It's the crucial Top Four challenge! Everybody has something to prove today: Jinkx and Roxxxy are vying for dominance in total wins, and it's Alaska and Detox's last chance to catch up. Coco and Alyssa are gone, Ivy and Jade and Lineysha and everybody else are gone, and we're down to ...Rolaskatox and Jinkx.
While we roll the opening credits, I want to take a moment to acknowledge a couple things. One: my apologies for this recap being so late. As I was writing last night, the news of the explosion in West, TX was breaking, and the video from it wrecked my capacity to be snarky about drag queen fashion mishaps. This has been a shitty week in America, but it's heartening to see people rallying around those affected by the tragedies in Boston and West. Hopefully I can do my part to bring you, dear reader, a little levity, by reading some bitches down today. ;-)
Second, a congratulations and shout-out: at the viewing party on Monday night, I found out that my friends Ashley and McCord are engaged!
Aren't they the damned cutest? Marriage equality hasn't made its way to Georgia yet, so I'm lobbying for a New Zealand wedding. Upon hearing the news, Blake's on the Park, the bar in Atlanta where we watch RuPaul's Drag Race each week, brought over champagne to celebrate--thanks, Blake's!
Oh, the show's back on! The top four discuss how Alaska and Jinkx still haven't lip synched for their lives, and Alaska invokes the name of Tyra Sanchez for making Final Three without ever lip synching. (She does not mention the other person who made Top Three their season without lip synching: first-season runner-up Nina Flowers.)
SheMail! RuPaul rattles off a list of candies, but before we can get to the ball challenge, #EverybodyLovesPuppets! This is a reprise of last year's Top Four challenge, complete with the Big Pink Puppet Hole.
RuPaul's joke was A Fist Called Wanda, but I prefer A Fistful of Dolls.
Time for the Punch and Mary show!
Jinkx and Detox do fine with the mini-challenge. Jinkx's Lil' DeDe is a string of exasperated Detox catchphrases, executed in a canny voice, and Detox's Lil' Lasky whines about Sharon, because as we learned from the RuPaul Roast, there's apparently only one best way to come for Alaska.
The show editors get in on the side-by-side action.
Roxxxy's snoozing, over-contoured Lil' Jinkxy starts okay, but derails when Roxxxy narrates from Lil' Jinkxy, "I try to seem so innocent all the time, but I'm really a bitch! I'm here to win it, and you guys have no idea!" Smiles faulter, and once Roxxxy finishes, Alaska tells her only-half-jokingly, "That was rude."
Roxxxy embodies the hashtag #ThatAwkwardMomentWhen
Alaska saves the puppet show and rightfully earns the mini-challenge win with Lil' Poundcake's baby sister, Lil' Miss Thang. If Alaska ever retires from drag, she clearly has a second career in dollmaking; Lineysha wasn't necessary for Lil' Miss Thang's tearaways for her tearaways, haaaaay!
After declaring Alaska the mini-challenge winner, RuPaul introduces the ball challenge, and this year, it's the Sugar Ball! Like past years, the ball challenge is a three-look extravaganza, and the final look must be made from scratch and incorporate an unconventional material. In the past, the "unconventional material" has been fruit, Monopoly money, and live dogs. This year, it's candy!
Where my Peeps at? Where my Peeps at?
Roxxxy is giddy for a "sewing challenge," though everybody seems to have been given a white corset to use as a base. Really, it's a hot glue challenge, maybe an E-6000 challenge if you're really getting fancy-crafty. No matter! The girls set to work.
As soon as Jinkx said "Alexander McQueen" and started fucking with antlers, my brain and my heart went in different directions. While my brain knew Jinkx had this in mind...
...my heart hoped for a decidedly different homage: I've been waiting five seasons for a queen to have the tucked cajones to pummel the runway in a recreation of Santino's infamous Sexy German Deer Lingerie look from his season of Project Runway.
After all, imitation is flattery, and flattery is the most direct path to Santino's pants, right? Jinkx could have recreated one of those looks in candy, and it would have been ...well, a big swing, but an unforgettable runway moment, and like Mama Ru says, it do take nerve. And the worst that could happen is that she'd have to lip synch "Malambo No. 1," right?
Dear Season Six hopefuls: please, please, please, I want one of you do this.
My apologies: we've all digressed.
RuPaul turns serious, and tells Alaska, "You've been criticized for being a little rough around the edges." Has Ru been watching a different show than me? Because if my memory serves, Alaska got raked over the coals mid-season for being too polished-one-note, and correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't we eight challenges into the season, when she hit the runway in that "Red: For Filth" look, that she was rewarded for finally looking a little rougher? Whatever, maybe RuPaul is confusing Alaska's critiques with somebody from last season.
