Having grown
accustomed to season-ending lip sync smackdowns (and even a virtual finale that
exceeded most expectations), the All Stars finales are
starting to feel a little “small” by comparison.
A
choreographed group number with an original solo already feels like a retread
of earlier challenges, even if the difficulty has been ratcheted up. When Shea
originally went toe-to-toe with Sasha Velour, it felt like an EVENT. This felt
like an episode.
Still, there
were some gratifying emotional moments. This final three in particular
represent the sort of redemption stories these kinds of spin-offs are designed
for. Loyal fans of each queen have rallied around their champion on Tumblr and
Twitter and TikTok to claim they never got to show their best.
Now, these
several many weeks later, we’ve got a Cracker who’s stopped overthinking
everything and brings her whole self to the stage. There’s a clear-headed
Jujubee — older, wiser and sober — reaching new heights of her artistry. And
then there’s a renewed Shea Couleé, eager to show the world what she can do
when she’s not caught off-guard with format surprises and gimmickry.
(Not to take
anything away from Sasha’s ingenuity or showmanship, but, come on, Shea was
playing checkers at a knife fight.)
Before we get
to the big group performance of Ru’s new single “Clap Frack” — excuse me, “Clap
BACK” — there’s a lot of talking. So much talking. The top three talk amongst
themselves about how they can’t believe they made it this far while
simultaneously agreeing they always imagined being the top three.
Then they talk
to the previously eliminated queens about any unresolved drama. Why they felt
the need to delay the eliminated gals’ return inside a makeshift glory hole, I
still do not understand, but at least we finally got some clarity around
#CampaignGate.
Predictably,
India, the scourge of the season, either purposefully exaggerated Alexis’
intentions to Shea in a desperate attempt to save herself, or she sincerely
doesn’t understand the definition of “campaign.” Either one seems likely to me.
The real T is
that Alexis and Mayhem asked India IF she had ALREADY VOTED for Shea after the
votes were cast. Therefore, it could not have possibly had any intention of
influencing India’s vote. Messy, messy.
Oh, but
there’s still more talking! This time, it’s Tic-Tac podcast time with Ru and
Michelle. This is another segment that’s losing its luster. In the early days,
these Tic-Tac chats felt more candid, but, like many portions of Drag
Race, it’s becoming a parody of itself. I could script these interviews in
advance if asked. These queens are well-versed in RuPaul’s armchair koans and
come prepared to present a very well-edited emotional arc that happens to fit
nicely into Mama Ru’s worldview.
Finally, after
all this talking, we see the fruits of their labor. Todrick Hall has
choreographed another epic performance highlighting the top three while
incorporating the full cast into the background. I’ve been hard on Todrick in
the past for thinking some of his earlier work could be a little cheesy, but
he’s matured into quite the visionary and lends an air of modernity to
everything he touches on this show.
It’s still not
enough to elevate the single itself. For me, “Kitty Girl” is the high-water
mark for these final Ru-ets, and “Clap Back” is no “Kitty Girl.”
Shea, Juju and
Cracker nail their pieces. Juju might look the least comfortable keeping up with
Hall’s challenging choreo, but everyone shines in their moment. Shea has the
most demanding moves, but she delivers them with such ease and aplomb, it’s
almost hard to appreciate the difficulty.
What follows
is one helluva runway. The final three all take inspiration from heritage and
history to deliver three absolutely outstanding looks.
First, it’s
Jujubee in a stunning stoned body suit inspired by East Asian religious
iconography. It fits amazing, the accessories and details were all there and a
dramatic, saffron-colored sash created an unforgettable train behind her. She
looks incredible.
Cracker took
inspiration from her Russian-Jewish background for a pink ensemble dripping in
pearls. In hindsight, I can see Cracker leaning more into her Eastern European
and Jewish lineage through her runways and elements of her performance, and I can
see how it’s helped distinguish her from other campy queens.
Then there’s
Shea. Modeled after a photo of her mother, Shea presents an exaggerated, almost
Warholian interpretation of formalwear with exaggerated volume and huge hair
height. Although Cracker also wore baby pink, this shade looks incredible on
Shea’s skin. Just gorgeous.
There’s one
last lip sync to Janelle Monáe’s “Make Me Feel,” and it’s a fun one. It’s
always tough to follow a lip sync with more than two queens, and these final
lip syncs make ME feel like they purposefully edit it to make it look like a
nail-biter. And yet, it’s still hard to keep your eyes off Shea, a good sign.
Ru seems to
agree, awarding Shea the crown and restoring the queen’s confidence. It’s a
beautiful moment for a supremely talented performer. Juju and Cracker both made
strong impressions and leave with little to be ashamed of. However, it feels
like justice has been served here, and Shea’s supreme skills have finally be
recognized, officially.
Do you think
the right queen won? Sound off in the comments!
SOURCE: TOWLEROAD
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