The improv
challenge often devolves into screaming and humping and sloppy making out. This
season is no different. The queens did their best to bring the funny to the
rubooted Bossy Rossy After Dark, but, as is typical with these challenges, it
left me feeling unimpressed.
I think it’s
time to reengineer this challenge. Improv is a staple of RuPaul’s Drag
Race, and the ability to volley with others is a required skill for any
queen. The problem is these scenes too frequently rely on the same touchstones
— COPS, Judge Judy, Maury, Sally
Jesse Raphael, Dr. Phil. The framework yields the same types of
characters (and classism) that inevitably will wear thin, even if you’re not a
snowflake like me. I tend to look more fondly on the seasons that built their
improv challenge around a political debate or other reality competition, etc.
However, I
must admit, Ross Mathews has become a stronger performer and wittier host as
the years have worn on. He often steals the spotlight among the judges with his
bon mots, and he really helped tonight’s scenes keep moving.
Truthfully, he
was by far the best performer of the evening, including this week’s winner. But
I’m getting ahead of myself.
Then Ru
announces this week’s maxi challenge: in groups, the gals will be guests
on Bossy Rossy After Dark, a web-only talk show for drag queens and
the people who love them, or whatever. The groups are set based on where the
gals stand, so some folks are happier than others.
Both Lala Ri
and Denali have something to prove after the last RuPaulmark acting challenge.
Rosé has the experience, of course, but a seasoned teammate is usually less of
an advantage and more something to overcome. Denali and Rosé play a mother and
daughter pregnant by the same imaginary man. Lala is the Marcia Gay
Harden First Wives Club therapist who is — surprise! — also
pregnant by the transparent babydaddy. Rosé and Denali match each other’s
energy, but Lala struggles to hold her own. Overall, this was fine.
Right off the
bat, Utica looks to establish herself as an improv icon. As they review
available parts, Utica underscore her professional improv and mime experience,
relevant to their sketch centering around escaping a mime cult. Olivia,
heretofore the most likable and magnanimous personality in the werkroom,
revealed a much savvier side as she demanded the part of the near-silent mime.
Filming with
Ross, Gottmik starts the scene incredibly strong. There’s a touch too much of
the usual, breezy LA attitude, but she makes smart decisions about body
language and facial expressions that do seem to really fit the character.
From Olivia’s
entrance on, she is on. The mime makeup makes Olivia’s striking features even
more captivating, and she sells every physical bit with full force. Gottmik
should get more credit for being a strong scene partner, but Olivia really
brought something to the set no one else came close to. (Though, I mean, it’s
not like any of these are going to be up for a Mark Twain Prize.)
Utica gets
stuck playing the mime’s mom, and she brings numerous unforced errors to the
part. She looks beautiful, in a My Name Is Earl kind of way,
but so much of it feels out of place. Why the extra long nails? Why enter with
a diatribe about coffee?
The edit may
suggest that Utica’s deference to Olivia was her downfall. Had she fought harder
for the mime part, she would have succeeded. I don’t buy that. In interview,
Utica talked about being known as a “scene stealer” in her improv troupe. You
don’t want to be a “scene stealer” in improv; the collaboration is the point.
Seeing Utica show up to set with a bunch of rogue ideas and bits I think says
more about how she would have approached any part.
Defying
traditional reality TV wisdom, Kandy approaches this challenge as an
opportunity to turn her personality DOWN. It seems like a bad move, and even
her partner Symone is concerned as they prep. They’re playing a Paris and
Nicole knockoff reuniting for the first time since their famous fallout. Kandy
is subdued, but keeps the game moving. I wouldn’t go as far to say she really
“stretched” for the role, but made it through successfully without reverting to
some of her more natural tics.
Symone, of
course, is, as always, low-key brilliant. It’s not a blowout by any means, but
it’s confident and quickly paced and full of enough solid efforts to show she
did her homework. Even though Symone isn’t a “comedy queen” she shares
something very specific with gals like Trixie, Bianca and Jinkx. She has a rock
solid signature style that makes everything she does seems special.
Finally, in my
least favorite sketch of the day, Tina and Elliott face off as frenemies who
fell out over Tina’s massive booty. NASA is also involved? Maybe they’re in
love? Elliott gives us nothing, including a surprise reveal her character got
enormous breasts. Ok. The whole thing devolves into a … tickle fight? And then
Tina and Elliott make out in the least sexy way I can possibly imagine. Tina
does what she needs to do, but Elliott feels like she was picked out of the
audience just before this, like a human one-word suggestion (with two Ts).
The runway is
BEAD IT, and I could not be more excited. These runways have felt more open to
interpretation, and the results have been thrilling. More on individual lewks in
our rankings below.
Strong performances and runways
weren’t enough to place Denali, Rosé and Gottmik in the top slots this week, so
all three retire to safety.
The judges,
including Ts Madison, take issue with Lala Ri’s lacking in the challenge. Once
again, she blended into the background, and her bodysuit has an unforgivable
tear in the seams. Utica catches flak for her bizarre performance choices, but
it’s hard to resist her lovely bloody beaded bride on the runway. It’s likely
the runway that ultimately saved her.
