From a truly catastrophic mini challenge to an already-iconic main challenge, episode 13 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was an absolute wild ride from start to finish. One of the biggest shocks of the episode happens at the end and, no doubt, will have fans up in arms.
Improv Failures and Successes
My favorite thing in the world is to see people bomb something spectacularly. There’s so many comedic nuggets in that failure. It’s one of the biggest draws of “Drag Race.” But slightly more than that, I love seeing people overcome those same bombs in the same arc.
Let’s break down the best parts of episode 13.
The Drama
It’s not really drama, but the girls being gooped and gagged by Jane Don’t being in the bottom definitely sends Jane on a spiral. She seems off the whole episode and then her Karen improv ends up being the worst of the bunch, which is a wild thing to say when Juicy Love Dion is still in the competition. No shade!
The Talent
We have to discuss the mini challenge. If you’re a fan of the Sibling Rivalry podcast from Bob the Drag Queen and Monét X Change, you’ll know that Bob talks about the puppet show being a “staple” of RDR, which Monét somewhat disagrees with. In fact, they JUST talked about this on a prior episode of “Sibling Watchery” and that it hasn’t been seen in years. I can’t wait to see Bob’s reaction when she sees they not only brought it back but it was one of the worst puppet shows across any “Drag Race” franchise.
The girls reach into the giant hole and pull out puppets with their competitors’ likeness and have to have a “bitchfest” with them, which is improv and a reading challenge in one. Juicy gets Jane and obviously doesn’t do very well. Myki Meeks gets Juicy, Nini Coco gets Darlene Mitchell, Darlene gets Myki, and Jane gets Nini. They all flopped. Jane and Nini got a couple meager laughs, but it was a spectacular fail. NO ONE WON. RuPaul, in a moment of brilliance, actually gives the $2500 prize money to the camera crew for having to waste time watching that disaster. Honestly, Emmy award-winning work here. I’m genuinely surprised none of the girls excelled at this, especially Myki or Jane.
This didn’t bode well for the main challenge, which was another improv comedy challenge, but this time the girls had to act with Ru as a scene partner. The challenge is “Karens Gone Wild,” which parodies the near-constant viral videos of white women losing their minds over minor inconveniences. In contrast to the mini challenge, everyone did a marvelous job. When Jane Don’t, the season frontrunner, is the worst one (and she wasn’t even that bad!) that should tell you how excellent this challenge was.
After RuPaul singled her out in the Werk Room, expectations were pretty low for Juicy’s performance, but after taking Darlene’s tip to just channel the spicy Latinas she knew back home, she surprised everyone. Juicy did so well. Her lying ass Miami Latina worked out for her and I feel like she almost made Ru break when she pretended to get hit by the car. Athena would be proud.
Darlene was hilarious as a “bless your heart” kleptomaniacal Karen. Myki really epitomized the quintessential Karen who gets pulled over by the police. Jane did not pop off like she should’ve as the airport Karen. It was easily the most boring one by far, but she did get more laughs out of me at the end while she was rolling around on the floor. Nini was also very funny as the HOA Karen and when she started tearing shit up it went to a physically comedic place. Truly one of the best challenges of the season, if not the series.
The Looks
Category is “From Wholesome to Folsom,” a reveal category that doubles as an ode to the Folsom Street Fair. Juicy’s Alice in Wonderland dress reveal to sexy Cheshire Cat was actually very nicely done. I loved the big bow in the back. Darlene’s was fittingly vulgar, going from a housewife to a piss pig complete with a bedazzled pee stain.
Myki’s rose look was gorgeous but the spiked outfit underneath was underwhelming for me. The rose shaped wig was everything though. Jane’s sleep gown was ugly, but the red, bedazzled bodysuit underneath was hot, plus the wig fits so well. Nini went from a copper Statue of Liberty to a teal bra and panty underneath with a spiked headpiece. She made it herself, but I didn’t like the panty at all. It was giving diaper.
The Guest
Julianne Nicholson is the guest judge and while I don’t know much about her, I felt she was a very solid and strong judge. She used the term “railography” in regards to Juicy falling over the railing and I fell in love with her. Also her “Thorn? When did I have thorn?” joke during the runway was so damn funny. I can see why she was asked to be a judge.
The Winner and Loser
Myki scores her third win! This one should not be nearly as disputed as her makeover challenge win (I see you, Reddit). She nailed the hair, the voice changes, the physical humor, and played off Ru so well. Meanwhile, Nini and Jane fall into the bottom, which was to be expected. But it’s still surreal seeing Jane so low after 11 episodes straight of her having high placements.
Jane and Nini do a spectacular lip sync to my girl Lady Gaga’s “Garden of Eden” and while they both did valiantly (the simultaneous cartwheels!), Nini really embodied the song so much better and to everyone’s shock, Jane is eliminated. No one thought the frontrunner was going to go out like this. RuPaul doesn’t care about track records!
Final Thoughts
What a monumental, earth-shaking episode. Who thought Juicy was going to make it to the final four? Who thought Jane was going to stagger and stumble this close to the finale? Who had Darlene going all the way? It’s been a very interesting series of episodes in terms of placements. We’re in the endgame now, folks.
Season 18 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” airs weekly on Fridays at 5/8 p.m. PT/ET on MTV.
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