RECAP: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17, Episode 8 (Rusical)
After what I consider one of the worst Snatch Games in U.S. Drag Race history (we have had worse international editions, it’s true), I was pretty down on Season 17 and its queens. So this Rusical could not have been better timed. While it was, I think, the weakest Rusical material in the past several seasons (at least since Season 13’s social-media edition, which is tied with S9’s Pharmarusical at the bottom of the trash bin), I thought the queens almost all did well to great in it, and every single one of them looked good in the Shady Lady parasols runway.
We also, however, got more obvious narrative interference from the judges, as an obvious winner was prevented from getting the nod, and someone was shoved into the chipper shredder despite doing perfectly well in the challenge.
Below find my thoughts on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 Episode 8, The Wicked Wiz of Oz. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Before I get to my thoughts on each queen’s performance — ranked from my favorite to least — I want to first critique the actual Rusical. “The Wicked Wiz of Oz” was interesting in concept, bringing together not only The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, but also surprisingly, A Chorus Line. Unfortunately, I think that last part was a Yellow Brick Road too far. While the Chorus Line audition concept provided a useful storytelling device for the piece, it also made the whole thing unnecessarily complicated. That button at the end, where the queens obviously all went backstage and had to change and then came back in for a “One”-inspired grand finale added nothing of value, except the slight gag of Suzie Toot’s green tights. I also thought some of the actual songs in this were quite leaden, and some of the lyrics bordered on tortured. The Rusicals have gotten so good that when something doesn't work, it’s really apparent. And it was apparent in this one.
Onya Nurve as Harlem Dorothy: I thought Onya deserved the win this week. Her Harlem Dorothy was joy personified on that stage, which is not easy to do, and she moved like a dream in her dance choreography. Good vocal, too. I thought it was bonkers that guest judge Jamal Sims knocked her for taking too long to pick up choreo in rehearsal. Who fucking cares if someone struggles in rehearsals, if they bring it when it’s time for the performance? Have you ever heard of such a crazy thing? In my opinion, the judges were simply looking for an excuse to prevent Onya from clinching her third win, making her the undisputed frontrunner this season. But in my opinion, Jewels should have won Snatch Game, and Onya should have won this challenge. I loved her yellow parasol look. It was so different for Onya and a unique concept. Onya has emerged as my queen to beat this season.
Jewels Sparkles as The Good Witch: For a second week in a row, Jewels was SO CLOSE to a win — she is being edged, as this show is wont to do to a queen. Jewels’ “Dance: Ten, Looks: Three”-inspired song was hilarious, made even more funny by the errant nipple from her breastplate which repeatedly popped out of her bustier, stealing the spotlight. I wasn’t expecting Jewels to be such a comedy powerhouse, but she’s impressing the hell out of me. Her runway was not the most creative concept, but it looked expenny, henny.
Sam Star as Wicked Witch: The top three were very close this episode, and I certainly do not begrudge Sam her second win. She was very good in the Cher-inspired number. I absolutely adored her runway look, which was a glittery rococo fantasy encrusted with bejeweled butterflies (Asia O’Hara, look away). I just personally found Onya and Jewels to be more entertaining. To me, this Sam win was as much for her meta story arc as it was for her performance in this episode. The judges specifically praised Sam for loosening up, and dropping the perfect pageant polish. It’s something I have absolutely noticed happening little by little over the course of the season, and I’m glad for it. I like Sam and I enjoy Sam’s drag, but when she’s “on” she is really “ON.” It can be offputting. I’m glad to see her having fun, and I hope we get even more of it in the future.
Suzie Toot as Green Witch: Suzie had big expectations for this challenge, and I think she should be proud of herself. She did well with the material she was given in the Rusical — I don’t know how anyone could do it better — but it was not the flashiest role, it had one of the worst songs, and it was right at the top of the program. I thought her monotone parasol look was lovely and effective, although I’m never going to get overly excited about, essentially, a bathing suit on the runway. Even a very pretty bathing suit like this one.
Lana Ja’Rae as Tin Woman: I was so proud of Lana this week. I’ve been harsh on her throughout this competition, as she has struggled in almost every challenge while simultaneously feeling very full of herself. She was fully present in this Rusical, and I thought her physical comedy and timing was on point in her song. Interestingly, for someone who is usually strong on the fashion side, I thought her parasol look was among the weakest ones on the stage. Still pretty, but not a fresh concept (if you can’t out-vampire Farida Kant, don’t bother) and a basic look compared to most of the others.