My eyesbrows went up too, Alaska.
RuPaul moves on to Jinkx. We find that nothing can kill candy couture like Too Much Exposition.
Jinkx's consultation with RuPaul throws up warning lights in every color of the rainbow; Jinkx asks if her Sweet Sixteen look can be 1970s, and RuPaul essentially says, "No."
Detox's review is similarly harrowing; while the other queens have already plowed through bags of hot glue sticks and rolls of duct tape, it appears that Detox has only spray-painted her corset. RuPaul brings up the question of whether Detox has been underperforming, and whether Detox's heart is fully in the game. In this moment, Detox doesn't really have a response.
(Yesterday morning, at the Elimination Lunch, Detox said flat-out, "I know I didn't perform as well as I could have." She explained that she had just returned from a DWV tour when they began filming Season Five, and had to prep/pack for the show last-minute. On top of that, she had also just found out about her father's cancer, and was much more upset and distracted by it than she let show on-camera. She gave an update on that too: Papa Detox has finished chemo (though is still recovering from the chemo's side effects) and is currently cancer-free!)
RuPaul is also dubious of Roxxxy's look, so the werkroom walkthough concludes with no points awarded to anybody. However, we've got some excellent guest judges!
Marg Helgenberger!
And... wait for it... get ready to queen the fuck out... it's Bob Mackie!
After RuPaul leaves, Roxxxy grabs a fresh corset and starts from scratch. (Was there just a big pile of white corsets for do-overs? Where's the tacky little picture frame letting us know these are from CorsetConnection.com?) Roxxxy begins work on the tedious-but-tried-and-true method of unconventional material challenges that's been keeping contestants in the safe group on Project Runway for years: Glue A Million Tiny Items To a Corset In A Nice Pattern.
Pictured: Roxxxy's long-awaited sewing challenge. (In this same timeframe, Detox has applied six stripes of licorice.)
Meanwhile, Jinkx is providing just cause for murder.
Am I actually siding with Roxxxy against Jinkx? In this particular moment, yes. JFC, Jinkx.
Fortunately, her peppermint pounding is interrupted by rehearsal for Lucian Piane's latest horror, "Sugar Babies." Poor Lucian--on the one hand, he produces RuPaul's music, which is a pretty sweet gig. On the other hand, he also has to create this absurd bullshit. (If you get "Sugar Babies" stuck in your head, just think back to "At the Bitch Ball" instead, which had more-embarassing lyrics but less-irritating music.)
All four queens are grinding each other's nerves, and the entire sequence stresses me out. It's now that I realize: in the past, the Top Four episode has always been my favorite because it's such a high-tension, demanding challenge, but this season, I'm too invested, so I just find my own anxiety rising on the queens' behalves. Thankfully, a dance at Alaska's skill level means they eventually come up with a simple, executable routine with very few opportunities for anybody to fuck it up, and Roxxxy and Jinkx don't actually punch each other, so I'm declaring victory for the Sugar Babies.
Back in the Werkroom, we're treated to a mash-up of Jinkx fighting a sleep attack while Roxxxy throws some seriously unsympathetic faces. Cooler heads prevailing, I realize that this probably isn't as nasty as they've made it look, but I'll admit: the first time I watched this scene, I was screeching "EVIL! You are evil!" at Roxxxy.
We're twenty minutes into the third-from-last episode, and I'm calling it now: this is not the edit Roxxxy would be getting if the producers of RuPaul's Drag Race were genuinely considering crowning her. They learned after Tyra Sanchez: America wants to like its winner, and nobody likes some bitch who laughs at people struggling with neurological disorders, for crying out loud. The race for the crown of Season Five is between Jinkx and Alaska.
But I'm ahead of myself. Elimination Day has arrived, and the queens are at Stress Code Red. Jinkx is debating whether to ditch her out-of-control hoop skirt; Detox is still unsure of her acid-green look; Alaska is attacking her Sugar Babies hair.
As we cut to commercial, Alaska is still battling with her cracking, crumbling candy concoction, screaming in frustration as it literally falls off her in chunks. But now, time is up, ladies: it's time for the runway show!
What in the actual fuck is RuPaul wearing? Not to come for Mama Ru, but can you imagine what Santino would say if one of this season's queens wore that? You and I both know that it would be a slaughtering critique.
Best Breasts on Panel clearly goes to Michelle Visage! When I die, I want to come back as that corset.
We open the show with the Sugar Babies. I'm cracking up at the line "Chocolate powder's best for undertones," because as we've learned this season, Tang is the actual best powder for undertones.
