On RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars finale night, my DVR forgot it’s most important job. Le sigh. So here I am, a day late, watching on the small small screen. Once Shangela disarmed BenDeLaCreme’s final landmine, we were left with a final four no one was expecting. There’s the annoying frontrunner, the should-be frontrunner (we were all rooting for you, Trixie), the mole and the Roxxxy Andrews. Who will take the crown? And will it really matter in a post-DeLa race? Sorry if I sound bitter. I’m a little annoyed production went overboard with the drama this year. Please don’t ruin our show, VH1. It’s perfect just the way it is.
MAXI-CHALLENGE
RuPaul doesn’t make things easy for his girls. Not only do the final four have to write, sing and dance in “the most ambitious production number in Drag Race herstory” but he drops the news that the eliminated queens are coming back. Again. Again again. Naturally, that’s all the contestants can focus on. What fresh hell will their fallen comrades unleash upon them? Bebe decides they’re coming back as backup dancers because Bebe thinks everyone is her backup dancer. Must be nice.
At rehearsal, the big story is Bebe can’t dance. She gives face but body, not so much. Todrick Hall announces the most challenging aspect of the performance: the whole thing will be done in one take. No stopping, no redos. And this includes backstage work. So even when they’re not on set, they’re on camera. The queens love the idea of making a splash but Todrick wonders if they can pull it off.
As the girls paint for their final runway, I’m reminded why I love Kennedy Davenport so: that muumuu, tho. Talk again turns to the returning queens. The final four are scared but won’t admit it. And they all think they deserve to win. Even Kennedy. I mean, I don’t think it’s a secret that the minute Ben left, the crown belonged to Shangela or Trixie. Right?
RUNWAY
RuPaul is alone on the runway. Tonight’s live performance is so huge, so historical, even the judges are involved. The Kitty Girl performance is a hyper-stylized lip dub. Kennedy flows into Shangela who flows into Bebe who flows into Trixie. The judges get their moment under the lights. Even Thorgy Thor makes an appearance. Everyone does their thing. Well, everyone but Bebe. And it’s still a race between Shangela and Trixie.
Guest judge Todrick Hall joins Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and Ross Matthews for the final runway. Theme: Eleganza Extravaganza. And all of the eliminated queens, including BenDeLaCreme, are there to witness. Bebe is a cheetah. As usual, her style is Lion King on Broadway on steroids. Très chic. Kennedy is a rainbow flame. She’s pageant, she’s proud. Shangela quite literally takes my breath away. She’s never looked at beautiful as she does tonight. She’s soft. She’s retro. She’s making me reconsider my bias. Trixie Mattel is a standard poodle dressed as Mae West. It’s. A. Look.
Everything is going well, until RuPaul screws it up. The eliminated queens are now the jury. They decide who moves forward as the final two to lip-sync for the crown. In what universe is this a good idea? Or fair? Drag Race isn’t Big Brother. It’s supposed to be a charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent competition.
The jury meets with each Racer. Bebe gives Miss America answers until Thorgy asks whose lipsticks (returning queen and eliminee) she chose when BenDeLaCreme self-evicted. Bebe not only refuses to say, she’s flustered and lies. The jury smells blood. Voices ring out, demanding accountability. But try as they might, Bebe keeps her secret. Kennedy has a very different meeting with the jury. They spend the whole time waxing rhapsodic over her. Shangela Margaery Tyrell is still using those tired Game of Thrones references. I shouldn’t begrudge her. She needs all the comfort she can get to deal with the six angry faces staring back at her. Nevertheless, she persists. She makes a good case. No one spits in her face. It’s up to jury management at this point. Trixie is slightly tone deaf when she tells the eliminated competitors that being in the bottom two is the worst thing that can happen but mostly she’s sweet and honest. She thinks Shangela is her most worthy opponent while Kennedy and Bebe both have reason to go home. I don’t think she realizes how harsh her critique gets.
With out full attention and many long pauses, the jury announce the top two: Kennedy Davenport and Trixie Mattel. Excuse me? I don’t care what justifications they dream up, this vote is petty af. I want Trixie to win. I’ve been open about that. But I want her to win the right way: against the best competitor. It’s awkward enough that the winner will be the 2nd best queen of Season 3. Now we’ll never know if she’s #2 or #3.
