what he did).

Stan does get some credit for finally pulling his head out of his ass and being honest with her, but I still lay a lot of the blame at his feet. He says Angel can't be part of his world (work, his kids, etc) but that's mostly because he is still too ashamed and embarrassed about himself and his attraction to her. He doesn't want to admit to his coworkers or his kids that Angel is trans. He's right that they've been in a bubble - staying in with your secret mistress is a different world than going out in public and introducing someone to your friends and family.

I wish Angel had stayed at the peep show instead of going back to the pier. At least at the peep show, there's a plate of glass separating her from the clients and keeping her safe.

I know I'm supposed to feel bad that Elektra had to resort to working at the peep show but she really overestimated her boyfriend's "love" for her and she just assumed that she would always have him to support her financially so she didn't plan for the future. I don't want to make it sound like she deserved what happened because getting dumped always sucks. He told her what the deal was and she thought he loved her enough that she could do the one thing he asked her not to do.

If this had been a real relationship, meaning a loving relationship where they were equal partners, then I would say he should love her no matter what. But she went in knowing that one of the reasons he was with her was that she still had a penis. When she brought up having the surgery a few weeks ago, he reiterated that he wanted her to have a penis and that it was part of their deal. Based on the negotiation discussion she had with the new guy, I'm assuming that she had a similar conversation with Meloni when they began seeing each other which means she knew what her end of the bargain was. I fully support her decision to get the surgery but she was told well in advance what the consequences of that would be for her relationship with him, so she shouldn't seem so surprised.

Similarly, I felt bad for Papi because Blanca told him from the beginning that she wouldn't have any of them doing illegal things and she specifically mentioned drugs. I totally get that he felt he had no other options because, as he said, he's a 20 year old with an eighth grade education. I understand why he chose not to go back to the house though. He's still hurt that Blanca kicked him out in the first place, which would make it hard enough to come back but he could not live under the same roof with Ricky who ratted him out.

[Scarlett45]

9 minutes ago, SHD said:

I wonder if Angel went back to the docks because once she gave up her peep show spot, it was filled and she couldn't get back in. That would add another layer of tragedy to the break-up/abandonment. She not only lost material things and her dream life, but she lost her safety.

I gave the Electra acting level a pass a lot this year because I attributed the camp/overacting to a persona she was putting on. But that scene with Christopher Meloni really exposed her poor acting.

But I don’t see why Angel would give up her peepshow spot- when she left the apartment the first time she went back to work the peep show. Angel should maybe take a page out of Electra’s book, she’s young and beautiful, she could maybe find a man who’s wants a kept transwoman, but take this time to learn a skill or a trade (as well as save up for surgery like she mentioned in episode 1). The pier just isn’t safe. 

@ElectricBoogaloo I felt for Papi too, but he knew the rules and chose to break them. Blanca was right, that poison is ruining their community AND if he gets caught the police may search their home and she could be implicated. Ricky did what he had to do, I am not upset with him. He didn’t go to Blanca to “snitch”, she asked him directly, should he have compromised his safe home to protect Papi who was the rule breaker? I did like how Damon expressed he was sad but not angry. He’s a sweet kid. 

Edited July 16, 2018 by Scarlett45

[mtlchick]

I'm actually stunned that Electra didn't have ANY money saved up.  It's been drilled in my head for years to put 10% of my pay into my savings account.  Nothing in her thought she should have done the same in case of emergency?  Now she's in a position where she's alone and where no one will bow down to her demands.  

 

Clearly something bad is going to Angel if she's back at the docks. 

[Shadowcat2576]

10 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

I think we are supposed to take it at face value in the world of the show that Electra appears cis- IRL out of all the women in the cast she appears the least cis (to me). 

But Electra is a 40yrs old dark skinned black woman. Colorism is a live and well in the black community (white men would care lesss I think) and black women aren’t rare! We are everywhere for rich men that want one; and yes her attitude would need major adjustment. She could maybe work as a dominatrix?!! I could see her enjoying that and being paid well for it. She would need serveral clients rather than one, but she could support herself. 

Electra is stunning and I doubt if I saw the actress or character in public that I would every clock her. There is however a difference between passing and being stealth. Passing means that people assume you are the gender you are presenting as. Stealth means that you make efforts to make sure no one finds out you are transgender. The name Electra Abundance screams drag queen, and we've never seen anyone including the Dr. refer to her as anything else. She'd have to give up the balls, which I don't see her doing. Electra is not one for a 9-5 office job.