Anyway, the Sugar Babies are cute, but they're not the main event. It's time for the runway I've been waiting for all season: the Sugar Ball. Commence. Shake. DOWN.
Category is: Super Duper Sweet Sixteen!
Alaska puts on a pitch-perfect look and performance; her outfit is flawless, and you'd have never guessed the head-cracking frustration she was facing just hours earlier. She resisted the impulse to over-accessorize (think how this would have instantly aged ten or fifteen years with the wrong sparkly necklace), and her little black dress is exactly on-point: she could be Junior Prom Queen. I'm smitten with the giftwrap bow in her hair.
Oh dear, Jinkxy. In the very first episode, when Jinkx was unpacking her wardrobe and explaining her narcolepsy, I noticed both that wig and that tunic. I've spent two and a half months terrified that when she finally trotted them out, this would be exactly what she did with them. I could buy this look as the "Northwest Pacific stoner chick extravaganza" she described, but the category was Super Duper Sweet Sixteen, not Super Saturday Afternoon at Discovery Park with My Boyfriend and His Acoustic Guitar. (And that's at-best: save the candy-necklace headband, the accessories all read older, and to be completely honest, the whole ensemble looks like a kindly mid-30s art therapist for troubled middle schoolers. Or maybe Sweet Sixteen High Elf Duchess.) RuPaul wanted a chic, young party-dress evening look, and it breaks my heart to say it, but Jinkx missed the mark by every metric.
I'm not in love with Roxxxy's look, but it's cute enough. She should have left off the headpiece entirely, or went in another direction with it; something about it reads retro-cigarette-girl to me, and the marshmallow in her hair looks like a tiny roll of toilet paper. But her hair is on-point and, compared to the rest of the Super Duper Sweet Sixteen looks, she's not at the bottom of the pack.
Oh dear, Detox. It's not as egregious a miss as Jinkx's, but it's still a lot of not-quite-on-point look. It's a confusing combination of decades--the jacket reads Pink Lady, but in an '80s magenta--but nothing about it reads modern. Granted, it's a cute ensemble, and I could see a 16-year-old wearing it, but as a costume, not a birthday outfit. Compare this look to Alaska's: this is what I meant what I commended Alaska for not over-accessorizing.
Category is: Sugar Mama Executive Realness!
For the second look in a row, Alaska is perfectly on-point. RuPaul and I saw the same inspiration: real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, on the right of that side-by-side. I'm living for the red pumps and necklace. She nailed her body shape in that suit, and she looks like a million bucks--and like she'll fire you the moment you fuck it up. Tens across the board, Alaska.
(By the way, since it's especially apparent here, sorry for the horrendous image quality in this recap. I didn't have access to my usual HD source for taking these screencaps, and I'll probably replace them once I do get better video quality for this episode.)
Once again, it's a swing and a miss from Jinkx. The suit looks 60% off at JC Penney, and the frazzled bun and reading glasses send this look into the realm of substitute teacher, not executive realness. There's nothing polished or expensive going on here, and while this might be the vision of "sugar mama" for the-character-of-Jinkx-Monsoon, the queen behind the character should have aimed higher.
Roxxxy's look is a little more executive-fantasy than executive-realness, but it's on the right track. In my head, I hear Nina Garcia grousing about unrealistic ready-to-wear looks designed for "women who curate art galleries." Because yes: in the real world, the skirt is too short and the cape is a bit affected. The whole is better than the sum of its parts, though, and I'm on board with this look.
When Detox came out, I cocked an eyebrow at the television and said out loud, "That's her Mannequin look." Per the highly-knowledgeable @justinsheadshot, filming for this season took place after that linked video was shot, so this was a look that Detox brought pre-assembled, tip to toe. I wish Detox had switched up the styling: the suit is a gorgeous color and on-point for the category, but the hair is a bizarre birdsnest that doesn't make sense in this context, and an upscale bracelet or necklace would have elevated this look.
Category is: Candy Couture Edible Eleganza!
I know this look put her through it, but Alaska pulled it off! It's become a trite saying, but she looked like a confection: I believed that those tufts of cotton were actual cotton candy, and the V shape of the scattered pink candies enhances the look of the corset and elevates the fashion pay-off. I know the shoes were threatening to fall apart, but aside from that, she was able to fake an effortlessness to this look that made it quintessential Edible Eleganza.
