Posted January 4, 20223 yr I had fun doing my UK3 thread and fantasy All Stars, so going down the same path, I've decided to undertake the monumental task of fixing Drag Race Down Under :lol: I'll be remedying edits/storylines, some challenges, as well as re-judging, and hopefully creating a season that comes off a lot better. Starting off, one of the big problems was Ru and Michelle not really getting Aussie culture and Aussie drag so to remedy that we have... JUDGES: Courtney Act (host) - I know it's highly unrealistic she would ever be allowed to be anything to do with Drag Race, but I wanted an Aussie queen and she has the power to host and judge for sure. Rhys Nicholson - he was great on the season Ricki-Lee Coulter - an Aussie gay fave, has experience hosting Australia's Got Talent Plus a guest judge each week - I know it wasn't their fault covid stopped this tbf Keeping the queens the same, even Scarlet, but more on that later :whistle:
January 4, 20223 yr Author WEEK 1: Hometown/Born Naked Guest judge: Delta Goodrem WIN Art Simone High Karen From Finance, Etcetera Etcetera Low Coco Jumbo Bottom 2: Elektra Shock, Jojo Zaho Jojo eliminated Week 1 begins and we are introduced to our 10 queens. Elektra wins the mini challenge, showing her personality and acting chops despite being underrated by her fellow queens, many of whom did not know who she was. There is immediate gravitation between Elektra and her bosses, Anita and Kita, who employ her at the Caluzzi bar but also acted as judges on House On Drag - Elektra was runner-up on Season 2 of the TVNZ drag competition. Elektra wants to prove herself not just to the other queens but to Anita and Kita. This week’s guest judge is revealed to be Australian royalty Delta Goodrem, to which all the queens are gagged. On the runway, Art stuns with her elevated presentations and unique eye, whilst Karen’s camp comedy shines and Etcetera brings the fashion. Coco, Elektra and Jojo find themselves in the bottom for lack of attention to detail and less developed looks, but Coco manages to avoid lipsyncing. Art is named this week’s winner, and her big name power proves to be the key for a great start, becoming the one to watch and beat. Coco is saved, leaving Elektra and Jojo to lipsync to Think About You by Delta Goodrem. Jojo’s performance is solid, but Elektra nails every word and dances for her life, staying in the competition.
January 4, 20223 yr yass! Exciting. I enjoyed your plotting of the last one although I didn't always 100% agree ;)
January 4, 20223 yr Excited to see what you do with this season. I hope you're as big an Art Simone fan as I am.
January 4, 20223 yr Author Well... :lol: EPISODE 2: Snatch Game Guest judge: Julia Morris WIN Anita Wigl’it High Etcetera Etcetera, Elektra Shock Low Scarlett Adams Bottom 3: Art Simone, Karen From Finance, Coco Jumbo Art AND Karen eliminated Snatch Game panel - Art Simone: Bindi Irwin Coco Jumbo: Jessica Mauboy Karen From Finance: Dolly Parton Kita Mean: Dame Edna Everage Scarlett Adams: Davina Rankin Anita Wigl’it Queen Elizabeth II Etcetera Etcetera: Lindy Chamberlain Maxi Shied: Magda Szubanski Elektra Shock: Catherine O’Hara It’s the iconic Snatch Game challenge this week, and the queens begin to become irritated as Art’s head swells. The villain edit emerges as she is sure she has the whole competition in the bag, as she is funny and the judges love her runways. Art tosses up Bindi Irwin and Jane Turner, and goes for the latter as an Aussie icon when the others convince her Bindi Irwin is not funny enough.The queens are excited to meet Snatch Game panelists Jane Turner and Gina Riley, Art is secretly nervous however to play Kath Day-Knight in front of Jane, so changes last minute to an underprepared Bindi Irwin despite warnings!! It’s Aussie icons all round too, as queen of TV Julia Morris joins the judging panel. Anita, Etcetera and Elektra are in the top, with Anita dominating Snatch Game with a risque portrayal of Lizzie. Etcetera’s risk pays off as the dark humour has the judges laughing and Elektra’s Moira Rose whilst a little bizarre had the judges howling. Kita and Maxi give passable but nothing stellar performances, leaving Scarlet, Art, Karen and Coco in the bottom. Scarlet’s flash in the pan reality star made for a character that was not fully realised, although she got in a joke or two about Davina’s cheating scandal on Married On First Sight. Coco did not impart any of Jessica’s personality, Art had unmitigated disaster with his bizarrely filthy sex-crazed Bindi Irwin and Karen absolutely botched Dolly Parton which the judges joke is akin to blasphemy! Anita wins the challenge, leaving Elektra and Etcetera safe. Scarlet is saved from the bottom and the judges serve a shock - the bottom 3 will ALL lipsync! Judge Ricki-Lee’s own song Do It Like That sets the stage, with Coco serving a fully realised performance and feeling the song. Art and Karen seem lost and overshadowed, and as the time for a decision comes, it’s another gag as it’s a double sashay between last week’s winner and fellow huge name Karen!!!
