RPDR S8.1 Donut Come For Me!
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 2:30PM 
We're days late arriving to the conversation about RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 but donut come for me (heh). There are only so many hours in the day. Watching the "Meet the Queens" teaser I predicted Bob, Kim Chi and Laila for the top three (in a betting pool) and then Laila landed in the bottom two the very first episode. Whoops! There goes a tenner.
Kim Chi, who describes herself as an anime character, did a Cowardly Lion homage (there are always movie references!). More after the jump if you're so inclined...
S8.01 "Keeping it 100"
For the 100th episode, Ru focused on the impact of the show over the past 7 years with callbacks to every previous winner (all but Bianca showed, replaced hilariously with a circus clown) and a challenge based on a hodgepodge of previous challenges.
Pros: This batch of Queens already slayed Season 7's lineup
Cons: The mix of challenges was actually anti-fun because it robbed the audience of the foundation of reality competition joy (comparing the contenders). They were actually competing with vague memories from the past and not each other. No bueno.
Episode MVP (and winner):
Kim Chi giving great quote "donut come for me" AND won the challenge AND set up future drama (her mom doesn't know she does drag)
Kindred Spirit Quotable
via Laila McQueen
Best Read:
Violet Chochki on Naomi Small's toes... "CLIFFHANGERS" - ha!
TOP SIX (early preferences -- not predictions -- Alpha Order)
Acid Betty, Kim Chi, Bob the Drag Queen, Derrick Barry, Laila McQueen, and Naomi Smalls
MOVIE REFERENCES
anime, Butterfly McQueen, Carole Lombard, Rita Hayworth, Jean Harlow, Beetlejuice, A Cry in the Dark, Gone With the Wind, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Paris is Burning, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Showgirls, Sunset Blvd, and The Wizard of Oz
OTHER POP CULTURE REFERENCES
Angelyne, Carol Burnett, Eva Longoria, Florence Henderson, Washington crossing the Delaware, Miss America, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, Biggie Smalls, 90s supermodels, Studio 54, Storm from the X-Men, Hello Kitty, Wynonna Judd, Beyoncé, and Britney Spears. Plus endless references to RuPaul's Drag Race itself and its 100 queens -- this episode is an ororobus with its snake-face beat.
CUTEST IN BOY DRAG
1. Derrick Barry
2. <--- Laila McQueen
3. Naomi Smalls
EPISODE GRADE
B. A solid start but the main challenge lacked focus and the lipsynch was low energy. At least until Laila pulled out her "quasi-gimmicks" which was a lot of rock bar stripper writhing
MORE BUTCH QUEENS
If this isn't enough Drag Race for you make sure to check out this fun recap at Previously TV and power rankings at Towleroad and the first episode of Untucked backstage.
This interview with RuPaul at Billboard is worth a look too. Especially in Ru's understanding that we need to be more attuned to our cultural history:
When I was coming up, I had mentors who taught me about Tennessee Williams and Tallulah Bankhead and Truman Capote and [Federico] Fellini -- all that stuff. That sort of went away at one point, for young gay people. So I'm so proud of Drag Race for taking up the slack in that department, because so many young kids around the world, in remote places around the world, get to watch Drag Race and learn about Paris Is Burning or Grey Gardens. Even just attitudes toward drag -- different styles of drag.
Reader Comments (13)
9000% agreement on that challenge. It's frustrating for the audience because we can't view the contestants on a level playing field if they can't be compared.
"Donut come for me" was love at first sight (ok, 100th) with Kim. Because A) donuts b) puns and c) adorable
We in the uk are only half way through series 7 so no idea who season 7 winner is,so can you let us uk fans know by putting a spoiler in the heading,GO GINGER xx.
Ack - Laila is such a busted queen. That entrance look was straight out of Hot Topic circa 2003. My initial favorite are the NYC 3 (Thorgy Thor, Bob and Acid Betty) and Kim Chi.
I agree, luckily, that the season already has so much more potential than S7. The challenges were kind of a mess (what was the point of that photo shoot even?) but it's looking good!
Kim Chi's look was sickening, but it also reminded me of John Candy in Spaceballs.
I'm here for Thorgy, Kim Chi, Acid and Robbie! I've met Robbie personally and she's such a sweetheart but looks like she's getting a villain edit.
Bob tries too hard to be funny (she keeps saying she's funny!) and is over confident. Not a combination that I find appealing but we'll see how the season goes.
This season is already miles better than the last one because of all the personality bursting at the seams everywhere.
Bob is freaking hilarious. His lip-syncs are JAW DROPPING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaekaFzDACo
So excited for Kim Chi! I think she'll go far!
Acid Betty shading the previous drag queens during the photoshoot...girl, you gotta win before you come for them.
The problem with Derrick out of drag is that he looks like Britney out of drag and it freaks me out a little.
Also I've never seen such an unpleasant looking donut as the one Kim Chi had. Where does one find poop green donuts?
AR -- i'd eat it.
i loved thorgy from her meet the queens video ["drag is meant to be fun"] and i'm sticking with her
AR - I would eat any (non-cream/jelly filled) donut.
par - SAME. I love her energy, such a cool and chill chick
Nathaniel - in fairness, shouldn't Chachki be ineligible for best read since it's not her season? I'd vote for Kim saying Naysha danced like a soccer mom ("Put it in the goal, kids!")
You know what I would eat? Boy Laila McQueen. Damn, that boy is sexy.
I totally agree this season looks to be infinitely better than S7. Cast is much stronger, and with more interesting personalities.
My predicted top three: Acid Betty, Bob the DQ, Kim Chi
My preferred top three: Bob the DQ, Kim Chi, Thorgy
Miss Congeniality: Kim Chi / Chi Chi Du Vayne; one of the Chi's
Chi Chi Du Vayne is gonna suprise y'all...
I'll say this about Naysha: she takes a loss like a beauty queen. My heart was breaking for her.
I was wondering where the Laila love is coming from, Nathaniel... then you posted that boy Laila photo and O!K!