That leaves
Elliott. The young queen hasn’t won a ton of fans online (myself included, I
know), and this week aimed to add a little depth to her story. In a revealing
chat with Tina in the werkroom, Elliott opened up about her depression and
difficulty connecting with others.
Whether or not
that affected her performance this week, who can say? The judges are gaga for
the slinky Mardi Gras flapper dress, but they are far less enamored with her
improv performance.
In the end, Ru
puts Elliott and Lala up for a lip sync to Kelly Clarkson’s “Whole Lotta
Woman.” It’s certainly not up to some of the earlier lethal lip syncs, but both
Lala and Elliott turn in a strong showing. Personally, I feel like Lala is
doing DRAG, while Elliott is merely dancing, but it’s Ru’s call, not mine, and
she sends Lala back to Atlanta.
To be honest,
I couldn’t see Lala nor Elliott making it all the way in the competition, so
it’s not like the outcome here feels particularly impactful. I hope Lala made a
slew of new fans and turns this appearance into a lucrative life. She’s got the
personality and star power to make it happen.
Where does
that leave the rest of the gals? Let’s look at our rankings.
1.
I mean, obviously, Symone. The judges are
routinely wowed by her runways, and she brings a professionalism and polish to
every aspect of this competition. Her fashion and POV are so fresh and exciting
and, most of all, beautiful. She made what chicken salad she could out of the
chicken sh*t scene, and then she destroyed that runway in spectacular fashion.
2.
The top half of the competition is starting
to settle in, but it’s a neck-and-neck race for slots 2-5. Olivia is surging
after two weeks of back-to-back wins. Some may say she showed a shadier side
this week … but I liked it. If she can blend her beauty, brains, ability and
the fire to make it all happen, she can continue to outshine the competition.
3.
I hope no one is sleeping on Gottmik. When
high-fashion queens can also carry comedy, it’s a powerful combo. (Think
Aquaria and Gigi Goode’s legendary Snatch Games.) Gottmik’s runways are as good
if not better than both of those previous fashion icons, and then to crush the
reading mini-challenge AND hold strong in improv? That’s quite the skillset.
I’m a sucker for a latex anal bead headpiece (reads that back yes,
exactly what I meant, ok), and the way Gloria Allpink rested her head on her
hands while listening intently made me chuckle every time.
4.
This challenge was ready-made for Tina, but
… eh? Neither her performance nor her runway felt like her best this week.
Sure, the sketches were stupid, but that runway was hideous. Tina is still a
powerful factor in the race, but I don’t think this week will go down as a
highlight. However, I’m starting to warm to Tina Burner (pun intended). The
less schticky Draglish she hides behind, the easier it is to connect with her.
I appreciated the way she was there for Elliott, and her vulnerability about
her own experiences will only help endear her to more people.
5.
Rosé is getting the full Jan treatment,
right? It’s almost as if Ru also enjoys seeing her snap, like she’s
purposefully pushing her to the edge by teasing her with near-wins. She was
fine at improv, good even, and I enjoyed the Perler Beads dress. She’s
consistently strong, but still hasn’t had a show-stopping moment.
6.
Denali did fine in the comedy, but, again,
the runway was all concept. As I said last week, I’m a bit done with Denali’s
overly considered runways. The chandelier gown was beautiful, yes, but wouldn’t
it have been even more gorgeous if it was less literal? It would still recall
the elegant, beaded beauty of the light fixture without looking like Lumiere in
some Beauty and Beast Vegas revue.
7.
Kandy looked her absolute best on the
runway, without question. I’m actually shocked she had that in her after seeing
the last few weeks. As undeniable as her runway was, her performance was less
of a bullseye. It wasn’t bad, but was it really top three?
8.
Can Utica bounce back after two weeks in
the bottom three? I’m increasingly concerned with her ability to direct and
channel her weirdness to stay within the confines of a challenge. The judges
have been clear with their criticisms, and Utica is going to have to prove her
adaptability ASAP if she wants to remain a contender.
9.
Man, I am bummed to lose Lala Ri. I mean, I
can’t argue with Ru’s decision here, but she will be missed. Especially on the
heels of losing Tamisha Iman, saying goodbye to Lala means losing a light in
the werkroom and a dependably lovable interview presence. Consider me
officially a fan, and I for one cannot wait until we are all able to partake in
the Lala Ri Experience live and in person. I bet it’s magical.
10. I don’t want to pile on to Elliott, and the episode did a good job to
give the young queen a little slack while they work some things out on their
own. I buy that. I’m with the judges that she looked her utter best on the
runway. (I actually think her out-of-drag outfit during the mini-challenge with
the tie-dye pussybow was actually one of her best looks of the season!) I just
don’t see it all coming together into a unified and coherent vision like
Symone, Rosé, Tina and others have carefully crafted. I can see Elliott making
a successful run on a future All Stars, a la Aja or Tatianna, but I
don’t believe she’s long for this season.
How would you
rank the queens?
SOURCE: TOWLEROAD
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