Peppermint Venison was the best of Jinkx's three looks, and honestly, the more I look at it, the more I like it! It's still a hot mess, but it's a cute hot mess, and yes, thank goodness she ditched the hoop skirt. In past Jinkx looks, I've been delighted by her inclination to overaccessorize (see: her Marie Antoinette look; her Perfume Launch Party look), but here, it looks unfocused and overthought. It's a shame that the hammered peppermints don't really come across as anything besides light-pink on the corset; it's hard to tell that there's candy used in the outfit at all. Still, she looks cute-as-a-button as the Abominable Snowjinkx.
Miss Thang nailed it. This was a really ambitious outfit, especially for having only started it after RuPaul's werkroom walkthrough, and it really came together nicely. I love the horizontal back of the corset, and that she brought the licorice down from both her hips and her bust, filling out the skirt more than one layer would have. Though it obviously draws comparisons to this look...
...I honestly like the licorice version much better.
Detox's acid-'80s obsession continues through this look, and like Jinkx's look, the more I look, the more I like it. I'm not sure that it hits "edible eleganza," exactly, but it's kind of delightful anyway, isn't it? I love the triangular headpiece and the swirly black-and-white lollies at the hips. The skirt felt like an unfortunate afterthought, but had she switched up the lower half, this would have come together in a way not even Santino could've come for.
Runway critique! Alaska gets well-earned rave reviews, while Jinkx gets read down. Roxxxy draws a comparison to The Devil Wears Prada, while Detox draws one to Fatal Attraction.
And then, it's time for that big-cringe question: who should go home?
It's as predictable as it is painful: Jinkx names the queen who has already lip synched twice, and Rolaskatox comes for Jinkx. There was no question that Jinkx's name would be coming from Roxxxy and Detox, but my heart broke when Alaska named Jinkx too. Of course, we (and RuPaul) remember that, only a couple weeks ago, Alaska and Roxxxy also named Jinkx when RuPaul asked about their biggest competition. Still, though: it sucks to watch one person get dogpiled on. For her part, Jinkx holds it together, recognizing the value of keeping her composure in this moment.
And on that cheerful note, it's time to Untuck.
Over in the Gold Bar, category is: Villain Edit Realness. Roxxxy and Detox bag on Jinkx for her laugh and her sleep attacks, and Roxxxy sasses, "Besides your narcolepsy, you got a whole lot of other problems, and I don't know if they make pills for it." In confessional, Roxxxy continues her rant: "Jinkx's outfit looks like a whole hot shitty trailer Christmas mess. You look like someone beat you up and threw you down the dollar store Christmas aisle, Miss Thang! You look a shitty, hot mess! Go home!"
It feels horrible and hateful. Like I said: this is not the edit Roxxxy would get if the producers of RuPaul's Drag Race planned to crown her.
To Roxxxy's credit, she posted this the morning after the episode broadcast. It's long, but give her the benefit of the doubt and read it.
I have nothing but respect for this response: she completely owned the nastiness of her words, and the tone of self-loathing for what she saw of herself on RuPaul's Drag Race makes it easy to remember: every single one of us has been a shitty jackass to people we like, and most of us are lucky that our shitty jackass moments don't unfold on national television.
That's the last I'm going to bring up of Roxxxy's behavior, because you saw it too, and so did the rest of America. (Real life T: this recap is now officially late. You saw Untucked. There was cattiness, there were puppets, there were sweet words. Let's go back to the runway, shall we?)
Alaska wins the challenge by a mile! Roxxxy is safe, and Jinkx and Detox are left to duel it out.
Honestly, I can't say that I knew, for sure, that Jinkx could nail a lip synch: after all, she almost-exclusively sings live when she performs. "Malambo No. 1" was exactly the right song for her, though, and she does a fantastic turn of it. Yes, with Detox on her third lip synch, all Jinkx needed to do was not fuck it up, but she went beyond: it was a really, really fun performance, and Jinkx absolutely won the lip synch fair and square.
RuPaul announces that Detox shall sashay, and Jinkx drops to her knees and bows to Detox. It's sweet and awkward. Swawkward, if you will.
I really enjoyed Detox over the course of Season Five, and though she didn't have the season she wanted to have, you must give her credit: Detox's 80% is better than most queens' 110%. I'm already looking forward to seeing her on All-Stars!
Here's my own denouement to this episode: I think that this week really put Alaska at the front of the pack for the crown. This episode, we saw major failings from both Jinkx and Roxxxy: in her final chance to show her capacity for fashion to the judges, Jinkx bombed the runway (partially because she ignored RuPaul's advice during her werkroom walkthrough consultation), and while Roxxxy's runway performance was solid, she came off as completely unlikeable through the course of the episode. On the other hand, Alaska was a role model for both diplomacy and fashion sensibilities, which is a weird combination, but after charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, those might be the next two most-important factures for America's Next Drag Superstar.
