The queens over-act in a challenge paying tribute to Truman Capote and his swans. Singer Sam Smith is a guest judge…
Last week we said goodbye to Arrietty after the queens roasted some iconic villains from seasons past. Usual bottoms Lydia B. Kollins and Lana Ja’Rae rose to the occasion, shocking the other queens and the judges with their stellar jokes and roasts. A week after landing in the bottom and lip syncing for her life, Lydia took the top spot. Arrietty was met in the bottom by Jewels Sparkles, whose jokes she stole for the roast after being upset with the placement of her set. This week, the remaining queens will pay tribute to iconic writer Truman Capote and his glamorous swans in an acting challenge.
This week’s episode begins in the werk room following Arrietty’s elimination. Jewels is feeling shaken up by the lip sync but she’s grateful to still be in the competition. The queens read her short message on the mirror which points out Onya for having bad breath. Onya, who has made comments to some of the other queens about a dental condition she has which causes her breath to smell, is disappointed by the shade, but not surprised. The rest of the queens also aren’t loving how Arrietty decided to leave the race. Over on the couches Onya gets emotional and some of the queens hypothesize that Onya defending Jewels in Untucked is what pushed Arrietty to be mean. The queens congratulate Lydia on winning the challenge but Sam is disappointed that the roast didn’t provide her with her third win.
It’s a new day in the werk room and the queens are ready to take on a new challenge. Suzie asks the girls if they’ve been having bad dreams while they’ve been in the competition and Lydia’s wearing Kori’s sweater. Ru interrupts and tells the queens that for this week’s maxi challenge the queens will be acting up a storm when they pay tribute to Truman Capote and his swans. They’ll be shooting with Ross and with guest director Cheyenne Jackson. Ru leaves the queens with the scripts and they quickly head over to the couches to pick their roles. After reading through the skits and they’re really liking the script. Most of the queens get the roles they want but Suzie and Jewels want the same monologue-heavy part. Sam thinks that Suzie deserves the part because jewels got the part she wanted in the rusical, but after an argument, Suzie decides to step down and take her second choice role.
They break into groups with their scene partners and get to working on learning the script. Lana feels like placing in the top last week has given her some momentum and is feeling excited to work with Onya on her scene. Even though Suzie got her second choice role, she’s excited to work with Lexi on her scene, which Lexi reciprocates. Lydia and Sam are working together which will be interesting based on their history, but they’re ready to put it behind them to do well in this challenge. Jewels is working on her own with a wordy monologue, which has some of the other queens worried and curious to see what she does with it.
The queens head out on set and are met with Ross and their director Cheyenne Jackson. Lana and Onya are up first and Lana needs a little direction but she takes it well. Onya impresses with her entrance and lines and the both of them work well together in their fight scene. Next up is Sam and Lydia and Sam knocks it out of the park right away but Lydia needs a little more direction. Suzie does a good job with her first take which makes Lexi nervous which has her stumbling over her lines. Jewels goes last after a long wait and her first take is a little low energy and goes off script a little.
It’s elimination day and Lexi is feeling good about her performance even though she needed to refilm a few of her scenes. The rest of the queens are also feeling good, but someone is still going home tonight, so they shouldn’t get too comfortable. Lana reveals she was a freestyle queen in elementary school which prompts a few of the queens to show their rhyming skills. Lydia and Sam talk about what their comedy and drag inspirations come from and against all odds, they’re becoming friends. Out on the main stage Ru introduces this week’s panel of judges, Michelle, Ross, and this week’s extra special guest judge, singer Sam Smith. On the runway, the category is “Black and White Ball” and the queens strut in their most sickening black and white looks. Following the runway, it’s time for the world premiere of Ross Mathews vs. The Ducks. Lana and Onya open the show and they have great chemistry, but Onya is for sure the star of the scene. Sam and Lydia’s scene is next and they’re also well-matched, but Sam Star shines a little bit brighter. Suzie and Lexi’s scene is third and even though Lexi needed some extra direction the scene turns out good. Jewels is last with her monologue and it’s alright but is it enough to keep her safe?
After the screenings, critiques start with Lana. Ross calls her look “so chic” which Sam echoes. Michelle tells her she’s proud of her for pushing herself but that she got steamrolled by Onya. Next, Ross tells Onya her look is equally elegant and kooky. Michelle calls her a powerhouse and commends her energy on camera. Michelle calls Sam’s look so pretty and that she did a fantastic job going after Onya. Ross calls her a total joy to act with. Sam Smith tells Lydia they love her look and Ross says her character had some of the best lines of the show but she could have gone further with delivering them. Up next, Michelle tells Suzie her role came across naturally and Ross tells her everything she did just worked. Ross also likes her tassel look she brought to the runway. Michelle clocks Lexi’s flowy train look, a silhouette she’s worn most weeks, but compliments the fire that Suzie put under her ass in the scene. Finally, Michelle tells Jewels that it didn’t seem like she knew all the references, but Ross tells her that her energy on set was great and all of the judges love her polished runway look. Before they head backstage Ru asks the queens who they think should go home. Lana says Suzie, Onya says Lydia, Sam says Suzie, Lydia says Onya, Suzie says Lana, Lexi says Suzie, and Jewels also says Suzie.
Following deliberations, Ru tells Suzie and Lexi are both safe. Onya takes the top spot with Sam Star following her in second place. The last queen safe for the week is Jewels, leaving Lana and Lydia in the bottom. Both of them are lip syncing for the third time and they’re performing to Unholy by Sam Smith. They approach the lip sync with different styles and Lydia struggles to cut herself out of her dress while Lana does a split, which seals Lydia’s fate. Ru decides to keep Lana and send Lydia home a week after her first win.
Next week on RuPaul’s Drag Race: The top six show off their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent with a monologue talent show on the main stage.
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