After an unexpected two week hiatus, I’m back! Sure, I watched RuPaul’s Drag Race while AWOL but I have to admit, it wasn’t as much fun without your comments. And Tamara Tattles did such a good job recapping last week’s episode, I knew I had to reclaim my show before she got too comfortable. So here we are again, hand in hand, enjoying another evening of drag eleganza. Ahh… It’s good to be home.
And just like that, we’re in the workroom following Farrah Moan’s eviction. The girls give her a 21 whine salute, the perfect tribute to our favorite drag baby. While Alexis Michelle cleans her farewell message off the mirror (“Hey ladies! I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH. YOU ARE ALL superstars and it’s so special to finally have a REAL family. Good luck! DON’T FUCK IT UP ♡ Farrah Moan”), the rest of the girls get frisky. Well, everyone but Nina Bo’nina Brown, that is. After enjoying one episode without pouting, Nina’s paranoia is back in full swing. She knows the other girls are talking about her! Even when they’re not. Trinity Taylor is over it. She’s ready to send all the filler queens home. She completely misses the irony of her statement. Hey Trinity, you’re filler. And I’m not talking about the kind you get at your doctor’s office.
MAXI-CHALLENGE
It’s pilot season, y’all! This week’s maxi-challenge is to create, write and star in an original TV show. I guess World of Wonder is looking for their next smash web series. RuPaul lets the queens pick teams so Shea Couleé and Sasha Velour immediately link up. The other girl are bitter about it. It sucks to be left out of the talented group. Peppermint tries to join them but Alexis runs interference like she’s playing football. She knows that she needs real talent to make a hit so she’s determined to get Peppermint on her and Trinity’s team. And poor, sweet Peppermint is just too nice to say no. She stands there, watching her chance of a win slip away with a big, dumb smile pasted on her face. Meanwhile, Nina is fuming that no one picked her. Lady, you’re teamed with Valentina by default. Haven’t you realized that she’s good at everything? You should be thanking your lucky stars right now. I mean, look at how she smiles through the pain of being saddled with you. That’s a true performance!
Shea and Sasha are excited and inspired by each other. They’re productive but enjoy the process. The motley crew of Alexis, Peppermint and Trinity make me uncomfortable. I can’t put my finger on it but it’s like I hear ominous music when they’re on screen. Alexis is still reeling from being in the bottom last week. She thinks she has a lot to prove and it’s making her downright manic. Peppermint claims they’re not going to turn the whole pilot into the Alexis Michelle show but we’ll see if she actually follows through. Valentina is brow-less as she and Nina struggle through their process. Hopefully this won’t distract Tamara too much. From her table, Alexis gloats about how poorly they’re going to do. I’m not concerned. Valentina managed to get Nina out of her funk and they’re working well together. Cockiness is usually foreshadowing for the lip-sync. Just saying.
During the commercial break, Bob the Drag Queen and Katya do a stupid promo for the Baywatch movie. And it’s still infinitely better than that Wendy Williams trainwreck.
Alexis, Peppermint and Trinity are the first team to shoot with Carson Kressley and Michelle Visage. Their pilot is religious with a gay twist. Peppermint won the narrator role that Alexis wanted so Alexis acts petty. She tries to micromanage the voice-over and pisses off Michelle Visage in the process. Don’t forget who your judge is, Alexis. Especially when that Judge is Michelle Visage. Shea and Sasha are next with their blaxploitation heroine meets Russian spy mashup. They have the judges laughing from frame one. They end things by grabbing each other’s asses, of course. Finally it’s time for the Nina and Tina Show. Valentina and Nina agreed to ad lib most of their lines but Nina presents it to Michelle like they didn’t have time to finish writing. Oh, Nina. It doesn’t help that their ad libbing is pretty rough. Michelle gets more and more frustrated with their lack of preparation. Now I’m scared for them.
As the queens paint for the runway, Sasha Velour is giddy about her Club Kid look. Trinity, not so much. It’s quite a departure for a pageant queen. The queens treat us to a history of the Club Kids’ influence on drag. #TheMoreYouKnow.
RUNWAY
The runway theme is Club Kid Couture. RuPaul wears a dress reminiscent of her season seven “ugliest dress.” Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley are joined by QVC’s Lisa Robertson and The Real O’Neals’ Noah Galvin. Noah, a gay man who plays a gay character on TV, caused quite a controversy last year when he lambasted other gay actors and LGBTQIA youth in a Vulture article. He almost lost his job on The Real O’Neals, which is based on the life of beloved sex columnist (and It Gets Better campaign creator) Dan Savage. It’s interesting to see him on the judging panel.
