It’s turning into fairly clear that every week’s episode of RuPaul’s Secret Movie star Drag Race will carry just about the identical factor: First rate lip syncs from a slate of semi-celebrities who’re sporting drag outfits however just about haven’t any drag personas in any other case. Significantly, although, how is Thirsty Von Entice totally different from Stylish-Li-Fay? With out non-lip-sync performances, we don’t have any actual approach to fall in love with these queens or their personalities — and even get a way that the celebrities behind the make-up have any concept of who their queens actually are.
I suppose that this week, at the least, it does appear to be the queens are starting to unlock somewhat of their drag potential. In episode three, the theme is “Cash, honey,” and whereas that’s a free by means of line at finest, every celebriqueen is tasked with performing a lip sync one way or the other primarily based across the idea of cash. The Queen Supremes are clad in animal print — or in Monét’s case, an precise animal costume — and Ru is joined on the panel by Carson Kressley and Michelle Visage.
We open this week’s slate of performances with a meh tackle “9 to five” from Poppy Love. Many a drag queen has slayed this quantity, and it’s admittedly arduous to outdrag Dolly herself, so Poppy will get props for attempting, however I actually simply don’t assume this was her tune. She appeared lovely and, because the Queens Supreme word, her choreography is at all times “pageant-level-talent clear” (one thing you’d count on from somebody who’s been in a boy band for many years), however I’d virtually have put Poppy within the backside this week whereas nonetheless understanding she’d destroy the inevitable loser within the lip sync. (No offense to Jackie Would.) Carson tells Poppy that she’s lacking “the sassy ease that an ideal drag queen has,” and Ru agrees, telling Poppy, “Bitch, it’s good to sissy that stroll.” Poppy has every part the judges are searching for, however she’s simply lacking a sure one thing. I believe it’s attainable that she will be able to discover it, however it’s virtually like they should do character workouts backstage or one thing to determine who they are surely past simply dancers in these performances. I by no means thought I’d say this, however we may use a superb Drag Race improv problem proper about now.
Milli Von Sunshine is up subsequent along with her tackle Fifth Concord’s “Work From Dwelling,” which she does in a getup she dubs “Fifties housewife meets intercourse employee.” She struggles with a troublesome gown reveal that threatens to derail her, however she pushes by means of and proves that the present should go on. I nonetheless battle with why they’re completely slathering Milli with make-up, gems, and doodads contemplating she’s such a stunning woman, however I suppose it may very well be below the guise of hiding her identification. I’d argue that you possibly can try this with contouring, face taping, wigs, and past, however what do I do know? I’m definitely no make-up artist.
Stylish-Li-Fay lastly will get her simply desserts with a profitable tackle Rihanna’s “Bitch Higher Have My Cash,” which she delivers in excessive Lady Scout–whore drag — latex booty shorts and all. Stylish is a proud member of Troop 6969, and her padding is on A-1 level. She’s acquired somewhat pink nostril and freckles, and the judges applaud her for going “all the way in which there.” She’s totally residing in “magical whorish mean-bitch land,” and I believe that, of all the ladies, Stylish might need the very best sense of who she may very well be in drag. I can virtually perceive how Stylish would react to conditions or the retorts she would possibly ship at a drag brunch, and my solely remorse is that we don’t actually get to see any of that on this present.
However wait! Lastly, within the third episode, we’re getting a tiny glimpse backstage on the post-performance motion. It’s like Secret Movie star Drag Race’s model of Untucked, and it makes the present maybe a full share level higher. Now that every episode isn’t jam-packed with just-okay lip syncs, it’s good to get to see the queens work together and turn into precise associates. We even get to see Jujubee ship sage knowledge about how drag queens’ superpower is their efficiency, which does really make lots of sense — particularly when she’s speaking to a bunch of performers.
Nicely, they’re not all performers. With out revealing who everyone seems to be — you’ll be able to go to the “Drag Me” part beneath for that — it’s value remembering right here that the particular person behind Jackie Would is extra of an inside designer than he’s a seasoned stage performer, even when he’s been on a couple of TV exhibits. It makes lots of sense that her tackle “Work Bitch” would ship her dwelling this week, as a result of a) it’s not an ideal tune for a 50-something man who can’t dance and b) if you’re going up in a lip-sync competitors in opposition to individuals who actually sing and dance for a residing and you don’t, you need to perceive that your time is restricted. Nonetheless, Jackie does appear to have captured lots of hearts (onstage and off) on Secret Movie star Drag Race — together with Carson’s, who I nonetheless contend has completely identified who she is the entire time. You possibly can simply inform by the way in which he says, “Hello, Jackie Would!”
