RECAP: “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 9" Episode 10 (LaLaPaRuZa)
Now that was a delight. “All Stars 9” continues to come alive in the home stretch, with another thoroughly entertaining episode devoted to the now de rigeur LaLaPaRuZa lipsync smackdown. This may be the least controversial episode of the season — I think most of the wins were pretty clear (with the exception of maybe one), the queens all seemed to accept the results, and it enshrines one queen in particular as THE frontrunner of the season.
Let’s get into it, shall we?
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Before we get into it, here’s Act 1 of Episode 10:
There was very little foreplay this episode; we got straight to the main event as RuPaul told the queens that they would be engaged in a knockout-style lipsync tournament in which the last two dolls standing would each receive a badge, and the ultimate winner would get $10,000 for their charity. While preparing for their lipsyncs, the girls all compared notes on their individual lipsync track records. After that, it was off to the races, with the expected format of Bruno pulling a ball out of a cage with a queen’s name on it; that queen picking her competitor; and her competitor selecting the song.
A quick note that every song in this episode has previously been used as a lipsync on “Drag Race,” but you’ll hear no complaints from me, as all six of them are top-tier lipsync tracks. And some of them desperately deserved a redemption performance.
Round 1 Lipsyncs
Gottmik vs. Angeria Paris VanMichaels, “My Lovin’” by En Vogue: Gottmik was the first queen picked, meaning she had full choice of competitors. It was surprising, initially, that she went with Angeria, who has won most of her lipsyncs this season, and not, say, Nina — who has never won a single lipsync on “Drag Race” — or Plastique, who is 0 for 4 this season. But in further thinking about it, Angeria hasn’t been truly great at lipsyncing, either; she’s just been up against people who do worse. I describe Angie’s lipsync style as “drunk auntie at a wedding,” and that’s wonderful to watch for viewers. But it’s not super competitive in a tournament like this. That said, Angeria more fully embodied this song (previously used in S2E2, Raven vs. Nicole Paige Brooks) than Mik. Mik gave us sexy face and some sexy moves, but Angeria engaged with the soul of the song in a way I don’t think Gottmik really did. In the end, Angeria advanced to Round 2, and Gottmik was chopped from the competition. This was the one result last night that polarized some people, but I ultimately don’t think it mattered to the end result of the episode.
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo vs. Plastique Tiara, “When I Grow Up” by The Pussycat Dolls: The most evenly matched performance of the night, and a very hot lipsync. Both girls came in with something to prove. Plastique has been shut out on lipsync wins all season (sorry to you, Asian American Foundation!); Vanjie wanted to remind people that she is a fierce lipsync artist (she is; her “No More Drama” performance from Season 11 is top tier). Both queens had stripped down to lingerie — I would argue Plastique did so too quickly — and then proceeded to go full-on sex worker (I say that with love and respect) as they slutted up that stage. Plastique was bent over and spread eagle, petting her kitty. Vanjie was whipping her hair like, well, Roxxxy Andrews. It was a great number. Plastique used her body better, and was more sensual, but Vanjie gave face and connected with the song — that’s a recurring theme for the night overall. And Vanjie was named the victor, leaving Plastique 0/5 lipsyncs in a single season. Yikes!
Shannel vs. Nina West, “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive: The tournament song most in need of a do-over, after the appalling “All Stars 4” version in which Trinity the Tuck came out in a grotesque old woman outfit (for some reason) complete with pendulous, shriveled breasts and underwear with a shit stain (fix it, Jesus). Nina is probably the weakest lipsyncer in the cast, and has never won a single lipsyc on “Drag Race.” But I thought this was easily her best outing. It’s a song that suited both of them — old school, not really meant for tricks or flips. It’s about attitude, lust, and owning the stage, and that’s exactly what Shannel did, at least in the first half. I thought her energy dipped toward the end, but by that point she had pretty definitively won it. Nina also wore a bonkers outfit with reveal that was, alas, clumsy. I consider myself a Nina West fan, and I want only the very best for her. I think she needs to find designers that can create reveals that are easier for her to deploy mid-song, OR just avoid reveals altogether. I did think it was notable that there were very few reveals or costume/wig stunts in this tournament overall. Anyway, Shannel won and Nina was out.
