Kind of a re-up of last week, as with last series this is a split challenge and the remaining "losing" queens (Denali, Utica, Rosé, Tamisha, Kahmora and Joey) will record a verse each and perform to RuPaul's song Phenomenon, with guest judge Nicole Byer.

 

Screaming at Kahmora not even getting ready in time on the preview, how are you gonna come to Drag Race and not be able to get ready? Christ

omg the preview DRAMA. I'm kinda hoping this isn't a setup and she does miss the runway or has to come out unready rather than some manufactured drama from the producers. 5-6 hours is ridiculous especially when you'd know there was a time limit on getting ready for Drag Racem, it just comes across unprofessional to me! Like the fact this shouldn't be a stressful dramatic moment but it is, I'm living for it :lol:

omg the preview DRAMA. I'm kinda hoping this isn't a setup and she does miss the runway or has to come out unready rather than some manufactured drama from the producers. 5-6 hours is ridiculous especially when you'd know there was a time limit on getting ready for Drag Racem, it just comes across unprofessional to me! Like the fact this shouldn't be a stressful dramatic moment but it is, I'm living for it :lol:

100%! Especially when it's 13 seasons in, it's probably different when you're actually on there but knowing so many people who've done the show as the queens will, you'd surely have an idea. I think even if it it your own show and you've been booked specifically to headline, it's unprofessional to stretch your getting ready that long that fans, other queens supporting in the show's lineup, and make them wait that long. It's just adding to my impression of Kahmora that she thinks she's above the show or just in her own little lane of drag because she's a name locally, even the Olympics of drag - oh that's fine we'll wait for her :lol:

100%! Especially when it's 13 seasons in, it's probably different when you're actually on there but knowing so many people who've done the show as the queens will, you'd surely have an idea. I think even if it it your own show and you've been booked specifically to headline, it's unprofessional to stretch your getting ready that long that fans, other queens supporting in the show's lineup, and make them wait that long. It's just adding to my impression of Kahmora that she thinks she's above the show or just in her own little lane of drag because she's a name locally, even the Olympics of drag - oh that's fine we'll wait for her :lol:

 

See season 1 or 2 I could perhaps forgive it if you haven't practiced enough. But still unprofessional! Especially as they're in an industry that's all about performing and will have plenty of practice of getting ready for the stage. It's kinda like the Sherry Pie one-woman show last season, timing is very important is just respectful to stick to them! Those in Drag Race circles would've 100% said at some point they give you 'x amount of time' and you'd be ridiculous to think they'll let you have all those 5-6 hours. I don't think she think she's above it, but she does seem very oblivious and in her own mind/fantasy. I get the impression she hasn't had to work particularly hard to get what she has.

I'm hoping this isn't like the last episode and someone actually goes home. It wouldn't really be fair that the "losers" have a statically better chance and being in the top 2 and getting a win seeing as there's less of them, and there's the fact they are competing against the queens deemed less good performers by the judges based off their first performance. They'd essentially be getting a leg up for loosing their lipsync :lol:

See season 1 or 2 I could perhaps forgive it if you haven't practiced enough. But still unprofessional! Especially as they're in an industry that's all about performing and will have plenty of practice of getting ready for the stage. It's kinda like the Sherry Pie one-woman show last season, timing is very important is just respectful to stick to them! Those in Drag Race circles would've 100% said at some point they give you 'x amount of time' and you'd be ridiculous to think they'll let you have all those 5-6 hours. I don't think she think she's above it, but she does seem very oblivious and in her own mind/fantasy. I get the impression she hasn't had to work particularly hard to get what she has.

True! There's been a few queens like that, it's a big step to come from big fish in a smaller pond, being a big name where you are in your local drag scene, and to be among all the big fish in the biggest pond possible, some of them don't know what it's like to be there and have to work for it and it shows with Kahmora.

 

I'm hoping this isn't like the last episode and someone actually goes home. It wouldn't really be fair that the "losers" have a statically better chance and being in the top 2 and getting a win seeing as there's less of them, and there's the fact they are competing against the queens deemed less good performers by the judges based off their first performance. They'd essentially be getting a leg up for loosing their lipsync :lol:

I think track record matters less and less now, see how they kinda just abolished it in AS5 and gave everyone random bottom placements. I think it's nice to have that chance for the "less" good queens to shine, and tbh they aren't necessarily weaker just because they happened to lose one lipsync that could just have not been their song for example.

