by Chris Feil
Let's just call RuPaul's shocked expression pictured here the official facecrack of the century. Let the image on your left burn into your memory, because Mama Ru does not normally crack. I guess that's just what happens when you're given the most infuriating elimination in Drag Race herstory. But more on that shortly.
This week, the queens were all visited by their mothers and sisters with the challenge being to make them over with a drag family resemblance. Alyssa Edwards and Detox were coming on the anniversary of the death of their parents, so emotions were already running high outside of the competition/drama. However, this episode was more than a little frustrating for all but pushing the actual challenge aside. Sure, the shade has got us talking this season, but these girls are the best of the best and more attention must be paid to their actual drag!
Best Mom - Katya's mom Pat - Well we see where Katya gets her absurd humor. Pat was more memorable than some of this season's contestants (sorry bout it, Ginger) and so ready to have a ball. When she discussed watching Katya's anxiety struggles on season 7, it just made us feel all the more proud of Katya's ongoing journey...
Katya and Pat were the silly standouts, with Detox perhaps getting a little overpraised for the family resemblance with her sister - trotting out in two Marco Marco dresses from the same collection is a safe way to look cohesive but not very creative. Roxxxy Andrews and Alyssa Edwards had some pros and cons, standing out more for the joy of sharing the moment with a loved one. But cue the sirens: Alaska bombed the challenge. The runway presentation was sloppy (and not in the fun Alaska trashbag way) and our intergalactic queen didn't even seem to be having much fun with her mom.
Meltdown ensues. Apparently Alaska can't pull off anything, because this woeful pouting was not a cute look on her. Surely it has to be painful to fall so hard after a season of high performances, but Miss Thunderfuck behaved like a petulant child. (If you want a better example of how to handle this better, remember that Roxxxy nailed the first challenge and has taken her following knocks with humility and grace.) That unfunny joke bribe to Detox didn't help. What with the ongoing Rolaskatox buffoonery and now this behavior, Alaska has all but lost us. In fact...
Unpopular Opinion Time - Aside from multiple wins, has Alaska really made the case to be the winner of this season? Each of her lipsyncs were close calls, and I struggle to remember much of what she's done other than her reading challenge and Snatch Game. Coming into the competition with the most heat like a predetermined champion simply doesn't cut it, otherwise why have a competition at all. This meltdown and her not-Rolaskatox-but-still-definitely-Rolaskatox has cost her both fans and momentum.
Detox wins the elimination and honey hold on to your wigs: She eliminates the previously (foolishly) eliminated Alyssa over Alaska's bombing of the challenge and Roxxxy's fifth time in the bottom. See above RuPaul expression of shock.
And that there is the hypocracy of Detox's decision. She was faced with sticking to the original plan of eliminating the weakest performer of the challenge (Alaska) or even sidestepping to the consistency vote (Roxxxy), and she chose neither. The initial adherence to that girl code was a fool's errand to begin with, and the production's decision for queen-on-queen elimination was made with a moment like this in mind.
Let's take a final moment for Alyssa Edwards. Though the conversation online has been centered all around throwing our disdain at the Rolaskatox trio, that's not the same as showing love to the queen that got robbed by girl group shenanigans. Alyssa had become the antidote to Alaska's unsatisfying dominance and Katya's pitfalls. The true Miss Congeniality of the season should there be one, always above the bullshit, deepening our love for her simply by being herself. Always and forever, Alyssa Edwards.
Her elimination and Alaska's fallout with fans puts the show in an unexpected position should it not coronate Alaska during next week. The show has a history of building a narrative for an obvious winner, all the way back to season 3's Raja (give or take Violet Chachki). To turn its back on that structure, would mean crowning the obvious fan favorite Katya. I think she deserves $100,000 for this moment alone:
Just like Katya to laugh into the cruel abyss while making things even more awkward. Despite not winning any lipsyncs and stumbling a few weeks, Katya has delivered memorable moments aplenty and earned our adoration once again. She's the rightful winner of next week's finale.
Current Ranking:
- Katya
- Alyssa Edwards OUT
- Tatianna OUT
- Pat ... just kidding... but am I?
- Detox
- Alaska
- Roxxxy Andrews
- Phi Phi O'Hara OUT
- Ginger Minj OUT
- Coco Montrese OUT
- Adore Delano OUT
Gif as Episode Grade:
