In my ponderings about the reality TV show ‘Survivor’, a recurring theme that surfaces is “winning strategies”. Essentially, the objective of the series can be broken down into two key aspects: Firstly, to continually position oneself so as to have the best chances of winning the season. Secondly, to eventually convert one of these advantageous positions into a victory. This concept essentially encapsulates what we understand as “strategy”, and it’s applicable in numerous scenarios, like ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race‘. The unique aspect is that on ‘Survivor’, players largely shape the narrative through their actions, while on ‘Drag Race’, contestants not only aim to win challenges but also craft a compelling personal storyline to boost their chances of winning. This week, one competitor made a significant leap in setting her “win condition”, and it’s hard not to feel that her fellow competitors should be regretting missed opportunities.
Discussing Suzie Toot, who transforms herself into a lovable underdog in the show Untucked, has a unique advantage. Suzie’s win condition as a quirky queen with an unconventional appearance and exceptional talents surpassing most of her competitors is to convincingly portray a struggling contender. Does this scenario sound familiar? Indeed, if played correctly, it could lead to the strongest Drag Race edit ever: The Jinkx Monsoon edit. Recall Jinkx Monsoon from season five who was not only an outstanding comedian and musical theater performer but also faced misunderstanding from fellow queens in the Werk Room. This made the audience empathize with her even more.
Similarly, Suzie has been playing the underdog role throughout the season, yet it hasn’t been very effective until now. When she expressed, “They finally see that I am a real threat,” after winning the first challenge, I felt like saying, “girl…” This week in Untucked, however, the other queens offer Suzie a prime chance to show her true potential, and she does just that by delivering an impromptu speech and confessional about continuing to be herself despite their criticisms. And I couldn’t help but think, “You guys! This is how Suzie wins! Don’t let her say that and have it make sense!
To put it frankly, one aspect that I find enjoyable about this current season is how the contestants seem less experienced with the show’s dynamics compared to some previous seasons. Critics have argued that “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has leaned too much towards the Best Friends Race in its later years, with queens being overly cautious about their image due to the show’s demanding audience. However, this season appears different. The contestants who express frustration with Suzie aren’t necessarily playing the TV game; instead, they seem genuinely upset because they’re struggling in the competition. It brings to mind the early seasons of the show, where the queens behaved more like drag performers and the narratives unfolded naturally. This season might be heading towards a Suzie win, but it feels refreshingly reminiscent of those earlier times.
It’s surprising how integral the “Untucked” segment has become to this season’s narrative. It’s where the queens really shine, expressing their individuality, stirring up drama, and baring their emotions. You might be as surprised as I am, but the main show isn’t where Arrietty walks around critiquing the queens who should have been in the bottom. The main show doesn’t feature Suzie Toot vs. the World or Hormona Lisa sharing her story about her mother losing fingers and sewing her costume with just one hand. All that happens on “Untucked”. Kudos to the Untucked team for doing such a great job.
Let’s rewind to the start as the main events unfold. Although “Untucked” offers the most entertaining narrative, every aspect of it holds significance. We pick up from the aftermath of Joella’s departure (no tears this week) and Crystal’s disappointment over not winning. When viewers discuss the queens being too tame for the show, instances like these are what they have in mind. Simultaneously, Arrietty is upset about landing in the bottom last week.
This week’s challenge is called “RDR: Live!“, an SNL spoof that has become a regular feature on the show. It offers each contestant an opportunity to participate in the challenge without it feeling overly repetitive, and it helps the audience identify which contestants have some basic comedic and presentation skills. However, the sketches are generally poor quality and can be quite tedious to watch.
This year’s auditions seem quite predictable: Only Onya is interested in the role that brought down Mirage previously due to everyone else being afraid; both Hormona and Lydia are vying for a character called “Gert”; Lana and Crystal are at odds over who gets to play the dim-witted blonde, with Lana eventually securing the role. It’s worth mentioning that Onya and Suzie have no qualms about taking parts that will undoubtedly impress the judges, as they stand out significantly in the competition, leaving everyone else in the dust almost comically.
