The second episode of the already gag-worthy Season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race is here. The premiere episode left us with a “to be continued” cliffhanger that gets answered in the opening moments.
In the first episode of the season, the queens were shocked to their core when RuPaul had them each lip-sync for their lives against each other. The non-stop lip-sync extravaganza was television gold. Some fans claimed that it was cruel to make these queens think they were going home after one lip-sync. But all of the season 13 queens are obviously fans of this TV show and anyone who knows the show knows there is another twist coming. This week the queens were asked to vote to give one of the other bottom girls the boot! This wild All-Stars twist was truly shocking. The queens all voted and the result was a tie between Eliott with 2 T’s and Utica. Then they were asked to vote between these two girls and the group chose Elliott with 2 Ts.
As predicted, Eliott with 2 Ts was not actually sent home. It would be silly to send someone packing after one lip-sync. She gets another chance to show RuPaul what she has to offer by joining the queens who won their lip syncs last week. The dolls throw some shade at her and it feels as though she is trying to keep up when she says to Kandy Muse, “usually when people claim to be the daughter of a famous Drag Race girl… they go home early”. Kandy Muse is not aMUSEd. She did not ask for the tee from Elliott, let alone two Ts from Eliott. Kandy says “that was a shady question” and her face looks like someone pissed off on a Zoom call who doesn’t know that their camera is still on. It is sort of deadpan and partially pissed.
In the mini-challenge, the queens are asked to show two fashion runway looks to the judges. Drag Race has really figured out a great format to let us get to know these queens quickly. For the first runway, Gottmik wears a very cool latex number with a rainbow and sky look. Normally rainbows are tacky on the runway of this show. It can be a little on the nose for a gay show but this lewk is a slay. Kandy Muse comes down the runway making some… choices. It is an unusual lewk with strange make up and hair. But hey, she continues to stand out. Someone call Mandy Moore, because we’re craving Candy! Lala Ri looks very pretty, but it is clear that this queen is not in the same league as the rest of the cast when it comes to her outfits. There has been much discussion about the role that privilege, especially white privilege plays in the competition. LaLa Ri does not seem to have access to the same designers as many of these other queens, but she is still a fierce queen and she won’t let that stop her. Olivia Lux looks a little too simple in this first runway but no matter what she does she is very cute. The shoes are so right and in the same Alyssa Edwards fashion… charm will take her far. Symone’s colors are so fun and its a great lewk from her, which is already expected at this point. Eliott with 2 T’s looks rough in a red number. It is clear this early that Eliott and LaLa are a few steps behind the rest in the runway department. Tina Burner is in a weird orange thing. She does not claim to be a runway queen.
For the second runway lewk Gottmik looks sickening once again. This queen is giving fierce fashions. Kandy looks like the first draft of an American Horror Story character. Cut for time. LaLa Ri is giving a fun Atlanta drag club lewk but again she just doesn’t hold a candle to the other lewk queens in this competition. Olivia Lux looks amazing. That burgandy color on her is out of this world! Symone slays again. The wig is so right. Tina Burner is once again in… orange. Why? She is a comedy queen so I have to assume she is playing a cruel joke on our eyes. Eliott with 2 Ts has a much better second runway. The hat has a huge feather, but ultimately, it’s so clear that she is out of her league here.
For the maxi-challenge, the dolls must do a performance of a RuPaul song and almost imeediatley they start fighting over the choreography. This season is already very refreshing because the drama does not seem manufactured. Casting did an excellent job of getting personalities on this season. And mama the titans are clashing.
Gottmik realizes that his lyrics reveal that he is transgender, but as they are rehearsing it seems to hit him pretty hard that this is happening on stage in front of people who are basically strangers to him. Gottmik describes it as “gender dysphoria” and says that he didn’t think he even struggled with that anymore. It’s an important moment for the world to see. Queer people have a lot of trauma over coming out and it can manifest and unveil itself in a lot of different and surprising ways. Being one of a small group of transgender performers who have been allowed to compete on this show is likely a great deal of pressure. Plus it is a show that is all about toying with gender which could be very triggering. Gottmik says at the make-up mirror that “it was so intense I couldn’t even breathe about it”. Olivia Lux handles it beautifully and supportively. She asks what pronouns Gottmik prefers. Gottmik says that when she is in drag she wants to be referred to as a she and when he is out of drag as a he. Basically to be treated the same as the cis gender drag queens in the competition. Olivia acknowledges that and commends Gottmik for giving representation to a show that rarely showcases transgender queens. It had us crying at home.
On the runway, RuPaul looks gorgeous as always. In the performance number Gottmik impresses with her singing voice. Kandy proves she is definitely a star. LaLa Ri kills her verse. Its so sick. Olivia Lux is cute once again. Tina Burner seemed like she was trying to cram too many words into her rap verse. Tina is an incredible New York City queen with the performing chops to win this entire season, but this was another miss. Speaking of misses… Eliott with Two Ts is serving bad Married with Children drag, but her verse is very good.
On the final runway (so much happened in this episode our heads are spinning), Gottmik’s lewk is excellent. She is stomping that runway in an alien fashion. Kandy Muse brings an extremely boring lewk. Sensing a theme here with her. La La Ri looks incredible! She turned things right around after her first two runways. She’s covered in gold. Olivia looks like an old Hollywood movie star. Another slay for this newbie queen. The praise from the judges has Tina and Kandy looking gagged that this leass seasoned New York queen is killing this competition. Symone is serving boxer realness. She looks like a Million Dollar(s) Baby! Tina Burner shocks with a non-orange lewk. She is giving Tinman drag and proving that she is here for the crown this season. This woman knows what she is doing! Eliott with 2 Ts is serving some really rough early 90’s nonsensense. It’s a Kelly Kapowski dress without the ka-pow! It’s a Lisa (awkward) Turtle gown. It’s not so much Zach Morris as it is Zach… Less-ish. Her drag race is SCREECHing to a halt.
Ross Matthews has really been in the comedy pocket for like 3 full years. She needs her own show on Quippi. In the end, no one goes home. Instead, two winners are picked: Symone and Olivia Lux. Symone gives one of the most dropped in lip-syncs in herstory. It’s mesmerizing. Watch out for her. She is giving this competition the one-two punch.
