'...and DON'T *bleep* IT UP!' -- the RuPaul's Drag Race thread

That was a little TOO much Rusical but.

Am mildly surprised they didn’t just have Jackie be part of the actual top four for the next couple of episodes but here we are.

Final Secret Celebrity was fun! But I’m glad I don’t have to stay up to 11:30 anymore.

And separately We’re Here continues carving out its own interesting space. Two episodes to go.

The very start of the episode, where Jaida came stalking back into the workroom in her amazing dress, and just want to say again I don't think she got enough props for how she managed to effortlessly honour Whoopi and Prince together in one look.

Her runway look this episode was INCREDIBLE. Carson’s Nolan Miller comment was on the money. Plus I think in addition to having an amazing drag career after this, she should be tapped to create gowns for Ru, she’s at that level of impeccableness imo.

Surely she's the front runner to win. Nothing against the other two.

Also, LOL at the very start of the episode where the warm Heidi thoughts are flowing and...the lights go out.

"Condragulations to my final four! Who do you want to be America's next drag superstar? Are you Team Crystal? Team Gigi? Or Team Jaida?"

I realized watching this Untucked that I just dont like Gigi Goode. Love her looks, sure - but she just seems so insincere all the time

Jamal Sims was a TERRIBLE coach in that episode. Absolutely nothing to offer but vague platitudes about energy. Also my eyes hurt at Carson's outfit.

Crystal is really endearing but just isn't good enough to beat Jaida at this. Gigi would be a fine winner, dully competent I guess, if they're going to give the prize to another white slim young fashion queen then they might as well forego any pretence of casting any diversity for the next season.

I was genuinely surprised they didn't read Crystal over her boots on the runway. They were not good.

They usually seem incapable of doing anything other than fawn for the last challenge episode.

Reunion was fun. But what I wouldn't give for the obviously-never-going-to-be-broadcast chat they all must have had about Sherry. (A true level of nonpersoning at this point.).

Did love that Lisa Renna -- and Harry -- have a good sense of humor.

Meantime so we're getting the next All Stars, Canadian Drag Race in July, new season of Werq the World and Race Chaser discussed a rumor that Drag Race UK already filmed season 2 so I guess we'll have plenty of CONTENT to tide us over?

Anyway, fully deserving winner, but they were all good -- I suspect if Yvie hadn't won last year Crystal might have been in but there ya go. Not a bad way to handle the episode all around and the individual lipsync choices were all killer.

I was rooting hard for Crystal but I felt like she was the weakest in all 3 lip syncs :(

the baby bird thing was SO smart but it just kinda lacked momentum and stalled, and idk if it was too much makeup or her just not being as expressive but her face thing didn't seem as dynamic as the other two, idk Crystal is so incredible but Gigi and Jaida are just better performers imo

Yeah, fair. But it was absolutely something she would do so you know, credit for being yourself all the way down the line.

I think that's the most enjoyable lockdown programme I've watched. I don't know what treatment Ru can't access at the moment that is leading her to cover her face, but I love that it resulted in the big floating eye.

RuPaul just doesn't know how to do make-up any more is the theory I'm sticking with

Crystal is a great drag queen. But she isn't someone who could ever have won the show, based on the metrics it measures success by. I can't wait to subscribe to her YouTube channel because her creativity and charm will thrive there. And based on the lip-synchs, I couldn't imagine her being exceptional in a club stage performance.

I was really glad to see Jaida win, even more so with everything going on this week. The tribute to Wilson was lovely too. It's been a much better season than the show has had in recent years. None of the queens seemed like obvious filler material. I think having a gaping hole in the shape of Sherry Pie forced production to abandon the pre-set narrative and it felt a lot less predictable this time around, even if some of the victories felt contrived.

I think Ru is just playing on “wear a mask” but mb I’m wrong

Love Jada, thrilled that she won but would have been happy with any of them

Crystal’s bird was a great concept but she should have revealed into a full glam bird costume lipsync to keep the momentum - it stalled out having just the single concept imo

Holy shit at Gigi’s Take On Me - art direction, everything so incredible. But my only tony note is that she needs to maybe expand her choreo a bit she has a lot of crutches she falls back on imo.

Jada’s final lipsync was unstoppable tho. Just plain fire.

