RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings, S7E07 – “Snatch Game”

This week was a second shocker elimination this season in that a great queen went home early, but it was also one of the worst single-episode descents in Drag Race herstory. And it wasn’t even that messy! Meanwhile, the ranks are all shook up compared to last week, and not just because of Ginger’s mediocre Elvis.

#1 Ginger Minj (avg 2, was #1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4)
Ginger the studied Drag Race Herstorian was on display again this week, biting past inspirations in both Snatch Game and Runway. It’s getting really hard to imagine anyone else winning if she makes it into the top three. Despite my early love of Ginger, I’m growing slightly weary of her constant being-rightness, possibly because it’s paired with so much drawling cattiness. Now that we all know she can change up her silouhette, I’d like to see one truly eleganza runway. I also think getting to a solo challenge where she gets to pitch her own concept and its great will help cement her position up here at the top.

#2 Kennedy Davenport (avg 4, was #5, 3, 4, 6, 2, 2)
Oh, who the fuck knows!? Kennedy swings like a pendulum from barely getting by to slyly perfect, and I think at this point she’s probably headed for the final based on her range. It also helps that she’s a brand new archetype for the show – not quite Alyssa or Coco when it comes to pagentry but not really Latrice or Darienne when it comes to a heavy queen. But, she always seems to be the verge of getting the boot and some of her fashion is just a don’t. Anything can happen!

#3 Violet Chachki (avg 2, was #2, 4, 1, 1, 1, 1)
Violet is still my personal top girl, and this week brought an interesting story for her – she took Ru’s advice, and advanced because of it. I’ve always said the only winner’s arc for her is a “young girl shows growth” repeat of Adore but with better clothes, and here’s her big opening. She was also delightfully young and human in Untucked, being funny and even encouraging. Still, she needs another definitive win to shore up her chances – it’s been since week one.

#4 Katya (avg 5, was #4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6)
Was this the beginning of a newly confident Katya? She killed the challenge and the runway despite not taking Ru’s advice, and seemed to find some solace in between. Plus, it was her best fashion since week one. She’s crafty and beats herself up until she finds a way to win, so solo challenges are probably going to mean an uptick for her. If it were up to me, we’d boot Kennedy and get a riotous Ginger, Violet, Katya final three, which would be a true toss-up.

Here’s Max with an average of 4. Will Ru stay her execution by bringing her right back next week? I guess it’s easier on the travel budget…

I had Tempest just outside of my top three based on her well-crafted fashion in the first episode. I can’t really see Ru going back this far when she has Trixie and Max to choose from unless next week is a fashion challenge and she wants a seamstress to put the scare into the other girls.

#5 Pearl (avg 7, was #7, 8, 10, 9, 7, 6)
It’s an all-time-high for Pearl! This week represented her finally turning the corner she’s been headed towards in her recent arc. She was funny and confident, and she had a terrific look. On one hand, that makes it easy to say her story is over and dismiss her. On the other, that primes her edit for a major breakthrough that catapults her to the top. Now that she’s woken up, she is undeniably likable. Could she snake Violet’s ingenue spot in the top three? It could happen.

#6 Ms. Fame (avg 6, was #6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 3)
Fame rose from being one of the flattest queens for me to one of the ones I love the most. I want so much success and happiness for her, but she has hit a wall in this competition. That wall is her conflicting struggle to both edit and reveal herself. That’s why her fashion is so on-point – the struggle comes out in the look! When it comes to challenges or even talking she’s a muddle. Miss Fame requires time to process and plan, and that’s not something this show provides. If we get a makeover or a fashion challenge sans comedy she could be a winner, but couples choreography or anything where she has to go outside the studio is going to stymie her. Plus, she’s a little terrified of Lip Sync, which isn’t a terrific sign.

Trixie checked out with an average of 6 but was on a rapid ascent at the time. I think she’s a lock for the comeback – as I called when she was eliminated! And, Ru didn’t even know at the time how obsessed the fans would be with her. Could this be the first comeback queen to not leave in the same episode? Maybe, folks, because Trixie is not going to lose a lip sync against half of these girls.

#7 Jaidynn Diore Fierce (avg 9, was #8, 7, 7, 11, 12, 10)
I think Jaidynn has shown enough growth and enough fight that one more lip sync is going to be her justifiable last – she’s just not that good to send home a third queen. I can’t picture any challenge she would be a clear winner in at this point, so unless her suitcase just gets better and better after this week’s look it could finally be her time to go.

Kasha and Kandy both left with an average of 9. There’s no way Kandy knocks off yet another queen, but a revived Kasha could come back swinging and take out someone good.

Jasmine clocked out with an average of 10, and Ru would only bring her back to stir the shit – she has no chance of winning.

Sasha left with an average of 13 and had nothing to add to the show to begin with, as can be seen from Pearl and Violet’s Untucked reaction to the thought of her coming back.