Lexi Love as Lioness: After a string of rough weeks, Lexi bounced back with a good performance and a good runway. Lexi had been clearly struggling for at least the last three episodes, and I was genuinely concerned for her emotional wellbeing. I saw none of that this week. This Lexi was confident, cool, and seemed to be having fun — this is a Lexi we can root for again. I thought her Schiaparelli-inspired parasol look was successful, and love her in white hair. So striking.
Acacia Forgot as Kansas Dorothy: More gaslighting from the judges: Acacia was good in this challenge. The rehearsal footage was damning, to be sure. She was obviously nervous to have such a big role. But I thought her singing and emoting met the mission, and her multi-story-wig runway was a fun twist on the prompt. Adam Lambert’s note that Acacia could have done something campy with a sober, earnest ballad was terrible advice — it would not have fit the song, at all. It would have felt glaringly out of place. More on Acacia in a minute.
Arrietty as Scarecrow: Arrietty did not do badly, I just found her the most forgettable of the three core Oz characters. I continually find myself impressed by this queen. I really thought I would dislike her based on her Meet the Queens, but she has skills and layers that I did not expect. She continues to delight on the runway, with a luxurious gown for this challenge. The unexpected surprise of this season for me.
Lydia Butthole Kollins as Flying Monkey No. 1: I don’t think Lydia did poorly in this challenge either — I really only think one queen did — but the monkey song was among the most forgettable, and if Acacia could have been campier in her torch song, Lydia SURELY could have gone bigger in this comedic number. I just don’t see star quality with Lydia, I’m sorry. I find her unobjectionable but I also don’t find anything particularly noteworthy either. That said, I think this week’s runway was the first time I truly enjoyed something Lydia has shown us. I thought it was beautiful and interesting. The white necklace dangling in the front was unnecessary and out of place. But other than that, easily her best look to date.
Kori King as Flying Monkey No. 2: Kori was the only queen who did not rise to meet this challenge. She wasn’t horrible. Nobody was. But I agreed with the judges that, since she was second banana in the duet, she need to do more feel like an equal. That’s ironic, because my usual note for Kori is that she’s trying to do too much. The Dorothy-inspired runway look was without a doubt the BEST Kori has looked this season, period. Disagree with whatever little notes the judges made (I think it was Lambert again, who truly has bad taste, as evidenced by that dreadful lipsynch song), I thought this was such a step up for Kori and a fun play on iconography.
I honestly don’t know if we had a Bottom 3 this week. Suzie, Sam, Jewels were all clearly the top, and Onya got mostly positive critiques aside from the “your rehearsal was a mess” bullshit. I think it was just a de facto Bottom 2 of Kori and Acacia, and I just don’t think Acacia had any business being there. I know pretty much everyone did well, which makes it tough, but I wouldn’t ding her for challenge or runway.
Like Crystal Envy last week, my read on the situation is that Acacia was cast as a filler queen, and it was her time to go. I don’t think she ever had a shot to win this, and I think Acacia herself was aware that no matter what she was serving, she was not going to get the level of praise from the judges as other queens. I don’t think she deserved being the B2 the second episode, and I don’t think she deserved to be B2 here. But someone had to go, and they’re invested in Kori — who is great at talking heads and Untucked — especially now that they leaning into this Kori/Lydia love affair. (I will be candid, I couldn’t be less invested. I’m not convinced it’s even a real thing, and not just for show. Even if it is authentic, I find half of that scenario to be a cipher on the personality front.)
Kori and Acacia lipsynched to some dreadful song by Lambert, and in keeping with the theme of the music, Kori did the most and served up a Jane Fonda workout-worthy series of kicks and squats. It was an athletic lipsynch, to be sure. For the second week in a row, a wig fell off mid-lipsynch, and like…it’s Season 17. We are still doing this? By Episode 8? Come on, ladies.
Kori was declared the winner. I can’t debate that. She is an invigorating performer, and she slayed that song while Acacia didn’t quite seem to know what to do with it. And so it was Acacia’s time to go. I think she was dealt a raw hand by this season, both by the judges and the other queens. Based on what we saw, she was always on the outside looking in, and never really taken seriously. That bums me out. I like Acacia and I appreciate her drag. I hope she finds success with whatever she does next. A queen of her word, she does indeed have a new single out now. Here you go:
What do you think of Season 17? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
