RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Brooks and Dun-dun-duuun …

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This time around, we’re excited about a fresh twist in “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” following the monotonous predictability of the previous episode. Instead of the usual focus on Messy Points, this week offers a burst of unpredictable personalities among a new set of six queens, making for an entertaining rather than repetitive experience. A significant portion of this change can be attributed to two queens from the Brooks’ house.

In simpler terms, the opposite of a recession indicator could be referred to as an economic growth signal. Just like Tina Burner switching from her usual flamboyant flame palette to silver tones signifies a change, this can be likened to good news for Drag Race fans such as a rent decrease or a well-received Katy Perry song. This unexpected shift suggests that Tina has listened to the criticisms and is open to change, much like hope not being completely lost in an unfavorable situation.

In a confessional, Kerri Colby, the first queen of the Colby dynasty on Drag Race, appears looking like she’s bathed in the Infinity Stones. Her impact on the show isn’t so much from her performances, but rather the compassionate care she extended to her fellow contestants. Unlike some queens entering All Stars who may underestimate what cost them the win, Kerri accurately identifies her own shortcoming: not giving herself the same care and succumbing to critiques. If she maintains this confidence, I believe we’re in for an engaging season with Kerri.

Over the years, I’ve held onto these cherry pie vouchers and now it’s time to use them. Meet Nicole Paige Brooks from Atlanta, Georgia. For those who might have forgotten her brief stint in season two (not me!), she confidently steps into the spotlight as the Talkative Queen of All Stars 10. Her opening montage is essentially a recap of her shade: “I can still fit in everything I wore on my first season…my face hasn’t changed to change my career…some girls have.” What makes her stand out is her self-assured demeanor, larger-than-life ego (with a touch of quirkiness), which sets her apart from the many early-season queens who question themselves upon arriving at All Stars. Who cares about her performance? You know you want the pie!

In addition, Mistress Isabelle Brooks is a member of the family, known as the glittering Devil on Drag Race. Similar to Bosco in the previous group, Mistress is the sole former finalist from her category. Her controversial demeanor and refined stage presence make her the most significant challenge, and she doesn’t shy away from letting everyone know that we can expect more of the same, both onstage and offstage. Some might argue whether she is exaggerating the amusement value of the (largely irritating and minor) drama she created with easily manipulated targets. However, there is still time for her to live up to the chaos she frequently teases.

Regardless of the controversy surrounding Lydia Butthole Kollins appearing in “All Stars” before her original series had aired, it’s accurate to consider her as an underdog given her swift comeback. Yet, it doesn’t take long to observe that this time around, Lydia appears sharper and more refined, akin to a finely tuned Butthole. Interestingly, she exhibits a remarkable self-awareness about the mistakes she made earlier, which is something not every “All Stars” queen this season can claim.

Discussing swift comebacks, Jorgeous is back again for her third stint on “Drag Race” within four years. Perhaps it’s a desire to erase all traces of “All Stars 9” from my memory, but I’m open to giving her another chance. Some may say I’m not as tired of Jorgeous as the internet is, but who am I to argue! Upon initial observation, her usual cheerful demeanor appears to have been replaced with a more pragmatic approach – it seems she might be fully focused this time around, though naturally, one would hope so on her third (almost consecutive) try.

In this task, RuPaul is using an Eight Ball instead of asking the queens to create eight distinct outfits. Each queen must design a single outfit that showcases eight randomly chosen items prominently. While it might seem odd to call a single outfit an “Eight Ball,” this challenge is a clever choice since it will keep the queens occupied and possibly arguing while they work on their garments in the workroom.

It seems quite clear that the Brooks family will undoubtedly be at the center of this season’s turbulence, given their unique dynamic as MIB and NPB on Drag Race. This duo represents how drama has morphed over seasons, old and new – it’s a clash between Nicole’s unrelenting verbal attacks and Mistress’s cunning maneuvers to stir up trouble. While Mistress is always scheming for ways to challenge the queens, Nicole achieves similar results with just one sharp remark that hits hard.

