RuPaul’s Drag Race Season-Premiere Recap: Several Points Were Made

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Last year’s bitterness from the Charity and Global All Stars seasons may have been washed away with a robust season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Onya Nurve’s well-deserved crowning. I remain cautiously hopeful for the comeback of Drag Race All Stars – or should I say Tournament of All Stars. However, let me make it clear: RuPaul, we won’t be using that name.

The popular series “All Stars” has returned for its tenth season and is reaching a significant milestone! This year’s cast consists of 18 queens, making it the largest group ever featured in the show. As always with “Drag Race,” there are new twists to keep fans guessing! The season will be broken down into three preliminary rounds, a semifinal round, and ultimately a final lip-sync battle. Each preliminary round will see six different queens competing, with half of them advancing to the semifinals based on a points system. Every week, the two top performers will earn three points before squaring off in a lip-sync, with an extra point (plus a $10,000 bonus) going to the winner; the other four queens will have the opportunity to award a point each to another queen of their choice.>

1. The new scoring system in this show appears to be a mix of simplicity and complexity. It’s almost like making drag queens do basic math is an unnecessary hardship, similar to the absurd punishments in Clue. However, Drag Race has been subtly changing over time, and with the introduction of badges and stars, it feels more like the number game from Clue. Nonetheless, the show has now transitioned into a point-based system, which could be seen as a twist on the blocking power or lipstick elimination voting from previous All Stars seasons. Instead of hindering their fellow queens’ progress, they’re now aiding them in achieving their dreams, right?

2. The new scoring method in this show is a bit complex yet straightforward at the same time. It’s almost as if asking drag queens to do simple math is an unusual and harsh punishment, reminiscent of the challenges in Clue. But over the seasons, Drag Race has been evolving, and with the addition of badges and stars, it seems more like the number game from Clue. Yet, the show has moved to a point-based system, which can be viewed as a reversal of the blocking power or lipstick elimination voting from past All Stars seasons. Instead of preventing their fellow queens from achieving their dreams, they’re now helping them, right?

3. The new scoring system in this show appears to be both simple and complex at once. It feels like requiring drag queens to do basic math is an excessive punishment, similar to the tasks in Clue. However, Drag Race has been subtly transforming over time, and with the introduction of badges and stars, it resembles the number game from Clue. Nevertheless, the show has shifted to a point-based system, which can be seen as a twist on the blocking power or lipstick elimination voting from previous All Stars seasons. Instead of obstructing their fellow queens’ progress, they’re now assisting them in achieving their dreams, right?

4. The new scoring method in this show seems to be a combination of simplicity and complexity. It’s almost as if compelling drag queens to perform basic math is an excessive form of punishment, similar to the tasks in Clue. But Drag Race has been subtly changing over time, and with the addition of badges and stars, it feels like the number game from Clue. However, the show has now changed to a point-based system, which can be interpreted as a reversal of the blocking power or lipstick elimination voting from past All Stars seasons. Instead of thwarting their fellow queens’ progress, they’re now contributing to their dreams, right?

As a movie reviewer, I must say that this latest season of “All Stars” is reminiscent of a strategic move to attract queens who might hesitate to return due to concerns about touring income or early elimination after investing heavily in their Drag Race looks. This innovative format ensures each queen at least three episodes, thus reducing the financial risk, while maintaining the competition’s intensity. It’s refreshing to see “Drag Race” tackling its challenges creatively. However, it’s worth noting that this means the winner will be crowned after just six episodes, the fewest since the first season of “All Stars.

Look over there, the first bracket of queens are entering the workroom!

“Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner”

In the initial episode, there’s a significant focus on familiarizing us once more with the returning queens. The reason this two-part structure resonates is that it affords ample time to explore each queen individually, and each of them brings a distinct, genuine narrative.

In a slightly different phrasing:

The TV show “Drag Race” sometimes highlights the transformations of its contestants between seasons excessively, but Aja genuinely experienced one. This episode, she discusses taking a break from drag while dealing with her transition. Her newfound self-assurance is evident. Simply put, I’m thrilled to see her back on our screens again.

