RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Burnt Toast

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Every season, fans of Drag Race debate who should have won challenges, and the roast is no different. The show isn’t really about strict rules or fairness, which often frustrates viewers. Let’s be clear: if judging were based on clear criteria, Darlene Mitchell wouldn’t have won. Her jokes weren’t the funniest or most creative, her performance wasn’t well-planned, and she didn’t deliver her lines as smoothly as Jane Don’t. She simply wasn’t that type of performer, and that wasn’t the reason people laughed.

However, I think her victory feels different from those times when the show seems to unfairly support a contestant, like with the widely criticized ‘Lexi Love Snatch Game’ placement. While some might say Darlene’s roast was so bad it was actually good, it’s clear her jokes weren’t good jokes – she succeeded despite them. What really matters is that Darlene’s performance, however she got there, was deliberate. She was fully in control and intentionally creating a specific atmosphere.

Darlene’s roast was a standout moment on Drag Race because she proved that a more unconventional style of drag could succeed on the show. Watching Jane and Myki’s reactions, it’s clear they really connected with this type of performance – it seems like the kind of drag they naturally gravitate towards outside of the competition. They likely didn’t realize this style could work on Drag Race, as the show usually favors highly polished, refined performances.

This season of the show has been all about contestants turning their weaknesses into strengths. If a queen isn’t good at something, like writing jokes or walking in heels, it’s just embraced as part of their unique persona. What might normally be considered flaws are actually becoming endearing qualities. This approach acknowledges that imperfections are often celebrated in real life – remember how much people loved Joella’s quirky outfit last season? But it also seems like RuPaul is looking for surprises and entertainment, and keeping queens with noticeable challenges adds an interesting dynamic to the competition.

Darlene’s performance is so good because she’s created a fully developed and memorable character. This character – a cheerfully silly, over-the-top Southern personality – isn’t malicious, and that’s exactly what the judges are looking for from someone like Juicy. Darlene consistently delivers on what’s asked of her, particularly when it comes to embodying a strong persona. Her prop comic character, “Carrot Bottom,” is genuinely funny, and she takes the idea and runs with it. While she may not have meticulously planned everything that happened on stage, her character was so well-defined that she instinctively knew how to react. That kind of improvisation and commitment deserves recognition.

Okay, I’ve talked enough about Darlene. Let’s walk back through the episode with everybody in mind.

The episode begins with the girls upset that Discord hasn’t disappeared, but he doesn’t seem to care at all. He’s remarkably calm and unconcerned about their feelings. If I’d been there, I think his unwavering confidence would have been really annoying, but watching it as an audience member, I found it quite enjoyable.

RuPaul then has the queens create short commercials for perfume, showcasing their transformations. Honestly, the commercials were a bit too polished – I would’ve rather seen them scramble to quickly get into drag for a change. Myki wins, which makes sense, but the challenge didn’t really test their ability to think on their feet since they clearly had time to prepare beforehand, and it doesn’t seem like we see any of that preparation.

RuPaul announces the queens will be doing a roast of Alyssa Edwards, who is known for being funny and having plenty of material. It’s a bit ironic considering her winning season wasn’t very strong. Since Myki won the mini-challenge, she gets to decide the order the queens will roast in, but the show doesn’t even show her making the announcement – everyone is just very relaxed this season.

The contestants had the opportunity to refine their acts with Michelle Visage and Atsuko Okatsuka, who I really enjoy. While Atsuko isn’t known for being critical, Michelle strongly guided the girls through developing their storylines, often putting them under pressure. I thought it was interesting that Discord didn’t seem to pick up on this. Myki was working on a story about rewriting her material, but Michelle and Atsuko actually seemed to like what she had. She didn’t receive harsh criticism. Importantly, Kenya performed well enough to advance to the next round, and I agree with the judges’ decision – her material was strong.

What’s great about this season compared to last year is that we have several queens who consistently deliver in comedy challenges. Last year, the roast was really carried by Lydia, Lana, and Sam Starr unexpectedly doing well, while Suzie Toot struggled. This year, Darlene, Myki, and Jane are reliably funny, and Nini and Discord have their moments too. It’s refreshing to see queens actually being funny instead of just trying to act like they are, or struggling to write jokes or perform.

Discord’s performance in the roast wasn’t great – it was just okay, and typical of her performances this season. She’s not the worst, but she’s definitely not standing out. Her biggest issue is that she seems to lose her personality on stage. She’s much more engaging and fun offstage, but when she’s performing for the judges, she comes across as a bit childish and overly rehearsed. I wish she’d bring some of that natural, quirky Discord energy into her drag persona.

Jane is really talented and her joke about getting a B.F.A. was a hit – it’s likely to become a popular line among students in those programs for a long time. However, she might be lacking a strong, unique performance element that the other top two performers have. It’s possible she intentionally kept her performance simple, not wanting to overshadow her excellent material.

It’s tough for Juicy to perform after Jane, and honestly, she wasn’t likely to do well regardless. Like with the reading challenge, I don’t think her writing is the main issue – it’s not much worse than Nini’s or Discord’s. The real problem is her delivery; it’s just awful. She sounds unsure of herself when telling jokes, and she lacks any real stage presence. This makes it hard for the audience to believe in her, and they end up dismissing her jokes.

