Steven Canals, co-creator of Pose, breaks down the historic Pray Tell and Ricky love scene from Season 2, Episode 8, "Revelations." Two intimacy coordinators discuss.

This Pride Month, we're joined by Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning creator and showrunner Steven Canals to break down one of the most intimate scenes from POSE.

Together, we discuss how the scene evolved from script to screen, the challenges of directing intimacy before the role of intimacy coordinator was fully established, and why portraying queer love with tenderness, not spectacle, mattered so deeply.

In this episode:

• The collaborative process between director, actors, and intimacy coordinator
• Balancing choreography with actor freedom and authenticity
• How intimacy coordination has evolved over the past decade
• Why queer intimacy deserves the same emotional depth as any love story
• The importance of consent, vulnerability, and trust in intimate storytelling

A filmmaker's lens on queer intimacy

Plus, Steven shares behind-the-scenes stories from making POSE, reflects on the show's lasting cultural impact, and tells us exactly how he'd ruin his own scene if he had to.

Scene discussed: POSE Season 2, Episode 8 ("Revelations"), approximately 3:38–5:47.

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Credits

POSE (Season 2, Episode 8: "Revelations") | Creators: Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy | FX (2019)

Hashtags

#PoseFX #StevenCanals #QueerIntimacy #IntimacyCoordinator #TVBreakdown

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