RECAP: “RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars” Episodes 1 & 2
The Olympics of Drag is here! After much anticipation, “RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars” debuted tonight exclusively on Paramount+. I had sky-high expectations for this new franchise, which brings together 12 of the top queens from the international franchises. Alyssa Edwards! Kween Kong! Gala Varo! Eva Le Queen! Nehellenia! Kitty Scott-Claus! Etc.! After these first two episodes, which included the introductions and the talent shows, I was BLOWN AWAY. I expected it to be good, but this was great. These were two of the most energizing, talent-filled, lovely hours of “Drag Race” I’ve ever watched, and I am even more excited for this season than I was when I first heard the cast.
You can watch Episode 1 FOR FREE right here:
Let’s dig into Episodes 1 & 2! My thoughts on both premiere episodes below, covering the queens’ talent-show performances, their first two runways (“Garden of Eden” for E1, “Money Makes the World Go Round” — aka looks inspired by the national currency from each queen’s country — for E2), and the Lipsynchs for the Win.
Note that there will be spoilers below, and I STRONGLY encourage you to watch BOTH episodes before reading on. Not yet signed up for Paramount+? Click right here:
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If you’re weatching “Global All Stars,” you should join our FREE viewer pool/fantasy league. Sign up by Thursday, August 22, by clicking here!
First, let’s acknowledge that the stage and ESPECIALLY the Werk Room for this franchise are insane. This was filmed in Colombia, in the same facility that the Mexico, Brasil, and Germany seasons were filmed, in what was supposed to be a new permanent home for international spinoffs. The production plans for many/most of those shows have been substantially altered, and in fact we don’t know if Germany and Brasil will get second seasons. (Brasil was greenlit, but there’s been no news about it in months.) It’s a shame, because this set is incredible, and that Werk Room is unbelievably over the top. Some may find it too much, but it’s a show about drag queens from around the world. Call Luther Vandross, because I say: never too much.
The queens were introduced to the regular judging panel — RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and in his first regular judging gig, director/choreographer Jamal Sims — via a runway presentation with some pageant-show questions. I found this to be a silly but fun way to break the ice, especially since 9 out of 12 of these queens had never been judged by RuPaul, and more than one of them admitted afterwards that they were basically shitting themselves on that stage. Handling that introduction outside the challenge was, I think, smart. And also got us right into the action.
From there, the queens were divided into two groups, and informed that six would perform their talent shows in Episode 1, while the remaining six would just watch and then perform in Episode 2. This was also smart, for both the queens (I cannot imagine how badly rushed 12 talents would have been in one episode) and the viewers. I suspect most viewers are unaware of the bulk of the queens in this cast — which is a shame, some of the best “Drag Race” seasons have come from some of these foreign franchises — and by splitting them in half, each queen got a moment to connect with the viewers. Additionally, Ru informed the queens that nobody would be going home in the first two episodes, but queens WILL be eliminated this season. (Looking at you, “All Stars 9.”)
Episode 1 Talent Shows
I’m going to go over each queen in order talent number that impressed me the least, to the number that impressed me the most.
Soa de Muse (“Drag Race France” S1, Runner-Up) I’m stunned to be ranking Soa last in Group 1, but sadly it’s fair. Soa did a cabaret number, which should suit her strengths. Unfortunately, it just didn’t connect. I don’t know if the audio issues were present for the judges in the room, but we could barely hear a thing Soa was singing — it was all very quiet. At the end she started tearing off pieces of her out fit and then whipping pieces of fabric around for a dramatic finish. Maybe it read better in person, but it didn’t translate on TV. I thought Soa’s runways were solid — I loved her introductory outfit, which felt Parisian while not being overly literal. She still came across well overall in the first episode, and I noticed many queens named her as their fave in the Meet the Queens. But that talent was a bummer.
Kitty Scott-Claus (“Drag Race UK” S3, Runner-Up) I love Kitty, but this was not a great introduction for her. To her credit, she sang her original song, “Blonde,” live. But that’s tricky business, as we have seen countless times on this show. I thought there were moments where she was on pitch, but there were also many moments where she was not. She did have great energy, and I thought the lyrics were charming. Kitty’s biggest strength is her charisma, and her talking heads — she’s already shaping up to be a great narrator this season. In the E2 mini-challenge, her reactions to some of the dancing were hysterical. I thought Kitty’s entrance look and challenge look were both great, but both actual runways left me disappointed. The gowns are fine on their own, but against this competition? Not elevated enough, I’m afraid. Here is Kitty’s song on Spotify:
Athena Likis (“Drag Race Belgique” S1, Runner-Up) I think Athena has one of the lower profiles of all the queens on this cast, and her talking heads are not great — she speaks in a very flat, dull tone that might not engage everyone. But I thought overall she did well this episode. Her comedy burlesque was successful, with a great quick-change moment, some prop comedy, and then a wild ending that felt thoroughly European. I thought her Garden of Eden look, with her bound in a rope harness and gagged, was simple but effective, and I liked elements of her currency look. Where I think Athena is setting herself apart from the competition is in her edgier, more confrontational style of drag. Her fellow Greek national Pythia is the one I think has the most in common with her, and I’m excited to see the two of them in this competition together.
