RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars is finally (almost) ready to stop dragging its feet
The queens channel their inner Drag Tots in a fun challenge even as the show drags out the inevitable
TV Reviews RuPaul
At this point in any good Drag Race season, the momentum picks up considerably. The pressure mounts on the queens, exhaustion often intensifying already intense emotions and the tightening playing field making it much less obvious who’s safe and who’s going home. That’s true of this season as well — with a playing field of competitors this determined, it couldn’t be otherwise — but it doesn’t feel like the momentum is building. The reason, in this writer’s opinion, is pretty simple: We all know this isn’t actually the top four, at least not officially. Stop talking about how twisty you are and actually twist, show! I am begging you! Please, for the love of Beyoncé*, bring on the game within a game already!
“Drag Tots” is, for the most part, a pretty solid episode of All Stars, challenging the queens to call on several skill sets while basically also daring them to get peeved at each other. (They don’t, mostly. Way to go, queens!) But what once seemed like a promising idea has turned into more of a leak in the show’s innertube, slowly releasing pressure in a manner not so noticeable at first but impossible to ignore as time goes by. All five of the final queens turn in solid performances and looks, but while they turn it, the show itself is running out of air.
The episode opens with the usual post-runway chat, with Trinity understandably pleased to discover that the decision to send Pandora home was unanimous (minus Pandora, who of course declined to Dela-Whiteout herself). But the status quo hasn’t shifted much, even with Pandora’s exit — Eureka is still winless, Kylie still ascendant, Ginger doing very well (and dominating the cash game), Trinity thriving but with some big stumbles, and Ra’Jah staying consistent but overdue for a second win.
In another season, that would be a real pressure-cooker of a situation. It’s no longer possible to rely on the track-record analysis (despite the unanimous-minus-Eureka decision) because it’s no longer as easy as counting up wins or times in the bottom. But because we’ve been teased (relentlessly and repetitively) on the game-within-a-game all season, the tension just isn’t there.
Luckily, the episode gives the queens a fun mini-challenge and a sincerely cool maxi challenge (even if it is just another ploy from everyone’s favorite oil baron marketing genius). The AS6 class superlatives are pretty delightful, particularly given the big pay-off in Untucked. As the game is played, it’s fun and lively — these queens have great chemistry, the rapport is delightful — but the only real drama to emerge from it is Trinity getting in her feelings about being named moodiest (thus proving everyone’s point) and most likely to go home.
But the only reason she got most likely to go home is that she wrote down her own name, then forgot she did that. Trinity spends the whole episode and part of Untucked feeling hard done by even though it wouldn’t have happened at all if she’d written down literally any other person’s name. She could have written “the ghost of Heidi N Closet’s lip-sync assassin wig” or “all these other bitches” or “Eureka’s Adidas slides” and the winner of tht superlative would have been Eureka. The moment she realizes it in Untucked is GOOD FUCKING TV. I laughed, I cried, it was brilliant.
The maxi challenge is successful for less unusual reasons. RuPaul loves a branding challenge, a cross-promotional opportunity, and the chance to push the queens to think about their own drag in a new way. The Drag Tots challenge checks all those boxes. In a sense, it’s the ultimate expression of the “sell me something” challenges the queens face every year, because it distills it down to its essence: no matter what the “product” is, the real sales pitch is the one they’re giving for themselves.
Salesmanship and performance aren’t that different. Here, they’re one and the same. And all of the queens succeed, which isn’t often the case in these challenges. They all listen to their notes and adjust. They lean on what they do best, and both Eureka and Ra’Jah take some negative emotions they’re experiencing and turn them into actual superpowers.
Ra’Jah’s win is well-deserved—anyone who can turn the Pale Man from Pan’s Labyrinth into a character for a kids’ show deserves only praise, we have no choice but to stan, etc.
But all five of the queens do well. Eureka’s villain is a clever choice and the design is spot-on: Maleficent by way of Divine. Ginger plays up her southern roots, a choice that’s a little safe but is greatly enhanced by her runway performance (the best of the bunch in that respect). Kylie ends up running behind, but tells the camera that she’s a showgirl who knows how to make it happen at the last moment, and she is absolutely correct. Her bitch witch look is terrific, with her broom and Hocus Pocus-inspired book really making it all sing. And Trinity successfully pivots from a dour-sounding character whose philosophy is ‘don’t let the haters get you down and by haters I mean me, as I wrote my own damn name down on the whiteboard and then forgot about it’ to the very clever feline catwalk instructor.
But because none of those four come out on top, they’re all in the bottom. And that means it’s time for Eureka to say goodbye.
But she doesn’t! Because the game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a gamewithinagamewithinagame still hasn’t happened.
But at long last, the time has arrived. Perhaps if this lip-sync-athon hadn’t been so relentlessly teased, there’d be some surprise and excitement here, but instead, it’s just a relief. By the time these queens reach the top four, all they should have to focus on is the finale. Whatever happens next week, it’ll be a nice change of pace, but it’s also an unnecessary speed-bump in an already lackadaisical season. If after all the shouting’s done we’re left with the exact same top four, it’ll be a misstep that will go down in herstory.
