RuPaul’s Drag Race is back and as sparkly as ever, which should be expected with Season 18’s “Let There Be Light” theme. This time around, each of the 14 queens feels polished and seasoned. Perhaps that correlates to the majority of queens being over 30, or maybe it’s due to better casting. Either way, Season 18 is shaping up to be one of the show’s most exciting seasons in recent years.
After the controversy stemming from Season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, most fans are ready to get back to basics and discover some new names to fall in love with. With Drag Race going back to its classic formula, you’ll find few complaints from us. And since RuPaul loves a good acronym, we’ll be conducting our reviews using the word DRAG (Drama, Runway, About That Challenge, and Goped, Gagged, and Goated). Read on for our thoughts, musings, and reactions to RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, Episode 4.
Drama: What are everyone’s thoughts on Rate-A-Queen?
Jeanette: Rate-A-Queen turns Drag Race into Game of Thrones. Everyone starts plotting for power and vying for alliances. Sometimes it’s fun; other times it’s tedious. Here, it turned into the latter for me. The majority of the episode was just the queens talking and talking and talking about who would not-so-secretly team up with whom. Oh, and for whatever reason, Rate-A-Queen guarantees that someone will say something like, “I thought we were playing checkers, but baby, we’re playing chess now.” *Eye roll*
Personally, I align most with people like Jane Don’t. Someone who sits back and watches it all unfold. As Jane herself said, she’s here to be judged by RuPaul (and the judges), not her fellow competitors. I get that frustration, but I also get its reality TV. So, I’m just going to throw my hands up and hope they don’t screw over Jane next episode.
Lyra: I started crying as soon as they said that Rate a Queen was back! Because there’s no middle ground with this style. And I’m not here for that. I want some sort of consistency in the riggory that is reality TV. That only happens if Ru is the one judging the queens. In this case them making alliances and trying to figure out what strategy is best took up most of the episode. And I don’t think that the personalities of the queens are strong enough to carry all that interpersonal drama.
Lizzie: Ironically, I like things like Rate-A-Queen in other reality TV shows, but I’m watching Drag Race, not Traitors. I don’t want to be worrying about who’s going to backstab who; I just want to watch the show be about how good these contestants are. And the hour turned into more like Drag Race does Survivor or something, so it wasn’t my favorite thing. This is still a competition, but I don’t think it’s neccesary for all reality shows to start resembling each other.
MORE: Catch up with our RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, Episode 4 Breakdown!
Runway: Any looks you want to scream about?
Jeanette: JUICY LOVE DION! Truthfully, I didn’t quite understand all the Juicy hype in the first few episodes, but after this one, I’m ready to go to her merch store and buy a T-shirt. I absolutely adored her Venus Flytrap-esque look! And her talent show performance… more on that below.
Athena’s To Wong Foo homage was fun, too, even if it was a little bright for my taste. But man, what in the world was Darlene wearing???
Lyra: Juicy Love Dion looked so beautiful and elegant in her venus flytrap look. And I think it was a really strong look that transformed satin into something that fits with her brand. If there’s anyone that’s a strong second place it’s Nini Coco. She also transformed satin into something unique. And that face was immaculateeeeee! These two are front runners.
Lizzie: How have I gone from Juicy Love Dion being one of my least favorites to feeling like I should stand up and applaud her the last few weeks? I loved every part of it. And I loved no part of whatever Darlene was doing. It was giving prom, but like prom dress you got last minute and isn’t actually doing anything for you. Sorry, not sorry.
About That Challenge: Do you like that the talent show happened later in the season as opposed to the usual premiere episode airing?
Jeanette: I’m not necessarily mad about the talent show existing in later episodes because it lets me root for certain queens more, or maybe even see a new side to them. However, I still think it works best in the premiere episode. To me, the talent show is like a pitch. I don’t know these queens yet, but they get 60 seconds to show me who they are and what they can bring to the table.