January 4, 20223 yr Author There was just so much rigging for both of them, and I think it would still be a gag/twist without being riggory like much of the original season. I do like Art but I think she's one of those who is great off the show but not so much on and really we're not missing a HUGE amount eliminating her, just her finale verse really?
January 4, 20223 yr Author pls disqualify scarlett ty x I've concocted a perfect storm/gag a little later in the season if I may say so myself
January 4, 20223 yr Author EPISODE 3: Queens Down Under Guest judge: Jessica Mauboy RTRN Jojo Zaho WIN Kita Mean, Anita Wigl’it, Elektra Shock, Etcetera Etcetera Bottom 2: Coco Jumbo, Maxi Shield - Pop A Bottle (Fill Me Up) Maxi eliminated All the queens are in utter shock as they return to the workroom without Art and Karen, who everyone assumed would be in the final. Etcetera reminds everyone that nobody is safe, nobody is bigger than the show and you’re only as good as your last performance. Courtney announces that due to the double elimination, Jojo will be returning for a second chance! In addition, Aussie pop princess Jessica Mauboy, with a wealth of experience in the music industry, will join the panel and coach our queens as this week is the girl groups challenge! Elektra and Jojo win the quick drag mini challenge and become team captains, with Anita, Kita and Etc joining Elektra, and Coco, Maxi and Scarlet joining Jojo. The former team slay the challenge, working together impeccably and all shining, with Kita and Anita bringing quirky campy lyrics and Elektra and Etc performing strongly with their verses and balancing that with their personalities. The latter team somewhat clash and can’t pick up a coherent vibe, although Jojo does well with a solid rap verse and some great dance moves. All four of Elektra’s team win the challenge for their teamwork, and Maxi and Coco find themselves in the bottom. The two lipsync for their lives to Jessica Mauboy’s Pop A Bottle (Fill Me Up), and Coco’s joyous performance wins her a second lipsync, with Maxi sashaying away.
January 5, 20223 yr Author Fixing the lack of representation (without recasting as obviously I don't really know Aussie drag that well) was something that definitely was important so I had to carry Jojo and Coco at least a little longer for sure!
January 5, 20223 yr There was just so much rigging for both of them, and I think it would still be a gag/twist without being riggory like much of the original season. I do like Art but I think she's one of those who is great off the show but not so much on and really we're not missing a HUGE amount eliminating her, just her finale verse really? Gutted at this!! I thought she served the best runways of the season, she was so polished and she was funny out of drag too in her confessionals. She seems like a great spokesperson off the show too and I just think would be a better first winner representation than Kita (who would be a fine 5th place in most seasons). I could've done without Karen early on though, wouldn't have missed her lol.
January 5, 20223 yr Author EPISODE 4: Design Guest judge: Sophie Monk WIN Elektra Shock High Scarlet Adams, Coco Jumbo Low Anita Wigl’it Bottom 2: Etcetera Etcetera, Jojo Zaho Jojo eliminated Riding high on their win, the Kiwi queens feel vindicated as they are dominating the competition so far, particularly Anita, but Etcetera is equally happy to get a win following her two near-wins. Scarlet is put out that the judges are not noticing her, as she is yet to be in the top, and feels she is more polished than the Kiwi queens who she thought were cast as filler. This week’s challenge is revealed to be a design challenge, using thrift shop items to create a look for the runway. Model, TV personality and singer Sophie Monk is this week’s guest judge, casting her eye over the queens’ fashion. Elektra and Coco are worried for this challenge as their looks have not been well received by the judges so far, and they do not have much experience with sewing. Etcetera feels she has a second win in the bag due to her looks being well received, and Scarlet’s experience in sewing gives her confidence too. On the runway, it’s a somewhat surprising turn of events as Elektra and Coco beat the odds and find themselves in the top alongside Scarlet. Elektra’s tie gown is lauded for its construction and fashion forward vibe, whilst Coco’s bodysuit is praised for being well constructed and flattering to her shape. Scarlet is given good critiques although he judges note they expected a little more and had seen the idea before. Anita lands in the bottom alongside Etcetera and Jojo. Jojo fails to redeem her week 1 runway elimination, as her garment is a mess, whilst Etcetera disappoints the judges with her unfinished look and Anita’s solid concept is let down with subpar execution. Scarlet begins to boil over, put out that again she has not received a win... Elektra wins her second challenge, whilst Anita is spared from the bottom, leaving Jojo and Etcetera in the bottom 2. The queens lipsync to the Young Divas version of This Time I Know It’s For Real, and whilst it’s a close fought battle, Jojo sadly leaves for the second time as Etcetera pips her to the post.