[Scarlett45]

2 minutes ago, Shadowcat2576 said:

Electra is stunning and I doubt if I saw the actress or character in public that I would every clock her. There is however a difference between passing and being stealth. Passing means that people assume you are the gender you are presenting as. Stealth means that you make efforts to make sure no one finds out you are transgender. The name Electra Abundance screams drag queen, and we've never seen anyone including the Dr. refer to her as anything else. She'd have to give up the balls, which I don't see her doing. Electra is not one for a 9-5 office job.

Oh! I see thank you for explaining. 

[Dee]

The scenes between Blanca and Papi were heartbreaking. Angel Curiel and MJ Rodriguez really brought it this episode.

Stan is trash.

Elektra had the week from hell. Karmic retribution is real.

Blanca & Helena's lunch date was lovely. More please.

Ricky deserves better.

Lulu & Candy are hilarious. And Lemar & Cubby actually got to speak this week!

Welcome back Pito!

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I think the life lesson for just about every character this week was do what you gotta do but know that there will be consequences.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

34 minutes ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

I think the life lesson for just about every character this week was do what you gotta do but know that there will be consequences.

I think Angel went back to the docks because she is searching for a real connection with a man.  I think she likes talking to them.  That doesn't happen at the peep show.

43 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

But I don’t see why Angel would give up her peepshow spot- when she left the apartment the first time she went back to work the peep show.

Yes, she gave up the docks when Stan got her the apartment, and went to work at the peepshow. At that point, she wasn't trying to meet anyone else.

43 minutes ago, mtlchick said:

I'm actually stunned that Electra didn't have ANY money saved up.  It's been drilled in my head for years to put 10% of my pay into my savings account.  Nothing in her thought she should have done the same in case of emergency?  Now she's in a position where she's alone and where no one will bow down to her demands.  

Since she never slept at the Abundance apartment, it's likely that most of her clothes and jewelry were left behind and now lost to her.  As the doorman, said, everything belongs to Mr. Ford.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

24 minutes ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

Yes, she gave up the docks when Stan got her the apartment, and went to work at the peepshow. At that point, she wasn't trying to meet anyone else.

If I recall correctly, she started working at the peepshow in episode 2 before he got her the apartment.

Before he went to see her at the peepshow, the extent of their relationship was he picked her up at the pier amd took her to a motel (but didn’t have sex with her) once and then she waited outside his building at work to see him and he told her to go away. 

When he showed up at the peepshow, he told her that he didn’t like her working there because he was jealous that other men got to look at her (apparently he preferred her hooking on the pier), which was a bit much considering that they’d spent maybe an hour together at that point. After that was when he agreed to get her an apartment. 

[CarpeFelis]

Am I remembering this wrong, or didn’t Angel insist on a one-year lease on the apartment because she was afraid something like this would happen? Also seemed like a very convenient plot point to have the most bizarre costume category come up on the evening she took Stan to the ball. Granted he probably would have been overwhelmed anyway, but if the category had been, say, realness, he might have gotten over it.  (And wouldn’t Angel have known the categories in advance? How else could the houses compete?)

[Shadowcat2576]

36 minutes ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

I think Angel went back to the docks because she is searching for a real connection with a man.  I think she likes talking to them.  That doesn't happen at the peep show.

Yes, she gave up the docks when Stan got her the apartment, and went to work at the peepshow. At that point, she wasn't trying to meet anyone else.

I doubt Angel does what she does in hopes of a finding a relationship. We saw her try to get a regular job in the first episode. Unfortunately, like a lot of transgender women she found sex work as means of survival. As she told Stan, the peep show is infinitely safer than being a street prostitute.

[mtlchick]

1 hour ago, Dee said:

Blanca & Helena's lunch date was lovely. More please.

It got me thinking that although Tatiana Mansley is a great actress, I can see why they felt that Helena had to be older in order for scenes like this to work.  Charlayne Woodard is great in this (and how the hell has she not aged?!) 

[Scarlett45]

7 hours ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

If I recall correctly, she started working at the peepshow in episode 2 before he got her the apartment.

Before he went to see her at the peepshow, the extent of their relationship was he picked her up at the pier amd took her to a motel (but didn’t have sex with her) once and then she waited outside his building at work to see him and he told her to go away. 

