RuPaul's DRAG RACE [Season 12]

[Kieran_Frost]

RuPaul's DRAG RACE
[Season 12]

"I pledge allegiance to the drag!" ~ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

A brand new season, with brand new queens. Let us discuss, post reviews, fan art! OH MY GOD FAN ART! I love the fan art! Anything and everything. Obviously this is very focused on season 12, but post any drag race love, if you want (queens coming to your local clubs, new songs out, etc). But... please let's none of us attack the queens this year. Criticise them, yes, but let's remember it's drag! It's silly. It's fun. And while a queen can come off as "talentless" ON THE SHOW, that doesn't mean they aren't a fierrrrrrce queen in "the other real world" (as my teacher once said).

https://www.instagram.com/artbycheyne/


REGARDING SPOILERS!
Please, please use spoiler tags! I think if we all wait till Monday to stop using them, that should be fine
[as any die hard drag race fan would have seen the show by Monday, or avoided all on-line media, so they won't see it regardless]

THE FINAL FOUR
Crystal Methyd. Low. Low. High. High. ["Top Toot" ep.8]. High. High. ["Top Toot" ep.10]. W. ["Top Toot" ep.11]. Bttm2.
Gigi Goode. Top 2. MINI (ep#4) W. High. ["Top Toot" ep.5]. W. W. ["Top Toot" ep.7] MINI (ep#8). Low. Low. MINI (ep#12).W.
Jaida Essence Hall W. High. Low. Low. High. W. ["Top Toot" ep.9] W. Bttm2. ["Top Toot" ep.12]
Jackie Cox ["Top Toot" promo looks] High. High. High. High. Low. MINI (ep#8). High. MINI (ep#9). Bttm2. Bttm2. MINI (ep#11). High. ELIMINATED

Heidi N Closet. Low. High. Bttm2. Bttm2. W. Bttm2. ELIMINATED
Widow Von'Du. W. ["Top Toot" ep.4]. High. High. Bttm2. ELIMINATED
Jan. ["Top Toot" ep.3]. High. ["Top Toot" ep.6]. High. ELIMINATED
Brita. High. Bttm2. Low. Bttm2. ELIMINATED
Aiden Zhane. Low. High. ELIMINATED
Nicky Doll. Low. ["Top Toot" ep.1] Bttm2. High. ELIMINATED
Rock M. Sakura. ["Top Toot" ep.2] ELIMINATED
Dahlia Sin. ELIMINATED

[DISQUALIFIED] Sherry Pie


N.B. Our Reigning Queen!

[Kieran_Frost]

RuVIEW [EPISODE 1] (PART I)
A NEW SEASON!!! SQUEAL! And the first major shocker of the series... it's a TWO PARTER!!! Come through, season 6! Now let's get to our queens and their entrance lewks. Always a key part of a series. This is the first real 'statement' you get to make, about yourself, about your style and your ideas. Think Sasha Valour's scream. Think Chad's Cher. Think Yvie's drag race car (loooooove her)
Brita. Personality 10. Every line was a scream. Her look was good, I loved the pink furry friend (shout out to Jaymes Mansfield) and the leopard print with pink outlining was so wrong... it's right.
Nicky Doll. I like him, I liked the idea of the black-and-white stripes with a pop of red (everything in black and white and red looks great); but something didn't work. Also his forehead looked HA-UGE.
Widow Von'Du. Is it fun, yes. Have we seen the black crows before? Many, many times (Akeria at the finale, Kameron, Yuhua and Eureka in season 10)
Jackie Cox. Personality 10. Already I wanna be rooting for this Persian queen... and I loved the writing on the chest, but that entrance look. #choices
Heidi N Closet. I'm undecided about the tongue thing, and the pink leopard print was a fabric we've seen many times (infamously in the 'tale of two titties' with Ginger Minj and Sasha Belle). But I'm a sucker for a c*nt-ry queen. So I adored her interview cut-aways.
Crystal Methyd. Look, entrances are about making a statement. And that green clown realness... was a statement. Not sure it was a statement I liked, but it told us exactly who she was... yikes.
ENTRANCE TROPHY: Gigi Goode. That Pirates of the Caribbean inspired imagery was everything. Perfect colour, the spy-glass in the same fabric. It was hands down the winner.

