We’re back for another raucous mini-season of ‘RDR Live’ on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Episode three is a good time, with the main challenge being more entertaining than its past iterations. Between the wild runway and amplified bickering, episode three continues the high season 18 is currently on.
Live from Tuckahoe!
We finally get treated to an almost entirely excellent rendition of ‘RDR Live.’ Past versions have been lackluster and usually end up being my least favorite challenge. Not this season! Almost every sketch got a laugh and pretty much every queen was memorable. Meanwhile, Athena Dion and Briar Blush’s bickering continues and ends up backfiring on Briar.
Let’s break down the best parts of episode three.
The Drama
Briar really revels in fucking with Athena; it actually makes her a little endearing how impish she is. Athena doesn’t agree, she finds it very annoying. While casting their roles for the challenge, Briar pushes her into a role she didn’t want just so she could mess with her, while on the main stage. That does not end up going well for Briar.
Jane Don’t is starting to get paranoid about constantly being in the top and that putting “a target” on her back. She mentions this a few times throughout the episode, when there isn’t really any evidence of the girls being threatened (which they may be, but it’s not showing up on camera). And even if it does put a target on her back, who cares? This isn’t All Stars; their alleged jealousy isn’t going to affect the outcome of who wins the game. But this has potential for internal drama, watching Jane spiral about her own wins/top placements is entertaining nonetheless.
The Talent
No mini challenge again this week, but there’s enough to do with ‘RDR Live.’ The girls chat with “Saturday Night Live” cast member, Sarah Sherman, who is wearing spectacular outfits the entire episode. I love when the guests bring their A game with the fits. She gives them some solid advice, while RuPaul pokes fun at Discord Addams’ insane walk (which is having its meme moment on social media). She loves it and doesn’t want her to change a thing about it. Which, of course, makes absolute sense. It’s one of the most memorable moments about the season so far AND has the honor of being the first meme of season 18.
As far as the actual ‘RDR Live’ performances go, it was overall a pretty impressive showing from everyone. Even the “worst” weren’t that bad. The opening sketch with Discord, Mia Starr, Mandy Mango, and Darlene Mitchell was appropriately raunchy. Athena as the host did a fine job, but Briar looked awkward in both her sketches. Her timing was off and she looked really uncomfortable.
Lipstick Lesbians with Vita VonTesse Starr, Nini Coco, and Kenya Pleaser was stupid but a funny play on the pun. Jane pretty much took over the QNN sketch coming in as Ciara Myst’s mom. The ‘Young Michelle’ sketch was cringe as fuck, but Juicy Love Dion saved it with some surprisingly good acting.
RuPaul came through and did one of her signature performances to “Queendom” and it was actually a good time. She seemed to be having a blast with this song.
The Looks
Category is: Animal Attraction and everyone slayed this. They weren’t really any bad looks, which is why the bottom three really became about the ‘RDR Live’ performances. Athena’s white barn owl outfit is insane, like if Elvis became a chic animal. It’s one of the most striking looks to come down the runway. Mandy’s deer look was so soft and pretty, the green accented the natural feeling well. Discord’s albino alligator look featuring a handbag with her face as the skin and her eyes moving is very clever, like the gator is using her as an accessory.
Juicy looks incredible in her pangolin (an endangered species) outfit, another stupendous outfit from the Dion tribe. Mia’s pink poodle costume is just fun to look at; she looks like she belongs in Paris Hilton’s purse. And lastly, I really hope Kenya and Myki Meeks in their complementary tiger and cheetah looks do a photoshoot together; both outfits look like they’re in the same fashion line. Genuinely such a pretty and interesting runway to watch. The level of drag is very high.
The Guest
Sarah Sherman was actually wonderful. I appreciated her soft honesty and wonderment at the queens’ performances. Her relevant SNL expertise allowed for actual thoughtful critique that they can take with them after the show.
Sherman’s comment, “I liked the titties popping out, but that’s just me,” to Mandy got a laugh out of me. Especially when Ru asked for “little Sarah’s” opinion, referring to the doll attached to her outfit dressed exactly like her: “She said there could’ve been a third titty.” In particular, her compliment to Jane (“I’m gonna need to take some notes today”) was very empowering and Jane will probably remember that for the rest of her life. The show needs more guest judges like this, the ones that offer practical career advice.
The Winner and Loser
Juicy wins! Even she was shocked she won a comedy challenge. If you told someone last week that Juicy was going to be winning an acting comedy challenge, everyone would’ve laughed. It’s always the ones you don’t expect. Jane and Darlene were lovely runners-up, with Mandy, Briar and Vita in the bottom.
Briar and Mandy face off in a messy lip sync, where the lyrics came and went for Briar. Mandy loses, which makes sense since it was her third time in the bottom, but it wouldn’t have been surprising if Briar got eliminated because she didn’t know the song very well and got tripped up.
Final Thoughts
Another excellent episode for season 18 in the books. This season is really starting off so strong, which is a testament to the experience and careers of these queens. Mandy being an early out was foretold, but Juicy winning threw off my predictions. More drama coming next episode!
Rating:
Writer and editor