And now, of course, the final three is tied at 2-2-2, and Alaska is the only queen who hasn't lip synched.
You know I've been Team Jinkx since mid-November, so brace yourselves for the eleventh-hour betrayal: after this episode, I'm rooting for Alaska. I adore them both, and truly, I'll be happy when either of them wins. I wish there were two crowns. But this episode, Alaska earned the crown. In two weeks, I hope she wins what she's earned.
Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments below--I love reading what you think every week! Meanwhile, hit me up on Facebook and Twitter, and stay tuned--I have a really, really exciting surprise that's been uploading to YouTube for two days now. I can't wait to share it with you!
Jinkx's shortcoming this week shows how a strength quickly becomes a weakness. Being completely committed to her character failed Jinkx this time. Being fashion forward is not a quality her character possesses; those first two looks were too old. With that being said, her "reindeer monster in July" was the most refreshing thing on the runway. It was a very interesting concept, not well executed, but very interesting. Jinkx, besides Detox, is the only one willing to do something bold and unexpected.
And, that's my main reservation about Alaska. She is well rounded, her styles were on point and good, but she has never done something where I gasped or I was really intrigued. She plays it safe. Safe can be good, but I want to drop my jaw, really be taken aback.
Roxxxy is so polished and she is mostly well rounded as long as she doesn't have to joke around with anyone. She clearly can't tell the difference between an insult and a joke. She has a lot of growth to do in terms of being open minded and creating acceptance. That is by far her weakest point and she can't represent Drag Race with the attitude she has displayed on the show.
Posted by: Sweet_Ecstasy | 04/18/2013 at 06:08 PM
Team Alaska!
Posted by: a | 04/18/2013 at 06:50 PM
WHAT A TOTAL BITCH THAT ROXY IS, HER AND ROLEXATOXIC OR WTF THEY CALL THEMSELVES NEED TO BE BITCHED SLAPPED. JINKX IS CLEARLY THE CHOICE FOR DRAG QUEEN OF THE YEAR.
Posted by: TERRY | 04/18/2013 at 08:11 PM
I completely disagree for once ;)
Jinkx is staunchly committed to her character and was not going to middle-of-the-road it.
What you saw was the ACTUAL Jinkx Monsoon's sweet sixteen and how she would approach an office job.
It's really exhausting having NOBODY understand the concept of a Character Queen even while flailing all over about Sharon FFS. People how about you understand what you're flaily about or it it because you love The Walking Dead.
Obviously Varla Jean Merman would never pass muster with RPDR fans, and Jinkx Monsoon is an even more committed high concept than Varla from what I remember.
The criticism of the judges on the XMAS was stupid. Hello? Candy. Christmas Candy Red & White and incorporate an iconic Rudolph. Whatever.
OH and they actually said something positive along the line about Detox 80's I forget exactly who/what. OH SO, Detox doing 80's is ok but JInkx doing 70's is escandalo.
Yes, now she's had to purchase some more "fashionable" stuff for the road to meet the needs of RPDR fan tours but even so she is NOT changing Jinkx Monsoon, decidedly unfashionable INTENTION. Even her most beautiful outfits now generally have the "wrong" something or holes in the fishnets etc.
The bitch is committed and fearless. Just like taking The Vaudevillians to The Beechman in July. Thank goodness she's working on her third sellout so the audience will be Jinkxd in advance cuz I'm not so sure it's the average NYC cabaret goer's fare. I hope she proves me wrong.
And I'll never pay money at a drag show for a black cocktail dress, black pantsuit, or blue womanwear suit - all available from Macy's for decades.
Thanks for all your hard work :)
Posted by: eulogy | 04/18/2013 at 08:22 PM
Giiirlll! You scared the hell outta me on Twitter - the way you were talking, I thought you were gonna read my little Jinkxy Luv for filth! But really, what you said about her wasn't all *that* bad - I mean, hey, our little duck had a bad week. You had to be honest about her shortcomings. All of us knew she'd have a problem with a challenge like this. I thought you were honest and very diplomatic 'bout it! And you know, I love my Jinkxy, but I really didn't like those first two looks. I did love her kooky candy dress, and I swear to you, I *swear*, if I ever decide to register an anonymous screen name somewhere, I'm calling myself "Peppermint Venison" or "The Abominable Snow Jinkx"! Those are fabulous!
That lip synch? EPIC!! I am telling you one thing about our Miss Monsoon - that right there is a girl who knows how to make the best out of a bad situation - she slayed that! Much as I didn't want her to be in the bottom ever, that was honestly probably one of my favorite lip synchs that I've seen.