When he showed up at the peepshow, he told her that he didn’t like her working there because he was jealous that other men got to look at her (apparently he preferred her hooking on the pier), which was a bit much considering that they’d spent maybe an hour together at that point. After that was when he agreed to get her an apartment. 

Yes that’s right. Angel wanting a connection/relationship I understand, but she won’t get that from the Pier. She would do better meeting some at the ball (like the cute guy who hit on Blanca but was a player). I think she’s upset with herself for caring about Stan, getting her hopes up etc and being hurt. She’s angry that she bought into the fairytale. 

 

7 hours ago, Shadowcat2576 said:

I doubt Angel does what she does in hopes of a finding a relationship. We saw her try to get a regular job in the first episode. Unfortunately, like a lot of transgender women she found sex work as means of survival. As she told Stan, the peep show is infinitely safer than being a street prostitute.

Yeah me neither. She walks the pier to earn a living. Also think there’s a bit of self hatred (see my bit above). 

 

7 hours ago, CarpeFelis said:

Am I remembering this wrong, or didn’t Angel insist on a one-year lease on the apartment because she was afraid something like this would happen? Also seemed like a very convenient plot point to have the most bizarre costume category come up on the evening she took Stan to the ball. Granted he probably would have been overwhelmed anyway, but if the category had been, say, realness, he might have gotten over it.  (And wouldn’t Angel have known the categories in advance? How else could the houses compete?)

Angel did insist on a one year lease, but Stan only paid 3months ahead. Without furniture etc I would leave too, no need to be hounded if Stan won’t be paying the rent. 

Edited July 16, 2018 by Scarlett45

[ShadowHunter]

3 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

I think Stan is “confused” about what he wants, which would be fine if he was some college kid, but he’s a grown man with a career, wife and two kids. Just disappearing like that on Angel was cowardly, she’s a person with feelings and he’s just jerked her around. What did he think her life was like? I can see him being uncomfortable, but it’s as if when Angel was a real person, with a life outside of being his doll he couldn’t dea

Agree. Now don't get me wrong at times being lost and in your 30's is harder then having it happen when you are a teenager or even 20 something.  People expect someone older to be or feel more settled. The excuse of being young is taken away.  It does seem Stan and Patty got married while they were 20 somethings.  They have 2 kids already and maybe they were too young? We don't know any of this since Stan only gets 13-16 minutes of screen time per episode. Patty was not even on tonight's episode. An episode devoted to them and Stan might have helped. He has had a few moments where he talked about how he was pretending but that was it. I liked when he had the break down at the shrink's office but again its not being explored enough.  Is he gay? Is he bisexual?

Angel better not take Stan back though. I understand her need but still this has happened a few times now the problems with them so I hope she stands her ground.

I don't blame Blanca for sending Papi away but now she will get him back from the other House, Okay lol. 

Still love the soundtrack for this show.

[Ohwell]

2 hours ago, CarpeFelis said:

Also seemed like a very convenient plot point to have the most bizarre costume category come up on the evening she took Stan to the ball. Granted he probably would have been overwhelmed anyway, but if the category had been, say, realness, he might have gotten over it.  (And wouldn’t Angel have known the categories in advance? How else could the houses compete?)

I agree about the bizarre ball.  That one was the first that I really didn't like.  If it had been like some of the other balls, I think he might have enjoyed it.  However, I think the main reason he was overwhelmed (and confused?, repulsed?) was the other trans women hitting on him.  He wasn't prepared for that.  

Papi knew the rules and he deserved getting thrown out, but my heart broke for him.  I knew Ricky was going to cave and tell the truth, but I can't blame him either.  I just hope that Papi gets back into Blanca's house soon and they can all make up.  I also hope he has learned his lesson and stopped selling drugs.  I don't know how difficult it was to get a GED back then, but he needs to help himself so that he can get a real job. 

Speaking of jobs, I know Damon wants a career as a dancer, but has Ricky said what he does?  He mentioned sleeping on a park bench before coming to Blanca's house.  

[hoodooznoodooz]

This was a fantastic episode. I don’t approve of snitches/tattlers, but I would have told Blanca the truth.  She has been extremely generous, nurturing and kind to all of them. She is trying to protect her home and family. 

The Elektra actress needs acting classes stat. During her argument with Meloni, stopping to indicate and gesture with regards to her beautiful body was really clunky. 

But she did a nice job throwing a tantrum, when she arrived at the House of Abundance. She’s the only one allowed to smoke there!!!