As a devoted fan of reality TV, I can’t help but notice Deja Skye making a powerful comeback. With two impressive titles under her belt – Miss Congeniality and Snatch Game winner – she’s undeniably on the path to stardom once more. It’s heartening to see her finding her footing again, reclaiming the limelight after an incredibly difficult period following a life-threatening weight loss surgery. Despite feeling somewhat overshadowed during her season, Deja is clearly determined to recapture the confidence she possessed in Season 14.

Enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating the return of Irene the Alien, formerly known as Dubois, who I refer to as “The Quickest Tongue in the West” given her location in Seattle. Irene acknowledges that she was the smallest cast member, making her the lowest-ranked queen in the show’s record. However, she is swiftly attacking with a ferocity that leaves other contestants struggling to catch up, and it’s quite entertaining. Instead of harboring grudges, she seems more eager for an execution – metaphorical, of course.

Show no trust towards a queen who appears haughty towards the experienced performer, Phoenix. From the get-go, it’s evident that she is bringing innovative high drag to this competition, and she’s doing it even better than her second season. If you believe that drag is solely a young queen’s domain, then perhaps you haven’t visited your local drag club. It can be disheartening to witness early-season queens on All Stars who doubt themselves. It seems they forget that Kylie Sonique Love emerged victorious after lasting just four episodes in her debut season! Phoenix, I’m cheering you on, dear.

Additionally, Olivia Lux appears just as stunning as always, but there’s an underlying determination about her – it seems she has something to prove. However, my concern lies with Olivia, as I fear she may have mistakenly attributed her initial performance on the show to her inherent kindness being a weakness rather than an actual cause for her previous struggles. I’m not entirely convinced that was the real reason, and I can’t help but worry that she might be entering this season as a queen who is even more preoccupied with her thoughts than before.

Among the queens in this bracket, only Bosco has been a finalist during her season. Without a doubt, she’s a front-runner for this competition, as her appearance has improved while still maintaining her unique style that embraces nudity. Every witty remark from her mouth is pure gold. “God’s Favorite Transexual”? Absolutely, let’s all agree!

I tried to maintain the original tone and style of your text while making it more readable for a wider audience.

In this episode, the queens are primarily focused on building alliances for strategic advantage. The alliances include Operation MiMu (Aja/Olivia), Melanin Squad (Olivia/Deja), the City of Seattle (Irene/Bosco), and Crystal Conners with Phoenix in Goddess at the Stardust. Aja shares some astute observations about these alliances, emphasizing the importance of knowing who to support and who to potentially betray: “It’s crucial to form your alliances, be aware of who you’re backing, and understand who you might be betraying.

The debut challenge for the new girl group is heavily inspired by 1980s heavy metal music, aimed squarely at MTV’s younger demographic. The rehearsal scenes for choreography may seem like a blatant copy of “Drag Race,” but remember, Jamal isn’t to blame! After season 17 snubbed us with no girl group challenge, I’m glad we finally have one. In their performance titled “Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!”, each queen does well considering my guess is that they can only name a single Whitesnake song. It’s not strictly heavy metal, but it’s an enjoyable spectacle.

In this rephrased version:

The main theme for the runway was “Tits and Slits,” making Bosco feel quite comfortable. After RuPaul called her a derogatory term related to sexuality, she responded by saying she had earned a doctorate in that field. Despite not winning the premiere, Bosco stole the show. Meanwhile, Olivia recreated Lil Kim’s iconic MTV VMA outfit on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Irene presented herself as a Vegas showgirl version of Princess Fiona, while Phoenix delivered a dominatrix look. Deja offered a Disney princess mashup, though the judges may have overlooked it. Aja’s dress was stunning, but the judges agreed that her purple paint application was inconsistent.

Irene and Aja are leading the pack, pushing Bosco down in the rankings because of their amusing, possibly fake argument in the workroom. If Irene wanted to win on ‘Drag Race’, she should have learned from her past experiences, specifically BenDeLaCreme’s victory strategy that relied on humor. The producers presented an opportunity for comedy with Ice Spice’s “Think U The Shit (Fart)” but Irene chose to play it straight. This seemed like a missed chance for a funny contestant, and Aja ended up teaching her a lesson and winning. On to the next episode…

“Murder on the Dancefloor”

In this new format, one of the main issues lies in the way the queens distribute their personal points. Instead of presenting their points on stage like the top-placing queens, they are required to discuss and assign their scores privately, not amidst the intensity of the mainstage, but in a more relaxed setting, such as the workroom once the runway has finished. Although Drag Race seems to aim at increasing drama and competition among the queens by introducing these extra points, doing so in an open environment undermines this potential effect.

