It’s week three of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. So far we’ve said goodbye to Morgan McMichaels and my girl Thorgy Thor. Will this week finally be Chi Chi’s turn or will she prove to be Season 3’s Roxxxy Andrews? Will the world finally see Milk as she sees herself? And will Trixie Mattel ever get any attention (other than being show’s the Greek chorus)? These questions, and many others, will be answered in this episode of… RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
With Thorgy gone (“Wooo! Drag is fun. Suck it ShangeLLa!”), Kennedy is looking for tits on an ant. She decides to get insulted by Thorgy’s penis cartoon. Milk, clearly unable to read a room, decides this is the perfect time to tell her she should have gone home. Milk, you in danger, girl. Shangela considers herself the Khaleesi but, as GLH aptly pointed out last week, she’s actually the Margaery Tyrell. Kennedy is the one I wouldn’t want to face in battle.
MAXI-CHALLENGE
The queens have to improv scenes from The Bitchelor, starring Unreal’s Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. Ru hands out date partners and personalities. They work on their characters a bit and head to the set. BenDeLaCreme’s cougar is going to win her her third challenge. From her crotch shot as she exits the limo, to her eating (and re-eating) a sexy banana, she is comedy gold. She’s fair about giving Bebe equal time but she steals the scene. Despite Ben’s advice to the contrary, Bebe decides her virgin character is an African princess. She thinks it’s safe because it’s familiar. The problem is, it’s not funny. I was going to say more but in comedy, that’s the kiss of death.
Trixie Mattel lives in LA. She gets her fake girl character. She lays the groundwork for some pretty good comedy. Unfortunately, she never gets there. Milk, desperate for limelight, refuses to give Trixie a moment to breathe. Her stalker Bitchelorette is fairly good but her poor sportsmanship ruins it. It’s impossible to enjoy the scene. Trixie ends her performance with a new character: Pissed Off Girl.
Aja doesn’t understand her Needy Girl character. We want Ashley I from the Bachelor but we get a crybaby. She’s more helpless than manipulative. Luckily, Kennedy Davenport steamrolls over everyone around her. Her party girl is crunk. You just know she’s a Nene Leakes fan (seriously, click this link for a visual that is too abysmal). When she pulls her wig off, it’s over. Dead.
Chi Chi and Shangela, as the poly-amorous couple, are awkward. Chi Chi is supposed to be really into the show (and dick) but she’s playing the lesbian version of Mike Pence. No one wants to hear her call Shangela “Mother.” Shangela has actual acting experience. This should be her challenge but she’s chewing scenery. I know it’s hard to carry a scene but I think this comes down to choices.
Ultimately, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman gives his eggplant to RuPaul. Who saw that coming?
As the girls paint, we get to some real ish. Trixie wants to prove herself. While she’s had one of the most successful post-Drag Race careers, she hasn’t succeeded on the show. To the Ru Girls, she’s a failure. Shangela tells Milk she’s in the bottom this week. Milk thinks she’s in the top. The delusion is strong in this one. Meanwhile, across the room, Kennedy is plotting Milk’s demise. We’re being set up for a Kennedy top vs Milk bottom.
RUNWAY
Judges Michelle Visage and Ross Matthews are joined by Unreal’s Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Constance Zimmer. The category, Wigs Upon Wigs Upon Wigs, is based on Roxxxy Andrews’ infamous wig reveal.
BenDeLaCreme removes her curly updo to reveal three feet of straight black hair. It’s like a waterfall. But she’s not done. She tugs on her skirt and reveals a second skirt made of wigs. She surely met the challenge criteria. Bebe Zahara Benet is Asian tonight. She removes her Geisha wig to reveal a long pony with afro puffs and shucks her original Cheongsam to display a sexier version. Trixie Mattel is Lady Bunny. Her muumuu turns into a minidress and her Bunny beehive turns into Twiggy. Milk is 60’s with a huge beehive. Production is being shady by having her follow Trixie. Her second wig is an I Dream of Jeannie/Madonna moment. Then she tugs on her ponytail and it grows. I had that Barbie!