[Lonesome Rhodes]

One of the truths I have experienced when I got to know non-straight folks is a proclivity towards being "scattered" in thinking.  This was often manifested in living in a fantasized world - not the world as it really is.  It's a coping mechanism, imo.  Straights do the same thing, but it is not as prevalent and typically, in my experience, not as extreme.

Elektra's failure to plan is a perfect example.  She deluded herself into thinking it was "real" love.  She needed it to be real, so that's what it became.  Angel with Stan is a similar dynamic.  In each case, there was some genuine "like" on both sides.  But never was there true commitment.  

Look at the lengths the folks in this show go in creating an artifice.  Those Balls are all about living a different life than the troubled ones they know.  Yet, even there, a viciousness in creating pecking orders is every bit as bad and as real as IRL when they are persecuted by straights.  

Family?  Again, an artifice necessitated by a burning hole/need within them.  No different than anyone else by nature, but certainly more deep given their utter lack of acceptance in society.  Seeing the Evangelista clan as a whole being gutted by the needed departure of Lil Papi was quite impactful.  That loss hit them all in a very deep place.

I'm not certain about Angel "quitting" or losing her slot at the peep place.   My understanding of those places was that it was very much a day-to-day deal.  If you showed up, great.  If you didn't, oh well.  Neither employer nor employee could afford to be picky.   

On false notes...I am not expert enough to know if the actress portraying Elektra is simply out of her league, or if she is brilliant in portraying a lady who, by outward appearance "has it all together," when reality is the opposite and that truth bleeds through the carefully manicured image.  I choose to believe it more the latter.  YMMV!  A different falsity I have a real problem with is that Stan still has a job with Trump, Inc.   That place was designed to have execs at each other's throats with the strongest surviving.  Stan got his ass kicked up and down and in front of everyone.  He would be branded an extreme loser and would have been summarily cashiered.  DJT is an ultimate Darwinian and don't play.  He hates losers.

Man, I am going to miss this show.  

[ItCouldBeWorse]

6 hours ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

If I recall correctly, she started working at the peepshow in episode 2 before he got her the apartment.

You are correct.

[SHD]

1 hour ago, Lonesome Rhodes said:

I'm not certain about Angel "quitting" or losing her slot at the peep place.   My understanding of those places was that it was very much a day-to-day deal.  If you showed up, great.  If you didn't, oh well.  Neither employer nor employee could afford to be picky.   

Perhaps, then, she is depressed and is trying to commit suicide-by-occupation. Maybe she has just given up, feels worthless or hopeless, and thinks she deserves whatever happens to her by working the docks.

[Dewey Decimate]

Maybe this reveals too much about my criminal thought process, but wouldn't Elektra perhaps want to try blackmailing her sugar daddy? Even just to get back all "her" possessions and maybe a lump sum? It almost seemed like the doorman was "in" on his inclinations, but I cannot believe that everyone in his world (business and personal) is in the know.

I was worried about Papi for most of the ep, but laughed and rolled my eyes when it turned into a soap opera at the end.

[Scarlett45]

13 minutes ago, Dewey Decimate said:

Maybe this reveals too much about my criminal thought process, but wouldn't Elektra perhaps want to try blackmailing her sugar daddy? Even just to get back all "her" possessions and maybe a lump sum? It almost seemed like the doorman was "in" on his inclinations, but I cannot believe that everyone in his world (business and personal) is in the know.

I was worried about Papi for most of the ep, but laughed and rolled my eyes when it turned into a soap opera at the end.

She’d probably end up dead. 

I think her gentleman friend was an art dealer of some kind (also very very wealthy)....given that profession I don’t think people would care. He currently wasn’t married.....yeah she would probably end up dead or injured if she tried to blackmail him. 

The doorman most certainly knew and always was professional because Chris Meloni was paying him, the second Electra wasn’t under his protection she was threatened by the doorman.....yes he knew. 

[planet17]

I think Elektra's story this week was the most interesting (and sad). It was a no-win situation for her and I wonder how many trans women goes through something similar. As a pre-operated trans woman, most of the relationships she got were related to sex and her penis. With men we would now call pansexual. The "problem" is that Elektra is a trans woman who needed the operation to feel complete, but by doing that she lost the men interested in her. And now, even tho she had the surgery, she still isn't accepted as she thought because with or without her vagina she's still a trans woman. She's still a "freak" like that guard called her. 

On another note, as a Drag Race fan, I loved the ball this week. It got a club kid vibe and was very interesting to watch.