* — A reminder: Beyoncé Jesus.
Stray observations
- Kate’s Corner: “What a fun
ad forDrag Totschallenge! Given Drag Race’s popularity with young viewers, an animated children’s show is a natural fit and tasking the All Stars with adapting their brand to fit that world is a canny choice. Like Michelle, I really connected with Ra’Jah’s concept and character and thought she was a worthy winner. No one did poorly—Ginger has stepped up her runways, helping to level that playing field—so sending home the win-less Eureka makes sense. Mostly, though, we’re finally to the GWaG, a lip-sync battle (quite the anticlimax). After this build-up, it had better deliver!” - Untucked: Trinity, and I cannot stress this enough, WROTE DOWN HER OWN NAME AND THEN FORGOT.
- “I don’t really think it’s that hard!”
- My gif-t to you:
27 Comments
I didn’t love this challenge, felt so individualized that the queens didn’t seem very connected. Ra’Jah’s look was pretty medium so I’m surprised she got so much praise, but I am loving how Ra’Jah is revealing more and more what a natural comedic talent she is both on stage and in the work room. She’s much less scripted than Ginger seems with the one liners.Kylie’s dress I fucking loved.
Ra’Jah’s look was pretty medium GOOGLY. EYES.
That’s the comment. I do admit that I like to see how much she’s grown personality-wise since S11, though; I had braced myself to be annoyed out of my freakin’ skull when I heard that Ra’Jah, Silky and Eureka were all going to be on AS6… and pleasantly that hasn’t happened – they all seem to have matured and become more self aware, which is really refreshing.Kylie’s dress I fucking loved.Right?
I was so glad she turned it after they gave her the self-sabotaging ‘I’m not finished!’ edit. They only aspect of her look that I didn’t love was the hair – I am not a fan of this ‘just got out the shower’ wet look some queens have worn in recent seasons.
“Googly Eyes”this seasons tiny shopping bags/sponges.
It looked like a cheap wig but the length is nice. She should think about cutting her hair this length.
I didn’t love this challengeDrag Tots is one of those concepts that’s either going to be viewed as fun and cute or undeniably creepy, and a further sign of the desexualization of drag; there’s probably no middle ground here. After having been introduced to it here, I don’t think I’m going to looking for it elsewhere. Bianca sucked as a tot. Latrice, though, gets to add W.I.T.C.H. to the lexicon of drag. Good for you, Latrice!
Nobody really blew away the field on the runway, but Ra’Jah and Trinity understood the challenge in a way the other three didn’t. The looks were all meh tonight, but theirs were very appropriate to the assignment.Personally, I thought Kylie’s dress looked like the epitome of Party City.
“Drag Tots” is, for the most part, a pretty solid episode of All Stars,As much as I love this show, I was so underwhelmed with this episode… and I almost fell asleep during the mini challenge it was so damn boring.I don’t agree with the win, {TKB was robbed!} I do concur with the lip sync winner, though the song itself was poorly chosen, in my opinion. (Not that I know anything about Charli XCX or her music; guess I am now officially not ‘with it’ anymore.)Dragging out whatever the “game within a game” is has become tedious instead of the apparent desired result of being ‘titillating.’ Does anyone actually believe that they’re gonna let any eliminated queen come back into the competition at this late stage of the show?Lastly, just like her previous runway, I think Ra’Jah’s costume looked cheap and crafty – she literally hot glued googly-eyes all over a body suit with a sparkly dress thrown on top.
O_o
Lastly, just like her previous runway, I think Ra’Jah’s costume looked cheap and crafty -None of the looks were fantastic, to tell you the truth: Ginger’s garment was tacky and the colours were ugly (even if it fit the brief); TKB reminded me of that godawful unicorn challenge from S9, even though it was a completely different animal; Eureka, in her ill-fitting outfit, looked like an overcooked microwave dinner about to explode; Kylie looked pretty good because she prepared us for a fail throughout the episode and therefore exceeded expectations. But her sleeves were kind of uneven and her makeup was wonky. Love you, Kylie! So sure, why not Ra’Jah?
Great Kristen Sinema cosplay from Kylie!
So… no new review yet.Let me be the first to say the show is STILL dragging it’s feet and that ‘game within a game’ is some straight bullshit.
Without spoiling anything, the format of the GWAG is such that someone will definitely come back so you won’t be disappointed there!
you won’t be disappointed Yeah, it’s already too late for that, sis.
The mini-challenge was weird. It was like the queens have been so collegial this season turning into a veritable Ru Paul’s best friends race that they desperately needed to stir up conflict somehow and did it in this weird way that I agree was so muted and boring, though the game did sort of succeed in stirring up some bad feelings which was the point.I love Charlie XCX and she has a big gay following and in fact I love that song “Boom Clap” but it didn’t work for a lip sync song. There just aren’t enough dynamics to it. It’s more of a “vibe”
Luckily, the episode gives the queens a fun mini-challengeIt was a nice way of reframing the “who should go home tonight…and WHY?” runway bomb which, when first introduced, resulted in some delicious drama, but is now more likely to invoke rage in deranged “fans” and result in real and longlasting damage in careers. This had a much more lighthearted tone, and is in keeping with the general vibe of the season, which is still my second-faviourite of the AS seasons, even if it is slowly getting wrecked by that wretched “game within a game” “twist”.
