Last week I had Bob on top of the weekly winner, Kim Chi. Where did they land after an all-dancing challenge? It turns out, the only shake-up came from one of the two of them.
1. Bob the Drag Queen (Avg 1; was: 1)
Bob was safe for a second week in a row, so why does she have the top spot? Because she is pretty great at everything, and when she isn’t she’s doing so with great intent.
I was annoyed by her oddball take on the cha cha dancing challenge, but did she really want to be a team captain a singing or dancing challenge, which is what always happens in this spot? Maybe it was better not to win. Similarly, her runway fashion was unassailable, but not a week-winning standout – but why blow a major closet piece (as Kim Chi did) on an early week when your performance had you near the top of the pack?
Bottom line: she has flaws, but none of them are as troubling as the weak spots of the other queens. Add to that the fact that Untucked is effectively the Bob The Drag Queen Comedy Revue (and for that reason is the best it has recently been) and heading into an acting challenge, and Bob remains the queen to beat.
2. Acid Betty (Average 3, was 3)
On this show, attitude is everything – and for Acid Betty that cuts both ways. This week she slayed in the challenge and in the runway, but her acid test personality took its toll on all the other girls on her team (even if it helped them in the end).
If Betty could balance the Ph of her personality she’d be a surefire winner this season, but right now she’s destined to be stuck as a villain. After seeing the edited episodes and social media reaction, Ru will never crown such a heel. Maybe Betty doesn’t want the win… but if she does, let’s hope she found a kinder, gentler side at some point in the competition.
(Also, just so someone says it: Betty is a dead ringer for Amanda Palmer when she is in drag)
3. Chi Chi (Average 4, was 4)
Chi Chi was solid this week, both as a leader and an individual performer (I don’t believe for a second she would have been lost without Acid Betty). I have no problem thinking of her as America’s Next Drag Superstar.
However, I’m worried about Michelle coming for Chi Chi’s perfectly lovely dress as being “basic.” Chi Chi is going to be a real test of if a queen with less means can actually make it far on drag race anymore, or if the show has really become about the dollars in your closet.
4. Cynthia Lee (Average 5, was 5)
Cynthia is apparently the nicest queen around – her group had nothing but praise for her in Untucked. She also utterly failed at supplying them with interesting dance moves, and was in relatively safe fashion on the runway. I like her a lot and I believe she is one of the most talented queens in the mix this season, but she needs to step if up or else she will be at risk for a “too safe / too basic” mid-show cut, a la Joselyn Fox.
5. Naomi Smalls (Average 6, was 6)
Naomi really shored up her spot this week with flawless execution of her team’s dance steps and appropriate shade levels aimed at Laila and Dax. Right now her weak spots are the constant boy-chest, fashion that might be slightly too nude, and her ridiculous attempt at a death drop – none of which are insurmountable. If she has the chops for acting and singing she will be a difficult queen to defeat.
6. Thorgy Thor (Average 7, was 7)
After her slinky, sexy look in the group dance and her strategic pantsuit move on the runway, I feel like I should have Thorgy in my top three! Yet, this episode showed us her big self-defeating tendency – she can’t help but be different. We saw that win some positive accolades in the form of her Frieda Khalo and her punching choreography, but what happens when her insistence runs afoul of Ru Paul’s preferences? It will be interesting to see how she puts Michelle’s comments about her eye make-up to use.
7. Derrick Barry (Average 8, was 8)
More Britney (this week in his choreography), and the first non-blonde look he pulls out on the runway is a Vegas showgirl in a terrible red wig.
Derrick will continue to do adequately in performance challenges due to all of the time she has spent on stage and she likely has some stunning runway choices tucked away in her closet, but in the long run she doesn’t have what it takes to be the next Drag Superstar.
(Also, I think she is in danger of losing her first lip sync if she just does a bunch of Britney video choreography rather than connecting with the song.)
8. Kim Chi (Average 5, was 2)
This week put all of Kim Chi’s weaknesses on display, and some of them simply aren’t things she can overcome in the span of a few weeks. She cannot dance, and her ability to inhabit a character will not save her from further dancing challenges. Her runway walk is a sad stomp. Will her humor shine through in the more individual challenges? Perhaps, but can she beat ANY of these other girls in a lip sync?
9. Robbie Turner (Average 10, was 10).
With Laila gone, Robbie is now the queen who is fading into the background. Add to that her hideous lips and unattractive personality – there is no way she gets within arm’s reach of the finals. Even if she skates by on safe fashion and decent performances, one of the top half the queens will do her in.