On the runway, Sasha Velour presents half Pierrot, half ball gown. She’s gorgeous but I actually expect more from her in this category. Shea Couleé does Leigh Bowery in a bathing suit. Girl loves to show off those long, long legs. Nina does another skull look. It’s great but once again, I expect more. It is interesting to see her without her tittys though. Valentina is a toreador with a lace veil. It’s not Club Kid. I’m having a hard time explaining Trinity’s look. It’s definitely Club Kid but I can’t tell if it’s good or not. Peppermint finally gives me the Club Kid look I’ve been expecting. She brings her namesake to life with big shapes and bright colors. Alexis Michelle looks like an extra from Bladerunner. She steals Detox and Alaska’s runway makeup from the All Stars Snatch Game episode but doesn’t quite pull it off. Her pilot performance better be good or she’s lip-syncing again.
Then we get the pilots. Shea Couleé and Sasha Velour are hysterical as Teats and Asky. Shea’s Foxy Brown character and Sasha’s Natasha from the Rocky and Bullwinkle show team up to fight their biggest enemy: bad fashion. The jokes are tight, the acting is over the top, and the judges can’t stop laughing. Nina and Valentina’s Nina & Tina Show is just as rough as it seemed during filming. The jokes are flat and so is the acting. Carson is the only one to clap. Yikes. Alexis, Peppermint and Trinity’s pilot is about two church ladies who turn to a nun for guidance when they find out their sons are gay. I think it’s pretty painful to watch but the judges laugh.
Winners: Sasha Velour and Shea Couleé. I mean, duh.
Everyone else is up for elimination. Michelle Visage complains about Nina & Tina’s lack of preparation. Noah explains that shows that ad lib have a fully developed story. You can’t make the whole thing up as you go. Lisa Robertson loves Valentina’s runway look but Michelle points out that it’s more high fashion than Club Kid. Lisa Robertson’s favorite runway look is Trinity’s. Lisa Robertson isn’t my favorite runway judge. Michelle and Carson praise Trinity’s maxi-challenge work. She clearly stole the show. Alexis fumes. The judges love Peppermint’s look and Michelle singles her out for extra praise for the pilot. Alexis fumes. Michelle doesn’t like Alexis’ runway look and you can see her visibly deflate. Noah adds that she didn’t stand out in the pilot. Alexis says she doesn’t want to throw her teammates under the bus and then she throws her teammates under the bus. She takes credit for doing everything so of course the extra work impacted her role. With each word she speaks you can see the steam building in Peppermint. She finally interrupts. She refutes everything Alexis said and they get into a tit for tat argument. Messy.
LIP-SYNC FOR YOUR LIFE
The two queens up for elimination are Nina Bo’nina Brown and Valentina. I’m shocked. I actually wrote in Alexis Michelle’s name before RuPaul announced anything. They perform Greedy by Ariana Grande.
Valentina is wearing a veil over her mouth. I keep expecting her to rip it off but she’s not. Even Michelle Visage is asking what she’s doing. Come on, Valentina! We have to see your mouth. Nina, on the other hand, is happily lip-syncing away but no one watches because they’re too busy talking about Valentina’s veil. Holy hell! RuPaul stops the lip-sync. I don’t think this has ever happened before. RuPaul tells Valentina to remove the veil and she refuses. He stares her down until she takes it off. Awkward. I was just talking to a friend last night about how Valentina was the clear winner of the crown and now it looks like she’s going home tonight. What the what! My head is about to explode. They restart the lip-sync. Valentina doesn’t know the words! She tries to hide her mouth behind her hands but it’s obvious. Sigh. I can’t even write anymore. This is so sad. Nina Bo’nina Brown, shantay you stay. Valentina, sashay away.
Next week: The queens make over members of the Drag Race crew.
Well, that was embarrassing. Valentina went from the clear winner to just get her off the stage already. So sad. I completely agree with getting rid of her tho. What a disappointment she turned out to be. Oh well, there’s always All Stars 3.
Valentina was doing so well all season and then she just fell off a cliff last night. I hate that she went out this way.
It was a cliff! If she’d had a better club kid look I think Alexis would have been lip syncing.
It was so sad to see Valentina go but she did it to herself not being prepared. Peppermint won the runway for me. Alexis sure got the villain edit this time. Peppermint didn’t have a chance to escape. Sasha and Shae were fantastic.
Thanks for the recap!
I held a RPDR Viewing Party with my friends; it was a night of shade throwing. As for the episode, OMG. We were all shocked. Concerned that Valentina was paired with Nina (we made “Nina Bo’Nina Brownies”) and knew she was going to be an automatic bottom 3 but never imagined she’d be lip syncing for her life, like ever on the show.
She deserved to go home. It was clear she wasn’t prepared or expecting to be up for elimination. I haven’t seen untucked yet but it would be interesting to hear if she made comments of not being up for elimination or if the other queens told her she wasn’t going to be up and it was going to be Alexis. I had Valentina Top 3, maybe even winning even though Shea is on fire right now.
It is just tragic to see Valentina that heartbroken. She was genuinely not expecting to be in the bottom and it was clear that she was disappointed and embarrassed. She was low key cocky but not arrogant in a public way. She’s a clear winner for Miss Congeniality.
I am stunned.
