by Nathaniel R
Let us begin by bowing down to the writers on RuPaul's Drag Race for so many new and witty mini-challenges for Season 10. They knew this season was important and they're clearly reinvigorated. In a tenth season when most writers rooms have given up. This week's "Rough Trade" opener was truly funny as the six remaining queens had to summon their inner neanderthal in straight drag. Naturally Kameron with her muscle body and ripped tee most looked the party but Eureka won with her outlandishly butch slob "BJ" (Being a Jokester). Asia, Aquaria, and Miz Cracker couldn't really leave the femme behind and Monét memorably struggled to stop the swivel in her hips.
On to the maxi-challenge, drag makeovers for "Social Media Kings" all of whom I was personally unfamiliar with save Tyler Oakley and Frankie Grande. Hmmm, I might be gay and not in my *cough* twenties? Shut up!
Eureka assigned the Kings to the Queens and for the most part her assignments worked -- though Kameron at first struggled to connect with his equally reserved partner, a straight YouTuber named Anthony Padilla... who is much much less reserved on his own funny channel. Aquaria didn't really boost her partner Kingsley's confidence or help him with his nerves. Miz Cracker hilariously read Frankie/Eureka when Eureka paired them.
"I think Eureka was only thinking about herself when she chose the one that was already in drag."
You're a winner, baby
Miz Cracker, paired with a straight man, YouTube singer Christopher Chee, who totally went for it as "Miss Cookie," finally took her first win. It's impossible to argue with the decision. Cracker nailed the family resemblance part without resorting to matchy-matchy outfits (as the two runner up queens did) and the acting and enthusiasm and even her personal overanalytic reserve all came together in one funny show about an overenthusiastic drag daughter and her annoyed / nervous dragmother. Asia (paired with Raymond Braun) and Eureka were also top three and the critiques reminded us that the judges love those two queens most of all which is why we're sure that one of the two of them will win in the end. Neither are often clocked for errors and are nearly always praised enormously even when they aren't quite nailing all four chief ingredients simultaneously: Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent. I like all of the remaining queens but I'll admit that my initial big enthusiasm for Asia has waned. I'm just not "wow"ed consistently though she's intermittently a dynamic queen. And obviously a complete professional!
Sashay away
Despite a spirited and funny lipsynch that seemed (to these eyes) like an easy call for a Shantay You Stay, Monét X Change's time on the show has come to an end. It's just a reminder that people rarely survive a third lipsynch even when they're still slaying them. The judges get bored. So Kameron, only on her second lipsynch, gets to stay. Unfortunately that means that we've lost our two very best narrators of the episodes given that Monique and Monét are no longer competing.
Quotable Bitches
"The only vers I am is Versace" - Aquaria
"You're all a bunch of whores." - RuPaul
Name dropping
Guest judges: Singer Lizzo ("Good as Hell") and actor Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why) who seems even shyer about being there than a couple of the Social Media Kings in the challenge. Did his management make him do this?; Pop culture references this episode: Gypsy, Mamma Mia!, The Judds, Ariana Grande, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Naomi Campbell, Little House on the Prairie, Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen.
Episode MVP
RuPaul was having the best time ever. Laughing and quipping and generally being a HAPPY goddess.
Rankings
Shifts from last week indicated with arrows...
| PREDICTION | PREFERENCE |
 |
 |
| Subject to change as we get to know them | |
| 1. Asia O'Hara |
1. Eureka |
| 2. 🔺Eureka | 2. 🔻 Monét X Change OUT |
| 3. Aquaria | 3. Monique Heart OUT |
| 4. Miz Cracker | 4. 🔺Miz Cracker |
| 5.🔻 Kameron Michaels | 5. Kameron Michaels |
| 6.🔻 Monét X Change OUT | 6. Aquaria |
| 7. The Vixen OUT | 7. 🔻Asia O'Hara |
| 8. Monique Heart OUT | 8. Dusty Ray Bottoms OUT |
| 9. Blair St Clair OUT | 9. The Vixen OUT |
| 10. Mayhem Miller OUT | 10. Yuhua Hamasaki OUT |
| 11. Dusty Ray Bottoms OUT | 11. Blair St Clair OUT |
| 12. Yuhua Hamasaki OUT | 12. Mayhem Miller OUT |
| 13. Kalorie Karbdashian Williams OUT | 13. Kalorie Karbdashian Williams OUT |
| 14. Vanessa Vanjie Mateo OUT | 14. Vanessa Vanjie Mateo OUT |
gif as episode grade...
