RECAP: “Drag Race Down Under” Season 4 FINALE
What a terrific season. I wrote my TOP 10 Best “Drag Race” Seasons of 2024 list last week. I ranked “Down Under 4” highly, even before I knew who won. That was partially because I would have been happy with either of the obvious Top 2 of the season winning, but mostly because even if they completely fumbled the final episode (it has happened before, looking at “UK3” and “All Stars 3”), overall this season has been so strong, with such an amazing cast.
I’ve heard complaints about the challenges, and I’m not sure I agree. I quite liked the unconventional approach to the premiere challenge, especially the runway showdowns. I thought the Grease-themed girl groups were fun. The librarian-themed makeover was an interesting twist (although the storytelling element obviously left some girls confused). The design challenge wasn’t particularly high concept, but collectively it produced some of the best work-room-created looks in ANY franchise. I thought the pivot for the acting challenge was smart and allowed some girls to really have fun with the material. And then you had Snatch Game, the roast, and this final Rumix number. I don’t see where these supposed “bad” challenges came into it.
Even if the challenges were not top-tier, the queens were extraordinary. Michelle Visage did a very good job in her first solo hosting role. And bringing in the “Down Under” alumni was a triumph. Now that it’s all said and done, I believe “Down Under 4” IS the best season of the franchise — “DU2” is right up there, but I think this season felt a bit more fun, and had more originality. And it has given us a wonderful addition to the “Drag Race” Winner’s Circle. SPOILERS AHEAD!
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This finale didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel. The format was fairly expected — Tic Tac luncheon with Michelle, original verse and then choreo with a challenging mentor (wonderful to see Elektra Shock back, would love to see her on a “Vs. the World” someday), live group performance, best drag runway, “What would you say to little _______” tearjerker segment, lipsynch for the crown (in the solo format, which frankly I do not care for — it is obviously there to make the editors’ job easy when creating the winner narrative).
There were two added elements I enjoyed, and I think they should be deployed in subsequent seasons: the eliminated queens left voice memos with questions for the Final 4, and after final runway the F4 all shared what would have been their exit lines. These were my favorite segments of the episode.
The entire Final 4 did well in this episode. Freya Armani came in the underdog, with 0 challenge wins. She had the most explosive verse and performance in the Rumix, “The Biggest,” although it took some coaxing to get there. Her final garment was luxurious but I think Freya lacks a clear aesthetic point of view; her wardrobe is all over the place. Lazy Susan was the favorite for the crown, dominating the front half of the season and earning 3 main challenge victories overall; I loved her verse, I thought her performance was quintessentially Lazy Susan, and that runway was another brilliant, outside-of-the-box moment that I would only expect from this queen. Mandy Moobs arrived with 1 win, super strong in several areas, but inconsistent in others; I thought Mandy made a strong case for herself this episode, with a good verse, a great performance, and a beautiful gown (and that WIG!). Vybe lived up to being the stiff competition who was consistently great; she came in with 2 wins that could have easily been 4, and she did every single thing well this episode.
Freya was removed at F4, leaving Mandy, Lazy, and Vybe lipsynching for the crown. That was the right decision. Freya has done a good job in this competition, and most importantly, she grew. She listened to critiques and applied them. That’s exactly what you want to see in a competition show, especially from a fairly young queen filled with potential. Michelle told her it was “not her time,” a typical line for finale eliminations, but in this case it felt particularly true. Freya is a star and I suspect we will see her again on an “All Stars” or “Vs. the World” competition. She reminds me a bit of Olivia Lux from U.S. Season 13. Fairly new to drag, but clearly quite gifted. They’re just still figuring out what kind of queen they want to be. Give Freya time and I think she’ll be a real force.
In the lipsynch to “Came Here for Love” by Sigala, I thought Mandy did the best. She’s a captivating performer, and she was living that song. I would put Vybe second, giving us a very professional and seasoned lipsynch. I would rank Susan last. I don’t think lipsynching is really in her wheelhouse, and it felt overwrought and bordered on dramatic, which didn’t fit with the song at all.
Ultimately I think the lipysnch was a formality, because the crown went to Lazy Susan. I do think Lazy is the correct winner for the season, and is a wonderful addition not only to the “Down Under” winners, but also the overall “Drag Race” victor circle. I don’t think we’ve ever had a queen with Susan’s ability to combine out-of-the-box thinking with great looks and wild performances. She’s both conceptual and charismatic, and that’s a rare mix. Sasha Velour is the closest approximation I can think of, but Sasha goes for more high art, while Lazy’s drag is more accessible.
I think both Mandy and Vybe are terrific; I am convinced that Vybe could have easily won Season 3 and possibly the cursed Season 1. This season was just a particularly stacked cast, and Vybe did herself and Sydney proud. Mandy emerges as one of the great all-time “Drag Race” designers and a hell of a queen in her own right. I do think there’s a niche for a queen in the kink community, and I would love to see Mandy lean more into that part of her branding. I think “Drag Race” has taken some of the subversiveness out of queer life, and I think Mandy may be just the pig we need to make fisting great again.
Thanks for reading my recaps this season! Hope you enjoyed “Down Under 4” as much as I did. Fingers crossed that we get a fifth season of the franchise, which has emerged as an endearing, plucky underdog in the “Drag Race” universe. I would also love to see a “Down Under All Stars,” or more “DU” queens getting booked on “Vs. the World” editions. Who would you like to see come back?
And come back to this website in January as we’ll be covering U.S. Season 17. Check out my thoughts on the new girls’ promos and Meet the Queens by clicking here.
What do you think of “Drag Race Down Under” Season 4? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