Despite Nicole often criticizing Jorgeous the most, it’s actually Tina and Mistress who have the most intense rivalry. After Mistress poked fun at Tina’s dubious taste in a tweet, these two have been openly, yet cordially hostile towards each other. Normally, feuds on social media during Drag Race are met with indifference, but their back-and-forth exchanges are entertaining, not just because of their authenticity, but also due to the surprising matchup of queens.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself chuckling at the supposedly playful banter from the mistress, but I can’t help but wonder if she’s not entirely grounded in reality, inflating past dramas beyond recognition. Once again, it seems the mistress underestimates her opponent, assuming they’re an easy target. This time, however, her attempts fell flat, her usual provoking strategies misaligned with Tina’s unflinching self-assurance. When Tina turned the tables on her, the mistress became enraged so swiftly that she appeared less like a queen trying to unsettle others and more like one easily swayed. I can’t help but ponder, what would it take for the mistress to encounter someone truly formidable? Going after the chronically unfazed! She believes she’s charring Tina, but she’s barely making a dent.

In this episode, the central figure is Mistress, who appears simple at first glance but hides layers of complexity. Her wardrobe may not be impressive – it’s filled with drab copper tones and animal print – yet she manages to maintain a stunning appearance. Michelle takes issue with Mistress’s tendency to stay within her comfort zone of Texas high drag, while Mistress’s confident assertion that “I haven’t changed because I have always been perfect” is humorous but may be problematic as it suggests an unwillingness to grow or adapt (even slightly). On the show All Stars, such a mindset isn’t typically rewarded. Despite this, Mistress seems poised for success; however, her overconfidence could potentially lead to her downfall if the judges tire of it.

In this revised version, Tina and Lydia manage to surpass the mistress in their performances on Drag Race. Tina, who has never looked more polished, discards her well-fitted but dull-brown coat, revealing a gold and bronze ensemble that harmonizes nicely with her usual color scheme, enhancing rather than deviating from it. Lydia, on the other hand, successfully executes what she had long promised – an intentionally tacky yet stylish 1980s theme, complete with neon and leopard print, which is both absurdly attractive and fashionably ridiculous.

As a supporter, I’d express it like this: Among the less prominent queens, Idina Menzel Paige Brooks was honored with Esther Williams’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, sipping on a delightful lavender-lemonade concoction, and Kerri, with her braided brassiere (or “braidssiere!”), skillfully drew attention away from the beaded curtain casually draped around her waist. The key to excelling in design challenges lies in creating something that feels like a queenly wardrobe choice in reality, and that’s precisely what Lydia, Tina, and Mistress were aiming for as they geared up for their lip-sync battles.

Lydia delivered an impressive performance to silence her critics, while Tina showed off a sleek new look.

At present, Miss Flame and the Sphincter appear to be the frontrunners, as Tina might put it, they could potentially lead the pack. However, unlike the previous contest, this one might take an unpredictable turn, with various possibilities. And there may be some underhanded confrontations along the way.

Extra Two Pieces and a Biscuit

• This season, having Nicole as the leading character has made “Untucked” particularly appealing. She’s been a standout with her sharp wit and memorable quotes, such as her comment about the Magic 8-Ball games: “I don’t trust sorcery.

2024’s Best Supporting Actress nominee, Isabella, left quite an impression on me during the movie screening. As I sat there, pen poised and mind abuzz with thoughts, I found myself muttering her name under my breath – not out of confusion, but as a testament to her captivating performance.

As a passionate cinephile, I found it quite intriguing that for the challenge, all eight items needed to be visibly incorporated into our overall look. However, the judges were surprisingly lenient towards the queens who cleverly concealed these items within their accessories! In my case, I creatively used one of mine to stuff a purse as if it were tissue paper in a gift bag – talk about multitasking!

• The Ministry of Cuntfidence, by Kerri Colby — give this queen a branding challenge, already!

Jorgeous jokes that she’s been here “since the construction,” which makes me think of her as the mysterious, recurring figure in the workroom akin to the Phantom of the Opera. Let’s dive back into the boat challenge! By the way, Jorgeous hands, please ensure box number five remains vacant, dear!

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2025-05-23 09:54