RuPaul’s Drag Race review: Going for Draglympics gold

Tensions are starting to run high on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but the queens are still fighting for the crown. This week, one queen’s body is betraying her, and others are struggling to stand out.

Blah blah blah, another quick drag mini challenge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. They really need to switch things up, but at least the workout tape challenge was fun. But we have bigger fish to fry — and I’m not talking about Gia Gunn!

It’s the Draglympics, and the queens had a lot to prepare.

After winning the mini challenge, Plastique and A’keria got to choose their own teams for the Draglympics. Each team had to perform a freestyle floor routine, choreographed by Emmy winning So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Travis Wall, with guidance by Olympic medalist and all around icon, Adam Rippon. The queens had three required sections of their routines: Fanography, Voguing, and Shablam.

I have to say, I enjoy the fact that RuPaul’s Drag Race is giving us something other than Todrick choreography this season — no shade (a little shade) — because first Yanis, and now Travis Wall? Yes please! Travis knows what he’s doing and I thought he worked really well with the queens, but let’s just say not all the queens slayed that rehearsal.

For Team A’Keria, they were pretty solid. Silky struggled a bit, but she still held her own, and even with Yvie’s health issues, she was dedicated to nailing everything Travis gave her even if she was in pain. It’s pretty obvious Brooke Lynn would slay any choreo they threw at her, she’s a classically trained ballerina for god’s sake! Unlike Ra’jah, Brooke can actually back up all the experience she has.

Team Plastique had some definite hits, but also some major misses. We all knew Plastique knows how to dance. We know she can pull out a “shablam” and do some voguing, she’s part of the House of Edwards! Nobody was worried about her. Vanjie was able to keep up too, and she was in good spirits. Ra’jah definitely meshed better with Travis than she did with Yanis, and her dancing experience definitely showed more this week, but she kept getting thrown off by someone else: Scarlet.

Scarlet really struggled with the choreography. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Scarlet, but she has been doing consistently well these last few episodes, but this week just wasn’t her best. Nina may not be a superstar dancer either, but she still kept up with the other girls. Scarlet couldn’t.

The rehearsals were a pretty good reflection of how the final challenge went overall. The first group, representing Tuckpantistan (which is another unfortunate name from the RuPaul’s Drag Race creative team), kept up their momentum. Yvie even hurt herself mid-performance, and still came out to slay the routine the best that she could. Brooke high-kicked to heaven, they all thwoorped those fans like their life depended on it, and even Silky did some splits. Give them the Draglympic gold medal!

All in all, Team Plastique, representing the People’s Republic of Glamazonia, weren’t bad. I didn’t watch it and think “wow this is a trainwreck,” they just didn’t work as well together as the other team. Most of them really worked it out, especially Plastique and Vanjie, and even Ra’jah. Sorry Scarlet!

The runway this week was “All That Glitters” and apparently, that meant the theme was gold. I must have misunderstood, because when I heard the theme, I assumed it meant glitter, but sure enough, queen after queen was in head-to-toe gold!

A’keria came out in full Southern pageant queen realness, with big blonde hair and a dress that was bedazzled for the gods. It reminded me of RuPaul’s dress in the promo shots for All Stars 3, but that’s not a bad thing! Brooke Lynn opted for Old Hollywood, with a gold lamé turban, matching dress and a feather boa. Shuga Cain was another standout for me. She rocked an Aztec warrior look, but in gold sequins. Think She-Ra, but more glam! And of course, Plastique looked like a goddess coming down from heaven, with her large feathery wings and gold headpiece.

The rest kind of fizzled for me. Silky’s body suit was underwhelming and that cross seemed out of place. Vanjie looked great, but she’s giving the judges more of the same. It’s too late in the competition to still be giving the judges a sparkly leotard. Nina went for another schtick, this time as a viking opera singer, complete with huge boobs. It’s fun, but I still want to see a different side of Nina. Scarlet looked good, but safe, in a sheer gold dress.

I wasn’t shocked at all by the bottom two — Scarlet and Ra’jah — but I was shocked A’keria won. She’s been kind of floating under the radar so far in this competition, so good for her for nabbing a win at least! Ra’jah is no stranger to the bottom two, and I honestly thought this would finally be her time to go.

The lipsync was to “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, and as soon as that disco beat came out, Scarlet was PREPARED! She took out scissors and CUT OFF HER DRESS (!!!) to reveal a pair of billowy gold disco-ready bell bottoms underneath! In that moment, Scarlet won the lip sync for me, especially since the camera was on her most of the time. The two of them ending in a synchronized death drop/split moment really wowed me, too.

Apparently, the judges didn’t agree with me, though, and sent Scarlet home. I can honestly say I’m not a Scarlet fan, but I think she proved herself more than Ra’jah has, and Ra’jah keeps finding herself in the bottom. How could she stay and Scarlet get eliminated? Something is not right here, but I guess that’s the show!

With an exasperated sigh, I have just one thing to say: is it time for Snatch Game yet?

Random Ruflections

• Yvie has a point, Vanjie HAS been wearing the same silhouette and she does need to change it up.
• “You make me feel feminine with that beard.” – Love Connie to Scarlet
• How did A’keria win the mini challenge? Plastique definitely deserved it though.
• Tuckpantistan and People’s Republic of Glamazonia? Lord…
• “Silky is flopping around on the floor looking like the greatest catch.” – Brooke Lynn
• “Five, six, salad, grape!” – Travis Wall’s unorthodox choreography count.
• Vanjie is like the best narrator ever on RuPaul’s Drag Race, right up there with Monique Heart.
• “I pray that these girls get hit by the rhythm nation stick.” – Vanjie about her team
• Mirai Nagasu should’ve been showing those queens a thing or two!
• “Wait ‘til I show you my triple axel!” – Ru to Mirai
• Ariana Grande was shook over Vanjie’s look.
• Vanjie’s look is still very similar to the other things we’ve seen her in.
• Imagine how awkward it would be for everyone to say you should be the one eliminated, then having to sit in the workroom with them?
• “Butterflies are a very tender subject here at RuPaul’s Drag Race.” – Michelle
• “Stop relying on that bodysuit.” – Ru to Vanjie
• Scarlet is literally CUTTING HER SKIRT OFF! To quote Silky, SHE WAS READY!! Work!! She’s got on some disco pants too!
• A synchronized split and a death drop!
• I’m sorry, what?! HOW did Ra’jah get saved after that lip sync? They need to stop saving her.