Aja is a cartoon. This is the kind of look I want from her. Then she reveals a messy neon yellow bob. It’s a letdown. Or it would be if she didn’t remove that and reveal a third wig (Erika Jayne purple ponytails). Kennedy Davenport goes from giant afro to pink shag. I forgot how much she looks like Phaedra Parks. I was worried her look was too basic but she also does a third wig reveal (platinum pixie). Chi Chi DeVayne is the second oversize afro. Hers turns into long waved hair. Shangela is fighting for the crown. She’s corn as a call back to Season 3. Her corn wig reveals a crimped green monstrosity covered in popcorn.
Top Three: BenDeLaCreme, Trixie Mattel and Kennedy
Bottom Three: Milk (gasp), Aja and Chi Chi
BenDeLaCreme can do no wrong. Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman specifically thanks her for making it easy (and fun). Trixie is amazing in runway and performance. The judges all note she was talked over (cut to Milk). Milk gets mixed reviews on her look but everyone is united about her performance. Constance Zimmer notes that sometimes, less is more. Aja is a star on the runway but not on the Bitchelor. She learns that needy and spoiled are two different things. Kennedy’s runway look draws rave reviews but her performance eclipses everything. Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman wants Chi Chi. But no one wants her lesbian sister wife. Chi Chi apologizes to RuPaul for feeling insecure. It’s like the flipside of Adore Delano’s meltdown.
Top Two: BenDeLaCreme and Kennedy
Bottom Three: Milk, Aja and Chi Chi
BenDeLaCreme and Kennedy have three choices for elimination this week. Before they get down to it, Trixie expresses surprise that she wasn’t top two. She promises she isn’t going to be safe and cry because that’s inappropriate (cut to Milk). Milk takes that as a cue to start crying. It’s mostly shock that she didn’t win. Bebe is impressed how well she insulates herself from the truth. Then Milk recites The Victimization Of Milk. Again. Kennedy announces that she’s not going to do one-on-one meetings with the bottoms. She plans to make a professional assessment based on overall performance. BenDeLa wants the camera time. Chi Chi is ready to self-evict. It should be an easy decision until Milk tells DeLa, “The judges actually want me to continue in this competition.” How’s that villain edit treating you, Milk?
LIP-SYNC FOR YOUR LEGACY
BenDeLaCreme and Kennedy lip-sync to Green Light by Lorde. Hmmm, VH1 has a much bigger music budget than Logo did. Both queens go emo. BenDeLa is angry. Kennedy is hurt. DeLa uses gimmicks. Kennedy owns her stage with quiet intensity. When Kennedy does a new wig reveal, BenDeLaCreme looks annoyed that she didn’t think of it. You see the judges trying to watch Ben but this is Kennedy’s night.
Winner: Kennedy Davenport
Kennedy decides to eliminate Milk. Yeah, I wrote that before it happened. Unsurprisingly, Milk is shocked. I still have hope for Milk. Hopefully she’ll get another chance later in the season.
Next week: Snatch Game! Snatch Game! Snatch Game!
Sadly, I couldn’t properly focus on this episode after realising that Jeffery Bowyer-chapman is the SPITTING IMAGE of my ex boyfriend.
So I spent an entire hour watching drag queens, alone, im sweatpants while motorboating a pint of Haagen Daazs realizing that I had in fact, dumped a beautiful man and WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING FS.
That said, there’s definitely a Trixie conspiracy. She has been ignored since it started, and how dare Milk ruin her moment. Thankfully someone said it – if it wasn’t for Milk she would have been top two. Hopefully they’re saving her Charisma Uniqueness Nerve and Talent for the snatch game, where she will finally be able to knock our socks off.