Roxxxy Andrews vs. Jorgeous, “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler: It was fitting that the two biggest threats of the night were left to fight each other, in one of the most dramatic lipsync songs of all time (previously used in Season 9, where Aja demolished Kimora Blac). This was another very good lipsync, and fairly evenly matched in terms of energy and commitment by both queens. They’re both very talented. The differentiating factor here — and again, this was the theme of the night — is that Roxxxy is able to capture the essence of the song in a performance, while Jorgeous just performs to the song. And that performance is great. She moves like a dream. But there is no connection to the lyrics whatsoever, while Roxxxy understands musicality and how to fully embody a number. We’ve seen it over and over again from her on this show. When someone says they’re “living” a song, that’s what Roxxxy does — especially here, as she was paying homage to her drag mother, Erica Andrews, and her drag grandmother, Tandi Andrews, who both performed this song at drag pageants. Jorgeous did a great job and likely would have won against most other queens, but this was Roxxxy’s win.
Round 2 Lipsyncs
Shannel vs. Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan: Vanjie is a wonderful performer, but this one was no contest to me. Shannel had it within the first 10 seconds, connecting to the pride and plaintive quality of the song, while Vanjie didn’t quite seem to know how to deliver on the song’s themes. While Shannel did well, I do think the queen who owns this number is Trinity K. Bonet, who ate it the fuck up when she performed it against April Carrion in Season 6. Anyway, Shannel won, advancing to the Top 2, and automatically scored her third Beautiful Benefactress Badge, putting her ahead of Gottmik, Nina, and Vanjie, who go into the finale with 2 apiece.
Roxxxy Andrews vs. Angeria Paris VanMichaels, “Groove Is In the Heart” by Deee-Lite: The rivalry of the season led to one of the most lopsided lipsyncs of the night, as Roxxxy had this one down even before she got to the rap verse, which Angeria didn’t even bother to attempt. And Roxxxy knew every fucking word. Even outside of the rap, Roxxxy was at turns playful, sexy, and come-hither — I think it’s one of her best lipsync performances this season. Angeria certainly tried, but she could not hope to keep up. And thus Roxxxy won, advancing to the finale, and capturing her FIFTH badge, making her the undisputed badge leader this season.
Final Lipsync
Shannel vs. Roxxxy Andrews, “Break Free” by Ariana Grande: First I would like to say how delighted I am that the two most-seasoned queens in the competition were the last ones standing in this showdown. When you look at the Mhi’ya Iman LePaiges and Anetras of the world, it can sometimes feel like “Drag Race” lipsyncs are almost nuclear-arms races when it comes to flips, tricks, dips, etc. It’s great to watch for viewers, but it also seems like superhuman moves are the secret to winning a lipsync nowadays. What Roxxxy and Shannel did better than any other queen this episode — and which Megami also did in the S16 LaLaPaRuZa — was to focus on the spirit of the song itself, and deliver THAT instead of unbelievably impressive physical tricks. That said, this was another blowout, as Roxxxy arguably just took a victory lap while commanding that stage. It’s not that Shannel was bad, I just don’t think Shannel resonates that much with Ariana Grande — who wasn’t even famous when Shannel was first on “Drag Race”! — as much as she does, say, Chaka Khan or Pete Burns, who I could believe she performs regularly in her brunch gigs. (That’s not in any way a read, I respect the fuck out of every element in that sentence.) It was Roxxxy’s least-exciting performance of the night, but still easily enough to win the whole tournament and get another $10,000 for Miracle of Love, which I think has so far received $35,000 via Roxxxy. That’s pretty epic. (I’m also glad “Break Free” got a do-over; the original S7 lipsynch between Jaidynn Diore Fierce and Kandy Ho was quite good, but they were both in their Death Becomes Her runways, so it’s kind of ghastly to watch now, without context.)
So that leaves us going into the two-part finale with Roxxxy as our clear frontrunner with 5 badges (and 4 lipsync wins THIS SEASON, 9/0 for “Drag Race” as a whole); Plastique and Jorgeous with 4 badges; Angeria and Shannel with 3 badges; and Gottmik, Nina, and Vanjie with 2. But Ru has made it clear that there is a path to victory for any of them, and when we consider the shenanigans that occurred in the “All Stars 7” semifinal, in which 3 STARS were awarded to those winners…gird your loins, kids.
Who do you want to win this season? Do you think the bad count reflects the work each queen has done this season? Drop your thoughts in the comments.