RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: The Endgame

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This week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race finally tackled the question of what it takes to win, something the show hadn’t addressed all season. This is likely because it’s the semi-finals—the last chance for the remaining queens to truly stand out—but also because the unexpected elimination of front-runner Jane Don’t left viewers (and the show itself) a bit confused. I didn’t enjoy last week’s episode because it didn’t clearly explain why Jane struggled. While they briefly mentioned anxiety, it didn’t feel like the core reason she faltered in the challenge—she simply didn’t perform well. This lack of clarity carries over to this episode. Without understanding why the presumed winner was eliminated, it’s hard to know what the remaining queens need to do to prove themselves. The show doesn’t really explain why Myki and Darlene are stronger competitors than Jane was.

This episode is enjoyable because we see Myki and Darlene suddenly realize they have a real chance of winning. After Jane’s elimination, both contestants quickly understand they need to actively campaign for the top spot – something they hadn’t done before. For most of the competition, they were overshadowed by Jane, and everyone assumed she would win. Last week, they were just relieved to make it to the finale. Now, with Jane gone, they see a clear path to victory and start making their case to be the season’s winner.

Following some upset over Jane’s elimination – while she did perform the worst, the show has let other contestants continue with worse results – Myki and Darlene began preparing for the next challenge. This challenge was a morning talk show performance in pairs. With both Myki and Darlene fully focused, and Nini and Juicy seeming disengaged, the front-runners quickly paired up. It became clear through this performance and subsequent interviews with Ru that the show was actively building storylines for these two queens, allowing them to highlight their strengths and share their personal journeys. Considering neither was initially considered a top contender, this focus felt like a smart move. By the end of the episode, I was much more optimistic about both queens than I had been throughout the season. Rather than simply retelling the events, I think it’s best to break down each queen’s presentation, so let’s dive in.

Myki struggled early in the competition, lacking confidence and not fully committing. However, being unexpectedly put in the bottom three during the talent show motivated her to improve dramatically. Since then, she’s consistently been a top performer. Myki is an exceptionally refined performer with a unique ability to create fully developed characters – all extensions of her own persona, appearing a bit ditzy but surprisingly clever. Examples like her portrayals of Stephanie Miller (Lollipop), Drew Barrymore, Annie, and even her Karen demonstrate her range and skill. Throughout the latter half of the season, Myki has remained calm and collected onstage, and she clearly has the poise and talent to excel in any live performance setting, whether it’s theater, television, or film.

Myki is the driving force behind their segment, and her experience as a host really shines through. She smoothly guides the transitions and asks insightful questions, like she did during the interview with Zane Phillips. She even nailed the difficult tongue twister with ease, yet still feels natural and not overly rehearsed. I believe Myki will be the one leading the conversation when the top three contestants inevitably appear on shows like Good Morning America or Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Myki hasn’t really shared a deeply personal story like some of the other contestants. While she talks about her friends and how supportive they are, she hasn’t described them as a ‘chosen family,’ unlike Jane and Darlene who openly shared emotional stories. Even when discussing her life in Orlando, she focused on her pride in her work and love for her hometown, and how this show allows her to continue it. Her story on the show is mostly about her experiences on the show itself, which is a strong strategy, but…

This week, I was surprisingly rooting for Darlene to win. She consistently presents herself as uniquely quirky, and that’s her biggest strength in the competition. Like Myki, she had a breakthrough moment while on the show. We saw her figure out who she is as a performer during the roast, and how to best showcase her talents. While Myki is good at adjusting to different challenges, Darlene has pinpointed exactly what she does well and is confidently using those strengths, no matter what. Throughout the roast, the Karen challenge, and this week’s morning show segment, Darlene was noticeably more charming than the other contestants.

Okay, so this week, while Myki is solid as always, Darlene totally stole the show for me. Seriously, she had all the best lines – that opening “motherfucker” bit had me cracking up, and she just looked funny. Her walk demonstration was completely over-the-top, but in the best way possible. I honestly think she gave the strongest performance in the competition, which makes it even more frustrating that the best performer went home last week. But honestly, even beyond this week, I think Darlene is the biggest star of the entire cast – she just has that ‘it’ factor.

Honestly, Darlene really opened up this week, and it was powerful. Hearing about her journey to sobriety with her partner was genuinely moving – and it totally resonated with me knowing RuPaul has a similar story. Darlene made a really strong case for why she deserves the crown, explaining that she’s a true original who doesn’t just follow the rules, and that’s what drag is all about! The best queens take the challenges and make them their own, and she totally embodies that. She also shared how her family didn’t always accept her drag, but her dad is now supportive, and that connection is really touching. Seeing that vulnerability alongside her bright, energetic stage presence just works. This week, we finally got a complete picture of who Darlene is, and I can totally see why people are rooting for her to win.

