RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Recap: Give an Inch, Take a Miley

by

Let me tell you, I was quite on edge last week, but this week’s episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” managed to turn things around with a fantastic country-themed extravaganza that served up both yeehaw and heehaw in equal measure. With multiple country-western motifs cropping up throughout the season, it seems RuPaul has found yet another fantasy world he adores, and as always, he’s riding this cultural trend until the dance moves of the wagon wheels become a thing of legend.

In this episode, the queens move swiftly past any hesitation or prolonged debate about points, recognizing that there’s no need to stretch things out if fairness is the goal. The initial distribution of Messy Points proceeds smoothly, with each queen who didn’t lip-sync receiving a point. However, it becomes clear that Ginger now has a mark against her as she finds herself in a vulnerable position.

After a 30th anniversary tribute to “Clueless” that may have already triggered a cease-and-desist from Amy Heckerling, the queens split into two country-themed groups. One group performed a revenge anthem titled “Key Your Car,” while the other paid homage to bootknocking in “Trailer Hitch.” The stage names of one queen were Stagecoach for another, like BonnaRu or Cucuchella, and so on. Everyone was on their best behavior when forming teams, but only made Orville Peck, their singing coach, slightly uneasy. However, this was less the case for one particular queen.

In the latest episode (still awaiting lab results), Alyssa seems to be finding it hard to break free from her over-reliance on a certain stereotype. Repeatedly simulating an intimate act no less than five times, she insists on being cast in “Trailer Hitch,” believing she can portray a character labeled as a promiscuous prostitute. While Alyssa has displayed impressive drag performances on the show, a drag queen who solely employs explicit sexual references for comedic effect can be likened to a man who only tells knock-knock jokes. It’s high time we see more depth from you, Alyssa. I’m eagerly waiting for the return of that money gun! Oh, Desperad-hoe, when will you find your way back to reason?!

Although Acid Betty seems amicable, she’s not planning on participating in the upcoming competition. She appears to be the only queen this season openly struggling with the complexities of the fresh format and has already begun strategizing for Daya and Ginger to take the top spots again. Similar to Mistress and Jorgeous in previous rounds, an instant strategy grab could potentially shift the focus from the initial winners onto Acid Betty herself. Thus, she seems to be wisely choosing to wait for the dust to settle after the first challenge, possibly hoping that all other queens will expend their points supporting one queen, thereby sacrificing their own chances in the process.

It seems like a fail-safe plan, however, there’s a catch: nobody wants to miss their chance by choosing another queen to move forward. My guess is that Acid is seeking an opening for her advance, but she’s biding her time until another queen suggests her as the candidate. This approach is more subtle than the Mistress/Jorgeous strategy; instead of tricking the lower queens into giving up their points at a cost to themselves, she aims to persuade them to give willingly, preventing the stiffest competition. If nothing else, ‘Untucked’ reveals that this thinking gives Ginger quite a bit of stress.

As a dedicated fan, I must say that this episode felt like a triumphant return to form for the season, serving not just clever strategy discussions but an exceptional challenge too. (Though I can’t help but chuckle at the phrase “suck the chrome off a trailer hitch,” which somehow made me imagine a queen so eager she’d risk tarnish instead of lead poisoning!) The Hoedown Throwdown showdown is certainly one for the season’s memory books, with almost every queen delivering top-notch performances.

In simpler terms, the show “Key Your Car” introduces three characters named Daya, Cynthia, and Ginger, who can be likened to the Sanderson Sisters from a Western setting, let’s call them the Salloonderson Sisters. Among these sisters, it is Cynthia who stands out, pleasing fans of hers (the Cucu Apologists) greatly. The unexpected twist that she possesses a powerful, dramatic singing voice makes this episode particularly surprising, and her performance on Drag Race so far has been her best. As for when we’ll get to see “Annie Get Your Cucu”, that remains to be seen. Daya does well given that the country theme is not part of her background, and Ginger looks fabulous but leaves a more significant impression during scenes outside of her verse.

The Trailer Hitch performance highlights Denali’s passion for songwriting and Alyssa’s talent for miming. Denali’s appearance might seem out of place in a country setting, but her verse effectively embodies the genre and contributes significantly to the group’s unity through choreography. This could be one of Denali’s best performances yet in a challenge. Alyssa appears nervous but avoids any major mishaps. Acid looks fabulous in her electric country costume, managing to maintain her unique style while exploring new western styles. The judges focus on Acid’s wig, but I believe it fits the character she portrayed.

