Drag Race RuCap: "Two Queens, One Joke"

NICK TAYLOR: Welcome back, Cláudio! And welcome back, 90-minute Drag Race episodes! The return of a longer runtime definitely gives the show more room to breathe - it really is so nice to hear Ru say “Bring back my gurls!” again - and allows us to really spend more time with the queens. This is clearly a talented cast, but “Two Queens, One Joke” feels like the best chance we’ve really gotten to know this top seven. Do I agree with the judging 100%? No, but as an episode of television, this felt satisfying in a way that season 15 has too rarely achieved. 

CLÁUDIO ALVES: I love the return of 90-minute episodes (really 60 minutes), even if this week’s judging infuriated me. Moreover, the outcome of all those shenanigans was downright heartbreaking…

Click to read more ...

Drag Race RuCap: "50/50's Most Gagworthy Stars"

NATHANIEL R: Hello queens, I'm crashing your party this week for the RuCap because I have opinions too. (Shocker, I know).  In fact, I came in with every intention of stirring the pot and having a completely different take but after this 10th episode "50/50's Most Gagworthy Stars"... perhaps I won't be able too, since my some of my favourites didn't do that well. But... did anyone? This interview challenge with special guests Charo, Frankie Grande, and Love Connie was an excellent one. The challenge offered up multiple interview formats (walk and talk, seated intimate, cooking or other 'action')  and whatever you think of the three interviewees, none of them are lacking in personality (the hardest interviews are with introverts!). In short there was ample opportunity for all remaining queens to blind us with their charisma, but there was seriously little shining... the best we got was a bit of luster. 

Which is not to say that it wasn't an enjoyable episode! Anyway I'm happy to be popping in...

Click to read more ...

Drag Race RuCap: “The Crystal Ball”

NICK TAYLOR: Following the high entertainment value and disappointing culmination of last week’s LaLaPaRUza, I thought this was a pretty satisfying episode! The Ball’s been through a lot -- originally a late-game nailbiter that’s sent home many a fierce queen, it’s been deployed very early as of season 10. Can you imagine if this had been the third challenge? A nightmare. But here we are, on the 200th episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, with officially half of the cast gone, to talk about the Crystal Ball! Was it everything you were hoping for, Cláudio?

CLÁUDIO ALVES: This was the season's most satisfying episode thus far from both a structural and entertainment perspective. At last, we have enough queens gone to make the editor’s job manageable within the 40-minute format, leaving enough space for a mini-challenge and even Ru’s typical pre-challenge walk-thru. My only quibble was with the actual performances…

Click to read more ...

Drag Race RuCap: "LipSync LaLaPaRUza Smackdown"

CLÁUDIO ALVES: After weeks of epic-length write-ups, here we have an episode that feels poised to be taken care of quick and dirty. It’s the return of the LaLaPaRUza, a lipsync tournament to the death - in total, there are eight battles to consider and little else to examine. The 40-minute edit means there’s no time to indulge in whatever’s not part of the face-off, including any inkling of storyline development. Still, it’s an exciting chapter with a heartbreaking conclusion, one frustrating twist, and a slew of fabulous queens. Did you have fun?

NICK TAYLOR: In the words of Dorothea Fields, yes and no…

Click to read more ...

Drag Race RuCap: “Old Friends Gold”

NICK TAYLOR: Well girl, it finally happened: Drag Race did a Golden Girls themed challenge! The Girl Group challenge - an infrequently repeated challenge that’s more of a fixture on All-Stars and the international spin-offs than the main stage - is the Golden Girls Group this year. It’s also the first challenge of season 15 where I find myself out of step with the judge’s decision-making on several fronts, even if I see why they made their choices. What do you think of the girl group challenge historically, and how does that stack up with today’s episode?

CLÁUDIO ALVES: I really love the girl group episodes, especially on international seasons. If you asked me to replace a mainstay maxi challenge, I’d probably erase the obligatory makeover/family resemblance nonsense with this musical trial. However, I can’t quite say “Old Friends Gold” ranks high amid its girl group sisters. Part of it is the rushed edit, but another big factor is, as you say, the judging. The judges and I were watching two different performances this week...

Click to read more ...