The queens get a taste of Broadway when they make their Rusical debut. Powerhouse performer Adam Lambert is a guest judge…
Last week’s Snatch Game episode proved to be a polarizing one with Drag Race fans online. While some thought it was one of the worst Snatch Games in recorded herstory, others felt it fit into the tomfoolery, laxed judging, and same level of unpreparedness as recent seasons (All Stars excluded), though both sides can agree, Snatch Game just isn’t what it used to be. After a disappointing impersonation, Crystal Envy was sent packing after upholding a strong track record all season, following a lip sync with Lana, who was in the bottom for the second week in a row. Lexi Love was given a top spot for “failing in a good way” that fans and show alumni aren’t buying, but it was Onya who took the win for the second time this season, leaving Suzie Toot (safe) gagged. This week the remaining queens will hopefully redeem themselves when they make their Rusical debuts. Let’s get into it.
This week’s episode begins in the werk room following Crystal’s elimination. The queens were not expecting Crystal to go home, and most of them are in shock over it. After reading her message in the mirror they head over to the couches and congratulate Onya who says she is so proud to have won the Snatch Game. Suzie tells the group she’s disappointed about the events of the day but says she’s coming back with the fire and in confessionals Kori isn’t having it. Suzie wants to be the first queen with three wins, so the game is ON.
It’s a new day and the queens re-enter the werk room feeling ready to take on the challenge of the week. Around the table they marvel at how intimate the group is getting. Kori and Lydia’s romantic relationship is put on blast (is this Branjie 2.0?) before Ru enters the room. For this week’s maxi challenge they’ll be starring in the ultimate Rusical mashup The Wicked Wiz of Oz. The queens will get to pick their own roles and they run over to the couch to read through the scripts and fight for their parts. Right away Acacia, Suzie, and Sam want Kansas Dorothy but Lexi quickly talks her out of it and urges her to go for a role that’ll push her outside of her comfort zone. Suzie puts Acacia down a little to take the role and most of the other queens stick up for Acacia which gets her the role. Kori and Jewels fight over the good witch role, and decide to cast the role with a vote, which Jewels win. The other roles get assigned without any pushpack.
The first group of queens head into the recording studio to lay their track down with Michelle. Lana and Lydia start the group off strong but Kori can’t seem to get her pitch right. The other group starts with Suzie and although she didn’t get the role she wanted, she kills her vocals. Onya’s Harlem Dorothy gags Michelle and the competition for the third win is officially on between them. After some direction Sam’s vocals are impressive too. It’s Acacia’s turn on the mic and the vocals are giving …. pitchy and she needs to nail it or else she’s heading for the bottom. After recording their solos they head out to the main stage to learn their choreography with Jamal Sims. Most of the queens get their steps down right away, but Onya and Jewels struggle a little. Lydia and Kori need to be in sync as flying monkeys, and so far they’re dancing to two different beats.
It’s Rusical/elimination day! Lana doesn’t know if Kori and Lydia can work well together, and as Suzie is painting herself green, some of the other queens can’t help but notice how much she’s feeling herself. Acacia is feeling really good about her role and knows she needs to bring it to the stage after fighting so hard for her role. Lexi says she feels like Suzie and is so excited for the stage and Sam is good about playing the wicked witch and is so thankful Lexi suggested it to her. Sam also revealed she played Ursula in a high school performance of The Little Mermaid and it was the first time she got to appreciate being in drag. Arrietty and Kori connect over being former plus size girls and Arrietty opens up about her past eating disorder and how drag healed her. Acacia also reveals she was born with Cystic Fibrosis and how it’s changed her outlook on life. The other queens grill Kori and Lydia about their budding romance which makes them blush.
Out on the runway, Ru introduces this week’s panel of judges, Michelle, Jamal, and this week’s extra special guest judge Adam Lambert.
The rusical begins and Suzie starts it off with a strong performance. Jewels Galinda follows and she serves professional even through a wardrobe malfunction nip-slip. Next Arrietty, Lexi, and Lana as the Scarecrow, Lioness, and Tin Woman who work really well together on stage. Sam Star’s Cher-inspired Wicked Witch of the East impresses the judges. Lydia and Kori’s flying monkeys hit the right notes Onya’s Diana Ross The Wiz Dorothy is Broadway-level good. Finally Acacia’s Kansas Dorothy performs a power ballad. It’s just her on the stage with no fancy choreography, just a lot of emotion. It finishes with an Emerald City group number grand finale.
Following the Rusical, the category is “Parasols, Shady Ladies” and the queens walk the runway in their glam looks accompanied by fun parasols. Ru asks Arrietty, Lana, Lexi, and Lydia forward and tells them they are safe for the week.
Critiques begin with Suzie and Michelle tells her she smashed her roll and Jamal tells her she set the bar really high. Adam loves her look. Michelle tells Jewels she sounded fantastic and Adam loved her cute and slutty performance. Jamal loves her runway look. Michelle tells Sam she did such a great job infusing Cher into her vocals and Adam commends her on her vocals and performance. Jamal loves her Met-Gala worthy look. Ru tells her she notices her loosening up and it’s reflecting in her performance. Michelle tells Kori she worked well as a partner to Lydia but Lydia did outshine her a little. Ru compliments her Dorothy-inspired runway wig, but Adam says it’s not as elevated as the other girls. Adam tells Onya she brought palpable joy to the performance, and Jamal tells her not to let the saboteur get to her. Michelle tells Acacia her wig on the runway was ridiculous (in a good way). Adam tells her that her vocals were good but she should have done more with the performance because it felt a little boring.
Following deliberations Ru announces that Onya and Jewels are both safe. Sam Star is the winner of this week’s challenge, with Suzie being safe right behind her. This leaves Kori and Acacia both up for elimination. The two bottom queens lip sync for their lives to Wet Dream by Adam Lambert. This is Acacia’s second time in the bottom and Kori’s first, and both queens go for sultry performances. Kori has stunts and Acacia is really just feeling herself. After the lip sync, Ru decides Kori will stay, so it’s unfortunately the end for Acacia Forgot.
Next time on RuPaul’s Drag Race: Get the sewing machines out! The queens create original looks based on Betsey Johnson designs.
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