It feels more reminiscent of what happens in real life. You don’t always know the queens at your local bar or drag brunch, but if they’re good, you’ll continue to remember them and want more of their content.
Lyra: I really like the placement of the talent show. I feel like I know more about the queens to understand why they made these choices. And while Juicy’s talent was talent, especially when she ran across that stage like something straight out of my nightmares but still cool, it’s Nina that caught my eye. At the end of the day, they’re going to pick a queen who has brand recognition. And the fact that Ru and Michelle were already saying, “You want to make me a mother?” and “I want to make you dinner.” means that Nini is memorable.
The one performance that really shocked me was Vita. That… wasn’t good. It felt pedestrian and like we would see this in Season 1 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Unfortunately for Vita, drag has evolved. And if you don’t evolve with it, you will get left behind. Her performance was her getting left behind. It’s made worse too by the fact that she forgot the lyrics… to her own song. But maybe it was nerves?
Lizzie: I admit I kinda liked it more later in the show. It serves a purpose in the first episode, and I don’t hate it, but I feel like the later it happens the more we actually care about these queens. Sometimes the thing about it being in the first episodes is that anything can be happen and we’ll be like, okay? It gives you no time to get attached to a person, a vibe, or anything.
That being said, Drag Race is in many ways a personality contest, but drag isn’t necessarily one. And they should be able to stand out just for their looks. So, I guess I’m not picky. I’ll enjoy it whenever it comes.
MORE: Need more? Read our RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, Episode 3 Breakdown!
Goped, Gagged, and GOATED: Do you agree with the choices for bottoms and tops in RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, Episode 4?
Jeanette: Can I start by saying poor Ciara Myst? She took a risk, bared her soul, and then got tossed in the bottom. Do I think the other queens were more entertaining than her? Absolutely. However, my heart broke for her. She was basically like, “I survived crippling depression,” and everyone was like, “Yeah, that’s nice, but no.” Her bottom placement is valid, but Ciara, I see you, and I’m happy you’re still here with us.
If it weren’t for this Rate-A-Queen business, I suspect Vita could’ve been in the bottom. The aerobics thing is played out, and as the judges and other queens seemed to notice, she dropped her lip sync on multiple occasions. For those reasons, Vita should be in the bottom, not Ciara.
As for the tops, I think it’s right on the money. Again, JUICY LOVE DION! I’m not entirely sure how her spine didn’t crack in half after she did that back walkover to a handstand to a split combo and landed with an arched back… but that’s the power of drag. I’m assuming Juicy must have gymnastic training, along with dance, because her form is impeccable, especially considering she is wearing six-inch heels. Combine that with her runway, and she should’ve been the default winner if they weren’t picking a top 2. That said, Mia was also a blast! I’d listen to her song on repeat every day. (Is it on Spotify yet? Note to self to check.)
Lyra: Juicy and Mia absolutely deserved to be in the top. Both gave it their all and absolutely destroyed the competition. Juicy unfortunately did better than Mia because of that runway look. But they were immaculate. And then that performance at the end where they were stepping in sync? That’s what makes iconic drag race performances.
Now there’s the bottoms. Ciara definitely deserved to be there. I feel for her and am glad she’s there. Nevertheless, if you have to explain why you did something during a performance then the performance didn’t work and you have to rework it. But she did it for her so at least she’s happy. If anything, Vita should’ve also been in the bottom. And if Ru and the other judges were giving their opinions this week, she would’ve gotten read.
Lizzie: I agree with Juicy and in some respects, with Mia. I think she took a risk, and that’s why she made it there, even though I admit I didn’t love her as much as I loved Juicy, who has just blown me out of the water with her looks. But a well-deserved top.
Then there’s the bottoms, and look, we all know Ciara deserved to be there. No one understood what she was trying to do, and that’s a real big problem on a show like this one. But the thing is, this is still a personality contest in some ways, so I’m really glad we got to see a little bit more of her. Because that means that, even if this is the end of the road for her, she won’t have done this for nothing.