And by the way, YES! You have been saying what I've been saying for weeks now - the editing is painting a clear picture that Roxxxy isn't getting near that crown. Not happening, final three or not. Because, here's the way I see it - if the winner has already been crowned, and we're simply going to find out on the finale, the editing is clearly letting us know Roxxxy's not winning. I do appreciate her apologies to Jinkx, and the one on FB was particularly heartfelt. It was the posting of someone who knew they screwed up and just threw themselves on the mercy of the public. That being said, I get that it was clearly a stressful situation, but she was just insufferable on the show. And the editors wouldn't be showing us such a totally unpleasant side of someone they were about to crown the winner. I'm guessing she can do no better than third.
I think Alaska was the proper winner of this challenge - she brought it in all three looks. She could have the win in her back pocket, having such a strong showing this close to the finale. I'd rather have Jinkx win, but if she doesn't, I can think of no one better for her to lose to than Alaska - she's been my second favorite all season.
Poor Detox - I liked her, but she just wasn't bringing it. I wish her well - given some of her online postings, it sounds like she's had a tough time of it. I am really glad to hear that her Dad's cancer free! Nine years ago, we lost my brother, so I know how it feels, how scary it is. My family would have given anything to have had a good outcome. So I always get extra excited when I hear about someone who's beat it. I'm ridiculously happy for Detox and Papa Detox!
Awesome recap as always, hon! Xo!
Posted by: Lisa | 04/18/2013 at 08:25 PM
Ahhh, so of course, the minute I turned off my computer and headed to bed, I remembered what I wanted to tell you about a post I saw at TLo's site.
I was reading the Bitter Kitten comments about this episode, and one of them pops in and says, "What the hell happened last night? I turned on 'Untucked', and Roxxxy and Detox were tearing away at Jinkx like she was made out of ham!" I had the misfortune of reading this at work, and I just put my head down on my desk and let out this horrible, undignified cackling laughter for about a solid minute!
Posted by: Lisa | 04/19/2013 at 04:29 AM
Once again you nailed it. Jinkx is still my favorite to win though, but I think you are right in saying that Alaska has done everything right in order to win. That's a criticism at the same time though, of the show really. The ball challenge is the most explicit reference to Paris Is Burning and I think reveals what RuPaul had in mind when he created the show. It's just that, that documentary, that scene is completely irrelevant to me. The category of executive realness was there for people to act as straight as possible and embody a straight executive because they knew they could never be one, being gay and Black. Sure Alaska's execution was amazing, but in the end it was really rather boring. What's the point of it? Impersonation? Why?
I guess my point is that Drag Race is in danger of becoming irrelevant if it conforms to any norms. I want to watch it for people like Jinkx to come to my attention. Completely original, not giving a fuck about who she is supposed to be according to other people. That's why I liked Sharon. I don't get the same desire to stand out from Alaska. She has had some extremely uninteresting looks come down the runway (purple ice, all the LBD's). The ball challenge was actually right up her alley, because the first two looks were all about how to conform to a certain norm. I liked the candy couture, but please, it's an amalgamation of Vivienne Pinay's and Raja's dresses.
Even though Jinkx's execution didn't do it for me this episode, the ideas were solid (okay maybe not the librarian, but at least the LaCroix inspired dress was a reference to Edwina Monsoon, Jinkx's "sugar mama," no?).
Posted by: Jonathan | 04/19/2013 at 06:08 AM
See, I disagree with part of the previous comment. I think that "realness" challenges really aim to test a queen's ability to be a chameleon. It's a great testament to her resourcefulness, and to her ability to adapt her character to whatever is required of her. While Jinkx's substitute teacher was funny and quirky and very Jinkxy, she failed, IMO, to stay within the parameters imposed by Ru. It's like if you're playing cards, and the game is poker, but all you're doing is building a house of cards. You can be very talented at making those cards stand up, some people might even commend you on not giving a shit and doing your own thing, since you're so good at it. But at the end of the day, the game was poker and that house of cards will not be what you needed to do to win that game of poker.
I think it takes great talent and restraint to manage creativity within predetermined boundaries. So I don't think the ball/realness challenges are completely irrelevant outside of the ball scene, I just think they test another aspect of the art of drag.
Posted by: Interrobang82 | 04/19/2013 at 08:07 AM
I agree with you, Interrobang82, it's another aspect of drag. It's more of how you approach the show I think. I think Jinkx is the breakout star, emphasis on breakout. She's got a career beyond the show. I don't know if Alaska has that sort of charisma. She's very funny, in a sarcastic way, but when you think beyond America's Next Drag Superstar, I don't see her doing much. Next to her own Underground scene of course.
