Last week, lolling on the beach took precedence over RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars but you’ll be happy to know I’m once again firmly tethered to my radiator and ready to recap. And just in time for the Ru-demption episode. The top five are about to face some very angry sisters. It’s hard enough to eliminate a competitor. But when they come back, it’s downright awkward.
MAXI-CHALLENGE
The queens get the opportunity to be in RuPaul’s new girl group, Kitty Girls. They have to create a unique look and write a solo verse. No biggie. Before Ru sets them free on the workroom, he shares that he’s opening the audition to a few more girls. No one is pleased. The eliminated queens (Morgan McMichaels, Aja, Thorgy Thor, Milk and Chi Chi DeVayne) make their triumphant return. And because RuPaul is a saucy minx, he has them form a competing group to go head to head with the Originals. One All Star will be cut. One eliminee will take her place. (Insert Eureka O’Hara’s Season 9 face crack gif).
In season 2, the returning eliminees’ entrance was made even more dramatic by Phi Phi O’Hara’s Alyssa Edwards tirade. Hoping to build on this momentum, production has encouraged each returnee to challenge their eliminator. First, Shangela confronts Thorgy about The Note. Thorgy turns around and accuses Trixie Mattel of using her private correspondence to cause trouble. Shangela gets double the camera time and double the sympathy for one nothingburger. Drag Race’s Margaery Tyrell strikes again. Then, Morgan calls BenDeLaCreme a hypocrite. Who cares? Morgan is being extra to get attention. Hey. it worked for Shangela. Without skipping a beat, Aja jumps in for her turn in the spotlight. Wah! Bebe didn’t give me credit for helping her sew. Ugh. Milk actually believes the lines the producers spoon feed her but you can’t deny she’s milking it for all it’s worth (pardon the Dad joke). Kennedy and Milk have a cry-off. And the Emmy goes to… Chi Chi doesn’t say a word. She knows why she went home and doesn’t need anyone pointing it out. Too bad the other girls didn’t do the same. Producer-driven drama is never as good as the organic stuff.
Finally, the queens are allowed to work on the challenge. First, they come up with their Spice Girl Kitty Girl personalities. Then they record their verses with Adam Lambert. Aja and Morgan (with the help of a Tatianna reference) elevate the Bizarro Kitty Girls while Bebe’s bizarre Eartha Kitt endangers the Originals. It doesn’t help that Trixie practically starts a fist fight with Adam Lambert. Or that DeLa can’t focus because she’s totally rattled by Morgan’s “attack.”
As the queens paint, Shangela stirs the pot. She pushes Ben to hash things out with Morgan. Despite her best intentions, they make up. Sorry, Shangy. No Red Wedding for you. Even Kennedy and Milk mend their rift. Cue the soft music. It’s the RuPaul After School Special.
RUNWAY
Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley are joined by guest judges Adam Lambert and Baby Spice, Emma Bunton.
The Bizarro Kitty Girls are Cajun Kitty (Chi Chi), Bimbo Kitty (Morgan), Milky Kitty (Milk), Lil’ Banjee (Aja) and Cardio Kitty (Thorgy). Milk did better than expected but Aja stole the show. The Original Kitty Girls are I.Q Kitty (Trixie), Diva Kitty (Kennedy), Goth Kitty (BenDeLaCreme), Sparkle Kitty (Shangela), and Jungle Kitty (Bebe). Bebe should go home. She probably won’t but she should.
Winning Team: Original Kitty Girls
This week, the Lip-Sync For Your Legacy winner will choose which All Star is eliminated and which eliminee returns. Big stakes. Emma Bunton loves Trixie. The feeling is mutual. She gets really good critiques until Adam brings up her attitude at the recording session. Trixie is shocked. I can relate. Sometimes I think I’m being funny but it comes off rude. The judges find Kennedy underwhelming. Everyone loves BenDeLaCreme. She even tattles on Morgan in a classy manner. I don’t get what the judges see in Shangela. Or Bebe. Adam thinks her performance is weird in a good way. I disagree but my vote doesn’t count for much.
Top Two: BenDeLaCreme and Bebe Zahara Benet
Ben and Bebe have one-on-ones with the All Stars because, production. If they eliminate based on performance, Kennedy has to go. It’s time. Then they meet with the eliminees. Ugh. Two or three queens is doable. Eight is too much. Bring Aja back based on performance. Bring Milk back for more drama. Easy-peasy.
LIP-SYNC FOR YOUR LEGACY
BenDeLaCreme and Bebe perform Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here (Hex Hector Dance Mix) by Deborah Cox. DeLa truly feels the song while Bebe just does Bebe. Bebe is an extraordinary talent but too self-aware tonight. Ben is more believable, more vulnerable. It’s the difference between a lip-sync and a performance. Case in point, Bebe snatches her own wig. Normally, this is verboten. We’ll see if any Drag Race rules apply to Bebe.
