Catch up on episode one, two and three.
This week’s challenge is Judge Beep Beep’s favorite, Drag Roulette, but it takes a different form than in previous seasons.
A week ago, the contestants were given a sheet of songs to memorize completely, one of which would be chosen at random for them to perform. In past seasons, there were 14 possible songs. This season, they were only given seven. To account for the easier challenge, the honorable judges picked some very hard (and sometimes very stupid) songs this year. And they were very clear: you need to know all the words. (This is foreshadowing.)
The challenge: Read my lips
Muuvi Premiere takes the stage first in a pink boxing robe complete with her name in sparkles written along the back. She smiles to the audience as she reaches long fingers into the small pork pie hat Beep Beep holds out for her. She picks one and the bar chatters over her, excitement racing through the bar. Muuvi hands over the folded piece of paper and watches as Beep returns to the panel in silence, grabbing a mic.
“DJ, can you please play ‘Superfreak’ by Rick James?” It’s good dramatic timing — the bar cheers.
The most amazing part of this challenge is that the audience has an opportunity to see the raw skill that each of these lip sync-ers possess, without any distraction, from backup dancers, props (for the most part) or set design. In this setting, Muuvi excelled. Completely in her element, confident, knowing every word — I had newfound respect for her in that moment, even though she was already one of my faves.
Next was Sonny Noble, who won the Drag Roulette challenge last season. He had the unfortunate luck of getting one of the harder songs on the list, “24 Hours” by Agnes. He made a valiant show, bodysuit and mullet doing most of the grunt work, but the song was long. That’s part of why it was picked, I imagine, and it was hard to keep the energy up.
Ruth Lime handed a Red Bull vodka to Judge Lil Kimmy Blaque on the way to the stage. “You look beautiful tonight,” she said breathily as she set the drink down. Ruth’s garment was once again amazing, as we’re all used to. It’s a (Ruth) lime green coat and legging, with turquoise lace trim. It sounds crazy but it worked, especially with the Liza Minelli wig she paired with it.
She picked Jessie J’s “Ain’t Nobody.” Her performance was fantastic, and I’m certain she would have brought the house down and won the challenge — if she knew the words. To me? Didn’t matter. To the judges? It super did.
Virgo Frost-Belle chose “Angel of my Dreams” by JADE. It’s another tough lip-sync song, but Virgo seemed unfazed. She was able to match the energy in every one of the twists the song takes. At one point, a heel even got caught in a piece of her dress but she unhooked it smoothly without her face betraying anything.
Frisbee Jenkins lucked out, choosing everyone’s favorite — Paramore’s “All I Wanted Was You.” Wearing truly the craziest outfit I’ve ever seen (one of those bikini graphic tees in the form of a long dress with added tulle, bright pink rock-candy-esque beaded necklace, and matching pink hair somewhere between troll doll and Cyndi Lauper) she put on probably the best performance of the show so far. I hate to say it, too, because Frisbee has been so consistently good it’s almost boring to write about. Frisbee fully got into character, a crazed look in those giant eyes, walking around the stage portraying a lovesick girl and an obsessed lunatic in equal measure. It is, dare I say… performance art?
Valencia Del La Barrio picked “Who’s That Chick” by David Guetta. Immediately she, I, everybody, knew this was a problem. Valencia’s schtick is this real campy musical theater-y thing; she’s funny and dramatic and old school. This was a David Guetta song. It’s a stark difference she couldn’t overcome. Early on she lost the audience, fluttering between kooky and sultry. She unfortunately ended up slipping, thank God not getting hurt, and she played it off fairly well but it was a tough round for Valencia overall.
The last lip-syncer was Erotica Divine-Belle, and that was no accident. The winner of her season’s lip sync, Erotica got to choose the order as a reward for last week’s win. Putting herself as the finale was an act of strategy. Each performance ahead of her was a song she could cross off, and by the time Valencia went on, Erotica knew exactly what song she was getting. But that didn’t stop her from having to pick “Karma” by JoJo Siwa.
The crowd started cracking up as soon as the track started, but Erotica had already fully committed by then. The performance that followed is, genuinely, what I think JoJo Siwa expected from her song from the jump. Erotica was cool and under control, captivating to watch, and sometimes funny (doing a caricature of the signature Tiktok dance only when appropriate — everyone hates an overdone bit).
She managed to prove her win. As the song ended, the crowd went wild — you would have thought she’d just won the Super Bowl. While the cheering soared my partner turned to me and whispered, “I told you, she’s the diamond of the season.”
The runway: A cosplay smorgasbord
Does anyone remember last week when I made a really intense comment about how I wanted to see some Ren Faire outfits? I do! I remember because I’ve been thinking about it the entire week leading up to this runway. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. This was my favorite runway, and I know I keep saying that, but I mean it this time. Everyone went full cosplay this week, falling on either end of the fantasy-to-gamer spectrum. Because I am not a part of the gamer community (peace and love) and because I very much am on Lord of the Rings cosplay Tiktok, my favorites were Ruth Lime, Frisbee Jenkins and Sonny Noble. From Barbarian Warrior to Space Princess to Elven Ranger — I think I manifested this. Erotica and Muuvi were also highlights, referencing Kingdom Hearts and Sailor Moon.
Critique this week was pretty mild. I almost regret writing about the drama of the panel in the past, because everyone’s pretty gentle now. Myla Jade made several comments throughout the night about needing to be “nice now.” Sorry Myla, I actually prefer when you’re mean, personally.
Erotica and Frisbee are announced as the top of the week with Muuvi a very close third. The bottom are Valencia and Sonny, both of which have been in the bottom twice before.
The final lip-syncs
The top two performed a really fantastic lip sync. Frisbee had a Sue Sylvester/Miami businessman thing going on that was fabulously stupid, and Erotica played off Frisbee only enough to keep everyone’s attention.
Erotica pulled through as the winner, leaving Frisbee just short of the first place spot yet again.
Erotica has to make a call. Before the final lip sync, she asked the bottom two why they should stay. Sonny said he didn’t think he should be in the bottom. (It always rubs me the wrong way when people say that; maybe I value faux humility too much.) He talked about bringing something to the drag scene that no one else does, which may have been about his aesthetic, or simply his work as a king in a scene flooded with queens, but I’m unsure. Valencia talked about the responsibility of representing Latinx drag, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month.
In the end Erotica sent Valencia home, which seemed like a fair call, even though it was her second time saving Sonny.
Next week is another acting challenge: Real Housewives of Johnson County. The runway is similarly dramatic, themed Dynasty. I already underestimated Snatch Games; I’ll be sure not to do it again. I’ll see you on Sunday.
