by Chris Feil
Can you believe that this season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars was only eight episodes? It feels like we have been gagging over the seemingly endless stream of drama and twists for much longer, but now the season must come to a close. After last week, the internet was vocal about Alaska's tantrum and even I took some flak for considering her run otherwise unsatisfying - but Alaska did play it smart with the fallout.
For the queens final challenge, they put on a supersized showgirl musical number with original raps written around their personas. Before the performance, the girls also visited Ru and Michelle Visage for a mini segment of their podcast "What's The Tee?", narrowly avoiding the podcast's shucking for SquareSpace ("you know it really is so easy") and Casper mattresses in a tweaked version of the old Tic Tac lunches...
Best Rap Moment - Katya - "It's a rash, not a herpes sore."
Best Rap Overall - Detox
But the thrust of the episode was Alaska redeeming herself for stumbling so hard in the previous episode. It's hard not to relate to how her self-punishing perfectionism became her undoing, especially how it could lead to weaker impulses (Rolaskatox). She may not have quite loosened up this episode, but she was once again flawless in the challenge and runway, and that perfection was finally interesting. When having to answer why she should be the winner, Alaska's answer was both accurate and unexpected: she is the show's ultimate queen because she's also its biggest fan. Finally, Alaska's passion shown through the flawless veneer she imposed on herself.
Personal/Episode Best Runway - Roxxxy Andrews
The season's most imperfect performer Roxxxy Andrews at least got to go out with somewhat of a bang. The episode all but ignores her, knowing full well that she's not really in the running to win, and once again she flubs the challenge with unmemorable lyrics and shaky lipsyncing. Her redemptive narrative arc had long been fulfilled, but the contrast in her behavior from cruel bitch to ceaselessly humble is still striking and refreshing in such a heated season. Before Ru graciously eliminated her, her runway mopped her competition. Cheers, queen.
The show was clear that Roxxxy had no chance, but it didn't present Detox much better. While she had screen time, it was as if they were trying to justify her presence in the finale, which doesn't feel quite fair considering she's been a strong performer. Her professed reason for winning is to be queen of the weirdos, a passion that the episode never lets her fully elaborate on, preventing an emotional connection between us and her. This show has never nearly been completely balanced on presenting its top three, but this felt the most disproportionate in some time.
Best Speech - Katya
Katya's anxiety and addiction demons have played out in long form between her season seven run, her post-show YouTube content, and now here on All Stars. In a short time, we've been able to become invested in her journey to both accept her talent and herself as enough (the journey to self-love is one that Drag Race tell better than any show on television, period). In her podcast/Tic Tac lunch, she spoke to now being able to name the self-doubting voice in her head in order to dispel it: "You know what, Brenda? Shut the fuck up." We come to Katya for the off-the-wall unexpected humor, but we stay for how she helps us tell our own Brendas to fuck off.
Her flexibility and hilarity were on full display for the challenge, but her real moment came in that final "sell yourself as the winner" declaration:
In season seven, you let me show the world that I'm good enough. And here, you let me believe it myself.
By the runway's end and Ru's proud tears, it was time to crown the winner.
Alaska was crowned victorious, in a well earned win despite the fanbase being largely #TeamKatya. But it's difficult to find fault in the decision - Alaska was not only a worthy competitor (if still somewhat unsatisfying) all season and she's one of the foremost queens in the shows enduring legacy. However, one of the show's consistent problems is presenting a predictable winner over the course of the season (see: every winning queen since Raja in season 3). Maybe doubling doubling down on Alaska's meltdown in the edit was to throw off our scent (it kinda worked), but it's not uncommon for an ultimate winner to falter right before the finale.
And if you want to be extra pissed for Katya, remember that she has no prizes to show for her run on the season. Even Tatianna has $5000 from her shared lipsync win with Alyssa. The emotional arc for Katya was also a sign she wouldn't be our winner - if a contestant has some kind of emotional breakthrough, the show likes to treat that as a personal "win". But we'll keep on adoring Katya, for she is going nowhere!
Gif as Episode/Season/Katya Grade:
Would you call this the show's greatest season? Does Alaska's meltdown sour her victory for you? Or is Katya still your favorite complex human woman of grace and dignity?