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RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings, S7E08 – “Conjoined Queens”

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We’re now past the halfway point in the season, and thanks to Ru’s ingenious method of bringing a queen back we didn’t even get any inflation. What we did get was a shake-up! Every queen is in a different position compared to last week, and not just due to Trixie’s return. However, as we inch closer to the final the top three seems more solid than ever. Will any of the top trio be unseated?

#1 Violet Chachki (avg 2, was #3, 2, 4, 1, 1, 1, 1)
Violet continues her ascent to likable, young, talented queen, and as the only queen not to hit the bottom (aside from Fame – we’ll get to her in a minute) she is back as the competitor to beat. This is the Adore story with a redemption arc and sans messiness, and it’s pretty damn compelling. Given that Ginger would be a repeat of Bianca’s mean red-head vibe, she ought to be getting a bit scared of an upset. Violet has some weak spots, but one of the next three girls are going to have to overcome some flaws to upset her march to the top three. And, not for nothing, but I discovered via YouTube that Violet is a lip sync addict who at one point was debuting a new song in her act almost weekly. She’s one of the few queens who could potentially survive a lip sync against Kennedy at full power.

#2 Ginger Minj (avg 2, was #1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4)
Despite hitting the bottom, Ginger really only descends a spot due to Violet’s continued strength. Why? Two words: Sasha Belle. Even though the silly idea this week was all Ginger, we’ve never seen her miss the mark on execution before and probably won’t again. Also, the “I don’t sew” came off as protesting a bit too much given the snugness of their costumes. If anything, I think a trip to the bottom ensures her trip to the finals as we seek to avoid a repeat of last year’s two never-bottom-two girls making it to the end. Plus, she’s an able lip sync artist who would only be slayed by a dancer dropping splits left and right – but, there’s two or three of those girls still in it. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings, S7E08 – “Conjoined Queens”

RuPaul’s Drag Race, S7E08 Recap: Conjoined Queens

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Previously on Drag Race: Max fell impressively from grace while Ginger and Kennedy locked up their top spots with a shared Snatch Game win.

After The Elimination

The girls return to the room tired and seemingly bummed about Max, but neither emotion can top their ennui about the idea of a dismissed queen returning. Ginger wants Jasmine back (NO), which Fame quickly shoots down, proposing Kandy Ho. (Katya: “She can’t lip sync four times.”)

Katya interviews: “How can I say this delicately? I DON’T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO COME BACK. Nobody wants another bitch to come back! Nice to know you. You’re beautiful. Stay home.”

A New Day!

The girls enter the room expecting to be greeted by a returned queen or, preferably, a large gift box that they could set aflame. No one has positive feelings about the situation. Ginger suggests they all go on strike until the queen is removed and begins singing a protest song, which Violet finds hilarious.

RuPaul’s video message is a confusing mix of references to Wizard of Oz, bus-throwing, and hitchhiking – but it’s clear that the returned queen is meant to mess with everyone’s plans. Fame turns into a Katya-like cartoon character as she has an imaginary fist-fight with Ru.

Ru enters. “Are you decent? Because we’ve got company!” Everyone groans until Latrice MFigg Royale enters in her Tuckahoe County Prison uniform! The queens are more excited for Latrice than they’ve been for any actual star so far this season, because: LATRICE. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race, S7E08 Recap: Conjoined Queens

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

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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. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings, S7E07 – “Snatch Game”

RuPaul’s Drag Race, S7E07 Recap: Snatch Game

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RPDRS7Previously on Drag Race: More acting challenges managed to do in Kandy Ho rather than Jaidynn or Fame.

After The Elimination

No one seems terribly distraught about Kandy leaving, though even Katya as the challenge winner looks utterly exhausted. Jaidynn swears up and down she will not be lip syncing again, while Max concedes she’ll do one non-gray look and then head right back to her wheelhouse. Violet fires back, “Bitch, if they gave me specifics I would fucking do it.”

And, she’s right – they love Max and want to see one little thing. Just do the damn thing, Max. Kennedy agrees, in interview, in her shady way. Violet has some shade to throw back! “I’m over Kennedy missing the mark with these looks. She doesn’t look dead. She doesn’t look like a woman!” Pearl adds, “Kennedy looks like whaaaaat?” Back to Violet, “She looks like Tony The Tiger on crack.”

While they speak, Violet stands around looking drop dead gorgeous, neglecting to let out her waist despite ample opportunity. That’s a long day to spend cinched!

A New Day!

Katya: “It’s a new day, it’s down to eight girls. My game plan going forward is to kill a few of the girls to make it to the top.”

Katya can never be eliminated because I don’t know what I would do without her interview segments. She’s approaching Alyssa levels of interview insanity. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race, S7E07 Recap: Snatch Game

RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings, S7E06 – “Ru Hollywood Stories”

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We’re six weeks into the competition and just a girl or two away from a field where everyone has truly come ready to slay. The ranks have shuffled since last week. With next week bringing a slightly belated Snatch Game, who is ready to shine?

#1 Ginger Minj (avg 2, was #1, 2, 2, 3, 4)
Everything is coming up Ginger for yet another week. Her runway was middling, but she’s one of the best actors in the history of the show as well as one of the all-time funniest queens – oh, and one of the best strategists, too! I’m over her cattiness in Untucked, which might be getting full of itself, but she’s a prohibitive fan favorite despite (or because!) of it. If she has her suitcase stocked she is going to cruise through to the finals. That makes her the queen to beat, and definitely the most-favored in Snatch Game.

#2 Violet Chachki (avg 2, was #4, 1, 1, 1, 1)
I am willing to accept that I might be the sole Drag Race viewer that is obsessed with Violet Chachki, and I do not care. I live for her every second of screen time. After a bit of a miss last week she was back in fine form this week with one of the best performances and runways. The judges don’t seem to get it, but I can’t understand why. Is it just the missing personality? All she needs is one little shake-up from Ru and we could have a clear and undefeatable front-runner on our hands. However, if there’s any week where someone lacking in self-awareness is at risk, it’s Snatch Game. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings, S7E06 – “Ru Hollywood Stories”