I didn’t care much for the challenge, as someone who really isn’t interested in “drag for kids”, but think Ra’Jah and Trinity were clearly the best two on the day. They understood the assignment and made it fun. The other three were pretty bland.Optimistic whatever lip sync showdown to re-enter the game will end with someone being added to make a final five rather than swapping someone in this final four. This is the group I’d like to see at the end.
that lip-sync was awful. they should have done “vroom vroom” or “doin’ it”, two better and entertaining songs.also, i wished Ra’Jah would have won the lip sync and sent Ginger home, that would have been good tv.
Mrs. Kasha Davis theorized that Ra’Jah didn’t want to send a queen home, and I REALLY want to see who she picked to verify that opinion. If it was anyone but Eureka, she should’ve turned it waaaaay harder in that lip sync.And I love Kameron Michaels, but the way she lip syncs (specifically on TV, I’ve seen her live and she’s electric!) is kind of….heartless? It’s kind of the critique they’ve given Jan about her entire persona: it’s technically exact yet there’s nothing behind it, just an empty vessel.
Untucked shows Ra’Jah picked Eureka as well.
I thought Kameron Michaels’ lip syncs on her season were way better than what she did in this episode
Ra’Jah was the clear standout. Trinity did well also. They were the ones that actually really connected with the assignment. Ginger was just doing Ginger, just half-assed. Kylie was boring (and honestly the witch costume was just Party City for me). Eureka just didn’t take the villain thing far enough. Ra’Jah is my pick for the win even with some wonky runways. I’m rooting for Trinity also but she’s had the biggest flops out of the four left.I do hope that the lip sync game within the game doesn’t end up booting one of the current top four out of the top four. I like this top four!
We’re very much in line with another, both in this challenge and overall, except Ra’Jah is my 4th pick from this top 4. Wouldn’t mind her taking the crown, but I’d be happier with any of the other three, in any order, and it’s nothing against her in particular but more a matter of a longer span of time knowing the other three.
The decision to have the Game Within A Game left until the top 4 really is what’s bogging down this season. It’s just going to be a distraction to getting to the actual finale of the show, since it’s unlikely it will change the Top 4 we currently have. Think back to AS3 when Morgan McMichaels got brought back and then was sent packing the next episode. It just didn’t have any tension or stakes to it.The episode itself was fine. Good, even. I’m glad to see Ra’Jah get another win, and of all the character presentations on the runway, I found hers the most compelling to watch. All of these queens did well in the challenge, and we’re heading toward a strong finale once this tired Game Within A Game is over with.
Here’s the tea… The game within the game happens on almost every season of All-Stars does it not? All the queens who have sashayed away, come into the Werk Room, and are then told to stick around, and usually about halfway though the season, they girls come back and have some sort of lipsync battle, or get paired with the remaining queens for that weeks challenge, to get back into the competition by replacing a top queen, and send the other ousted queens back out the stage door. The girls all give good “surprise and shock” face when the learn that they have a chance to stay, but this has been pretty standard part of this show. In season two, Alyssa and Tatiana came back, and then got cut again right away. In season three, Trixie came back, and won. Latrice came back after being cut, in season four, and stayed for a few more episodes… It would at least make sense if there was an actual game going on with the cut queens, though difficult to accomplish and film.
Actually what would be cool to do is once they had the first two eliminated queens have a competition to be an alternate, whoever wins, stays in wait, then the next cut queen has a contest with the lady in wait “ting”, until they get to the episode in which the triumphant lady in wait “ting” gets the chance to rejoin. They could add this game to each episode of Untucked… It would at least be a game instead of simply having the eliminated queens sitting in their hotel rooms waiting for that special chance to return episode (which frequently ends up feeling anti-climactic).
If they had done that in Drag Race Down Under, and Art won a “game within a game”, it would have felt like an earned return, instead of the nonsense that did go down. Oof.
“In season three, Trixie came back, and won.”You’ve conflated Trixie’s All Stars run with her original appearance. In Season 7 she was eliminated in 11th place, then won her way back in at the season’s midpoint, stayed for two further episodes and finished in sixth place. In All Stars 3 she was never eliminated [and won].
Oops! It is getting difficult to keep it all str8 after so many seasons. Thanks!
In season three of All-Stars, it was Morgan McMichaels who won a return to the competition, and was then immediately eliminated again in the next episode.
My best idea for a game within a game thing is that after the first 3 queens get eliminated, they become the lipsync opponents. The top queen picks one of the 3 to lipsync against. If the top queen wins, the opponent is out permanently and their vote goes to the lipsync bench. If the opponent wins, both of the bottom queens (would have to be a permanent bottom 2 only) get put on the bench and the opponent returns to the competition.
the fact that they had charli on the episode and decided to use BOOM CLAP — pulled from a catalogue with an entire PLETHORA of better gay anthems — must be some form of hate crime i swear to god