RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 episode 10: When you play the game of drag…
North or West? (Netflix / HBO)
The witches of Drag Race returned for a spellbinding performance. Who was enchanting, and who just made you want to disappear?
Drag Race Season 11 Episode 10: Dragracadabra, the verdict
How much Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent was episode ten packing?
Overall: C.U.
The fat has at last (and somewhat unfairly) been trimmed, so now it’s time for the real game to begin.
Challenge: C.U.n.
This Drag Race challenge may be more of a weird magical flex than J.K. Rowling’s latest batch of pinkwashing, but it gets some points for uniqueness, and even more for the tenuous justification.
“I love drag because of the magical aspects” —OK, Ru, sure.
Unfortunately, it also loses points for de-sexing the entire act of Black Magic.
“Too explicit?”
Is this not the show where—literally minutes earlier—the host was demanding to know whether the contestants were fingering each other?
Choices.
Runway: C.u.
Category is: Kaftan Realness.
“In my defence I Googled kaftan…” —same, tbh, A’keria. But I still wanted more.
Brooke Lynn Hytes was hot again, Yvie Oddly sold a story again, Nina West was cute again, Silky Nutmeg Ganache was fine again, Asia’s lepidopterophobia was triggered again.
Shuga Cain offered the only surprise, but her cheap tricks weren’t enough to save her from Ru’s hitlist.
Drag Race season 11 episode 10: Shuga Cain, our fallen cyst-er
Shuga Cain is bested by Vanjie. (Netflix)
Shuga shouldn’t have been bottom two.
Silky’s costume was unforgivable (those hip pads, I can’t), her delivery was awkward and lacking character and story. She resisted the wise attempts to structure the magical madness, and… she’s safe?
She’s even commended her for showing personality, despite that being Vanjie’s main criticism. Hocus focus, panel!
But once she’d been placed in the bottom, she had to go. As sweet as she is, Shuga was the last weak link in a season full of weak links.
She looked pained during the lip sync, clearly no match for the most iconic queen of the lot giving it 100.
It was a bit of an odd choice to leave Shuga with a Shakespeare quote, but I guess if Ru felt that she wasn’t getting an original personality, she didn’t deserve an original farewell.
Nothing will come of nothing, I guess.
When you play the game of drag
The filler queens have finally been extracted—it only took 10 weeks—and only the principle cast remain.
Who will be left sitting on the pink throne after the final (lip sync) battle?
Icons. (Twitter)
When you play the game of drag, you win or you die… of embarrassment and come immediately back for All Stars.
But in the meantime, will cross-contaminating clairvoyant cultures offer a glimpse at the conqueror?
Probably not, but let’s try it anyway.
Yvie Oddly = Tyrion Lannister
“I think you’re a f***ing terrible sister! Cause I am not here to f***ing hide around corners and be like ‘Hey girl.'” – Tyrion to Cersei after she tries to have him murdered.
Physical struggles don’t stop Yvie thinking (often correctly) she’s the smartest person in the room.
You get the sense Yvie’s been following a carefully constructed game plan, but lately she’s been a bit careless.
Yvie may be able to talk her way of trouble, but our gal needs a big win to avoid getting burnt.
Correct. (Netflix)
Nina West = Jon ‘Warden of the North’ Snow
“I’m about to do a serious re-appearing act in this competition” – Jon after getting stabbed to death by the Night’s Watch.
The blossoming fan favourite nobody took seriously at first. She has proven her worth through dedication, a kind spirit and thicc assets.
Her relationship with Dany is straining as she decides to take the place in history for herself.
Brooke Lynn Hytes = Daenerys Targaryen
“I not only survived the first elimination, I thrived in the first elimination.” – Dany, watching her brother die.
Brooke’s rise to the top has often seemed inevitable, and she’s certain to provide some of the strongest competition going forward.
Should she triumph, we would at least be guaranteed a fierce, fashion-forward queen who can slay in style (and a killer blonde wig) irrespective of the weather.
Dany finding out Jon is her nephew. (Netflix)
There is still a question mark around how satisfying it would be for fans to see her on top of the throne—but in the meantime she can always ride Drogon.
Miss Vanjie = Drogon
*Indecipherable.*
She was a creature of legend before the show even aired.
She vomits a barrage of noise and fire at anything and everything.
The others were initially awestruck at her power, but every time she’s really needed to deliver she’s been a bit of a disappointment.
Unlikely to win, but underestimate her at your peril. She’s still a mothertucking dragon, and therefore bound to take out a couple more key players before her time comes.
And just like her zombie sibling, when she does get knocked out, you know it won’t be for long (#AllStars5).
What do we say to the God of Death? #GameOfThrones #DragRace pic.twitter.com/ntDIXHs1PZ
— RuPaul’s Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) April 29, 2019
Silky Nutmeg Ganache = Cersei Lannister
“Ho you must go, ho you must go, ho you must go” —Cersei, seconds before using the wildfire.
She’s the most controversial queen in line for the royal assent, struggling to take criticism and often lashing out defensively.
But she is an undeniable talent, and there’s no doubt the show would be a lot poorer without her.
She may have been sleeping on the action this week, but I have a feeling she’s about to be tested like never before. Will likely meet her demise in a fight to the death with Tyrion.
Silky and Cersei taking a quick five before they fight their big battles. (Netflix)
A’keria Chanel Davenport = Sansa Stark
“Girl, I can’t even fart.” – Sansa complaining about Ramsay Bolton’s strict rules.
The fans (including me) underestimated her, thinking she was just a pageant queen, but she’s clearly made of much stronger mettle. While unlikely to actually snatch the crown, she’s nevertheless proven she can play with the best of them.
Shuga Cain = Dolorous Edd
“?”
RIP the inoffensively archetypal portrait of a drag queen/brother of the Night’s Watch.
The most surprising element of her death was that she’d made it this far.