It’s high time for a comedy/performance challenge where the queens are guided, as it seems evident that the top two from last week are among the best this week since no one else is receiving guidance. Most of the contestants aren’t getting feedback from the judges or instruction during challenges, so how can they possibly improve without proper direction?
While preparing for the challenge, Lexi (as the Weekend Update anchor) feels irritated because Suzie (her guest) dismisses all of her suggestions. I find myself in a bit of a conundrum here. On one hand, Suzie is undeniably bothersome. However, on the other, Lexi’s ideas are generally subpar, and it’s evident that Suzie has a grasp of the principles of sketch comedy. The judges don’t want the two playing newscasters to clash or lose control. They prefer well-executed jokes, and if one desired a more flamboyant role, they should have chosen another.
Stepping into the fray! The initial drawing portrays a scenario where some Neanderthals become anxious upon a Homo sapiens’ arrival in their community. In this production, Onya takes on the role of the mayor and shines brilliantly. She breathes life into a character that is barely hinted at in the script, commanding the stage with an undeniable presence. It’s challenging to focus on anyone else, but Arrietty manages to grab attention nonetheless. As a Neanderthal, she adopts a grating voice and makes questionable comedic decisions, such as saying “living” in a stereotypical manner. However, she remains consistent in her choices, which cannot be said for Kori, who fails to make an impact. Lana delivers a humorous visual gag by strutting out with impressively bouncing breasts, but falters when it comes to delivering dialogue convincingly.
In the upcoming segment, Onya truly shines and leaves an unforgettable impression. Her charisma is through the roof and she’s captivating beyond belief. It’s simply remarkable. Unfortunately, the script seems to fall short in humor. None of the jokes manage to tickle our funny bones. However, Onya manages to breathe life into each line as if she’s a seasoned superstar.
In the upcoming skit, Sam, Hormona, and Jewels will perform a humorous rendition of Schweddy Balls. It appears that Hormona placed first, Jewels was declared safe, while Sam ended up in the bottom tier. I found it puzzling as both Hormona and Sam seemed to deliver equally impressive performances, with Sam’s voice fitting more convincingly for a podcaster role. Was Sam intentionally placed at the bottom to prevent her from playing characters outside of the Southern region? If there was any contestant who deserved to be in the top, it would have been Jewels, whose Australian-accented beaver expert character is entertaining and unique, especially with her clever play on words using “beav-uh.” I’m still not sure why the judges haven’t appreciated Jewels as much as I do, considering her undeniable potential. I can’t help but feel that she could have been in the top last week or this week.
Next on Weekend Update, it’s the team’s turn. Lexi outshines Crystal when it comes to joke delivery. Suzie aces her sketch performance, truly impressive. I can’t find the words to describe it other than it was flawless. Plus: The unattractive drag character she presented at the start of the competition seems to have given her the confidence to tackle characters in the challenges that the others are avoiding. Excellent work! The other contestants should be quaking in their boots when they see Suzie Toot.
Ultimately, there’s an extremely lengthy skit featuring Acacia (who is passable but not particularly humorous) and Lydia (who is quite poor in comedic terms). Paul W. Downs makes an appearance, but unfortunately, he fails to rescue the skit. It’s truly dreadful. In fact, it goes on far too long. To put it frankly, I’m still puzzled as to why Lydia was cast, given that she hasn’t excelled in any challenge so far.
The following day in the Werk Room, the incident that stood out to me was Lexi labeling Hormona, Acacia, Lydia, and particularly Suzie as the “Kumbaya Committee” due to their lack of humor. It’s worth noting that all these women are white. Additionally, there seems to be a storyline suggesting Suzie struggles to keep up, which certainly portrays her in an unflattering light. As I advance in this competition, I plan to emphasize the “Suzie can’t hang” narrative over expressing confusion about the judges’ appreciation for Suzie’s drag. The latter seems less damaging.
