Of course,
that last lip sync against Eureka landed with a thud, which already left a
funky taste in the mouth (and I don’t mean Mexicatassen).
All of that
said, the rest of the episode didn’t help build momentum. The challenges were
meh, the performances were fine and the final result was a bummer. Considering
how much I’ve grown to love all these queens, I should’ve enjoyed all this a
lot more.
Let’s back up.
Fresh off the
bat, we need to resolve our little cliffhanger from last week. Ru rightly
selects Eureka to return to the competition, but Silky doesn’t miss a beat.
She’s firing off jokes, she’s immediately processing to camera how this is
still such an achievement. Even Ru extends a LEGENDARY designation to the good
doctor. (I wonder if that will become the Paul Hollywood handshake of Drag
Race All Stars in future seasons.)
Eureka
returns, just in time for a Pride-themed mini-challenge. What makes this one
strange to watch is it feels like there’s an unspoken aspect of this challenge:
The clothing provided, courtesy Levi’s, is hideous. It’s one of those tacky
Pride collections with, like, the laziest slogans and iconography. So they’re
dragging it up into quick drag, pulling together an outfit that says “Demon
Twink and Frankie Grande exploded in a Target,” they look insane. But the
eventual winner, Kylie, wins … the whole collection to take home. Um, thanks?
It’s the maxi
challenge that really starts to go off the rails. This week, the queens will be
performing in the Charisma Uniqueness Nerve Talent Monologues. (Think The Moth,
but in wigs.) It needs to be entertaining, but not too polished; funny, but not
stand-up; it needs to be written, but not feel written.
It’s already a
tall order. I mean, it’s not like it’s reasonable to ask anyone to basically
craft a three-minute version of Nanette on
the spot, but all the queens make an admirable effort.
On top of all
that, there’s that sneaky requirement that it also somehow inspires or reveals
some vulnerability. Come on! Look, I’m a big, emotional sucker. I love to be
inspired! But how many challenges must these drag queens dance, sew, act, sing
AND also be the voice of a generation?
Don’t get me
wrong, I love hearing queer people’s stories. If there was a channel that
played only this, I would watch, and I would shame all my friends and family
into watching it or I’d threaten to tell everyone they’re homophobic. When it
comes to Drag Race though, sometimes I just want a twirl, not
a TedTalk.
Even though
all five girls do an admirable job with solid stories, the whole thing feels
underwhelming. I wish the mainstage did some more dramatic lighting. I know
COVID likely limited the number of people on set, having only the judges’
sporadic laughter did a disservice to some of the night’s stronger
performances.
Trinity, feeling shook by the prospect of potentially being eliminated this close to the crown, is certainly in her head in the work room, crunching numbers, trying to gauge her competitors’ plans and motives. Her story takes a nice little emotional journey from catfish to guardian angel that leaves plenty of room to stroke Ru’s ego as well.
There appeared to be reason to be concerned for Ra’Jah, but. after a slight stumble on the mainstage, she takes off. She’s got a wild tale about her tuck coming undone while performing. It’s dynamic, and Ra’Jah has a charm, but she is visibly the least comfortable person up there, struggling to remember her lines early on.
It’s another
good week for Kylie, whose story is a heartbreaking, but ultimately heartwarming
story about how she went from military school to her first night performing
drag. She has such a stage presence, and her drawl just slathers everything she
says in sweet honey. Plus, she weaves so many jokes into her set. “He was gayer
than two guys blowing five guys,” was such a well-placed joke. It’s moving,
it’s one of the funnier sets of the night, and she constructs a really
satisfying arc.
Ginger, obviously, slays. It’s a Hallmark-ready story about a little gay boy in Baptist Florida getting caught playing in momma’s heels, only for her to later present a gift-wrapped box with a pair for little Ginger. (Where is that episode of Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings?!) She looks gorgeous, and she commands the stage like a total pro. The only criticism the judges can muster, and it’s a stretch, is, I don’t know, maybe it was too perfect? Um, thanks?
Finally, our
returning queen knows the pressure is on. Eureka is probably best keyed in to
Ru’s sense of humor, and she goes hard on a story about pooping herself. It’s
big and baudy, and Ru can’t get enough. Despite rocking a bodysuit, even
Michelle has to give props for a chic little Playboy bunny ensemble that may be
one of Eureka’s best looks. The judges award her the win.
That means all
four other girls are up for elimination, which means we’re destined for
heartbreak. There is no good candidate. Crunching the numbers, Trinity has
statistically the worst “track record.” There’s a lot of hemming and hawing,
but it’s too tight for them to give anything away during deliberations.
Back on the
mainstage, we have a winner returning in Jaida Essence Hall. So good to see
her! She and Eureka turn it out to “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard,
leaving Ru no choice but call it a tie. Both Eureka and the gals picked
Trinity, which logically makes sense, but emotionally feels wrong?
So where does
that leave us? Damned if I know! Trinity was my top pick most of this season,
and now it feels like truly anyone’s to lose.
1.
Stranger things have happened, but maybe
it’ll be Eureka to surprise us all. She’s a great candidate.
She was a polarizing queen in her earlier runs; she has an extended platform
thanks to HBO’s We’re Here; and it’s a gag for a returning
competitor to make it all the way. All these gals are worthy, including Eureka.
She needed this win, and it’s a well-timed boost coming into the final stretch.
I didn’t think her Fashion Oops was the most clever, but she looked great as
someone looking bad.
2.
Ginger almost seems too obvious. She’s been steadily stupendous on this run, a
consummate professional. She brought so much professionalism and craft to those
awful acting challenges. Carson’s comment about being too refined (echoing
earlier feedback in rehearsal that she was too pageanty) could be her downfall.
Ginger had the showiest Fashion Oops, but she never let the gimmicks distract
from her performance as she came down the runway.
3.
Did you hear when Ra’Jah said
she made ALL OF HER CLOTHES on the mainstage? That’s amazing. Especially
tonight’s. I adored the fuchsia half get-up she put on for a Fashion Oops, but
it was also the way she performed with the garment. And when she finally put it
on at the end, it was just beautiful, even if it only covered half her body.
(Especially because it only covered half?) The main challenge sort of
performance doesn’t seem to come naturally to Ra’Jah, which is ok! If anything,
it made her successful story tonight even more impressive.
4.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Kylie still
has a real shot at the crown. I have a feeling she’ll do great shooting a music
video, and she’s had some real high highs throughout the season. Her story
tonight struck a really nice (and difficult) balance, and she had everyone on
the edge of their seat. I wish Fashion Oops had just a little something else.
(Maybe Michelle was onto something with the glitter.) The corn dog bit was
good, but the callback during critiques was GREAT.
5.
Sigh. I get it. Someone had to go. Much
like I wish I could’ve seen Silky end her dominant lip sync run with a return,
I wish we could see Trinity overcome her season six sads, earn
a legion of new fans and take her rightful place in the Hall of Fame. Sadly,
that’s just not how it’s going down. By all objective measures, it had to be
Trinity. She was inconsistent, her outlook was getting grim. The judges thought
her performance needed more air, and the Fashion Oops didn’t pop. These are
minor critiques, but we are at the penultimate episode of All Stars.
Trinity certainly can leave with her head held high. She showed us that she is
THE drag Beyoncé, all her lewks were fierce, she showed off comedy drops and
inspiring stories. She’s well on her way to legendary.
How would you
rank the RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars queens this week?
SOURCE: TOWLEROAD
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