RuPaul’s Drag Race review: RuPaul’s Yee Haw Race

Yee haw! RuPaul’s Drag Race went country, and the queens needed to bring the farm to the runway. So which queens yee hawed, and who was just a pile of cow you-know-what?

The remaining queens went country on this week’s RuPaul’s Drag Race but all in the name of fashion! Or at least for the main challenge, because the mini challenge was far from fashion, that is for sure.

A lot of ride-or-die Drag Race fans have been feeling really hit or miss this season, for whatever reason, myself included. Some weeks I’m like, “Okay yes, this is a great season!” and others, I just find myself not impressed. But this week definitely breathed some life back into the show. That mini-challenge, as ridiculous as it was, really felt like a classic campy RuPaul’s Drag Race challenge, and I kinda loved it.

The queens had to strap on some fake boobies, get in quick drag (because every mini-challenge is quick drag this season), and then participate in a potato sack race, fitting with this week’s all-natural, country theme. It didn’t matter who won the race, though, but only who did the best bosom bouncing along the way. Watch your eyes, because those puppies were flopping all over! I love when challenges are kind of dumb, but they still make you giggle because deep down, we’re all 5-year-olds at heart.

The mini-challenge may have been cute and all, but let’s get right down to the big dogs. This week’s main challenge focused on design, something I always appreciate because it really tests the queens’ skills and taste. Anyone can wear a beautiful designer piece on the runway; it takes a real superstar to be crafty and come up with something from nothing and then rock the runway as if they were in some vintage Mugler. Some of the queens definitely accomplished that this week, because the challenge was to take all-natural ingredients like fruits, veggies, and leaves and make a couture outfit. But unfortunately, not everyone could.

Before they got to the runway, though, some other stuff went down. First, Ru was really on the top of his game in the workroom, bringing both Brooke Lynn and Plastique (my two faves, for anyone keeping track) to tears. I understand why Ru feels the need to pull some emotion out of the girls sometimes, but girl, this is a design challenge where they had to take organic materials and construct a garment. Why does Plastique’s difficult upbringing need to be addressed right now? But I guess that’s RuPaul’s Drag Race for you!

Second, there was some serious shadiness happening tonight. Right out of the gate, Ra’Jah had some misdirected anger at Scarlet after the elimination, despite the fact that it definitely should’ve been Ra’Jah who was sent home. Then Yvie went off on Vanjie, and she seems to be mad at the whole world right now. I don’t usually talk about Untucked, but even on Untucked, both Ra’Jah and Yvie seemed to have a lot of pent up anger. But anger means more shade, and more shade means some classic Drag Race drama, and that definitely contributed to why I felt like something really clicked with this week’s episode.

Back to the farm– I mean runway! Before the queens debuted their frocks for the judges, they met with an extra special guest to help them with their runway presentations: Miss Back Rolls herself, Alyssa Edwards! Plastique was delighted (and nervous) to see her drag mom there (something else that Ra’Jah was pissed about in Untucked, by the way), but Alyssa treated her just as tough as everyone else.

In fact, I truly think Alyssa should be a regular consultant for the show, because she works so well with the girls. She isn’t afraid to be shady or get tough, but she knows exactly what they’re going through so she’s a bit more understanding than maybe some of the other choreographers. Plus, who doesn’t want to see more of Alyssa? After giving the queens pointers, she had to teach them a fun line dance to perform for the judges, because this is now RuPaul’s Yee Haw Race apparently.

For the Farm to Runway theme, a lot of the queens impressed me this week, unlike that Monster Ball disaster. Shuga Cain had a really couture shape to her burlap and flower dress, which I loved. Yvie’s outfit was definitely one of my favorites. The color combination was beautiful, and I liked that it was a little more colorful and glamorous than she usually does, but still a little odd and very her style at the same time.