Marc Jacobs making an appearance after Milks elimination? The SHADE of it all, Henny!
?? @ Marc Jacobs I thought the same thing. LOL
What flavor was the Haagen Daas?
Caramel brownie, praline and vanilla.
I love your recaps Lady C. Why aren’t more of us watching this? It’s one of my favorites. Always funny. Love, love, love The Snatch Game. Can’t wait for next week!
I thought this episode had a lot of cringe worthy performances and was kinda boring too. I am team Ben all the way!!!
Trixies short hair and sunglasses made her look like a dragged up version of Jimmy Saville.
Kennedy didn’t throw Milk under the bus for her comments… She drove the bus over her! ?? Now that’s a real GoT move.
Milk was over the top this episode and I was disappointed that Trixie bore the brunt of Milk’s performance. I wasn’t a huge fan of Trixie during her season and had high hopes for her chances on Allstars. Ben always makes me laugh but Kennedy killed it on the lip sync. Bye Milk!
I’m ride or die for DeLa but lipsyncs have always been her downfall. Thank God Milk is gone! Trixie continues to be forgettable. Shangela is the dark horse of the season. Aja gets my vote for most improved! And as badly as Chi Chi has been doing she has so much heart that I don’t mind that she’s still here.
I LOVE this show! Chi Chi should have gone home episode 1 and is getting the Roxie edit. Thought Ben won last week over Shangela in the lip sync. THIS week it was totally Kennedy’s time to shine. Nailed the party girl and was great on the lip sync. Thank you Mark for pointing out that Mark Jacobs shows up the week after Milk is gone. That made this evil Southerner smile that nice nasty way we do. Katya, Manila, and Valentina will be on ANTM next week. Bring on the Snatch Game!
Thanks for the recap. I always enjoy them.
Trixie got hosed by being paired with Milk. She might have made top 2 without Milk but with how it turned out clearly BenDeLa and Kennedy won. Kennedy owned the lip sync. DeLa didn’t know how to work the hair she wore this time. With Milk the delusion is real.
Agree that Aja is the most improved; loved her runway. I like ChiChi but it’s sad to watch sometimes. Her runway was one of her best ever.
The GLORY that is RuPaul world!
Like the Lady Cocotte said “Thursday is my favorite day of the week”.
Been saving every Drag related show to watch when the current seasons are not on. I have never seen season 1 or 2. Saving them for the Apolocalypse or the next flu outbreak.
Milk is being so shady, it seems like an act. Kennedy did nothing to deserve that read. I really wish they would not edit the LSFYL. Split screen it so I can see what the judges see.
Can we talk the quick cuts and edits? I know why they are done. But I hate them.
Bendela? Her time in Seattle has obviously well-spent honing her craft.
Every queen brings something to the table. Hating to see this season end.
Very exciting season. Kennedy will always have a special place in my heart for being her intellectually disabled sisters legal guardian. I’m in that business and many siblings wont step up and take on that responsibility.
Thank you. I had forgotten that. Kennedy is a star for sacrificing for the family.
I love Drag Race and have been loving this season. Thursday just has too many shows with this, Project Runway, Top Chef, and Shondaland’s TGIT.
I used to be a huge fan of Milk but her presence on this season has really soured my impression of her. She’s just not as brilliant as she thinks.
Kennedy fucking OWNED that lipsync. I know BenDeLa has her shtick but even the emo of it all didn’t work. Nor did her dress for the song. I like that they get a chance to costume differently for the lipsync if they choose. Kennedy made great choices.
I knew Milk was gonna go home, but I feel bad for Chi Chi in both that she didn’t go home and that she stayed.
Kennedy was beautiful! they have gotten rid of the strongest competitor with each elimination. Even dela chose thorgy to go home last week. Chichi should be long gone. And she knows it. She must be feeling kind of like a joke.
I am NOT mad about Milk being gone in the least bit. We were set up for being happy regarding her departure last week!