Winner: BenDeLaCreme
DeLa is so desperate to be Congenial, she brings Morgan McMichaels back into the competition. Guilt trips work, y’all. When it’s time to eliminate, Ben says her decision has never been easier. She pulls out a lipstick with her own name on it. Gasp! She’s self-evicting. The shoo-in has had enough. Shangela and Trixie suddenly have a chance at the crown.
Next week: The queens star in My Best Squirrelfriend’s Dragsmaids Wedding Trip. And get cutthroat.
Great having you back Lady C. Loved this episode and your recap. Trixie’s coming to St. Louis in April and I can’t wait to see her.
Eeeee! Thanks for the heads up!
This was the first time I watched Drag Race and felt some of the scenes were scripted. I’m a Morgan fan from her season a zillion years ago, love BenDeLaCreme and watching the workroom confrontation I was floored. How could my OG Reality show be fake??? Yup, I’m that naive. That said, I didn’t see Ben’s self elimination coming at all. The drama!
Why is Bebe still there?
Great recap Lady C – welcome back
I thought the look on Morgan’s face was scary, he went too far in my opinion and now has joined the ranks of Phi Phi O’Hara. My heart goes out to Ben ,who is the winner of the all star race regardless of the self eviction. I am here for the entertainment not vicious word vomit. RuPaul ,I thought better of you and am very disappointed with the turn the show is making. Where is the runway? That is my favorite part of the show ! Now I will have to fast forward to the lip sinc for your life, the rest of the show is just too hateful. Stop it ! Show queen’s helping each other again and the runways, we need more runway!
RuPaul has sold his soul. Manufactured drama at its finest.
Available on iTunes!
Lady C, thanks for an excellent recap.
I am a long time drag fan (saw “Paris is Burning” IN a theatre). I live for the Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent. The producers’ manufactured drama is HORRIBLE. As they say on R*ddit, the best memes are organic. I HATE the set up BS, just to make social media tweets.
Bebe shocked me that she said “crossdressers gather here”. Drag Queens are not necessarily crossdressers. That was shady. Not a Bebe fan and I will never forgive her for not giving Aja sewing credit.
I am a hard core Aja fan.
I screamed so loud when Milk and Thorgy appeared that my son thought something was wrong.
The editing of this show makes me crazy. Drag is about performance and attitude, perfection in the look. There is just too much “drama” this season, and I do not understand the focus on that.
Whether or not Ben was playing the game, or was sincere, the show has jumped the shark *officially*. It is now RuPaul’s Second Best Allstar.
Agree with Shadiest! RuPaul has sold drag’s soul.
Please tell me y’all caught that editing during the performances… notice Morgan’s jacket moves back and forth on its on. Aja is about to trip(maybe she did…cut) but then in one sec jacket gone, then back again.
How many times do they get to/have to do songs or did someone take a tumble?
Ps!
Ru looks so much more entertained during the comeback kitty song than original girl song. Almost let down or thinking the original girls have to win…how am I going to pull this off?!?!?
Production production production!! It’s weird and disappointing to see DR go the way of HW. Just saying
“Sitting on a Secret” was a much more entertaining song in my opinion.
The editing during the sing/dance section seems to cut away from any bobble. I watched 3 times and never saw DeLa stumble. The cameras cut away too much.
Yes! Sitting On A Secret was a lot more catchy and entertaining 🙌
The fact you’re still using the Margaery Tyrell comparison gives me life 😁
Thank you Lady C for sticking with AS3. I may be in the minority here, but I feel like there is so much wasted potential this time around. This cast had the potential to be LEGENDARY and instead it’s… legs and dairy. Shame.
Season 10 soon though! I’m looking forward to your Ru-caps! 💋
This season started out with such a bang for me. It gave me so much hope. I loved it! It seemed like they really raised the bar in the early episodes but now it feels like it’s just gassing out. BenDeLa chopping herself is the stank icing on the poo-poo cake. I’m so bummed! Ben is the clear winner. Don’t we want to see excellence? Now I feel so blah about watching the rest. I’m not even sure whom to root for. With BenDeLa & Aja gone, who the hell cares anymore. Wah. I just feel like the whole thing is a setup for Shangy.
Exactly! Like, what’s the point? I want to see DeLa. I wanted Aja to get the second chance. Now it’s just a countdown to Season 10.
Makes me sad.
I’m still here for Trixie (and slightly curious to see what Morgan brings) but I’ll be pissed if Shangela wins.
I’ll still be watching and enjoying your recaps. I’m just deflated over DeLa leaving.
Thank you for recapping!
Fuck! I knew I shouldn’t have even peeked at this! Because the show was an hour and a half long on Shondaland Thursday, there was no way for me to record it. The second show was right after the first still conflicting with prime time.
AND COMCAST HAS STILL NOT PUT THE SHOW UP!
Le sigh.
Thank you Lady C for an amazing recap. I always feel as if I am watching the show with you. Ben is one of my favorite Drag Race participants even before All Stars 3. I understand and respect his decision to leave. I just hope everyone gives the new winner a fair chance since Ben was clearly the front runner.