Miranda LeBrao (“Drag Race Brasil” S1, Runner-Up) Excellent episode for Miranda, who seems like a totally different person than the one we were dealing with by the end of “Brasil.” There she was often serious and bordering on negative, but here she can barely hide her excitement. It’s so lovely to see her engaged and having fun. I am always going to give bonus points for queens who do something different and daring for their talent show, and Miranda did that by giving us a trapeze act. It wasn’t flawless, but it was gutsy, it was riveting, and it was memorable. Kudos to you, Miranda. It also gave her an opportunity to share her story about the muscle damage that occurred when she was badly burned as a child, which continues to impact her strength. Terribly sad situation. I thought Miranda looked incredible in her two main runways. She looked EXPENSIVE, and high concept with a bit of weirdness. Also adorable to see her interact with guest judge, Brazilian model Adriana Lima. Wonderful premiere for Miranda.
Kween Kong (“Drag Race Down Under” S2, Runner-Up) Kween Kong is one of my favorite “Down Under” queens, and while her initial season run was a rollercoaster, she’s certainly starting this one on a high. Kween did an original song and performance number with high production values and great choreography, including one point where she picked up one of the male dancers and carried him on her shoulders. That was badass. Confidence was an issue for Kween in “DU2,” but I saw absolutely no indication of that here. There has been a clear glow-up in terms of the aesthetics, and, I think, in the way she approaches the competition. Really enjoyed Kween’s “Garden of Eden” look, which was regal and not overly literal. I thought her currency look was less successful.
Alyssa Edwards (“Drag Race” S5, “All Stars” S2) There’s no question that Alyssa is the big dog in this hunt, as multiple other queens were gagged to be competing in a season against her. Alyssa is already a legend, not just on “Drag Race,” but in pop culture in general — she’s one of the most successful queens to have never won the crown. This was a terrific reintroduction for Alyssa, who has been gone from the “Drag Race” stage for nearly a decade now. Her talent show was instantly iconic, a delightful original song (I assume called “Tongue Pop”) and 80s aerobics bit that she performed flawlessly. But beyond that, she was also a consummate queen the whole episode, engaging generously with her competitors, being playfully shady, and delivering the Alyssa-isms we have all come to know and love. It is honestly a gift to have her back on our screens again.
The critiques were overwhelmingly positive — same for Group 2 — but ultimately the Top 2 queens were Kween Kong and Alyssa Edwards, which I think was correct. I could have seen Miranda sneaking in there strictly for the big swing that was her act, but in terms of polish and execution, it had to be Kween and Alyssa. They performed a lipsync to Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World.” At first, Alyssa was in control of this song, until midway through, when Kween threw in one of her signature horizontal barrel rolls and completely dominated the back half. I expected the win to go to Kween alone, but Ru ultimately called it a tie, meaning the queens had to split the win and the $10,000 tip. I can respect that decision.
There is the interesting question about whether or not the queens already judged by Ru and Michelle — Alyssa, Kween, Kitty — have an advantage over the other girls, as they already have a rapport with and are comfortable in front of this panel. I actually think that’s a valid concern, and it was certainly borne out in this Top 2. We’ll have to keep watching to see if that trend continues.
Episode 2 Talent Shows
Full confession: when I saw who was left for the Episode 2 talent show, I thought, “Man, they put all the big guns in Group 1.” I was so wrong. In truth, I enjoyed more of the talents in Group 2 than I did in Group 1, and three in particular impressed me more than anything in Group 1. Once again, I’ll be critiquing in terms of least successful to most.
Tessa Testicle (“Drag Race Germany” S1, 8th Place) When this cast was announced — featuring almost exclusively runners-up from their seasons — I was shocked that Tessa was the “Germany” rep. She struggled significantly in her original season, and I wasn’t sold that she was the best candidate to represent that franchise. I was totally wrong. First, Tessa cleared the promo shoot for this season. I honestly think she did the best there. Second, Tessa made excellent television these first two episodes. She has SO much personality and absolutely zero filter, and she is GOING for it. She’s unsubtly aiming for a spot in Haus Edwards, even as she’s playfully throwing shade in the Werk Room. Her runways have been significantly elevated. She’s delivering quality talking heads. She is such a perfect casting, summing up the weird and unapologetically sexual energy of “Drag Race Germany.” I’m so glad she’s here. That said, her talent did not land at all. It felt chaotic and underdeveloped. I wouldn’t call it bad, but I’m also not sure what I WOULD call it. The bulk of the other queens were similarly unimpressed, including Kitty, Kween, and Tessa’s would-be mother, Alyssa.