January 6, 20223 yr Author EPISODE 5: Acting Guest judge: Natalie Bassingthwaighte WIN Coco Jumbo High Anita Wigl’it, Elektra Shock Low Scarlett Adams Bottom 2: Etcetera Etcetera, Kita Mean - Absolutely Everybody double shantay DISQ: Scarlett Adams !!!! The queens return to the workroom without Jojo for the second time, and Elektra is pumped as she has become a bona fide front-runner with a second win in a category that she thought was her weakness. This week’s challenge is a Neighbours inspired soapy acting challenge, with Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte joining the panel. Kita wins the mini challenge and is able to assign the roles. For herself, she chooses Izzy Hoyland, Natalie’s iconic bad girl Neighbours character, whilst Anita gets the stalwart school principal Susan Kennedy, Coco gets comedic matriarch Sheila Canning, Elektra is Kylie Minogue’s own Charlene Robinson, Scarlet is businesswoman Terese Willis and Etcetera is fun-loving young bisexual Chloe Brennan. In the walkthrough, Kita struggles and gets in her head as the pressure of performing in front of Nat Bass gets to her, but she promises to push through. Anita, Coco and Elektra perform the best, whilst Kita, Scarlet and Etcetera find themselves in the bottom. Anita is praised for making a not obviously funny character hilarious and for her professionalism, whilst Coco is lauded for owning every moment and stealing her scenes. Elektra is praised for her headstrong portrayal and is noted for being a great actress and selling the character. Scarlet is given mostly negative critiques as she played the role well enough but didn’t push beyond the bare minimum of the brief, Kita is told she was in her head and couldn’t break out, whilst Etcetera is critiqued for taking the challenge too seriously and not loosening up with some comedy. During Untucked, Scarlet is incensed that she yet again has not broken out with a good performance and could be facing elimination. She points out that the roles were not fair, as Coco’s role in particular had lots of funny lines and others were more muted. Etcetera retorts saying there are no bad parts, only bad actors, and dryly asserts that perhaps Dipi Rebecchi would have been more in Scarlet’s wheelhouse given her past. Some of the other queens other queens are confused and Scarlet tries to move the subject along, but Coco brings up her past performing in blackface, which is something she had struggled not to blow up on for weeks now, with Etcetera backing her up, and Untucked descends into a huge argument. Etc and Coco regret not calling Scarlet out sooner, and feel somewhat guilty about prioritising themselves in the competition. The tension is palpable when the girls are called back on stage, and Etcetera explains what happened to the judges, who face a tough decision. Coco breaks out with a win, capping off a great week for her, with Scarlet surprisingly being saved from the bottom, leaving Kita and Etcetera to lipsync to the Aussie anthem Absolutely Everybody by Vanessa Amorosi, whilst everyone is in shock and mad that Scarlet was saved. In a lipsync for the ages, the two queens serve utter joy and uplift the mood for at least a few minutes. Becoming fully aware of what Scarlet had done, the judges note that someone will be going home - Scarlet is disqualified and leaves the stage without a word.
January 6, 20223 yr You just know Courtney would not have stood for that blackface and would have had words for Scarlet. I'd love to hear Rhys do a tell-all tbh.
January 6, 20223 yr yaaas enjoying that Scarlett 'fix'. Must say I'm kinda surprised Coco is still going! I think Jojo definitely could've gone further but I think Coco didn't do well at anything in the time she was in the season! Repeating what Josh said, I'm gutted Art went as she does feel like the breakout star of the season, Karen definitely was not missed at all so I agree with that one! Also glad Etc and Elektra are getting their deserved runs here!
January 6, 20223 yr Author I wanted to keep at least one of the POC queens around for a while to fix the lack of representation, and I feel like Coco had more personality to stick around and do well at least at something, that could just be because we saw so little of Jojo though.
January 6, 20223 yr I like 'absolutely everbody' left! This is the right kind of gaggery tbh. UK3, take notes!
January 7, 20223 yr Author EPISODE 6: Makeover Guest judge: Chrissie Swann WIN Kita Mean High Etcetera Etcetera Bottom 2: Anita Wigl’it, Coco Jumbo - Untouched Coco eliminated The queens try not to dwell on the negatives and bask in the joy of the lipsync and double shantay. At this point, everyone has a win and it’s a fairly level playing field, with this week’s final challenge before the finale being a makeover. Five rugby players will become the drag daughters of our top 5. This is all overseen by guest judge, TV and radio personality Chrissie Swann. Kita and Etcetera are singled out as doing the best, and Kita is praised for her family resemblance with the judges remarking they had to work to distinguish who was who! Etcetera’s concept is lauded and her partner’s confidence sold the look. Elektra gets solid critiques although the judges note she could have gone further. Anita and Coco get mixed critiques, as their looks are basic and slightly messy respectively. Kita is named the winner, going into the finale with a second win. Anita and Coco find themselves in the bottom 2, and they lipsync to Untouched by The Veronicas. This is a close fought lipsync and it could go either way the whole way through, but Anita’s campy antics just about clinch it for her and she joins her Kiwi sisters and Etcetera in the top 4. Note: I cut the talent show so the top 4 move onto the finale, my numbers were just different