To put it simply, these four points form what’s known as a Nice Off. The queens who didn’t place in the top share their points with others. Olivia was considering giving her point to Aja, who has three points already from winning lipsync battles, but instead chose Deja from her secondary alliance. This is confusing because Aja had promised backstabbing! But where is this backstabbing? If the points were given privately in a Rate-A-Queen style, would Olivia have made this choice? I believe it’s an interesting question to consider. Let me repeat that for clarity: Point!

This time around, you’re asked to play roles opposite Ru in a comedic take on Hercule Poirot’s stories, titled “Murder on the Dancefloor,” also known as “Deathdrop on the Nile” or “Murder on the Whorient Express.” It seems like Ru is really enjoying this challenge more than ever before, judging by her TikTok posts. In fact, she appears to be more comfortable with a good joke than she is as a Glamazon. All of the queens are getting involved, even those who aren’t typically known for improvisation. Phoenix finds herself impressed by her own performance, while Aja and Irene form an alliance that could be considered third-tier. Deja, on the other hand, has a never-ending list of complaints, expressing her frustrations despite not making it to the top two.

On the runway, things are both arriving and departing, giving a double impression! Deja looks stunningly beautiful, while Olivia takes floral inspiration. However, there’s an undertone of mourning throughout this fashion show. Bosco presents a combination of Beetlejuice and Elvira in a fitted coffin-like outfit, Phoenix emotionally commemorates her sister’s passing, and Irene represents the ongoing demise of democracy. I suspect Aja’s mystical symbols hold some reference to death as well.

Indeed, the song being performed in sync with the video is none other than Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s revitalized track. Bosco gracefully steps into the lip sync performance, evoking the spectral image of Roz Pike from Saltburn, due to the chosen song. It exudes (and I mean this as a compliment) an aura reminiscent of Judi Dench during peak-Covid-era British Vogue, before she strips down to minimal straps and a hint of modesty, much like her style. This lip sync performance results in a clear loss for Irene, though it’s not exactly a humiliating defeat.

Despite having lost two lip-sync battles thus far, Irene’s performance continues to indicate a positive trajectory, making her the season’s unexpected standout. With her growing momentum, there’s a strong possibility that Irene could fulfill an ancient prophecy by becoming the underdog who triumphs in ‘All Stars’, just as the Porkchop queen was foretold.

However, Irene might also bring Drag Race the kind of villain it’s been lacking recently. Whether she was joking around or genuinely throwing shade, she managed to best Aja, one of the show’s most infamous talkers. Unlike some recent contestants who stir up unnecessary drama for no reason (which we’ll discuss in a future bracket), Irene has the ability to ruffle feathers just by being herself. So, grab your binoculars, because I can’t wait to see how this unfolds…

Extra Two Pieces and a Biscuit

The final scene pays homage to the late Jiggly Caliente, who will forever remain fabulous. Our love for her is everlasting, Jiggly!

• Ice Spice on a heavy metal challenge?? Look, the internet called her an industry plant, not me!

As a fan, I might rephrase it like this: “Irene shares that her birth name didn’t align with the theme of her drag persona. Does that mean every drag queen in Seattle is getting a Ph.D.?

Aja’s runway performance, titled “Tits and Slits,” seems to be inspired by Jynx, a character from the original Pokémon card pack who has gained popularity among some members of the gay community due to her feminine appearance in a dress. While I don’t follow Pokémon extensively, it’s clear that Aja is enjoying herself with this performance.

• Aja’s entrance look? Also a Pokémon reference! [Ross Matthews voice] Pokémon HOE to the polls!

How will the reading challenge unfold with Irene participating, and might there be a need to summon the fire department?

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2025-05-09 09:25