Pythia (“Canada’s Drag Race” S2, Runner-Up) Please note there’s a big leap in quality here, because I loved Pythia’s talent. She did a play on drag storytimes, with an original, self-created book that had interactive elements, which then led to an important lesson about self love, which then ended up in an ass joke. I thought it was high concept and successful. Pythia’s runways are always next level, and she creates them herself. I thought her currency outfit was striking. The rotten apple look communicated exactly what it was supposed to, and was definitely different from everything else on stage. But aesthetically we have seen stronger looks from Pythia.
Nehellenia (“Drag Race Italia” S2, Runner-Up) I am obsessed with Nehellenia. If you have not watched “Italia” S2, please add it to your watch list; it’s a great season and a huge part of that is the charming, lovable, talented, and beautiful Nehellenia. I knew Ru would eat her up, and he already is. Nehellenia also did an original pop song with high production values, including some excellent dancing and a mad scramble ending with a flaming torch. It was dramatic and impactful, and I liked the song, too. Nehellenia also won the quick-drag mini challenge, and I think she’s right: the other queens underestimate her. I don’t think they will for long. Nehellenia is a fierce competitor, and beyond that, a total sweetheart. This was a great introduction to her, and I suspect she’ll be a fan favorite this season. Here is Nehellenia’s song on Spotify:
Vanity Vain (“Drag Race Sverige” S1, Runner-Up) It was a REAL close call between the Top 3 for me, and I’m only ranking Vanity third because original songs are so commonplace on “Drag Race” talent shows. That said, this particular original song stands out. This was a great track that could get actual commercial airplay, and Vanity sounded terrific on the vocal, and sold it well on stage. She was correct that Sweden is the home of great pop music, and if this song is any indication, Vanity could be one of its next big things. Her currency look was exceptionally beautiful. Super strong start for Vanity. Here is Vanity’s song on Spotify:
Gala Varo (“Drag Race Mexico” S1, Runner-Up) Gala surprised me this week. I liked Gala on “Mexico” S1, but never fully connected with her as a character. I already feel like she’s pushing through more in these first two episodes, including sharing her story about leaving a career in science for drag, then finding love and a husband. The abrupt shift in the story when her husband died was…a lot, but I thought Gala was both endearing and enticing this episode. The talent show, in which she did pole dancing, was superb. We’ve seen several pole-dancing numbers in talent shows, but this was among the best. The extension. The flexibility. The strength. The costume. Gala absolutely nailed this, and I think she just narrowly missed out on being Top 2 in E2. I thought both her runways were stunning. I honestly don’t know which one I liked better. They were both gorgeous and very different from one another. Killer second episode for Gala, and it was so nice that she got to have a moment with guest judge, Mexican singer Danna Paola. I do worry that Gala seems to have one of the weaker grasps of English, and that could be a real issue for her in this competition.
Eva Le Queen (“Drag Race Philippines” S1, Runner-Up) Holy shit, I howled at this talent show. I literally thought I pulled something I was laughing and screaming so hard. Eva slayed this second episode, and she made an impression in E1 too — that pearls intro runway was sumptuous and so highly reflective of her culture. There’s such thoughtfulness in her drag! But that talent show! It started out as a rice-cooking demo, threw in a humorous transition to a batshit sword-dancing segment, climaxed in Eva taking out off-brand Charizard, and then returning to her rice cooker to discover she neglected to plug it in — CLASSIC. This was outstanding, up there with Willow Pill’s mind-snapping S14 talent show that, arguably, won the competition for her right then and there. Eva had big shoes to fill after her “DRPh” sister Marina Summers dominated “UK vs. the World 2,” and Eva delivered big time. If you’re not watching “Drag Race Philippines” you are missing some of the strongest, most compelling queens in the world.
I honestly did not know where Ru would go with the Top 2 in E2. I could have seen it going to any two of Nehellenia, Eva, Gala, and Vanity, but ultimately it was Vanity and Eva lipsyncing to “Paranoia” by guest judge Danna. Confession: did not love that lipsync song, at all, but I thought both queens did the best they could with a song not really ideal for lipsyncing. After an abrupt end, Ru gave the win to Vanity, and I’m not mad about it. The emoting was arguably stronger, and I love that one of the lesser-watched franchises snatched a win so early. And seriously, Vanity is great. I would not be at all surprised if she ends up being a breakout drag popstar. She’s got the goods.
What did you think of the two-part premiere? Are you loving this season? Are you loving these international queens all crossing over? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
If you want to enjoy it even more, join our “Global All Stars” fantasy league! It’s FREE! Pick your three favorite queens and watch as they rack up points this season. Click here to get in your Queen Team picks, we have extended the entry deadline until Thursday, August 22, so you can factor in what you know from E1 & E2.
Also, if you haven’t watched most of these international seasons, we’re going to give you some homework before Episode 3 drops. Go back and watch “Drag Race Sverige” S1, so you can get to know Vanity Vain better. It’s a great season, with an awesome host in Robert Fux, a wild arc with the one and only Antonina Nutshell, an astonishingly strong Final 2 — and it’s only 8 episodes, all of them available now on WoW Presents+. Totally bingeable by next week! Now is a GREAT time to catch up on some of this foreign seasons you may have missed.
