Just like that, ten weeks of RuPaul’s Drag Race have flown by, and it’s been a jam-packed season with a strong cast of queens, and dare I say strongest since season 2? The lipsync assassin was finally sent home, with Tomara Thomas sending Dedelicious home. The editing on the opening scene for this final episode is over the top, and I love it, with each queen declaring how powerful they are and their journey thus far. But it also shows them hyping up their fellow sisters; it’s a wholesome way to remind everyone that it’s a TV show and to not take it seriously online. The three finalists have dubbed themselves The Angels of the North, which is also the name of their upcoming UK tour. (Tickets are on sale now.) They’re out to make this an unforgettable finale, and that they do.
Gathered in the werkroom after the lip sync, the counting of badges begins as Ginger Johnson has her three, Michael Marouli also three, and Tomara with just one. The last main challenge of the season is announced, and it’s the return of an old-school one that hasn’t been on the UK version yet. The queens are to write lyrics for RuPaul’s Spotlight and will be starring in the accompanying music video. We don’t see them record the lyrics like normal, but we do see them attempt the high-energy choreography. Ginger worries about her abilities, but as usual, she navigates her way through her worries and does great.
A wholesome moment arrives in the form of What’s the Tea with Michelle Visage and RuPaul. The finalists get their moment to sit and discuss their journey in the competition. A little surprise awaits each queen, as they’re joined by a loved one. Ginger is joined by her boyfriend Ben, and Michael reunites with his husband. Last, but not least, Tomara is joined by her mum, and as expected, it is just as chaotic between them, showing where she got her good mood and attitude from. This segment in particular made for such a heartwarming moment; any one of those queens deserves the crown, and their inspirational chat was a pleasure to watch.
The music video performance is camp, and that’s what you’d expect from a trio like this, as there are no weak links to be seen. It’s strong, and the outfits all match, with them looking like a chic girl group, and out with a bang, the three appear onstage to carry on the routine, complete with their season 5 sisters. While I loved seeing everyone back together in their glow-ups, it feels like a copy and paste of previous UK seasons.
The final episode feels predictable, not in terms of the outcome of the winner, but the format and storyline are very much the same. It would be great to see it mixed up, or similar to the US, and get a live finale. Considering there’s no prize money or any prizes, for that matter, a live final would be a great round-off for the queens and a great way to celebrate a great season. Especially with the tumultuous issues the season faced at the beginning of the promotional Meet the Queens video.
With a tight top three, it comes down to track record, and Tomara doesn’t move to the top two and finishes in third place. It comes down to Michael and Ginger in the lipsync to the crown, and it’s a photo finish. Both have had the same successful run, and it would have been well deserved for either to win, alas there can only be one. The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 5 is… Ginger Johnson. A queen, who perhaps started as an underdog for many, slowly and silently snatched badges, made us laugh, and won the nation over. Were you happy with the winner, and what did you think of this season? Let us know in the comments!