(MAXI) Mini Challenge (with wings): in an ode to Season 7 we have the queens doing a runway show, gagging us with their best Spring and Fall collections. It was super fun, though Kimora Blac playing Kim K was no Alaska embodying Anne Wintour. And this will factor into the final judgement, so it matters.

Spring
Brita. Hilariously, to quote Michelle Visage from this same mini-challenge in season 7 "all that... tulle". I wasn't a huge fan of the shape it was making on her body, but I did like the reveal. Still not sure the pay-off was worth the initial unflattering shape.
Nicky Doll. It's cute, the pretty lavendar was flattering, but I didn't like the hair with it. Maybe not so much the colour, but the shape? For a lewkkkkk queen, I've yet to see a lewk.
Jackie Cox. I love the idea, but the hair and make-up don't match. It was such a young look, and her face was... old. And she's not an old person, but the way it was styled felt dated.
Heidi N Closet. LOVE LOVE LOVE! I've not seen that silhouette before, which in-of-itself is very note worthy. The colours were a joy, and so what it fell off, the effect was worth it (and ha! "Civil Rights Hair!" cut-away)
Gigi Goode. Ohhhh, two-for-two. Love this, love the pastel pallet and anytime a queen makes a reference to racing or a race, I'm here for it. The touch of the biker helmet. This was chic af.
Crystal Methyd. Meh. Total meh.
SPRING TROPHY: Widow Von'Du. This neon hoodie gorgeousness!!! Oh my gawd! I loved it, loved the ruveal, how the hood just became shoulder pads. And how this queen is not afraid of exaggerating her shape (rather than trying to trick you into thinking she has this epic waist). LOVE THIS!

Fall
Brita. The oil spill look. I didn't like it. The blue under-bra felt very disconnected. I think she had the weakest overall dual looks for this mini-challenge. You in danger, gurl!
Widow Von'Du. A beautiful peach colour, that worked well on her skin. And again the embracing of "thickums" was so joyous. I'm really liking her style.
Jackie Cox. A far more successful nod to the past, with hair to match the look. Very lovely.
Heidi N Closet. Well... I did enjoy it, and I like how she embraces very different silhouettes each time. Different is good, and I like it.
Gigi Goode. WINNER! Boy BDSM horse jocky realness. It was giving me Davina deCampo's horsey goodness in "Day at the Races"
Crystal Methyd. This was SO GOOD! I've never seen a fashionable Freddy Kruger look everrrrrrrr, it was hilarious and cool all at once. The use of plasters as the hair was such a brilliant touch.
FALL TROPHY:Nicky Doll. I mean this was beautiful. It was French, arty, clever, the monocle was a delicious touch with the white hair. Yas kweeeen! It was effortlessly beautiful.

Now to the main event: a rap to "I'm That B*tch" where the queens have to do the choreography! WHAT??? This is a lot for the first challenge; and I couldn't be happier. AND there are only 7 queens for the first episode! Oh I'm here for this, it's fantastic. I love getting the chance to really know all the queens, and give them a chance to truly shine (or not). The choreography period was a bit of a car-crash, but with them not knowing each other, and the need to shine, I understand why.