As usual, Brooke slayed the runway. She made this gorgeous drapey denim outfit with a deep cut back that showed a little ass cleavage, and who doesn’t love that? She landed in the top, along with Yvie, and surprisingly, Plastique — who won it all! Ru’s chat with Plastique and a visit from Alyssa helped pull her out of her shell and the judges loved seeing more personality, plus that runway look was gorgeous and couture as hell! It looks very Swan Lake meets Spanish dancers in The Nutcracker. (Side note: Plastique won a trip to Toronto, how funny would it have been if Brooke won?)

Now to the less than stellar looks. Silky’s paint was great, it usually is, but the outfit was less than spectacular. I do commend her for beading basically the entire ensemble with beans and candy, though. Nina really tried to improve this week and took Michelle’s critiques about her proportions to heart, but she still wasn’t quite there for me yet. I love that she tries so hard to improve, though. That’s a great quality to see in a contestant. Vanjie has personality to last her a lifetime, but her look this week was not it — but at least it wasn’t a bodysuit.

The bottom two wasn’t a shock at all. A’keria’s wig wasn’t cute, and her outfit’s shoulder pads were way too big for her tiny frame. Ra’Jah found herself in the bottom yet again, because she didn’t stand out and her outfit didn’t impress anyone. If I had to describe it in three words: “I am Groot.”

It seems Ra’Jah couldn’t save herself this time. The bottom two queens lip-synced to “Strut” by Sheena Easton, and A’keria was strutting like her life depended on it. Ra’Jah is a good lip syncer — she better be, considering how many times she saved herself — but she didn’t match A’keria. Finally, Ra’Jah shantayed away, and all was right in the world.

Random Ruflections

• I still think Ra’Jah should’ve been the one sent home, and I KNOW I am not alone.
• “B*tch, Scarlet is still in the parking lot jumping in the van and Miss Ra’Jah is still reading the dog sh*t out of her.” – Vanjie
• Who is Silky to tell anyone they need to change up their look when her makeup looks the same each week?
• “You should just call her Viola Davis. That b*tch knows how to get away with murder.” – Silky about Plastique
• “I get compared to Naomi Smalls until people see my drag.” – Yvie
• “Boob-ography” should be as popular as hairography.
• “Wow, this really is RuPaul’s Breast Friend Race!” – RuPaul
• This mini-challenge is completely ridiculous but I… kinda love it.
• “I can take all these sponges and make a sponge dress!”- Sugah, please god don’t.
• Okay but Vanjie is traaaaade in the workroom.
• “Last time someone came out with corn, they went home. Shangie, shout out to you boo!” – Vanjie
• Ru needs to stop digging so deep with these queens in the workroom, let them breathe a little!
• My baby Plastique, stop crying! My heart is breaking.
• Ra’Jah is awfully shady for someone who can’t back up all that confidence.
• Literally, all Silky ever talks about is lip syncing.
• “How’s your ankle doing?” “I haven’t had any complaints!” – Ru and Yvie
• “Before I got my tubes tied with Laganja, I said I’m gonna do one more!” – Alyssa Edwards to her drag daughter Plastique
• “Don’t you break the set b*tch, you’ll be going all the way back where you came from! – Alyssa to Silky
• “I call Silky’s boy hair ‘can’t you, don’t you.’ Can’t you comb it, don’t you try.” – A’keria
• “Milk does a body good, but so does breast implants.” – Kandi Burruss
• “Chambray, you stay!” – RuPaul on Brooke Lynn’s denim look
• Is Sugah wearing her Trump wig?
• Vanjie isn’t wearing a bodysuit… and to be honest she’s not really wearing anything.
• Hallelujah, Vanjie is safe! I was worried that outfit would land her in the bottom.
• Oh my god, Ra’Jah IS Groot.
• That story that Ra’Jah gave for her look… that is not it.
• “This look tonight… I’m still digesting this, like when you eat corn.” – Ross about Nina’s corn husk look.
• I agree with the judges about Nina, she really is so eager and wants to improve, and I appreciate that.
• This has to be Ra’Jah’s time to go home. Come on.