At a runway event referred to as “The Night of 1,000 Mileys,” most queens present faithful reproductions, ranging from excellent (Daya sports a sharp and sleek appearance, Denali dons an iconic bear costume and foam finger) to average (Alyssa opts for a Grammys-inspired look, while Cynthia presents a VMA pop art patchwork). At the extremes are Acid and Ginger, who offer less literal interpretations. Ginger adopts a red carpet Miley-like outfit that is not immediately recognizable and falls among the weaker looks. Conversely, Acid earns high praise for blending Miley’s aesthetic with her own, effectively combining the best of both worlds.

Denali and Ginger were in the lip sync battle for “See You Again,” but it was a bit off. Denali started overdoing it, while Ginger didn’t give enough later on. Somehow, Denali might have lost it when she drew unwanted attention to her backside. It was amusing to see Denali’s reaction when she learned she had lost. On a scale from no emotion to extremely emotional, her response was like Sally Kirkland. Ignoring the mooning incident, I can’t help but worry that Denali might be too relaxed and casual to impress the judges.

In the second round of each bracket thus far, a queen’s place in the semi-finals has been secured, and this time around, that queen is Ginger Minj. With two successful lip sync performances under her belt, it seems highly unlikely that Ginger won’t advance to the semi-finals. The judges would never allow their favored contestant to miss out on this stage. However, so far in this season, there isn’t a compelling argument that Ginger has surpassed her two main criticisms: weak runway presentations and overly rehearsed performances.

In this stage, I can’t help but feel that the judges are showing favoritism towards Ginger in a manner that hasn’t been extended to Acid, Cynthia, and Denali, who impressed immensely last week but faced Michelle’s criticism over her pads. It seems like ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ has a history of playing favorites, and it doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon. However, when the episode offers several viable winners and unexpected contenders, it becomes narratively disheartening when the judges opt to carry a contestant over others who deserve recognition for their performance.

Regardless, Acid has sparked one of the novel format’s most intriguing strategic proposals. Since the queens appeared open to the plan, Ginger’s second victory could potentially stir things up further. If the queens decide to follow Acid’s strategy and aim to disrupt the Ginger-Daya alliance, it might be wiser to direct their points towards Denali instead, who is currently in second place. This would almost certainly secure Denali’s spot in the semi-finals alongside Ginger, but more crucially, it would even out the competition for the remaining contestants. This isn’t a criticism of Daya, rather, it’s an appreciation for unexpected twists and a celebration of sisterhood!

As a fan, I can’t help but find myself cheering for Acid in this competition. Despite delivering some of the strongest performances among the queens, she seems to have the least to show for it so far. This episode, however, Acid has truly embodied her cutthroat persona like never before, serving as the heart and soul of this week’s episode.

It’s time for a “Battle of the Bettys” in this bracket, I believe. The energy and determination these queens bring to the table each week is incredible, but Acid has been standing out as a force to be reckoned with, and it would be exciting to see her go head-to-head with another queen named Betty.

Is it possible I’m merely yearning for the idyllic times of Irene the Alien to progress, albeit unexpectedly and yet deservedly? In any case, the bias only intensifies my eagerness to witness the semi-finals, where the heavyweights will clash head-on. As Ginger put it in her introduction for All Stars 2, let’s hasten this process.

Extra Two Pieces and a Biscuit

As a cinephile, I can’t help but marvel at the chilling introduction of body horror into the world of “Drag Race” through Alyssa and Daya’s unforgettable “Untucked” eye booger spectacle! A scene so intense, it might prompt Julia Ducournau to exclaim, “That’s a tad excessive!

In this episode, Sulley’s fur was traded for Birdo. So, which character might she adorn with her hide next? (I have a feeling it could be Cynthia.) Don’t forget to keep the beige church lady’s pump, though!

I believe what The Hilarious Ross Mathews said, ‘I feel hot and I want to suck your dick’ is more like a story, Michelle.” Or perhaps, “The statement made by The Hilarious Ross Mathews, ‘I’m hot and I want to suck your dick,’ seems more like a narrative to me, Michelle.” It seems like he managed to deliver a joke this week. Despite being quite assertive in his critiques recently, he provided mostly accurate evaluations this time around.

This week, Ginger and Alyssa made a notable blunder on the Drag Race runway by flouting one of its most glaring fashion faux pas: Avoid using text from H&M or any other brand names on their outfits, please! Enough already!

Despite the queens’ excessive admiration for Orville Peck, what amused me was Cynthia subtly referring to him as “a tasty treat.” By the way, your breakfast is all set and ready!

Read More

2025-06-20 15:54