Reboots and Ru-vivals may be in fashion, but they rarely match the quality of the original. Get into this week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Three seasons later The Bossy Rossy Show impressed the public with his terrible pickles and sexy drag babies, Ross Mathews’ iconic The dawn announcer was brought in for another round on Friday – and it was everywhere. (Sure, there were a few highlights, but it’s not a big performance night when someone gets the highest honors for playing a mimic. Even though she made gestures to the gods.)
This came after a totally satisfying mini-reading challenge, which Gottmik won with a series of wild readings about Kandy Muse identifying with the pug community, Tina Burner having the constitution of a football player and Utica Queen just being “weird” . The latter was actually a recurring read throughout the mini-game; Tina asked Utica where she was hiding the bodies of her victims. Watch the full reading challenge below:
The real joke this week turned out to be Olivia Lux, whose disguise as a fierce and discreet competitor has been officially discovered. Tina even considered her a “secret diva” and she is not wrong. Not only was Utica furious when Olivia “stole” her part of the improvisation challenge, but Olivia even threw some salt at her wound, suggesting, “I might end up on the top again.” And you know what? Is it over there did end up at the top. This marks the second maxi challenge victory for Olivia, who has not yet come close to the end. And the more I think about your intelligent vision on the catwalk theme (photo above), the more I appreciate your ingenuity.
With all due respect to Miss Lux, however, I think I would have declared Symone the winner this week. Not only did she bring enough energy to keep her whole improvisation sketch alive, but I don’t even have words to describe how good her look was on the catwalk. I just sat there jaw-dropping, trying to absorb every inch of this African warrior-inspired masterpiece …
I also have to take my hat off to Gottmik for his brilliant look inspired by anal beads. See that latex number in all its glory, plus “Bead It!” From each of the other track set queens, in the video below:
The category is: BEAD IT! 😍✨
Our queens shone and shone on the catwalk in their best models of beads! Who was your favorite of the night? #DragRace pic.twitter.com/goSxIWFHbR
– RuPaul Rush (@RuPaulsDragRace) February 13, 2021
At the other end of the spectrum, a combination of inexpressive improvisational performances and lackluster performances on the track put LaLa Ri and Elliott with 2 Ts in the last two positions this week, with Utica narrowly avoiding having to synchronize his life.
Despite LaLa’s track record of killing lip sync, Elliott confidently went into battle. And from the moment Kelly Clarkson’s “Whole Lotta Woman” started playing, she changed Outside. LaLa may have charisma, uniqueness and talent, but Elliott has brought courage, staying at LaLa’s level or above all the time, launching an occasional split to sweeten the pot. And those synchronized body rollers! Real conversation, none of these ladies disappointed. In the end, however, the “LaLa Ri Experience” was simply not enough – Ru was forced to send the reeling queen back to Atlanta.
Do you think that was the right decision? (Part of me expected a double shantay, to be honest.) Vote for our poll below, so leave a comment with your opinion about the episode.