Drag Race RuCap: “Drag Baby Mamas”

GET OUT 2 will star Onya Nurve. Start polishing the Oscar.

CLÁUDIO ALVES: It’s no secret that I don’t tend to like makeover challenges on RuPaul’s Drag Race and that the last few episodes of season 17 have led to a crescendo of grumpiness on my part. So, everything was stacked against “Drag Baby Mamas,” as far as I’m concerned. But surprise surprise, this was a rather lovely hour of reality TV, so sweet as to give you a cavity yet assembled with enough brio to develop the competition’s main characters in interesting ways. It felt raw and earnest in a way we rarely get on this program, whose manicured sentimentality usually trumps much-desired authenticity. And we even got to see Law Roach thirst over Onya’s dad which was the most relatable he’s ever been. Agree or disagree? 

NICK TAYLOR: I really liked it! Compared to how good the episode was at the level of pure characterization and emotional honesty between the queens and their parents, the actual challenge was kind of a letdown. I am reminded of one of Dawn’s many tweets from a few weeks ago saying how although season 16 had better drag, season 17 has been an even bigger serve as reality television, and she’s right on the money...

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Fatal Attraction Pt 3: Who is the monster and who is the victim?

by Nathaniel R

Glenn Close at the Oscars, awaiting on the verdict yet again

Welcome back to the boiling and bloody finale of our three-part retrospective of Adrian Lyne's classic thriller Fatal Attraction (1987). In part 1, Husband and father Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas in his best performance of 1987 -- sorry Wall Street) stumbled out of the pouring rain and straight into an even wetter two-night stand with Alex Forrest (Glenn Close in her most iconic role). Things start hot but end bloody with a suicide attempt. In part 2, Dan clings hard to his wife Beth and his daughter Ellen, desperate for normalcy again. He eagerly grants them their dream gifts: a new home in the suburbs and a pet bunny rabbit, respectively. As we return to the film, Beth and Ellen are still oblivious to the family's pregnant stalker.

One more thing: I realize this retrospective would have been less out-of-the-blue obsessive and better-timed if tied to the 35th anniversary three years back or the launch of the inferior miniseries retelling exactly two years ago or even Michael Douglas's 80th birthday last year. In this way I fear I'm much like Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) himself delaying the inevitable. He kept missing perfect off ramps to avoid this dangerous liaison with Alex and even its aftermath. Where did it get him? Now he's down one car, paying two mortgages, lying to his wife, and trying to avoid a very angry stalker while angling for a life-changing promotion at work. Pass the beta blockers. Now, back to the film...

[voiceover] You're scared of me aren't you? You're fucking frightened of me -- you're afraid. You're afraid, aren't you? You gutless, heartless, spineless, fucking son-of-a-bitch.

1:21:03 Dan is still sneaking around -- albeit for less sexy reasons,,,

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Fatal Attraction Pt 2: She's not going to be IGNORED, Dan!

by Nathaniel R

In Act 1 of Fatal Attraction (for a three-part retrospective), we met the happily married Gallaghers and their longsuffering dog Quincy, who was neglected for almost a whole weekend. The cause was Husband Dan's (Michael Douglas) sexually explosive weekend with a new co-worker Alex (Glenn Close). Dan ignored a handful of fire-engine red flags.

When we left our players, Alex was suicidal and Dan was headed back to his normal life. He will now attempt to pretend that nothing at all has happened. You can guess how how that attempt plays out!

"What are you doing here? It's 8:00 AM."

40:08 As we return to the film in progress, Dan tells his executive assistant Martha that he's 'in the shitter' and way behind at work. That's what happens when you fuck Glenn Close all weekend...

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Are you ready for "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale"?

by Nathaniel R

"What are you doing here?"

When I first heard the news that there would be a third Downton Abbey film I thought,' that's crazy, you've killed off the most quotable character in the previous film!' As you'll recall the Dowager Countess played by the late great Dame Maggie Smith passed away in the last film Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022). But then I reconsidered my incredulity about another film because the franchise has so many good characters...

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Drag Race RuCap: “Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent Monologues”

For a second there, it looked like Detox was back on the Drag Race stage.

NICK TAYLOR: As with last season’s top six challenge, we get a pairs main challenge which relies heavily on the queen’s ingenuity to spin gold from straw. Comparing this episode to "Bathroom Hunties" immediately makes me grateful for how much "Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent Monologues" allows the queens shake their shit without a safety net rather than making them literally sell something. The interpretive dance/monologue combo is still a very strange prompt, but as the best duet showed, it’s a fun platform for the queen’s creativity, trust, and improvisational skills to shine through. That’s a very generous spin on a challenge the queens and the audience absolutely should not have sat through, but even so, we got a very deserving winner and one of season 17’s stronger lip syncs. But then the lip sync winner was eliminated, and that’s not fun. How about you, did you have a good time this week? 

CLÁUDIO ALVES: Mama, this is garbage…

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