MAIN CHALLENGE: I'M THAT B*TCH
Brita. I didn't love the outfit, it didn't give me 'bad b*tch', it was very basic. And it looked like she forgot the words.
Nicky Doll. One of my favourite outfits in the rap (cutesy but very fun); sadly she looked awkward in background moments, and her lyrics were forgettable.
Crystal Methyd. I hate the pink leopard print; esp. because WE ALREADY SAW THAT OVERUSED PRINT THIS EPISODE in Heidi's entrance look. Why did she pick that, knowing someone else had already worn it that episode??? But I liked the lyrics.
Gigi Goode. Slayyyyyyyed! Her lyrics were so fun, and arguably the clearest (I heard every word) and she brought such fun and joy to the rap. Her look was meh. The combo of leopard and pink is fantastic, but the overall outfit wasn't anything to get excited about.
Heidi N Closet. I hated this look, my least favourite of the episode? But Heidi did a great job with the moves, but I felt the acrobatics got a little out of hand. A little too much, and so the lipsync got lost.
Jackie Cox. I loved the idea of the look, but the boobs (at points) looked too fake (I know, I know), but they bounced very oddly, and needed taping down. That said Jackie was a joy to watch, she was campy and silly and had me chuckling even when not rapping and just in the background. Good lyrics too.
B*TCH TROPHY: Widow Von'Du. She won this hands down; her epic shoulder pads and neon goodness! And those moves and lyrics, absolutely nailed it! Best look, best moves, and an energy that was infectious.
TO BE CONTINUED...

[Kieran_Frost]

PART II
Oh my goodness, so much happened this episode I had to do a second part. Well, it was the opening episode after all. LOVE how much went on!

CATEGORY IS... SPARKLE!
Brita. Oh no. Oh no, what happened??? That... oh no. It looked like an asylum victim bejazzled her robes.
Crystal Methyd. On the one hand I loved the reference to "Him" from the Powerpuff Girls. On the other hand... the make-up didn't work with that look, it was too dark, the bodysuit didn't fit and the tail was distractingly too thick. Referential looks ONLY work when the attention to detail is perfection. This was less Monqiue Heart's Puss n' Boots and more Monet X Change's Pink Panther...
Heidi N Closet. The dress is fine, it's fine. It's nothing to gag over, not re-inventing the wheel (and the back looked odd). But that make-up and hair line???? I was so happy Michelle called it out, that was... that bad.
Jackie Cox. Chazzzzzzzzz! Super fun Cher-esq homage, and once again she managed to better mirror the retro with her old tones. I know she's not an old queen, but she really channels it, and did a great job. It was just so pretty.
Nicky Doll. Meh. I loved the silver feathered collar, I liked the outfit, hated how she wasn't wearing the mask but holding it. But ultimately... she's a look queen and this is her fifth look of the episode and ONLY ONE was great. Where's the look... queen?
Widow Von'Du. SO FUN! A china doll with pink hair, and giving me Monique Heart's brown cow curves and swerves! I love how Widow is not only embracing her size, but playing with it, almost exaggerating it to prove she is beautiful no matter her waist line. It's a joy.
RUNWAY TROPHY: Gigi Goode. It was so unique. So, so unique, and bold. Black latex and a glittered green pant suit with A BLACK HELMET FOR HAIR??? Slayed. Slayyyyyyyed.

Thoughts: I loved the nod to both Season 6 and Season 7 by having "two big openings" and a runway show as the mini-challenge. I hope they do a photoshoot challenge soon though (and not just the photobomb challenge). Ru's hats are back though... oh dear. That part of Season 8 we could have left in the past. Everything about the joy of Drag Race was right here for me this episode, and I couldn't be happier. I always love seeing Raven, so that made me happy (so sad she can never be a contestant again ). Nicky Minaj was super fun, and I loved her doing the intro (wish Ru had been in a red wig too). Also did NOT like Ru's outfit this episode (and I almost never say that), it's the opening episode where's the epic outfit??? I felt the dance moves for the group overall were oddly familiar to "the Frock Destroyers" BUT they couldn't have seen that, because this was filmed before UK Drag Race came out.

I thought THE GAG of doing an "All Stars" lipsync and not sending anyone home was the right one. We need to give Ru time to truly assess them, and like with Season 9, not sending anyone home right away is a good, fair way to give them two chances. ADDED TO THAT... no-one was terrible. Unlike most first episodes, no-one was a car crash. Both Widow and Gigi were so strong, sooooooo strong in the main challenge AND the mini-challenge, and it's too hard to pick who should have won. It was a fair way to do it, AND I hope they do that a few more times (rather than having a joint win). And maybe have a few more double eliminations for lazy lipsyncs? Because last season definitely should have had one (Silky vs Nina).

