RuPauls Drag Race
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This weeksDrag Racefelt like eating the frosting off the cake as a kid: just the sweetest part.
Even the setup we do get is basically all day of performance stuff, which is more fun anyway.
Its just pedal-to-the-metal, capital-DDrag Race.
Largely, this group does not have that issue.
Theyre a chatty, competitive, interesting bunch!
So lets jump in.
The episode starts with the fallout from episode one.
Everybody congratulates Suzie (yay Suzie!)
The other queens are all more eye-catching, even as shes doing her detective work.
Insane behavior that is simply more fun to watch!
Then, were on the runway.
I told you this episode goes by quickly!
Category is Is It Cake?
which calls for an ass-focused outfit.
Front is wedding cake, back is ass.
Onya wears a peach-themed outfit.
Crystal Envy does a sunscreen-baby themed look with a giant muscle bodysuit.
And the button down?
If youre going to do reference-based drag, it should show a sense of curation.
Lexis look is a bodysuit with a TV on her head, but it still works for me.
As the judges later note, the earrings on the side of the TV are hilarious.
I get it, its played out, and Hormonas version doesnt add much to the catalogue.
Lana wears a fun little slinky number, with a column front and a lace-up back.
And the non-performers: Acacias look is terrible the screen-printing reminds me of fast fashion.
Arriettys look suits her signature paint well.
Jewelss flag-based chaps number is cute.
Joella also does Marie Antoinette, but hers has an ugly red wig in the back.
The skin-colored bodysuit looks weird ending at her ankles.
Lucky Starzzzs sponge look is really fun.
Her paint is great.
Suzie Toot enters as a maiden, drinks a potion, and gets transformed into a literal ass.
Sams number is fine, but shes stiffer than I expected her to be.
Onya Nerve:Onya Nerve is next and she and Sam couldnt be further apart.
Sam is all high production value but lacks the kind of charisma that would make her fun to watch.
Also: The song is way better.
I think I can confidently call Onya the dark horse of the season.
Shes got oodles of charm.
Crystal Envy:Okay so.
For one: She has the best song of the night by a mile.
Its clear that shes really polished.
Shes entirely dead behind the eyes and almost never makes any expressions otherwise.
Also, there may be three outfits, but thats less exciting when all three of them are hideous.
And most importantly: I still dont really have a sense of Crystals brand or personality.
Shes missing the U.
Hormona Lisa:Oof.
Hormona does standup, and shes not very funny.
Well, that character was written over a decade ago and the phrasing hasnt gotten less cliche since then.
Kori King:Kori mostly redeems herself from her runway look with her coffee-themed number.
Ill be interested to see how far pure charisma can take her this season.
Last week, I pegged her as a nigh-guaranteed top four contender.
This week, Im not so sure.
Luxx is all nerve!
Lana is all chill!
Lexi Love:Lexi gives the best talent-show performance of the season on roller skates.
Part of it is the stunts: She does a cartwheel in skates!
She does a series of splits in skates!
But a lot of it is also how she performs.
Lexis onstage persona turns out to be a daffy and bratty bundle of joy.
For now, shes the front-runner.
The queens then vote in their little Rate-a-Queen thing and end up making approximately the right decisions.
The other top spot goes to Crystal, which, as I said, I understand.
The top two face off first, to Doechii and JTs Alter Ego.
This lip sync kicks ass.
Crystal is no slouch, though.
I watched this lip sync like ten times and had a good time every time.
I love the way that Lexi just hurls around her limbs like shes a rag doll, its amazing.
Lexi wins and has a minor breakdown over it, which is lovely.
Then, the bottom two queens of the whole pack lip-sync to Ariana Grandes Yes, And.
And then … they both do!
This is, quite clearly, entirely controlled by production.
Should be fun to see her continue to annoy everybody.
No guest judge visit!
Kori calling the first lip sync the Battle of the White Girls takes the Confessional of the Week prize.
I love that Lydia just absolutely hated Sam Stars number.
What Im saying is either Im biased or I have great taste.
The two groups probably average out to the same quality.
One thing she said that struck me: Why does everybody want to be on the TV now?
What happened to being onInstagram?
Im going to go: Lexi, Suzie, Lucky, and Jewels.
