![]() ![]() It’s a garment you can only possibly pull off if you’re that thin, gorgeous, and confident, but that said… she is, so she does. ![]() Did she lie? She sports a dress constructed entirely of chain-linked polaroids of herself. She tells us: “My drag is very real woman”. Lala is victorious and a devastated Denali is pork chopped. She delivers an entertaining performance with just the right amount of attitude. LaLa Ri, on the other hand, is just having fun. She’s also in the unfortunate position of having to pull her outfit up every few seconds, which doesn’t help matters. She’s nervous, and the immense pressure she feels to succeed at Drag Race is clear as day. ![]() Denali is clearly thrown by the format twist. The two lip sync to “When I Grow Up” and their differences in mindset are immediately on full display. LaLa says she’s “an Olive Garden pasta with Popeye’s chicken tenders on top,” probably the most succinct and perfect branding of any queen this episode. She’s funny, she’s completely at ease, and she doesn’t seem to care that she’s entering the werkroom in a cheap bodysuit and jacket (much to Denali’s chagrin). Fitting, then, that Denali is paired with LaLa Ri. Denali is a Chicago darling, and enters the show with a polished package, a competitor’s mindset, and a dedicated fanbase. It’s notable that Drag Race has now had so many queens that Denali isn’t even the first professional ice skater slash drag queen to be cast. Next up is Denali, Chicago’s ice princess. Kandy wins, and Joey Jay gets “the pork chop”… whatever that means. True to form, it’s become an instant meme. The most memorable moment is Kandy’s boombox prop, which she uses to “turn off” the song at the end of the lip sync. Once we finally admit that Anna Kendrick ruined the concept of being self-deprecating in 2015, we can realize what the gays have always known: delusional self-confidence rules!Īfter a brief onstage interrogation, Joey and Kandy lip sync to “Call Me Maybe.” In short, Kandy slays it. ![]() I think self-awareness is an overrated trait in drag queens. Next is Joey Jay, a “filler queen.” Hey she said it, not me! Joey Jay repeats that phrase several times throughout the episode, I assume in an effort to reclaim a term that has been weaponized against the Magnolia Crawfords of the world. Drag Race has a nasty habit of airlifting confident queens out of NYC, knocking them down a peg or seven, and villainizing them in the process. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous for Kandy. Kandy was a winner this episode, she proved what New York drag fans have known for years: she’s funny, loud as hell, and a smart performer to boot. Formerly Haus of Aja (we have yet to get the full tea), Kandy rose to viral internet fame thanks to her loud mouth and iconic tweets. Without further ado, let’s meet the queens!Ībout half the queens think they’re first into the Werkroom, but canonically, the prize goes to the legendary Kandy Muse. That said, the episode is boosted by the talent of the cast, so you might very well forget the Groundhog Day of it all. While the first 10 minutes or so feel fresh and invigorating, this ep begins to follow an increasingly predictable pattern: queen #1 enters and says some version of the phrase “I’m the first one!”, queen #2 enters and makes slightly forced banter with queen #1, both queens are SHOCKED by a twist we have now seen play out 2-5 times, and finally a lip sync of varying quality. This episode’s lip sync battle twist falls somewhere in the middle. Drag Race loves a format change, which has herstorically resulted in some soaring successes ( All Stars 2) and some dismal failures ( All Stars 1). And I’m back, too! Here to walk you through this COVID-compliant season every step of the way. Drag Race is back, baby! There may be no guest stars, the judges may be separated by dystopian plexiglass sheets, and RuPaul may be avoiding the Werkroom like the LITERAL plague, but it’s BACK. ![]()
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