After Juicy, Darlene really stood out – I’ve already discussed her a lot! What makes her performance so compelling is watching her figure things out as she goes. She constantly challenged herself throughout the competition, and that’s fantastic television. I think it’s a big reason she’ll likely win. There’s a moment where you can see her hand shaking with her cards, but she doesn’t let it stop her. It’s truly impressive.

Following a really strong performance, Nini came across as surprisingly downbeat. Her storyline this week focused on her being overly critical and missing social cues when telling jokes, and that definitely showed in her act. While her jokes were sometimes decent, she delivered them with a gloomy attitude, making her seem unapproachable. I want to be excited by the performer on stage, but this version of Nini didn’t make me want to spend time with her. It’s notable that Juicy received the only criticism about being unknown, but honestly, it could apply to Nini too. She has a very distinct and glamorous style, but I’m not sure she’s fully found her comedic persona yet.

Kenya didn’t do well, and it was clear she wasn’t prepared for this level of competition. While she has a great personality – which is why she was chosen – she needs more experience hosting before taking on such a big challenge. She seems uncomfortable speaking to a large audience. Even RuPaul noticed that she has all the potential to win, but she’s struggling to deliver. Her performance was disappointing.

Myki is a standout performer! She reminds me a little of Fred Armisen – my colleague Jesse David Fox noticed that – and her physical comedy really elevates every joke she tells. I think she’s amazing, and her drag looks are the best of the night – both hilarious and really well put-together. If the competition were more balanced, she’d definitely win. I’m hoping she gets another win or two before it’s over, because she’s consistently delivered incredible performances for the past five weeks. I’m still upset she didn’t win the Snatch Game, though!

The runway challenge was to create an outfit that looks amazing when blown by a fan. Discord’s biker look with flame details didn’t quite work – the orange was too overwhelming. Jane, as usual, delivered a stunning, French showgirl-inspired outfit. Juicy’s cape felt like a simple fitted sheet and didn’t really match the rest of her look, but it turned out to be a good choice for the lip sync. Darlene’s outfit was playful and based on a character, reminiscent of Tippi Hedren, and she cleverly used the fan as part of her performance. She was a standout tonight. Kenya wore a purple fairy outfit, but the dress was too plain and the wings weren’t dramatic enough, although her hairstyle was great. Myki gave us a Bob Mackie Cher fantasy with a long, flowing orange chiffon train that looked even more impressive because of her size. It wasn’t the most complex look, but it was convincing. Finally, Nini’s concept was a widow scattering her husband’s ashes, which was a fantastic idea – I especially loved the detail of the tissues blowing away first, and the moment she threw the ashes was powerful. However, I wasn’t a fan of the dress itself, and the veil could have been larger.

Darlene, Jane, and Myki excelled, while everyone else struggled. The judges’ comments were predictable, with Kenya having a particularly emotional moment. Kenya and Juicy ended up in the bottom two, and both had consistently faced challenges throughout the competition. They performed to Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” and Juicy completely outperformed Kenya – a performance that really blew her away! Juicy doesn’t need elaborate tricks to succeed; she uses them for fun. She wisely chose not to use any here because they wouldn’t have fit the performance, and it still completely overshadowed Kenya’s. It wasn’t a fair comparison at all. Juicy’s performance, especially the moment she was blown back by the fan and then confidently walked forward, was incredible. I almost forgot Kenya was even on stage. Kenya was eliminated, and while it was sad to see her go, it felt like it had been a long time coming.

And also on Untucked…

Alyssa really stepped up and led the way on Untucked, which was great to see. I’m a big fan of hers, and it was heartwarming to see her take care of the other queens after a tough competition.

• I don’t know why they put Nini out of the roast order on the runway. That was odd!

It was great to see Darlene finally succeed in the competition. I always believed she was capable of it, but she needed a little push to unlock her potential.

Okay, so Atsuko as a guest judge was amazing. She didn’t pull any punches with her critiques, and honestly, that’s exactly what I want to see on this show! She’d point out specific moments where Nini really landed a joke, which was great, but she also had some really smart things to say about how Juicy felt a little underdeveloped as a character. It was just really insightful and felt like a proper comedian’s take, and I was totally here for it.

The latest challenge saw Kate Butch finally reach the finale, though I wasn’t a fan of her makeover. I often struggle with makeovers involving different genders – Fontana’s pairing with a naturally similar-looking model and Gawdland’s with a very masculine one felt like they were competing in completely different tasks. Mariah deserved the win, even though her wig wasn’t perfect. It was disappointing to see Naomy eliminated right before the finale, but the judges were right to critique her Versace jacket – it wasn’t her strongest work. I predict the final two will be Gawdland and Kate, as expected, and I’m rooting for Gawdland to win!

I asked my friend Jake, who’s a sketch comedian, to share his immediate reactions while watching Darlene’s roast. He texted, “A clown nose has rarely been accepted so well!” He didn’t realize then that Darlene would essentially launch a new era of comedy using props, and he also noticed how tall she is!

It’s looking like Jane, Myki, Nini, and Darlene will make it to the Final Four, especially now that Darlene is performing so well. I’m hoping the competition narrows to just three contestants, though.

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2026-03-14 05:57