[SnarkEnthusiast]

I think the writers intentionally had Stan come to Galactic night at the ball to really hammer the cis white voyeur narrative over the head. Other than Summer flirting and general hostility to his presence, I'm not sure why this would trigger a bigger crisis than his boss exposing him and his wife not only leaving him, but knowing and telling others his mistress is trans. That was a dick move clearing out the apartment. Talk about being desperate to erase a chapter of your life and pretend it never happened.

I've talked a LOT of shit about the acting on this show (Elektra's delivery is so poor is cheapens the emotional impact of her storyline and good LORD, Abundance and now Ferocity are unfunny parodies of themselves. Candy and Lulu are...bad. You're on a Ryan Murphy show, you can't spring for some lessons?). That aside, I teared up when Papi started to cry after he realized Blanca was actually kicking him out and desperately tried to backpedal. You can see he loves Blanca and the family and on some level, just doesn't feel worthy of that acceptance. And being in the position of saying something awful out of anger and not being able to take it back is a terrible feeling. A wonderful, heartbreaking performance by the actor and I'm impressed to see him thrive when given material beyond comic relief street kid. And he's only 20???? Is the whole cast other than Pray under 25? They all seem older, especially Blanca (I know it's a respect thing but if I were 20 I would have a hard time submissively calling a 23-year-old "Mother" at the end of every sentence). It's a rough, fast life for sure.

I fear that Angel is working the pier so that she'll be murdered by a random instead of Stan and Stan will feel guilty for causing her death indirectly. It's probably going to be his boss. But they just got renewed and if they kill off Angel, there's no point in keeping Stan around. I have faith in Janet Mock but I'll be pissed if she's murdered and used for man pain. I'm still not entirely convinced Papi will live though the finale either after this ep.

Damon is annoying and gets whinier every week. 

Edited July 17, 2018 by SnarkEnthusiast

[LittleIggy]

I thought Electra looked gorgeous at the peep show. She knew Dick liked her dick and he made clear the consequences, so I agree with everyone that she should have socked away some $$.

Yeah, I’m scared for Angel. Stan can get hit by a bus. Evan Peters is just too boyish for me to take seriously as an executive. He looks like a kid playing dress up.

[Scarlett45]

6 hours ago, SnarkEnthusiast said:

Other than Summer flirting and general hostility to his presence, I'm not sure why this would trigger a bigger crisis than his boss exposing him and his wife not only leaving him, but knowing and telling others his mistress is trans.

Patty didn’t tell others- just her therapist. Patty wouldn’t out Stan like that- 1. She’s not cruel, 2. She and the kids would suffer if he lost his job due to being socially ostricized. 

James Vander Beek didn’t know Angel was trans either- he only said he couldn’t tell if she was Black or Puerto Rician (she could be both but in 2018 some people don’t know that); the machismo of his job culture liked that he punched James in the mouth. Now so long as he doesn’t bring his WOC mistress to the country club he should be fine.....

His realization about he and Angel’s relationship was more about himself and his personal confusion (vouyeurisyic tendencies) like someone said above. 

[justmehere]

On 7/16/2018 at 7:02 AM, ItCouldBeWorse said:

Since she never slept at the Abundance apartment, it's likely that most of her clothes and jewelry were left behind and now lost to her.  As the doorman, said, everything belongs to Mr. Ford.

I can buy her belief that his statement about the operation wouldn't necessarily hold. They had so many years together. It's conceivable that a man who would stay with one person for that long, in that kind of arrangement, would have genuine emotion and would continue the relationship. Not this guy, of course, but Elektra obviously counted on it. I don't entirely blame her for believing it after a decade together. However, when he was so cold and threw her out -- woman, take your things with you because even if he eventually takes you back, you're going to need them in the meantime. Maybe she was just too stunned to think clearly, but that bothered me more than her basic misguided expectations.

----

I got the impression that when not stealing clothes for the balls, she funded everyone in her house. Not inexpensive, along with rent and general support for her house. Her own clothes -- all the expense of presenting her persona -- also added up. I'm not saying that she shouldn't have saved, but I can see where her money went, too. Seeing her fall so hard was painful. She was so incredibly sad in the peep-show scene. The haughty expression gone, the attitude gone, just deep sadness.

