It’s make-over time on Drag Race with a rather uninspired pointless concept. But, before that, onto the mini-challenge! After Shuga was removed from our diet without permission, the slapping mini-challenge returns.
Last year, RuPaul
accidentally slapped Asia O’Hara for real, so this year the Queens slap it
themselves. The lines the Queens have at each other are far and away superior to the reading challenge, so we reckon these were written for them. Brooke Lynn Hytes scores the win and gets to choose the partners for the makeup challenge.
The makeover partners this season are the returning queens. There’s no twist except Kahanna, Mercedes and Ra’Jah are absent and not explained. It feels a bit shitty that three cast members (all POC) were left out of more screentime and not even acknowledged.
Brooke pairs up the
girls thusly:
Brooke Lynn Hytes and
Plastique Tiara
A’keria Chanel
Davenport and Honey Davenport
Yvie Oddly and Scarlet
Envy
Nina West and Shuga
Cain
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo
and Ariel Versace
Silky Nutmeg Ganache
and Soju
Silky felt that Brooke was being shady for giving her Soju, the first out and overall one of the least impressive Queens in a long time. She’s probably not wrong when Soju starts to talk about how she can’t walk in heels.
There’s a bit of wig
drama that fizzles out when Ariel decides she doesn’t want to play anymore
after stirring the pot for a day, she blames Ra’Jah who is conveniently not
present.
Other than that it’s a
surprisingly drama-lite episode for a returning one.
Plastique very much
has been done by Brooke and it suits her. Classic flowery gowns and the
execution is terrific.
Yvie and Scarlet come
in jean-jellyfish looks, Scarlet’s personality has an Oddly makeover with many
of Yvie’s moves and even trademark laugh.
Nina West and Shuga come in with pride (rainbow and trans) lewks respectively. they’re kind of a hot mess. Nina looks better but has an awful wig and Shuga’s make up is horrendous. She looks like a neon-toned evil Sylvia Fine from the Nanny. The beautiful message of trans people being part of our family is lost in the terrible outfits sadly.
Silky and Soju
performance okay-ish. Silky’s make up has not translated well onto Soju who
looks just as bad as Shuga.
Vanessa and Ariel look
beautiful as twins. This is perhaps the most convincing makeover at the night.
The delivery was okay, but the ruffle coats didn’t add much.
A’keria and Honey look
classically beautiful in matching pageant gowns. The hair isn’t quite the same
A’keria’s made sure to tone down Honey’s look to not outshine her and its
polished and successful.
Brooke wins the
challenge, fair enough. We probably would have given it to Vanjie but a
storyline is a storyline.
Without a twist like
being conjoined, or a specific theme. It’s a bit of a silly episode to have
professional drag queens made over.
It’s almost like they
just couldn’t think of anything. There’s no real challenge.
Oh well. 5/10.
This article was written by our fabulous contributing editor, James Pearbutter.
