RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: RuDemption

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In the final episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race last season, instead of the traditional reunion, there was a LaLaPaRuza battle. This change proved to be highly successful. The episode was packed with action and served as a chance for Megami to redeem herself, while wrapping up Morphine’s storyline. It was an exceptional episode, truly deserving of five stars. One of the standout aspects was how the show highlighted the lip-syncing talent that was abundant among the season 16 contestants. There were numerous skilled lip-syncers in this group, especially among those who had been eliminated earlier.

This year’s performances showed us the outcome when a concept is applied to a group whose strength doesn’t lie in lip-syncing. While they are talented, it wasn’t the lip-sync battles that stood out to me – instead, I’ll recall this season for the intriguing relationships between the queens. The most memorable moment was Lexi vs. Crystal, but sadly, since Lexi is in the top four, she couldn’t compete in the tournament. It’s the queens’ interactions that make this season unforgettable.

In my opinion, yes, it’s effective. The interpersonal relationships among the contestants are clearly evident and add tension to almost every lip sync performance. Moreover, this episode serves as a conclusion for many of the queens’ stories, providing them with a sense of redemption – a moment we heard repeated numerous times tonight: “It feels fantastic to hear RuPaul say I’m a winner.” That’s great storytelling.

The scene starts with all the contestants entering the studio room simultaneously, several months after the initial recording. I found it intriguing that they didn’t film the top four following Suzie’s elimination, but maybe for some reason, they chose not to. It quickly becomes evident who the show considers as the standout queens from Season 17: Kori, Lydia, Suzie, and Joella. This seems fitting to me. Despite finding Kori a bit irritating due to her casual attitude on the show, I must admit she’s incredibly skilled at hogging the camera. She manages to grab two separate segments (discussing her relationship with Lydia and her Cameo roles, particularly as “Kori Toot”) before the queens even finish their group discussion. Now that’s impressive. Unfortunately, Crystal, Acacia, and Lana don’t seem to have received any major updates. Given the results, this makes sense, but it’s also worth noting that these queens weren’t particularly adept at securing camera time during the season. Arrietty offers an apology to Onya.

Okay, on to what everybody is here for: the lip syncs!

Hormona versus Lydia: This season’s twist allows the first contestant to decide whether they want to select the song or their opponent. The majority of the contestants opt for the song selection. I’m not particularly fond of this twist, as it leaves no choice for the second contestant. However, moving on… Hormona elects the song and chooses “Say Liza (Liza With a ‘Z’)”, while the random pick lands on Lydia. Neither performer shines exceptionally, but Lydia outperforms Hormona noticeably. Lydia unveils a wig resembling a conehead during her performance (quite absurd), and when Hormona disrobes, Lydia even plays with Hormona’s large cape. The show frequently cuts to Suzie (who was keen on this song) lip-syncing the number in the background. It’s quite amusing! Lydia takes the victory.

Suzie vs. Joella

Suzie decides to challenge Joella next since she thinks it’s best to minimize losses without Liza. This move might seem a tad harsh, but it’s typical of Suzie to target the easier opponent. Joella selects Dua Lipa’s “Training Season,” which suits her personality as she’s fond of popular artists like Katy Perry.

As it turns out, the main focus of the episode is on Suzie (as it was throughout the season). The viewers, fellow queens, and maybe even Suzie herself discover that Suzie has a talent for being seductive on stage, despite wearing a clown costume. She delivers an impressive performance, effortlessly overshadowing Jo “Don’t Forget the” Ella, whose performance style is reminiscent of a ChatGPT drag queen.

In this contest between Lucky Starzzz and Acacia, it’s Lucky who is chosen next and selects Whitney Houston’s “Step by Step.” Destiny seems to favor her, as we know Acacia isn’t a proficient lip-syncer. Lucky, notably, dons an outfit that resembles a sentient basketball with oversized breasts, effectively sealing Acacia’s fate. In an attempt to regain the spotlight, Ms. Forgot executes a late dive (a well-known move), but once again, Lucky’s breast-like basketballs steal the show. And with that, Lucky emerges victorious, marking the first genuine “redemption” of the episode.

In a competition between Arrietty and Kori, fortune didn’t seem to favor Arrietty as she was matched with Kori, a situation I believe was unfortunate considering Kori’s admiration for P!nk. Her Boston roots hint at this affinity. The other contestants felt that Arrietty won the lip-sync battle, and in many ways, they were correct as she gave an impressive performance. However, my personal preference leans towards Kori. Arrietty’s lip-syncing style is often frenetic, which isn’t just a product of performing under pressure, but it seems to be her usual approach. In contrast, Kori maintains a more composed demeanor, and her ombre hair enhances her appearance compared to the vibrant blonde styles she wore during the competition. RuPaul chose Kori, a decision that left the other contestants stunned, but I believe it was the appropriate choice. At times, one may prefer less intensity or mania.

Lana faces off against Crystal once more: After their initial encounter, Lana and Crystal are set to square off again. Many spectators believe that Crystal edged out Lana in their previous contest (I personally felt it was a mediocre performance from both), so there’s a lot riding on this for both competitors. Lana selects “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by Sylvester, as she aims to enjoy herself. This lip sync performance certainly surpasses their previous encounter, and I concur with Ru’s assessment that Lana came out on top once more. Crystal struggles to maintain life in her eyes throughout the performance, a problem that even Lana occasionally encounters but is noticeably missing from Crystal’s stage presence. Lana seems to be having a much better time than Crystal, which enhances her performance and aligns with the song. The moment when Crystal stumbles over her exit line brings a chuckle to the audience.

In this competition, Lucky and Suzie are set to face off in the semifinals. Lucky gets to pick the song, choosing “We Found Love.” Jewels comments that Lucky’s performance is one she would bet on at the bar, but that doesn’t guarantee success on TV. Lucky’s outfit was designed for a single lip-sync battle, which it won, but now lacks versatility as it’s still very much like a basketball with breasts. Suzie, on the other hand, focuses solely on acting out the song. While her ‘stanky leg’ move is questionable, she still manages to win the lip-sync battle. Despite not being an exceptional performance, Suzie takes the victory.

Three Queens (Lana, Lydia, and Kori) faced off in a lip sync battle. This isn’t my favorite format because it can be confusing. Last season had one too, but it was early on and didn’t seem crucial. However, having the second-to-last lip sync be a three-way is challenging. The song was “360” by Charli XCX, marking the first appearance of songs from the show Brat. It’s difficult to decide who won it because they all gave strong performances. RuPaul chose Kori, as she stood out the most among the three queens on stage. If it were a two-queen competition, I believe Lydia could have won.

From My Perspective: After an unexpected journey, I found myself cheering for Suzie as she squared off against Kori in sync to Rosé and Bruno Mars’s “APT.” Frankly, I never thought Suzie would advance this far, but she did, honestly and honorably by overcoming the initial challenges. It was a terrific performance! Not flawless, not iconic like Morphine and Megami’s “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” but it sure was entertaining and delightful. There were plenty of ponying moves! However, Kori decided to unveil a surprise by revealing a breastplate that she had to constantly adjust throughout the performance. I believe this decision may have cost her the win; while Suzie danced carefree across the stage, Kori seemed a bit constrained in trying to keep everything in place.

Indeed, the victor of LaLaPaRuza is none other than Suzie Toot! Who would have thought? I’m thrilled for Suzie as she adds another accolade to her impressive list, and each queen now has an opportunity to shine even more. What a fantastic episode! It was a pleasure to watch, and I can’t wait for the finale.

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2025-04-12 04:54