LIP-SYNC FOR YOUR LEGACY
Kennedy and Trixie perform Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus. Kennedy is a gifted performer. She grabs the initial spotlight. But while she’s doing La La choreography, Trixie reaches into your soul and tugs at your heart. Power shifts back and forth between the queens until Trixie reaches into Shangela’s bag of tricks and does a quick change. While Kennedy dances in the background like a Maddie Ziegler to Trixie’s Sia, Trixie takes the crown.
Winner: Trixie Mattel
Well, that was something. I’m proud of my girl Trixie. She deserves the crown. I just wish she had the opportunity to prove it by going against the best. #ShangelaWasRobbed. #SoWasTrixie.
Next week: It’s the Season 10 premiere! Hopefully it’s not as overproduced.
Honestly? I stopped watching two episodes ago because it was so overproduced and I could read it like a script.
Which is weird. Because my Trixie love knows no bounds. I even follow her on Twitter. And I don’t follow celebrities on Twitter. Apart from Tamara.
I just wished they had let her shine and win it by herself. Top three should have been Shangela, Trixie and Ben, and they should have let them duke it out.
I agree with you that Shangela was robbed. So was Aja….
There is no way that Trixie deserved to win. Her performance in the video shoot was cute but no where near on par to how Kennedy BROUGHT it. Her energy was on point and she hit her choreography with beautiful precision. Kennedy also left her heart on the stage with that finale lip sync.
When you look at their body of work over the season, Kennedy had more wins and was more consistent. Kennedy was also more graceful when in the hot seat. I don’t recall her making it about anyone but her journey when pleading her case.
It was also a complete turn off to see Trixie NEGATIVE SELL Kennedy & Bebe to the eliminated queens. Granted she was asked a direct question but she could have been more gracious rather than demonstrate such poor sportsmanship.
Not down with decision at all. Let me not even start with the fact that in all three All Star competitions, not one winner was a person of color.
My dvr didn’t record it either so thanks for the recap. I was disappointed in all the drama this season. I’m leery of S10 now. Sad because I’ve always been excited to start a new season.
Gah!!!! Second week in a row that my DVR missed the show. This has to be problem with the way VH1 is indexing the show with cable operators. My friggin DVR can record 6 shows at the same time (or something insane like that) so I know it’s not a recording conflict.
Are you with Cox cable Allaboutheidi and Lady Cocotte?
I’m directtv and should be able to dvr no problem. I just assumed that it was a sign ?
I’m Directv too. I think VH1 is the problem. And the Trixie & Katya show is great! So glad you’re enjoying it, Jim.
Ack. I meant to comment about the Trixie and Katya show too. LOVE!
Trixie wins! That’s some awesomeness right there! I’m counting the days until April 28 to see her in St. Louis.
Kathy D, did you get s ticket?
I’m very sad shangela didn’t wins he’ll place in the top two. I don’t think trixie should’ve won but it’s already done. I did see trixie live on the recent queen tour. My boyfriend figured trixie won because she was the last one to speak plus I figured trixie one because she was doing a lot of promo by herself. #shangelawasrobbed
I really like Trixie and felt like she should go to the end. That being said I don’t see any way that Shangela was not the winner. She won the most all season and I think she skated the last performance and look. She took her loss gracefully. She was clearly the winner and the eliminated girls knew that if Trixie went up against her that Trixie would loose. I’m at a loss. I’m also very disappointed in the show for how this went down. This is not drag star best friend. The best girl did not win.
Not sure why the lady Cocotte is shocked or disappointed about Shangela not being in the top two. She basically acted like the eliminated queens throughout her postings about the season; petty. She has had it in for Shangela all season. Shangela really was great TV, great at the competition and was not a villain. I’m overall disappointed with the outcome of the finale and unfortunately my desire to watch season 10 has disappeared. I’ll just Google recaps.
Yeah, that Lady Cocotte is a bitch! She didn’t like the queen I like. Let’s burn her house down!
Was lady mad because I called her out on being apart of the problem? Talking low to the brown front runner lovesna other white blond drag queen. Hmm are these messages being deleted?
I need to stop feeding the troll.
I say we just beat the fuck out of Blaze instead.
This would only be online. In life, I’d slap you both to sleep.