Jaida clinched it in the final lip sync -- she stood out by far among the three.

the baby bird thing was SO smart but it just kinda lacked momentum and stalled

Yeah, it was a charming and cute concept that needed one more hook to elevate it.

I don't know what treatment Ru can't access at the moment that is leading her to cover her face

I think Ru just wants to avoid a repeat of the last time she went on TV without the benefit of a professional makeup artist.

Ouch, that clip. Yes, I guess that could well be it, although I also like the "wear a mask" theory. I hadn't thought of that.

At one point my mam came into the room while the big floating eye was talking to Crystal. My mam asked me if it was Sesame Street.

lol!

Hahah Crystal would take that as a total compliment.

What a great finale! I thought Gigi won the close-up and the home-made lip synch and Jaida won the 3-way. So maybe added with her track record from the season Gigi should've won? But I'm not mad at all, they were very close and Jaida is a drag superstar.

Crystal's pinata was my favorite thing to come out of season 12.

https://youtu.be/3PTSqpHpIF4

Oops did that not embed?? It’s the reaction video where we see the queens seeing who won

I saw it. It is so great!!

All Stars 5 started last night - who all watched?

I cannot tell you how much I live for Jujubee
Having her back on my tv reading queens for filth was like a gift from the gods

Lots of goop-gaggery & engineering for maximum drama. Sure it’s gimmicky but I am into it

Oh and Yvie Oddly in that short spiky yellow wig gave me the fully realized Dennis Rodman drag that I have needed for ~25 years. She’s fucking incredible

Yeah Yvie was fire. Really hope that Peppermint comes in at some point.

Weird that 3 of the 4 safe queens were all tops for me -- Mariah and Shea especially.

Mariah for sure, so good!!

Shea looked amazing but that pole routine was pretty mediocre imo. She said she only started training 10 days prior and i hate to say it showed. I still love her though, she’s pure fire

I forgot how much I love Alexis. BAM.

Yes! Her routine was a total delight!

Compiling a list of lip sync assassins I can't wait to see return this season.

Rooting for either Shea or Juju to win the whole thing tho.

same

but honestly i am ALL IN for Jujubee

Shea for me but Jujubee would be absolutely great -- especially since *thinks* the only queen of Asian background to win it all has been Raja, so far. Anyway, yes, some fun changeups, and we get an Untucked with a LOT more actual behind the scenes randomness in those B&W interstitials.

Oh and Ricky Martin was a smart choice for starting judge. He was loving it.

Part of me has to wonder if the show was planning on a season-long Derrick/India thing and then whoops!

Ricky was fantastic

Willam released his “Derrick” music video & it’s v funny & great & of course, perfectly timed

https://youtu.be/UVKOBplS0Xg

Derrick was painful and it felt cruel to watch, like she clearly has nothing to offer and watching her flounder is just cringey

Shea and Jujubee are the only real stars here for me, Miz Cracker is also great and I was impressed with Mariah, also Blair has had QUITE a glow-up, good for her

Ongina's fears about how much tougher this competition has gotten since her season seem, at this point, well founded. Also, love seeing Alexis Mateo in the mix again.

Thinking about the list of LS assassins I'd like to see, imagine if they bring in SHANGELA. I'd fully expect her to go S8 Daenerys.

Imagine

guys

If Shea Coulee gets a win and they bring in Sasha as the assasin

IMAGINE

People I expect to see at some point or another:

Manila
Peppermint
Brooke
Coco

Prrrrrrobably not Ben tho.

Hopefully we will see Alyssa & maybe Roxxxy?

If Shea Coulee gets a win and they bring in Sasha as the assasin

And Sasha shows up wearing a flower pot on her head.

Well, not Sasha last night, but Alyssa indeed. Shea pretty much owned the entire episode and made it seem easy, which is probably why we got so much Ongina meltdown and Cracker heel turn.

this season seems pretty clearly Shea's to lose, like she is just on a completely different level than everyone else. I could totally see another Manila situation where she gets sent home for being too big of a threat. That lip sync could easily slide into the GOAT canon.

I could totally see another Manila situation where she gets sent home for being too big of a threat.

As much as Naomi saying "Life's not fair" was iconic, this is where the format fails for what the show's trying to do. But so long as it doesn't end in another tie, fine.

I just realized the last 2 seasons of All-Stars had the clear winners going home way too early

Exactly. In the old-school All-Stars, Ben and Manila would be in the pantheon.