I think Jinkx brought in star quality beyond Drag Race, which is why everyone was so threatened by her. She's been playing her own game. It all comes down to what RuPaul thinks. I just hope he crowns the one that does her own thing and believes in herself completely. When it comes down to who challenged perceptions the most, it would be Jinkx, no?
Posted by: Jonathan | 04/19/2013 at 08:33 AM
Jonathan said: "I guess my point is that Drag Race is in danger of becoming irrelevant if it conforms to any norms. I want to watch it for people like Jinkx to come to my attention. Completely original, not giving a fuck about who she is supposed to be according to other people. That's why I liked Sharon. I don't get the same desire to stand out from Alaska."
Yup, yup, yup, I agree 100%. Y'all know I'm firmly Team Jinkx, with Alaska coming up as a hot second place in my heart. I *want* Jinkx to win this, but I'd be cool with Alaska winning it. However, all that being said, Jonathan, I think you really nailed it for me as to why I think Jinkx deserves the crown, over-all, more than Alaska does. Let's face it, when Alaska has brought it, she has BROUGHT it, so no one's saying she hasn't worked hard when it's counted. But I don't see her doing that as *often* as Jinkx has.
Posted by: Lisa | 04/19/2013 at 08:43 AM
Great recap as always! Reading your recaps is like an important part of the show each week now - watch the show, watch Untucked, read your recap, wash, rinse, repeat.
Reading the recap and thinking over everything (and looking at the outfits) made me realise that I didn't really enjoy this week's episode that much. I have only watched it once (and that in a jumbled order) and I haven't gone back and watched it again because I just wasn't that into it. There was (obviously) a lot of nastiness going on which I didn't enjoy, the Sugar Babies thing was pointless - I know it was more of a throw-in to make things difficult for our queens but I wish it could've been a better throw-in.
And my other problem is, as other commenters have kind of said, the outfits just aren't that great either. When I watched the show I felt sure that Alaska deserved to win but looking at the pics I'm kind of wondering if my feelings about Roxxxy's behaviour were clouding things a bit? Looking again, I'm not sure whether Roxxxy's outfits weren't (slightly) better just because Alaska's were a tad... boring. And I say that as a Jinkx/Alaska fan. I do think Alaska's looks were more 'real' but is real what we want from sexy, sexy drag queens? Roxxxy's looks are more interesting than Alaska's. I am thankful Roxxxy didn't win though, she'd be unbearable next week and it'd make it harder for them not to crown her.
I kind of wish the episode had either made more of a thing out of Sugar Babies and dropped the Executive Realness/Sweet 16 looks OR dropped Sugar Babies and required more creativity/craftsmanship out of the three looks.
When it comes to the winner, I agree that it would be pretttty surprising if Roxxxy were to be crowned given the edit she's received. I'm a big fan of both Jinkx and Alaska so I'm going to be happy as long as one of them win. I do think if Alaska were to win it would be kind of coming from behind (teehee) though. Alaska may have won the most recent challenge (and never lip-synced) but she has still had more 'low's than Jinkx and fewer 'high's than Roxxxy.
Posted by: fearofphotography | 04/19/2013 at 09:08 AM
...Plus, she's the previous winner's significant other, which I've always thought might hurt her chance to win in the long run. I know Alaska is her own person, but there's been chatter about that since she was cast.
Posted by: Lisa | 04/19/2013 at 11:09 AM
Yeah totally. It leaves her in an awkward situation because if she wins some people will say it's because of Sharon and if she doesn't, some people will say it's because of Sharon...
Posted by: fearofphotography | 04/19/2013 at 01:29 PM
Full disclosure: I've never been a fan of Roxxxy. As a pageant queen, she can definitely turn it when needed. What's more, I've noticed that she's definitely upped her ante as the season has progressed.
That said, I feel that the only thing she's got is Nerve. The ultra-cattiness that happened in this week's episode was awkward to watch. Though I'm glad that she realized how awful she was to Jinkx, her apology isn't enough for me to root for her.
Sadly for Jinkx, she pretty much bombed this week's challenge. Should she have listened to Mama Ru's advice about the dated feeling of her Super Duper Sweet 16 outfit? Yes. There was probably a way or two she could've updated the outfit (starting with ditching the hippie wig). OTOH, she's really talented and has enough Charisma to make her a true contender for the crown.
At the same time, I find myself rooting for Alaska. She's won me over, so I'm glad that she made it to Top 3.
Detox started really strong (she SERVED IT during that photoshoot in Episode 1) and then just sort of stagnated. IIRC, she did get a few comments toward the latter part of the season about the expectations Mama Ru and co. had for her.