I love watching Drag Race because it’s the only show that really celebrates unique and talented queer performers, bringing them into the national spotlight. It introduces me to artists I wouldn’t normally discover. This season, Darlene perfectly embodies that spirit – she’s exactly the kind of performer I tune in to see, and that’s a strong reason to make her the winner.

So, let’s talk about Nini and Juicy. They ended up paired together this week because Myki and Darlene were really focused and didn’t want to collaborate with them on the presenting challenge. Honestly, the biggest issue for those two right away was the same one they’ve been battling all season: neither of them really shines when it comes to talking and presenting themselves. Nini can deliver in a performance challenge – she proved that by winning Snatch Game – but she doesn’t feel like a fully formed character. Ru even tried to help her find a narrative, suggesting she lean into her background as an engineer and how that makes her analytical. But Nini just hasn’t quite figured out how to translate that into something captivating on screen. It’s a common story: she’s amazing in the early competitions, when it’s about basic talent, but struggles later on when it’s about having a point of view. She’s definitely the visual queen of the season, and her looks are incredible, but creating a character doesn’t come as easily to her.

Honestly, watching Nini was tough. She just didn’t seem to have an inner life, you know? The beginning felt flat because her jokes didn’t land, and as soon as Phillips came on screen, she totally disappeared. It was genuinely uncomfortable to watch her get lost like that.

It’s also tough to watch Juicy perform. She doesn’t seem to build on her success from the previous week, and while her Karen impression had some direction, that’s missing now. Instead, she relies on a tired, overused character. It’s disappointing that when challenged, her only idea is to fall back on something so simplistic. The judges seem to think she’s doing worse than Nini, but I’m not convinced – at least Juicy is trying something. While her material is completely inappropriate for the challenge and isn’t funny, she is actually performing. It’s frustrating that she hasn’t figured out that leaning into her Miami persona is what works best for her in the competition. It’s been obvious for weeks, but she just doesn’t seem to be fully realizing her potential.

The runway challenge was all about showcasing drag excellence. Juicy’s gold and chain-covered outfit wasn’t one of her strongest looks this season. It felt lost in its own opulence and reminded many of her mother, Morphine’s, previous costume. While visually impressive, it didn’t fully express a unique drag perspective. Nini absolutely stunned, delivering what many considered the best outfit of the season – a truly finale-worthy, glittery striped dress with matching wig and spiked breasts. Myki wore a beautiful dress featuring a cascading design similar to one she used weeks prior. The judges noted the wire detailing lacked some life, but overall she looked fantastic. Darlene finally brought full glamour with a gold dress and red coat. It was good, but not award-winning. However, the unexpected addition of a clashing red shoe was a brilliant touch. Considering the judges were already inclined to be lenient after her successful challenge performance, it was a perfectly silly and memorable moment that captured her unique drag style.

In the end, Myki and Darlene both won the challenge, though I personally would have chosen Darlene. It was great to see the two strongest competitors of the season really stand out in the semifinal. Nini and Juicy then battled it out in a lip-sync to Chappell Roan’s “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” for third place. Nini was a bit hampered by her dress, but Juicy didn’t seem as engaged as usual. She did a lot of impressive moves, but they felt a little forced compared to her previous performances – it seemed like she’d lost some of her energy. Nini ultimately won the lip-sync, which was… fine. So now we have our top three – it feels a lot like a top two with Nini joining them, but I’m happy they went that extra step. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything plays out in the finale in two weeks.

And also on Untucked …

The girls are relaxed, confident in how the judging will go. Nini and Juicy have accepted they’ll be competing against each other, while Myki and Darlene quietly celebrate, knowing someone will be eliminated. They all say their goodbyes to the Werk Room.

RuPaul mentioned the sitcom Alice in an interview with Darlene. Interestingly, that show was inspired by Martin Scorsese’s film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, which is one of my four favorite movies of all time. I highly recommend it – it’s a fantastic but often overlooked classic.

It was amusing to hear guest judge Teyana Taylor compliment the regular judges – you don’t usually see that happen! It seems she wasn’t familiar with the show and was genuinely surprised by how dedicated the judges are to drag as an art form when she arrived.

• Favorite looks of the season: Nini’s finale gown, Darlene’s tinsel box, Jane’s entrance look.

• Favorite performances of the season: Myki’s Snatch Game, Jane’s girl group, Juicy’s talent show.

I have to give a huge shout-out to Rebecca Alter for stepping in and covering for me last week – she was a lifesaver! I playfully told her it would be the week Jane got eliminated in some totally crazy way, something I didn’t even think was possible. Turns out, I was way off, and I couldn’t have been more wrong!

My friends and I were discussing who we thought was the most attractive person. They all seemed to favor Darlene, but I personally think Nini is the most appealing, even though Darlene can be annoying. My boyfriend, however, thinks Juicy is the cutest.

• Predicted winner: The double win makes me think they’re ready to give it to Myki.

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2026-04-04 05:56