Speaking of which, for all the talk about bad acting, I have to say, I don't have a problem with her. She's strident a lot of the time, but once they started looking into Elektra's life, the fact that it's a put-on became obvious. There have been many softer moments, including in the hospital with Blanca, that showed greater depth in the character and in the performance -- most recently in the peep-show scene.  In the scene with Meloni, Elektra was shattered, tried for her public face, but failed. (Someone upthread mentioned similar.) Ms. Jackson may not be an experienced actress yet (this is her first credit on IMDB), but I think she's doing well.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

7 minutes ago, justmehere said:

I can buy her belief that his statement about the operation wouldn't necessarily hold. They had so many years together. It's conceivable that a man who would stay with one person for that long, in that kind of arrangement, would have genuine emotion and would continue the relationship. Not this guy, of course, but Elektra obviously counted on it. I don't entirely blame her for believing it after a decade together. However, when he was so cold and threw her out -- woman, take your things with you because even if he eventually takes you back, you're going to need them in the meantime. Maybe she was just too stunned to think clearly, but that bothered me more than her basic misguided expectations.

It seemed like the entire basis of their relationship was sexual.  It's hard to imagine that they had meaningful conversations, or that they really knew each other on a deeper level, much less that he loved her.  She was deluding herself.  Once the sexual component was gone, there was nothing left.

[justmehere]

3 minutes ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

It seemed like the entire basis of their relationship was sexual.  It's hard to imagine that they had meaningful conversations, or that they really knew each other on a deeper level, much less that he loved her.  She was deluding herself.  Once the sexual component was gone, there was nothing left.

Agreed, but I buy her belief, misguided though it was, after so many years.

[Ohwell]

24 minutes ago, justmehere said:

I got the impression that when not stealing clothes for the balls, she funded everyone in her house. Not inexpensive, along with rent and general support for her house.

We saw Candy working in some kind of clothing store, right?  We haven't seen much of the others in her house but they might be working as well.  Elektra might be funding the bulk of expenses, but I'm not so sure. 

Speaking of contributing to the house, I know Papi was wrong for selling drugs, and it was drug money that he was contributing--but at least he was contributing something.  As I mentioned before, it's not clear what, if any, job Ricky has, and the same thing goes for Damon.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

17 hours ago, Ohwell said:

As I mentioned before, it's not clear what, if any, job Ricky has, and the same thing goes for Damon.

I think Damon's job is simply to do well in school, much as any mother might be willing to sacrifice so that her child can succeed in his education.  And to participate in Balls!

Edited July 18, 2018 by ItCouldBeWorse

[Ohwell]

4 minutes ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

I think Damon's job is to do well in school, much as any mother might be willing to sacrifice so that her child can succeed in his education.  And to participate in Balls!

Yeah, I guess so.  But I still give props to Papi for helping out, even though it was with drug money.  I still wonder about Ricky though.  

[ShadowHunter]

12 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

Yeah, I’m scared for Angel. Stan can get hit by a bus. Evan Peters is just too boyish for me to take seriously as an executive. He looks like a kid playing dress up.

Yes Evan does not look his age which is funny because he is 31 so he does fit the role. I put him at still looking like he is 25-26 years old.  I don't want him to die or have man pain but for him to suffer and learn that his actions had consequences. Patty and Angel both leave him and he is alone at the end of the finale.  Let him have to earn love and trust again. 

I change my mind on Angel hell maybe she will be the one we have to worry about. "I'm not going to be ignored Stan" lol.  I say that as a joke. I also don't want her to die either. Let her grow on her own. It is not easy but she could see you do not need a man to be happy or complete.  I am giving the show too much credit though.

13 hours ago, SnarkEnthusiast said:

Damon is annoying and gets whinier every week. 

Agree, I am not that into his character. He is nice but still when he is on things get boring.

[Surrealist]

19 minutes ago, ShadowHunter said:

Agree, I am not that into his character. He is nice but still when he is on things get boring.

I always figured that the Damon character was written to be a bit of a bore. On some level, he's the most mainstream of the ball folks in the sense that he didn't grow up poor or on the streets. Obviously his life wasn't easy because his parents are homophobic, but Ricky, Papi, Angel, and Blanca have all had a rough road to hoe. Perhaps Damon's "averageness" is supposed to offset the others' more dramatic lives. Even Blanca realizes that Damon's destined to do more with his life beyond the life he shares with them.

I may be overthinking this though.

Edited July 17, 2018 by Surrealist

[buttercupia]

i think electra was putting money aside for years and spent everything she had on her surgery. including the christmas salvation army mop and the last couple months rent.

it broke my heart to see her in that peep show.