When the show started I was sure they were giving Nina the goodbye edit. When she was in the bottom with Valentina I got a bit nervous, but there was no way that Valentina was going home. I watched to the bitter end waiting for Ru to come in and give her a second chance. I am still holding out hope that something will happen next episode and she doesn’t leave.
This is horrible.
This was a great episode. Welcome back Lady Cocotte. I love that Peppermint is shining now. Im still gobsmacked at Valentine not knowing the words and trying to keep her mask on. I like both her and Nina and didn’t want to see either of them go home. But the way she just gave up. I thought she’d give us an incredible lipsync. Such a shame.
Also, I can’t believe me and Trinity are like the same age. I thought she was much older. That’s sad.
Alexis, who seems so confident, is quite insecure. I think that’ll be her downfall.
That’s why Alexis chose a pea green with envy look for last week’s roast. The slip may not have been showing but her true colors up the drag flagpole.
Welcome back Lady C. Thank you for a great recap. Like Tamara , you could knock me over with a feather! Valentina just shot herself in both feet. She should have been this seasons winner,but she sabotaged herself. She deserved to go home. I wonder if there is more to the story this week. Why was she so ill prepared. Shoulda,woulda,coulda Valentina, girl bye.
How the hell do you feel so confident that you don’t learn the song at all? She knew zero words.
I am still not over this. That said, I cannot believe that Alexis was not in the bottom.
I think I have PTSD.
Nina needs to go. Paranoia is not a good look, nor is the constant fall-back on Dia de los Muertos looks. I am sorry Valentina went home but it made me wonder – how are the LSFYL songs chosen? Are they club songs everyone should know?
Catazure-
From what I remember, they are given a full list of songs picked ouy by Ru ahead of time. Also, the fact that they now exactly what song they’re up for ahead of time. Even if they only get 10-15 minutes to prepare, by watching the “Un-Tucked” video’s you can see they get a little time. It all made it so shocking to me!
For the past 2 weeks I have wanted Alexis gone – ugh! How can she still be in the running? Although she deserved to go, both me and my boo bawled our heads off during untucked – the way Valentina reacted to elimination was so familiar to me … how utterly embarrassing and humilating for such perfection to endure! Valentina will still end up making a shit load of moolah on the circuit and only having done drag for 10 months? Watch your backs queens!!!
Does anyone know when they find out what the lip sync song is? They clearly know during Untucked. I still wonder if Trinity chose the HeeHaw look last week knowing her standup/roast routine was weak and knowing the lip sync song was Dolly Parton.
If Valentina had known the words but just underperformed Nina they could contrive a way to bring one back and stack the deck for her. As poorly prepared as she was there’s no hope for that, I fear.
They are given a list of potential lip sync songs before they even get there, so they can start learning the songs early. They receive the list when they are told about potential challenges, potential looks to bring, etc., kind of like a dossier of ‘What To Expect When You’re Chosen For RuPaul’s Drag Race’.
However they do not know what lip sync song will be paired with what challenge until the actual day of the challenge and they are given the song during ‘Untucked’ as a refresher.
Trinity’s Hee Haw look and a country lip sync song could have been planned or just happened to be a coincidence. I’m leaning toward coincidence. I’m thinking that she could have already had that character and look conceived for the challenge before she knew the Dolly Parton song was the lip sync, since the challenges and lip sync songs are not paired up until later.
Very interesting. Thanks for responding. So really no excuse for not being prepared.
That’s what I have always said. The queens are given a rough outline/guideline of what to expect and almost when to expect it. There really is no excuse for anyone not being prepared for anything.
That’s why I’m always surprised when someone fails spectacularly. I’m practically yelling at my TV like, “Didn’t you know this was coming?!?!?! Why are you not prepared?!?!?!”. Even if they didn’t receive the dossier, at this point Drag Race has been on the air for nearly a decade. Have they never watched the show? Hello???
Thanks, Kevin. I knew they were told about the challenges but not the lip-syncs. I’d love to see one of those dossiers!
Welcome back The Lady in Waiting!! Missed you. Like everyone I was shocked when Ru stopped the LipSync. As soon Valentina asked to keep that veil on I knew she didn’t know the words. The sad thing is she was actually serving it with the veil on and I didn’t understand why she just didn’t perform her butt of regardless of not knowing the words. Difference between a seasoned queen and a newbie I guess. Boy was I wrong about Alexis. Sorry girl but I have to turn on you. Now it’s team #Shea all the way!!
I’m actually surprised anyone thinks Trinity is a filler queen. She’s been the most versatile pageant queen ever. I thought it was pretty obvious from the first few episodes that it was going to be a Top 3 of her, Shea and Valentina. But with Valentina’s epic fail (my money was on her to win the crown), it looks like an even tighter race.
You’re not the only person who disagreed with that statement. That’s why we have comments. I give my opinion, you give yours. There’s room for everyone here!
I can’t even bring myself to watch Untucked. I want the last episode to be a dream scene like and entire series of Knots Landing was. I cannot accept the outcome.