Drag Race RuCap: “RDR Live!” (again)

And just like that, a villain is born.

CLÁUDIO ALVES: It’s a testament to how much I’m enjoying this season that, even with a challenge as chronically unfunny as RDR Live, I still finished the hour of television ready to proclaim the return of old-school Drag Race fun. Girl, Jinkx Monsoon has been spritzing her fragrance all over the Werk Room because these bitches are delusional, already splitting into cliques and badmouthing each other like we’re in season 3. Some seem to think runways count as much as main challenges, and there’s tension so thick you can cut with a knife. And like with season 5, the folks deemed soft and unstylish are unbothered and thriving, while the resident sourpusses get pressed like paninis. For once, Untucked is essential viewing, and I feel as if I spent most of it cackling like Onya Nurve. Bless this mess.

NICK TAYLOR: The confidence these bitches have exuded so palpably has really begun to curdle...

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Sundance Review: “Heightened Scrutiny” is an All-Too Timely Doc about the Fight for Transgender Rights

by Abe Friedtanzer

It’s a troubling time to be transgender in America, to say the least. Within just days of his return to the White House, Donald Trump has already taken massive steps to roll back protections against transgender people and to limit recognition of their existence in every way possible. The documentary Heightened Scrutiny carries an important message of perseverance and hope, following one lawyer arguing an important case about gender-affirming care in the delicate period between Trump’s election and inauguration while the Department of Justice is still on his side...

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Drag Race RuCap: "Bitch, I'm a Drag Queen!"

Ladies and gentlemen and all those in between, here is the season's Golden Boot.

NICK TAYLOR: Hi y’all! I’m so happy to be back this week, for a very special episode. We have witnessed what will surely be remembered as the most iconic runway of the season, from the slaysian diva of LA and the protagonist of all four episodes she’s starred in so far. Serena Cha Cha walked so Joella could run. Behold what she has given us. 

CLÁUDIO ALVES: It feels premature to start the RuCap by mentioning the runway, but you’re so right to mention that quilted monstrosity. Joella’s rectangular slay was truly something to behold. Bound to become a meme, she stole the spotlight from Crystal Envy whose tumbleweed realness would have surely ignited social media if not for Miss J-O-E but don’t forget the ‘Ella. Girl, this was such a fun episode, the best of the season so far and it wasn’t even all due to the glory hole duvet and Miss Sommersault…

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Indie Spirit Revue: "Problemista"

by Nick Taylor

As a fan of Julio Torres's work on SNL for years who's had only intermittent contact with his other ventures, I am so goddamn delighted by Problemista. Every loopy, queer, topical, cubist dimension to his art is so fruitfully deployed while allowing the colors and slashes of every single collaborator to shine as brightly as he does. As a showcase of singular, unpredictable comedic instincts, this beats almost every other 2024 film for mining laughs from all directions. Bizarre art objects, wry narration, ridiculous tableaus, fantasy costumes, goofy-ass behavior, incredible commitment to the bit from all sides. She's got it all…

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"I Saw the TV Glow" leads the 16th annual Dorian Award nominations

by Nathaniel R

I SAW THE TV GLOW © A24

Oopsie. While celebrating Paul Newman's centennial we forgot to mention another round of nominations. This time it's GALECA: THE SOCIETY OF LGBTQ ENTERTAINMENT CRITICS taking on the challenge of naming "best" this and than of the year. This group, which includes over 500 entertainment journalists (including some of us here at TFE) and media personalities, showered I Saw the TV Glow with nominations. Perpetually overperforming gonzo horror satire The Substance was a close second.  

For my part I'm grateful that the category list has been expanded to make the awards more LGBTQ centric, because what is the point of any critics groups if they don't have a specific point of view/ place of origin apart that differentiates them from other critics groups? See the nominee list after the jump...

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