Chris here, with a quick RuPaul's Drag Race check-in! By now I'm sure you've seen our Mama Ru is on the cover of Entertainment Weekly! If you wanted some bonafide proof that the cult show is now firmly in the mainstream, look no further. And don't forget that this season was actually still produced by Logo before the move to VH1 - expect season ten and the inevitable All Stars 3 to be huge.
This was was the reunion before next week's finale crowning, and each of the queens were in peak gorgeousness. But honey did this rehash make up for every single complaint that contestants about a lack of shade over the entire season. While most Drag Race reunions have been forgettable in later seasons (remember the unfiltered days of Tammie Brown daring to shade Ru herself?), this one ended with a bang.
Topics included Charlie Hides's feast of excuses about her lackluster lipsync, Alexis Michelle's hurt feelings over the Reading challenge, and Nina Bo'nina Brown's lingering resentments and paranoia, with Shea Couleé and Aja running on a platform of Not Having It. But the real fireworks came at the subject of Valentina's angry fans and her Miss Congeniality win, with Val forced to finally speak up against the hatred the other queens have received. I'll never understand the nastier side of this show's fanbase when Drag Race is so joyful - shade and hate are two very different things.
Though I eventually warmed up to her, I’d firmly argue that the cracks in Valentina’s veneer have been there from the very beginning. But never were they more apparent that the whiplash she gave from raising her voice to Shea to instantly going all smiles once called out. I think anyone would get defensive when taking it from all sides like she did, but when defending herself she didn't come off nearly as sincere as the queens calling her out.
All that kind of took the attention from the bombshell that next week's finale will include a sudden death lipsync battle between the Top 4. How does this show continue to succeed? By constantly tweaking the format. Stay tuned to see how it plays out next week - but I'd imagine Peppermint just got a major boost to her chances of winning.
With all the shade thrown, the biggest delight of the episode was the treasure trove of reaction shots of the queens. Let's rank some favorites (though I'm sure I missed some greatness, how could you not):
10. Peppermint's stone-faced double take when Valentina equates herself to Selena. Remember how Tyra Sanchez said she was like Beyoncé...
9. Kimora Blac's accusatory finger wag to the finale lipsync news. That look and finger says: you bitches are gonna kill eachother. Remember when Kimora was actually a little funny?
8. Aja when Alexis defended Valentina's preparedness. When there are excuses: [insert Aja here]
7. Farrah Moan being told to shut up by Valentina. Whether constantly crying or being a brat here, Farrah was truly the baby sister of the season.
6. Shea to "Nobody can do Alexis Michelle like Alexis Michelle". [tire screech]
5. Aja when Farrah told Valentina "You don't love me". Aja is the queen of extra, but even she is frozen here - did anyone expect that kind of gumption from Farrah?
4. Alexis during Kimora and Nina's bickering. When the T is tart but delicious.
3. Eureka during Shea and Nina's bickering. I'm so excited we'll have Eureka's big mouth back on season 10. Shea and Trinity weren't joking, she's a major threat.
2. Nina Bo'nina I Second That Motion Brown. Was she acknowledging Shea's ace impersonation of Valentina or that Valentina never made good on her promise to defend Nina? Either way, Nina was here for it.
1. Aja when Shea dismissed Valentina with "Do I look upset?". This is not RuPaul's Drag Race, this is Aja's Best Face Race. Leave it to our queen of extra to upstage one of the night's best reads with her hilarious response. Aja may not have impacted the competition, but she did give us the season's best catchphrase in her Linda Evangelista rant.
Which of these reaction shots best personifies your feelings during the reunion?