I'll be cool with anyone OTHER than Roxxxy winning the crown.
Posted by: Luce | 04/21/2013 at 12:07 AM
Loved your recap as always.Honestly I have to admit that I enjoyed it a lot more than the episode lol. I mean I'm rooting for Jinkx but I've always liked Roxxxy.
Even if I didn't I don't find it fun to watch behavior like that by a person or to a person and I thought the way they edited the episode almost made it seem like WE were supposed to laugh at Jinkx. It was in bad taste and definitely not ALL Roxxxy's fault(although some of the things she said came of way harsher than what I think she intended so I think her apology was appropriate and I appreciated it.
What bothered me as well is that it seemed like BOTH Jinkx and Roxxxy suffered from some sort of "regression" if you will. We had already seen the "Jinkx is an underdog" story line play out: the rest of the queens underestimated and doubted her but she stuck to her guns while learning to refine and polish her look to impress the judges and she triumphed,the queens recognized her as a threat and so on; Roxxxy was taking her insecurities out on Jinkx BUT she apologized for it right after, and by episode 9 clearly recognized Jinkx's talent and voiced those thoughts on the runway and seemed to be on an uphill climb competition wise then suddenly it's like they both went right back to square one and now we need to see it play out all over again and it's just tiring and it made me frustrated with both of them.
Basically the only person the editing was really in favor this episode is Alaska.The problem is even though she's done well and deserves it just as much as the other girls I really doubt Ru'll give her the win so I'm still rooting for Jinkx and I hope she'll really kill it in the finale 3 episode so that I can forget this one.
Posted by: Noa | 04/21/2013 at 11:54 AM
I still think Jinkx, she is just all around the more entertaining performer. The show format is less flattering to many of Jinkx's talents, who can sing, dance, and present an utterly unique individual. Alaska has wit and style, but Jinkx has depth, character, and is the more inimitable queen. Also, having viewed her youtube videos, I would a thousand times rather be watching a Jinkx performance in a theater than one given by Alaska. Can she even hold a show all to her own?
Posted by: Austin | 04/21/2013 at 07:13 PM
All T, all shade: I'm hesitant to trust Roxxxy's "deep apology moment."
Right after the episode ended, she retweeted one follower who called Jinkx, "Janky Monsoon" and another who said that the whole competition had been unfairly biased in Jinkx's favor.
Then, about 2 hours later, when there was tons of static on Twitter with people calling Roxxxy out, she erased both those retweets, and wrote the apology. If she really did feel ashamed watching the episode, why was her immediate reaction online to encourage name calling and unfair accusations? I guess time will tell.
In terms of how Jinkx did this episode, I think it's one of those ones that reminds me how quickly this happened for them, although it's taken months for us. Jinkx came to the show with a deeply entrenched character, and all of her costumes are wardrobe for that "one role." She wouldn't have had time to go shopping, and she wouldn't have the depth of wardrobe that a non-character (whether pageant or funny) queen would have.
Nowadays, Jinkx definitely has wardrobe that doesn't precisely radiate the same character, but that's because of post-show shopping.
Posted by: Lora | 04/21/2013 at 09:27 PM
Lora, good points - I think I read somewhere that Jinkx also had to borrow some things from friends because she just didn't have the money to buy some of the things she'd need for the competition. So that explains why some of her looks have been a bit more polished post-show; she's been getting bookings non-stop, so she's probably been able to do a bit more shopping with the extra money coming in. Plus, hopefully she'll have a healthy $100K check to go shopping with soon! ;-)
Posted by: lisa | 04/22/2013 at 08:46 AM
Hmm, so let me get it straight, you are Team Jinkx from the beginning but in one episode, because she did poorly in the Sugar Ball challenge, you are now Team Alaska? That's all it took for you? Granted this was a very very important challenge, but to me, Jinkx's overall positives and previous performance far far far outweighs the negatives. I also give her slack because it is a fashion challenge which was not her thing and something that can be easily improved upon. That being said, Alaska is wonderful and I would be happy for her if she won. Alaska's final speech was fantastic and it suited her. Something other than what Jinkx said would probably come off disingenuinous. I have major respect that she stayed true to herself no matter what the competition wanted even if she loses because of that.
Anyways, Just found your blog. I really enjoy your writing style. The GIF's are wonderful. Looking forward to your season six recaps :)
Posted by: _WahWahWah | 05/03/2013 at 01:07 PM
^^^ oops, totally misspelled disingenuous.
Posted by: _WahWahWah | 05/03/2013 at 01:21 PM