Squirrel friends, the most recent episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race was a doozy. The elimination was unfair, some loud personalities get praised while others are taken down, but at least there was magic, right? Enough of my feelings, let’s jump into the episode.
The queens returned to the workroom after the elimination of Plastique Tiara. Vanessa ‘Vanjie’ Mateo did the honors of cleaning off her lipstick message, first praising her beautiful handwriting. Vanjie was shook that the judges keep sending her mixed signals when it comes to her personality. Nina West and Brooke Lynn Hytes hit a rough patch in their friendship as the competition starts to wear on them.
It was a new day in the workroom and only seven queens remained. We got a message from RuPaul on the tv as an intro for the challenge for the first time in awhile. Where did those go? Anyway, it was filled with cheesy lines about magic. Then the pit crew came with Delta Work? Sure, why not, since the queens were playing a game called balls to the walls. The queens were paired with shirtless men in underwear where they had to put balls in a sack without using their hands. A very important competition needed to determine who would become America’s next drag superstar. This game was wild, but you know the queens were into it. Vanjie was very good at this game, which came as a surprise to no one. Silky Nutmeg Ganache lifted someone up, because of course she did. Yawn. In the end, Vanjie had the win.
Ru, while wearing fingerless gloves, then explained the queen’s need to razzle dazzle with their very own magic show for this week’s main challenge. Vanjie got to pick her team, selecting Silky, A’Keria Davenport, and Yvie Oddly. Shuga Cain, Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Nina West were the second team. They were to learn a real magic trick, which I couldn’t wait to see. Nina, Brooke, and Shuga got straight into it by making up a storyline, though they struggled to agree on it. This was the team of overthinkers, as explained by Nina. Meanwhile, team Vanjie were assigning tricks, containing a disappearing bra and milk trick.
RuPaul came in to stir the pot, per usual. She finally asked about the whole Branjie situation and got all the gossip on how they are kissing sisters. I always wondered the extent she knew about this. I also loved Vanjie’s explanation of not picking Brooke, her mans can do her own thing! She’s not thinking with her between me down theres.
I was so excited about the idea of watching the queens work with a real magician to learn tricks. It did not disappoint when the first thing we got to see was A’Keria learning to swollow a sword, well, a balloon. I think the best part of this whole episode was Vanjie’s reactions to watching the magician do the tricks. Team personality struggled to get their comedy down, as it was mostly dark humor, while team overthinkers had it all together, except Brooke. Brooke was overthinking, go figure. Meanwhile, Silky was asleep.
It was elimination day and A’Keria was struggling. She wasn’t her usual self and was in her head regarding the challenge. Come to find out, her group had to change their entire show last night. I was pretty nervous for them,
On the main stage, Ru was joined by Michelle Visage, Ross Matthews, Katherine Langford, and Gina Rodriguez on the judges panel. The queens had to do their magic show, then rock their best kaftan on the runway.
The magic show kicked off with team overthinkers. Their act was a great mix of camp and comedy. The combination of Nina, Brooke, and Shuga was great, but Nina really stole the show. I think the editors tried to make Shuga’s performance look a little off to fit their storyline, but I thought the group together worked wonderfully together. Their reverse Shangela trick? Amazing. I loved every second. Team personality, on the other hand, struggled a bit. The jokes didn’t land as well and everyone talked over each other. It was a bit painful to watch. There was definitely a group that won and a group that did not.
On the runway, I loved Yvie’s look and arm flexibility. Vanjie’s look wasn’t anything to write home about, but her description of it was everything and more. I also really loved Brooke Lynn’s look. It was time for the judges’ critiques and team Vanjie did not fare well. Somehow, although one whole team got read, Shuga fell into the bottom two. Yvie even called out her own team for how messy and unorganized they were. Regardless, Nina got her much deserved win, Vanjie took the fall for her team, and somehow Shuga got pulled into this. I think everyone was blindsided by that one.
Vanjie and Shuga fought for their lives to No More Drama by Mary J Blige. Miss Vanjie was given yet another chance and somehow Shuga went home. It was a good lip sync, but as you can tell, I was pretty irritated with the result. I think a lot of us were. Who is going to do all the narrating now?! Shuga, we will miss you.
Join me next week as we watch the queens makeover the returning queens! I can’t wait to see how that turns out.