I hated this season ever since Aja went home. Since when does a good performance and best-made dress get you sent home just for missing your decades. The girl is young. Bebe’s and Kennedy’s dresses we’re BASIC. Bebe is one note. I’m glad Thorgy called her out. Be honest, Bebe. Kennedy has the talent, beauty, and the poise, but not the personality. I thought she should’ve been 3rd place, at best. Shangela had this. She would’ve taken Trixie. I don’t get the Trixie love, I really don’t. Shangela should’ve won this, and I hate that RuPaul did it this way. I think it’s lazy. Why have a judges panel if you aren’t utilizing them. Winner was chosen beforehand, like seasons before. I also think it’s suspect that all all Star winners are Caucasian.
Welp this was a terrible season with a terrible winner. Seems fitting. On to season 10!
THIS WAS SOME BULL FUCKING SHIT.
Shangela was robbed y’all. And I cannot believe that Thorgy Thor was the only one who voted for her to be in the final two.
Look, I ain’t all up in the nuances between all of these bitches BUT IT WAS FUCKING WRONG not to let RuPaul decide. These bitter bitches do not vote on the actual performances. They are cunts! And there was no one who did better than Shangela at the end. I get you fucking morons, AND I AM INCLUDING YOU LADY C! But Trixie is a retarded pop character and Shangela WAS BEAUTIFUL and danced her ass off and owned the stage. WHAT MORE COULD YOUR FUCKTARDS EXPECT HER TO DO? #fucktards
There I said it. Insert Camille Grammer gif here.
AMEN to the infinitive, Tamara. I could not have said it better.
We may have to break up over this girlfriend. They put the Phaedra Parks looking bitch up against Trixie! WHO LOSES TO PHAEDRA FUCKING PARKS?
Shangela was perfection. She was stunning and beautiful AND DANCED HER ASS OFF ON A LIVE SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please explain to me how your trainwreck of a choice deserved to win that competition!
TT, you should join Blaze burning my house down. I thought I made it clear Shangela deserved to be in the final 2 (which means the winner since we know she can slay anyone in a lip-sync). Yes, I prefer Trixie over Halleloo but I didn’t ruin the show by turning it over to the Bitter Bettys. That was all RuPaul. So take your righteous indignation & stuff it.
p.s. I looove you!
Ultimately, does it really matter who won since it was just a meaningless battle for second place? Ben won the season.
Watch The Trixie and Katya Show on Viceland. It’s hilarious!
I’m going to see Tricia and Katya next month and can’t wait. Is Trixie in the Drag Hall of Fame?
Well RuPaul is not HERE. You are!
Seriously, I don’t understand why Ru would do this. I always got the feeling the other judges were just props and he did whatever the fuck he wanted to. I think he did this to Shangela deliberately.
And I CAN’T Burn down your house because then you would be made at me and you are the only one that takes my drunk calls.
TT- there must be something about Shangela that goes wrong every time. It’s obvious RuPaul loves her, she is the most recurring queen over all the seasons. Perhaps jealously? Perhaps something behind the scenes we are not aware of. I agree her performance was amazing!
I was rooting for Shangela. But I do want to note that Trixie is part Native American, Ojibwe, I believe.
It broke my heart when Bendela left. Thank the drag gods that there were only two more episodes in the season. I don’t think I could have dealt with more. She was the clear front runner, it was hers to lose and she did by walking away. I understand why, I don’t think I’d want to have to eliminate my colleagues either.
So as if Bendela quitting wasn’t bad enough I had to see Shangela left out of the final two? She looked so beautiful I could hardly stand it! I wasn’t a fan of Trixie’s style of drag. To be honest I hated the makeup she does with the weird anime looking eyes, ugh. I didn’t even put her in the top two. For me (post-Bendela) the final two were Shangela and someone else, but not Trixie.
I feel like I missed something, what did Shanglea do to make them not vote her in? I can’t believe they thought Trixie and Kennedy were better. Maybe they did, I’m not a drag queen. Can’t even pass as the woman I was born as most days, lol.
Anyway it was a great season for most of the season but it left me disappointed and let down. I’m just hoping the new season will be 10’s, 10’s,. 10’s across the board!
My DVR didn’t record the finale either. I have FIOS. I wonder what the problem was. I was sorry I missed it but since it seems that Shangela was robbed, I would have been infuriated.
I am not particularly a drag fan. I watch the show because I am stunned by the stars’ ability to transform themselves. They are artists. Then, when they sing and dance in those wigs and costumes, I just am truly amazed at their talent. They put on a fabulous show.
Shangela is a knockout star. She should have her own show. I’d watch her every week. Witty smart and talented. Also, Kennedy always seemed to cut to the heart of whatever controversy was going on. I liked her wise comments. Sorry to see it’s over.