Let’s jump straight into this week’s episode, and the library is open, and the queens are ready to read each other to filth. Gawdland absolutely kills it, especially with her read to Benze Diva: “Aunty! Time’s up for playing with your grandchildren. Please receive your allowance and return to the nursing home.” Which sends the whole room into laughter, and that ultimately earns her the win.
Pangina announces that this week’s challenge is the ultimate challenge—it’s Snatch Game time. Of course, as always, it’s interesting to see each queen’s character choice, offering a glimpse into Thai culture and the figures that they all look up to. Siam PhuSri selects to portray Phumpuang Duangjan, and Pangina points out the challenge of playing such a beloved person without causing offense to those watching. It’s going to be tough for Siam, as she’s known for being loud or as comedic as some of the other girls, but it’s a great chance to prove everyone wrong.
It’s the Snatch Game, and Gigi Ferocious takes on playing Rihanna, but her performance makes Rileasea Slave’s portrayal on the recent UK version of her look tame and easy to watch. The game as a whole is a struggle to watch; in fact, it makes Season 4 of the US Drag Race look more structured, polished, and coherent than what’s happening in this episode. Not much lands in the way of funny, and even the guest contestant Lukkade Metinee bites back at some of the queens answers that they’re not funny or make sense. Gawdland’s character thanks her for laughing, to which she replies, “I laughed because it was not funny, actually.” Awkward.
Back in the werkroom, there is a very long 10-minute conversation taking place focused on Siam having a supposedly fake personality because she’s not airing all her feelings. The group claims they want her to be loud and authentic. The whole thing makes zero sense; they want her to be loud and herself, but they also think she can just be herself. It feels long, drawn-out, and very pointless. Instead it feels as if everyone is ganging up on poor Siam, who repeatedly says she is confused about what everyone means. Frankie Wonga is the only one who sticks up for, but this episode as a whole feels longer than necessary and doesn’t quite find its footing this week.
The runway, however, is stunning. The theme is “Clown Is Sexy and I Know It,” and straight away Pangina sets the bar high with a club kid-esque outfit. It’s very Leigh Bowery. Guest Judge Cindy Sirinya Bishop is wearing the most beautiful pink puff sleeve dress I’ve ever seen. Zepee is out first, and she looks flawless as a sexy leather clown—the outfit and her makeup are perfect. Benze Diva follows next as a sad clown attempting to create balloon animals. Frankie saves the day and the runway with their concept; she always knows how to sell a runway and is undoubtedly a frontrunner for the crown. Gigi gets a little bit of karma as she slips and slides across the runway, feeling more embarrassed than hurt; overall, it’s a tough runway to do. Having just seen the Drag Race Philippines execute a fantastic circus-themed runway and, of course, season 6 of Dragula, the expectations on these shows get higher as a viewer.
The winner for this week’s Snatch game is Spicy Sunshine, and it’s well deserved, and it’s great to see her climb back to the top after a few wobbly weeks. This leaves the bottom two as Gigi Ferocious and Benze Diva. Both are left to battle it out to Burning For You by Kratae, and straight away Gigi jumps into action. I don’t want to say it looks like Benze gave up, as she said in Untucked she wanted to stay in her sad clown character, but it looks more like a lack of energy or tiredness from lipsyncing for the third week in a row. Unsurprisingly, Gigi is told to Shantay, and we say goodbye to Benze. That was a very bizarre and long episode; I have a feeling many will share this sentiment. What were your thoughts and feelings this week?