The song is on Spotify already and tbh it's better than last week's!! Gonna guess a top 2 of

Rosé and Denali

from that

This was SO much more enjoyable than last week's episode! Probably due to the fact that I actually liked all of them apart from Kahmora.

 

Denali, Rosé and Joey are just so great to watch :wub: and Utica is so fantastically unique, while Tamisha won me over after being a bit unsure in the first week.

I liked this episode - a nice mix for of queens

 

Rose - loved the pop art look and generally seems like a great performer. I want to see more than one silhouette though

Dinali - understand why she won the week. A better version of Cracker

Joey - like the looks but I am already bored of the hair!

Utica - I love a quirky queen. Didn’t love all of the outfits but I hope she does well (or at least better than Thorgy)

 

The other two were weak for me. Kahmora is a second rate Plastique (and I didn’t rate her as a good all rounder). Tamisha just seems out of her depth

I enjoyed it much more too, it all came together much better and it was nice to see the sisterhood develop so quickly and how well they bonded and all worked together, it might have been a bit of a mess in the start but it ended up so much better than last week's! Rosé and Denali both killed their verses, both so much more memorable than anything last week which is what I thought Condragulations was missing. I know comparing queens is a bit contentious but Rosé really is what Jan wishes she was, she brings so much but in a way that's effortless rather it feeling like she's trying too hard, she hasn't got that Rachel Berry energy that really put me off Jan :lol: Denali just has IT, she has that energy and fire you can't teach. She MURDERED that lipsync, dancing on beat, serving Britney choreo, whereas Rosé felt a bit disconnected, almost like she had prepared for a different song and suddenly they changed it.

 

In terms of the looks, I was really impressed by Rosé, Tamisha and Utica the most, Utica had so much versatility in just those three looks but each of the three was still so her and miles away from anything any of the others would ever do. Rosé's sheer runway was a bit crafty but very much in that realm of camped up draggy drag which I love, the two mini challenge looks were flawless. Tamisha's looks were stunning in a classic way which is always great to see, it's hard to do that without being boring tbh but she shone on the runway.

 

Tamisha I just LOVE as a personality, she's so warm and nurturing and just seems like someone who has so much wisdom to impart, so many stories to tell. I could listen to that all day! I don't think she's necessarily out of her depth, but she definitely represents a different era of drag that what we have today does owe everything to, but idk if she will quite stand out in terms of the challenges that queens on Drag Race today will face.

 

Joey's performance was fun but she's definitely not up the standard of say Denali or Rosé, I'm bored of the no wig thing. It's a good "signature" but you definitely need more versatility, it's not even just the wig, it feels like every look is built around the lack of wig in a similar way and they feel very very similar. Plus "I'm super gay" girl you are drag queens you ALL are. She's lovely but it's kinda coming across like a random superfan who does drag part time accidentally walked in.

 

Utica's kookiness is really fun, it's not in a "for the sake of it" way it's just her, and I get that the looks may not be everyone's cup of tea but I love that mish-mash acid trip she brings, I like not knowing what you're going to get from a queen. She's one where I'm always going to be excited to see what she brings to the runway.

 

I felt for Kahmora after that exchange about her boyfriend, and it was nice to see a bit more of her in that moment, I suppose it explains why she isn't quite there with many aspects of drag only doing it now and again. However, you're on Drag Race so you have to bring SO much more than what she's bringing. The wire hanger thing is so so apt, she's giving me that Saudi Arabia fashion show where they drape the gowns on drones to showcase them (Lewis will know what I'm on about lmfao). It's fine to be a looks queen, but it's season 13 of Drag Race, you know you have to be able to perform and have a personality SURELY?? Anybody with money buy an expensive outfit, but not just anyone can SERVE in it and wear it correctly. It feels like for her, drag is a cute little hobby not a passion like with the others.