Prop queen Donna Bellissima is subsequent, and she or he’s dedicated to storytelling. She says she’s aiming for Anna Nicole, however I believe she finally ends up trying somewhat extra like Kim Chi with that baby-doll costume. (Talking of which, what was occurring with that factor? It appeared prefer it had a hoop skirt, and I saved ready for a reveal, then nothing? Was the crinoline simply piled up bizarre or one thing? I hated it.) Her tackle Kim Petras’s “I Don’t Need It at All” was okay, with its Veruca Salt power, however the judges all agreed there was simply an excessive amount of occurring. It’s arduous guilty her for that totally, on condition that we don’t know the way a lot say these queens even have of their staging, however it does appear to be Donna would possibly consider that extra is completely higher. That’s not a horrible power to have if you’re doing drag, however you simply want to have the ability to pull it off, and she will be able to’t simply but. It lands her within the backside, however fortunately, she’s nonetheless secure to slay one other day.
Talking of touchdown within the backside, Thirsty Von Entice was there final week, and she or he’s completely dedicated to not going again anytime quickly. She is aware of her performances generally is a little chilly and distant, so she kicks off her model of Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” within the viewers earlier than dancers raise her onto the stage. I believed her dance break was somewhat too brief, however she appeared lovely, so I don’t disagree that she in all probability deserved to land someplace within the secure center. Ru tells Thirsty that it took her a long time to study that she may use the facility she has in drag out of drag, and whereas it’s not totally clear how that applies to Thirsty, one can assume it signifies that Ru must see somewhat extra confidence from her. She’s so lovely and tiny and is, in some methods, not dissimilar from Ariana Grande, however I nonetheless don’t consider that she believes she owns the stage.
The judges definitely consider Chakra 7 does, although. They gave her the week’s second win, alongside Stylish, hailing her efficiency of Fergie’s “M.I.L.F. $.” Whereas Chakra appeared satisfied that one way or the other her efficiency was about “the facility of childbirth,” I’d argue that it was extra concerning the energy of the mom as a complete, however Chakra did ship. I didn’t totally purchase that she knew the entire tune, however she lip-synced it with ferocity, and Ru mentioned she was nicely on her approach to “being reborn” to her “greater self,” which is one thing it looks like Chakra may very well be into.
After Stylish and Chakra are awarded a double win meaning completely nothing, Donna and Jackie go face to face in a lip sync of Gwen Guthrie’s “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On however the Lease.” I’m admittedly barely aware of this tune, however I did want Donna’s take, which I believed was all face whereas Jackie’s was all arms and crowd work. This isn’t Jackie’s first lip sync, and she or he fell into the entice of getting nothing new to ship the second time round. The judges and viewers had seen all her tips already — not that she had many — and whereas I do know I definitely fell for Jackie’s character, I nonetheless don’t assume it was sufficient to maintain her round for much longer. Many apologies to the good Thom Filicia, who was behind Jackie Would’s paint and pizzazz, however I simply don’t assume he had the talents to pay the payments on this specific competitors.
• Does anybody else assume it’s bizarre that the Queen Supremes are actually by no means seen out of drag? It’s bizarre, proper? Like, why couldn’t they be in boy garments within the werkroom and in drag on the primary stage? It’s not that they don’t at all times look fabulous, however I believe we’re shedding somewhat of that transformative energy. Then once more, if Mama Ru doesn’t get to be in boy garments, possibly they don’t both.
• For an episode that used the phrase bling a lot, these queens barely wore any. I anticipated these ladies to be dripping! A single assertion bib necklace simply isn’t going to do it for me, thanks.
• I like the picture of little Ru and Michelle sitting at their respective houses circling outfits within the Frederick’s Of Hollywood catalogs. Their desires have come true, and that’s very cute.
• In that little backstage bit, we noticed all of the contestants saying that if Chakra didn’t win, they’d revolt. That made me surprise if Ru wished Stylish to win however heard about that from producers — and thus the double win. Only a thought.
• As a reminder, my very educated guesses as to who’s who on the planet of Secret Movie star Drag Race:
Poppy Love is Backstreet Boy AJ McLean
Stylish-Li-Fay is Glee alum Kevin McHale
Milli Von Sunshine is Glee alum Jenna Ushkowitz
Chakra 7 is The Recent Prince’s Tatyana Ali
Donna Bellisima is Imply Ladies’ Daniel Franzese
Thirsty Von Entice is Ugly Betty and Hacks’ Mark Indelicato
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