THE LIPSYNC
Gigi won that! I'm sorry, but she did. Widow was high energy, yes she served it but it was all too much. The body contorting wasn't needed. It reminded me of Latrice vs Kenya Michael; where Kenya was all over the shop and Latrice just did the damn song. And Gigi was so fun. It do take Nerve to do a Nicky Minaj song IN FRONT OF HER and make it silly and irreverent. The silliness, the mouth stroke, lying on the floor, being unable to bend to the floor. Gigi did a fantastic job and should have won.
STARSHIP TROPHY: Gigi Goode. Duh.

OVERALL
What an episode! Possibly the best first episode of any season? EVER! Ru was having more fun here than I've seen in a long, long time. Playful Ru is right up there with Shady Ru and Mama Ru as the best Ru! Trap doors, laugh track, saboteur being a French word... Ru was ON FIRE! All of the queens, and I mean ALL OF THEM... were so fun. Each with their own unique personalty and style, such a strong group already. And it'll only get stronger (probably). Through the whole episode I was thinking of Jaidynn Dior Fierce's comments about the copious amount they had to do this episode. #TooMuch. But when it comes to Drag Race... more is more. Bring it on. My favourite Big Opening EVER!!!!
~ rating: 5 out of 5 [grade: A++]

P.S. I did love the mini-challenge, but ultimately none of them compared to this gag-worthy moments...

[Silvermoth]

Oh wow I really need to get on the ball. I literally only just finished drag race uk (absolutely loved baga chipz)

[Kieran_Frost]

Oh wow I really need to get on the ball. I literally only just finished drag race uk (absolutely loved baga chipz)

Oh Drag Race UK! So much fun. I love Baga. She took a brief tumble with the make-over (that was NOT a cute look) but redeemed herself by removing her name from consideration at the end. Had Latrice sacrificed herself to save Manila, that would have redeemed her in AS4 (alas, she did not, and I think AS4 did more damage to her than anyone else). I think the right queen won. Vivienne was so, so polished; and I'm already excited for Davina to slayyyyyyy All Stars UK (in a few years).

[Kieran_Frost]

I went to UK Drag Con with my husband. I will say, despite not liking Scardy Kat, she was at her booth THE WHOLE time. As was Blu. Very, very professional. Shockingly Gothy... we tried three times, she was never bloody there. You'd think the first out would have tried a little harder to claw his way back with the fans??? Tried to see Davina and Baga but their cues were so, so long.

Also you might love this video I took at UK Drag Con. Now the event itself was badly mismanaged, but Miss RuPaul Charles SLAYED! He DJ'd for three hours, non-stop. I was beyond impressed.
https://scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram...e4e58e9b435949
We met Jujubee, Asia, Mrs Kasha Davis... but the nicest, funniest queen was Charlie Hides. So personable and lovely. I would 100% go see one of her Bingo nights now.


(my husband and me - in the blue waistcoat meeting Charlie Hides)

[Kieran_Frost]

It's time for some FAN ART GOODNESS!!!! I'll always try and remember to give credit to the Instgram artist, and also not just pick the same artists everytime. Let's showcase variety (though yes, Art by Cheyne's epic comic covers will always be posted). I've tried to find ones of my favourite looks from this episode from different queens. Unlike AS4 where Manila slayyyyyyyed the runway, hopefully we have some wonderful variety. So far I'm impressed with them all.
[SIDE NOTE] I'm... I don't want to make this a social lesson, but I can't help but notice the bulk of the fan art has been done for the white queens. I wanted to post one of Widow Von'Du's gorgeous Spring look and I couldn't find any. Maybe I'm seeing something that's not there, but I also looked for Heidi's fall look (which I loved) and again... pity. Let's see if this pattern continues.

Anyway, to more fun things:

https://www.instagram.com/bibartis/


https://www.instagram.com/rikdrawsthings/


https://www.instagram.com/liverfizz/