On the runway, the theme is “Pretty in Pink”. Onya’s sneaker outfit is adorable, but the judges are correct that her proportions are off without hair. Kori’s drag is very simple. I don’t think it’s fair to criticize Suzie for wearing her 80th cocktail dress. Arrietty’s dinosaur-like appearance is stunning, and her makeup complements it well. Lana’s outfit draws inspiration from Dior’s New Look, complete with a headscarf, and she looks fabulous. Her facial expression is fierce. Hormona wears another prom dress. I hope they address that soon. Sam does a showgirl look flawlessly, but it feels repetitive. Jewels looks great according to the rules. I was surprised to see her in pants. Crystal Envy’s polished bubblegum-inspired drag is as expected, but I can’t help but feel that a more intense cinch would have made it stand out more. Lexi’s cheetah print look is breathtaking. Her outfits are a step above: they resemble high fashion while still embodying a fully realized, sassy character. Suzie Toot’s clown outfit appeals to me. I approve! I might face criticism for saying this, but she’s chic! Lydia is crude, and the fact that she has to hold up the phallus the entire time makes it a bit questionable. Acacia, don’t be surprised, her outfit appears to be from the ’80s. (Gasp)!
In the end, Suzie triumphs in the contest, which seems fitting (even though I wouldn’t have minded Onya winning instead). Arrietty and Lydia rightfully find themselves in the bottom and perform “Boogie Wonderland” for a lip-sync battle. Initially, I assumed Lydia would be leaving the competition from the moment she chose a character inspired by “The Golden Girls” without fully understanding the show. However, I was taken aback when Lydia excelled in the lip sync. She’s fantastic! Though it’s not her song, she consistently displays intrigue, expressiveness, and humor. On the other hand, Arrietty struggles. To my astonishment, another promising front-runner was eliminated… That is, until they weren’t. Yes, Arrietty receives the second Badonkadunk save. Dropping any pretense that this is by chance (if it was, then there’s nothing to discuss!), I am surprised that this season’s significant twist disappears so quickly. Perhaps Arrietty earned her place with her “Untucked” performance, but the early stagnation in the competition is concerning. Moreover, Lydia deserved a win of her own. Send those Girls Home!
And also on Untucked…
One aspect that particularly appealed to me in “Untucked” was Onya’s laughter at the dramas unfolding. The contestants haven’t seemed intimidated by her enough just yet, but perhaps her impressive third-place performance could change that.
Kori King might think herself superior to Suzie Toot’s attire, but let me tell you, she’s still wearing a cocktail dress. Despite making it through this round, it was only by a narrow margin.
• I love Jewels but I am unconvinced that “piggy of the week” is going to catch on.
It’s hard to fathom that those Neanderthal girls believed Arrietty was number one. This suggests a troubling deficiency… in discernment.
• Lexi’s Confidential Corner: This week was quiet on the Trauma Makeup front, but we discovered an intriguing detail about Lexi – she hasn’t come out as a woman in her professional life, where she works in finance. This segment was more engaging than the usual trauma discussions because it allowed us to connect with Lexi on a personal level and empathize with her, while still managing to laugh and enjoy ourselves.
I asked my comedian roommate Jake for advice on how a novice drag queen might approach writing sketches, and this is what he suggested:
“Gay thoughts from gay people:” Ask Jake, my sketch comedy-professional roommate, to provide some guidelines for inexperienced drag queens creating their first sketches, and here’s what he proposed:
1) This is the only context where you should embrace being the straight man
2) Give us a character that has funny voice, not funny voice that has a character
3) You might be funnier than the material and that’s okay
Thank you, Jake!
• I’m not intimidated by one poor performance from Sam. My predicted top four are Suzie, Onya, Sam, and Lexi!
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2025-02-01 07:55