So, two episodes back-to-back of RuPaul’s Drag Race, huh? To be honest, I wasn’t sure how to handle this, so I’m just going to scrap the recapping thing for this week and take a look at how the queens have done thus far and what they need to change to make it to the finale …
ADORE DELANO
PROS
Despite a rocky start, Adore is quickly setting herself up as a potential winner. True, she may not be as polished as some of the other queens, and the hemline needs to be addressed, but she’s incredibly charismatic and talented, and she knows how to use it.
CONS
That hemline. Oogh. She either needs to find something that goes to the floor, or she needs to stick with cocktails and bikini-cuts. The other downside is her level of commitment. Last night, we saw Adore win for really committing to her act, and then trip up in the comedy challenge when she backed off her from her better instincts. The former will get her to the finale; the latter will take her out.
ODDS
Pretty damn good at this point. The edit she’s getting is setting her up as a frontrunner and a break-out star, and I’d be shocked if Mama Ru didn’t take a shine to her.
BENDELACREME
PROS
Dela is a committed character, well-rounded, and really just a ton of fun to be around. All the other queens just adore her (save for one…) and her charm, humor and polish is really going to get her far.
CONS
If anything, Ben is too committed to Dela. They’re vastly different people, and my feeling is that the judges want to see Ben ground and humanize Dela, the same way Dela helps to bring up Ben. Dela can at times be a bundle of nerves, and I think she’s going to have to rely on her Ben side to keep her calm, cool and collected.
ODDS
She had a rough showing last night, but Dela is another one who’s probably going to make it to the top three. The fact that Ru saved her means she has faith in BenDela, and the edit she’s getting seems to be setting her up as a phoenix rising from the ashes.
BIANCA DEL RIO
PROS
So far, Bianca’s been pretty much flawless, performing well in every challenge and opening up her more maternal side to the younger queens, like Trinity and Adore.
CONS
Literally none. She’s a brick-house, and short of some sort of catastrophe, I don’t see how she can trip herself up at this point.
ODDS
Once again, it would take nothing short of a catastrophe to send Bianca falling from her pedestal.
COURTNEY ACT
PROS
She’s gorgeous and talented, has a natural wit and charisma to her, and so far she’s been performing adequately in every challenge. Not necessarily great, but adequate.
CONS
She’s just adequate, and she seems to be falling back on the pretty singer bit a little too much. She’s also not doing herself any favours by coming across as condescending and over-it when it comes to the other queens. Bianca may be a bitch, but she’s a bitch witha heart of gold, willing to show a kind of warmth and nurturing nature that balances herself out. Courtney just comes across as cold and distant.
ODDS
Not great. She’s doing well enough that she could foreseeably place, but unless she’s willing to tap into some depth, she’s not gonna win.
DARIENNE LAKE
PROS
She’s a funny bitch, and her make-ups kills are polished for the Gods.
CONS
I don’t know if she’s just tired, or hungry, or whatever it is, but she’s not doing herself any favours by going after Dela. Yes, Dela’s ego needed a puncturing (delivered by Ru with aplomb BTW) but Darienne’s behaviour can’t exactly be described as kind. And yes, when America’s vote is now being considered in the final tally, you need to play as nice as you possibly can.
ODDS
She rallied last night, I’ll give her that, but she’s really going to have to soften up and commit 100% if she wants to make it through the next few weeks.
JOSLYN FOX
PROS
She’s incredibly sweet, has a warm personality, and she’s shown surprising depths and talents which for some reason the judges keep glazing over.
CONS
If anything she’s too nice. Last night’s lip synch against Laganja proved that she could pull out the ferocity and go in for the kill when she needs to, but she needs to take that and apply it more to the challenge, especially if she wants to shut Courtney the f*ck up. Also, the runway looks may need to be retooled slightly to keep the judges happy.
ODDS
At this point, she’s my pick as Miss Congeniality, and for all I know she could end up being this season’s Jujubee, but the odds might not be in her favour.
TRINITY K. BONET
PROS
I don’t know what happened last night, but something finally clicked in her, and she might be having a mid-season rally. Here’s my theory on this: She realized apologizing in advance wasn’t doing her any favours, and once she took “this isn’t my forte” out of her vocabulary, she forced herself to commit. If we’re being honest, I had her pegged to win both challenges last night, and if she keeps it up, she’s going to be unstoppable.
CONS
She might relapse. That’s my only fear for her right now. If she can stand strong and weather whatever comes her way, she’s going to go far, but she really needs to believe in herself more than anything.
ODDS
Remains to be seen, really. If she keeps on it the way she did last night, there’s nothing standing in her way.
LAGANJA ESTRANJA
Oh, the poor ousted queen … well, it wasn’t that surprising. As Bianca pointed out, Laganja clearly came into the competition with a plan, and everything she did had an overly calculated edge to it. I have no idea what’s going through her head, but she really needs to work on herself right now because there were moments where I literally felt … scared for her. She’s not in a good headspace, and she needs to sit down with someone and sort herself out. I mean really, calling the entire human race evil because you got read for putting on a Kiki voice? You and Alyssa need to sit down and talk this one out.
MICHELLE VISAGE
Actually, while I’m handing out judgments willy-nilly and telling people where they can change, I have one for Michelle: YOU ARE NO LONGER FUCKING ALLOWED TO TELL A QUEEN THAT YOU DON’T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. Sorry honey, but NO. That’s not good judgment. I know you’re just trying to help out and all, but more often than not, this particular note comes out of nowhere for no discernible reason. If you really want to get to know the queens, go into the werk room. You’ve done it before, and there’s no reason you can’t do it again. But please, for the love of gawd, if Trinity can retire her apologetic schtick, you can put this one out to pasture.