I am so looking forward to seeing the groups mix. I can see the ‘losing lot’ doing better as a whole

 

These Porkchop queens honestly wiped the floor with the first group. Their songs was a million times better and their looks were FANTASTIC. Loving all of them honestly, but Denali, Tamisha and Utica are emerging as serious favorites of mine.

Goddd these girls ate this episode. Now this was more like I'm That Bitch from S12. Only Kahmora didn't bring it and despite that they managed to hide her decently in the group choreo so it wasnt as obvious!

Oddly I completely disagree on Rosé though. She's giving me nothing which is something I never got from Jan! Her looks were good but that final runway was a mess mama and only her charisma in the performance saved her imo. Also she's skating a fine line between leading & aggravating in the confessionals and during the challenge.

Much preferred this episode to the two that have come so far! I feel like the queens have gelled a lot better and didn't form smaller groups to chat like the 'winners circle'. Also loved the song and performance and was much more a moment than 'Condragulations'. The desire to actually nail choreography really helped and individual verses were stronger imo! I feel like each queen had slightly longer? Might just've been a poor song choice for the first week queens.

 

I did predict Denali and Rose to be top two before I'd seen anything of this episode and they did prove to have the best two verses imo! Denali's in particular was very good and performed the hell out of it. Rose also brought some really stunning looks, her vampy look was possibly my favourite of the whole episode and she really showed she can do multiple things! Although it is kinda funny she has lost two lipsyncs already :lol:

 

Utica wowed me with her fashion, she was my favourite across all three looks and even the performance outfit was appropriate but so her! So exciting and I'm hoping she gets some more praise for what she does as it's different but not for the sake of being different! Her verse was one of the weakest imo so I didn't feel like she should be top two but a very close 3rd for me!

 

Tamisha :wub: Honestly every word that came out of her mouth was gold tonight and seems so genuine and caring whilst knowing her own worth. A true drag mother and someone to look up to! Again her looks were pretty good too! Classic as expected but elegant, I want her to stay in as long as possible! Love listening to her speak and she's truly lived to tell these stories!

 

Joey Jay impressed me tonight, probably not going to last forever but she was able to perform better than I thought she could and I did like her 'no wig' looks, but I do agree that because it's such a statement and focal point of her outfits, if that happens all the time they start to feel very samey! She had some great talking heads though and the line about suggesting Kahmora be lifted so she can stop trying to learn choreography got me so bad :lol:

 

Kahmora does seem out of her depth and I'm glad the judges seemed to nail it on the head straight away that she is just modelling rather than being a drag queen, the competition is so much more competitive these days! Although it does make sense considering her limited drag experience and not being able to immerse herself in it like the others, I can't see her lasting long if that's the case as there's multiple areas I feel she's going to struggle in. Next week being a comedy challenge doesn't bode well for her either imo, so far my weakest queen of the whole bunch! I do think the Plastique comparison is quite lazy considering the only way I can pair them together is that they are Asian and have strong aesthetics. I feel like Plastique had more strings to her bow and they do have different aesthetics.

I hope there's not too much of a divide between the groups, that dynamic can take away from the actual competition if it's incessant. Hopefully those from the "losers" can win the next couple of challenges and show that they are in this for real, then "I won a lipsync a few weeks ago!!1! I'm better than you!11" can stop :lol: Tina and Kandy I can see being the villains and driving that for sure but that will be to their detriment.

Kahmora screams first elimination. What a mess.

would DIE for Tamisha.

I agree with most in here that this weeks episode was way more fun compared to last week and the song was a total slay. Rose and Denali both delivered and deserved to be the top 2 (loved the choice of a Britney song as well). Utika and Joey both impressed me as well, stronger than I expected. Tasmisha has the best personality, and is very talented, but her style of drag is not really my cup of tea, I'm afraid.

 

Kahmora is just very much out of her comfort zone, unfortunately. She is obviously stunning but has not shown much more (yet?).

Oddly I completely disagree on Rosé though. She's giving me nothing which is something I never got from Jan! Her looks were good but that final runway was a mess mama and only her charisma in the performance saved her imo. Also she's skating a fine line between leading & aggravating in the confessionals and during the challenge.

agreed!!! absolutely not warming to Rose at all and good lord have both her lipsyncs been awful