RECAP: Canada’s Drag Race All Stars Episode 1
It’s time to say, “Bonjour Hi” to “Canada’s Drag Race All Stars”! While this is Season 1 for the new franchise, in truth it feels like season three, as this is the third “CDR” season featuring returning queens. I personally enjoyed both seasons of “Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. The World,” and think both winners were worthy inclusions to the crowned court. But with “CDR” now being six seasons in, it’s time for a proper “All Stars” season. If Episode 1 was any indication, I think we’re off to a wildly entertaining season with a spectacular, if somewhat unexpected, group of queens.
Speaking of which, let’s meet the 9 Canuck queens competing for the prize:
Read on for my take on Episode 1 of “Canada’s Drag Race All Stars,” as the competitors took on the Miss Cuntinental Pageant. SPOILERS AHEAD!
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I’ll go through each of the queens in alphabetical order, sharing my thoughts on their performance this episode, and general thoughts about their inclusion here. But before I do, let’s talk about that judging panel.
For “All Stars,” series host Brooke Lynn Hytes is joined by regular judges Priyanka (winner of “Canada’s Drag Race” Season 1) and Jimbo (winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 8). This is absolutely brilliant. As someone said this episode, nobody is a better judge of drag queens than a another drag queen, and nobody can fully understand the challenges of this competition better than a previous contestant. I love this approach with an all-queen panel, and I urge other “Drag Race” series to do the same. (“Down Under” has already started, bringing in previous winners during Season 4 and adding the most recent winner, Lazy Susan, as a permanent judge for the upcoming “Down Under vs. the World.”) If we ever get “Global All Stars” back — and I hope we do — I think having a rotating panel of hosts or winners from across the global franchises is the way to go. It not only reduces implicit bias, it’s also a treat for the viewers to see some of our most successful queens return.
Also a treat: comedy legend Kathy Griffin coming in as a guest judge. Kathy has had a rough 10 years, and I’m glad to see her appearing in more projects again. She was lovely here, and obviously funny as well.
Anyway, onto our Canadian queens!
Aurora Matrix (Season 4)
An obvious inclusion here, the runner-up from her original season, who many viewers thought should have won. I liked Aurora in her original season, and I thought her talent — or talents, really, as she was quite good in multiple skillsets — was obvious. But I also could see the rough edges, and felt she needed a little more time to fully bake. I think she’s ready now. Aurora gave us a flawless episode. Every one of her looks were perfection. She gave us a thrilling, gorgeous talent show with her dragon dance. She seemed fully self possessed and here to play the game. Great episode for Aurora, and she has to be one of the biggest threats in that room.
Jackie Cox (U.S. Season 12)
I was thrilled to see Jackie included here, and it was indeed kind of a gag. I’ve been a Jackie stan since her first episode of Season 12, and I’ve been surprised that she’s yet to be back for American “All Stars.” She had a strong run on quite a competitive season, has a distinctive point of view in her drag, and such a relevant intersectional story. Having her come back to compete in her home country was a bold idea. I wish it worked out better for her. I understood the judges’ critiques about her swimsuit portion — Jackie did look uncomfortable in the moments they focused on her — and her politically referential talent show might have been too cerebral for the audience. But I loved it, and she really does have a terrific voice. And she sung live! On pitch! That’s not easy! I also thought she looked beautiful in her evening wear inspired by a genie. In my opinion, Jackie was the least bad of the Bottom 3, and she got screwed by being an outsider in a cast with some very close social bonds.
Jada Shada Hudson (Season 3)
Jada was also a finalist in her original season, so I was not surprised to see her back. Where Jada has always excelled is in her charisma. I could listen to Jada Shada Hudson talk to me for hours about basically anything. Her favorite underwear brands. What she ate for lunch. Updates on her poltergeist paramours. She’s just so likable. Based on this episode, she also seems to have seriously stepped her aesthetic since Season 3. Her looks this episode were strong, particularly her entrance and evening gown. She may not have been able to walk in that final runway, but she looked damn good. I loved Jada’s ebullience in her cultural dancing talent. I hope we continue to get this level from Jada all season.
Juice Boxx (Season 1)
The ultimate Pork Chop of “Canada’s Drag Race” was the first one back in the work room, and I’m all for it. At this point we’ve had multiple instances of early-out queens coming back and rewriting their stories on “All Stars.” I was all in for Juice Boxx Part 2: Deuce Boxx. I was charmed by Juice in her confessionals (also, I was turned on — Juice is a cutie). I was bemused by her talent of deadlifting a whole-ass man, although I agree with the other queens that she rushed it and didn’t make enough of a show. I don’t think her evening gown was particularly great, and needed much bigger hair, but I applaud her for recycling looks she had brought for her original season. I thought the judges’ guidance to Juice Boxx at panel was dead on, particularly what Brooke said about unclenching and living this experience instead of white-knuckling it. I hope Juice Boxx listens. I would like to see her trajectory be more Irene the Alien on “All Stars 10” and less Gothy Kendoll on “UK Vs. the World 2.”
Makayla Couture (Season 4)
Makayla is another obvious casting here, the runner-up of Season 5. Makayla oozes star quality, and I think she could have/should have won her original season had she not been so unpredictable offstage. I hope she’s gotten those tendencies under control for “All Stars” — watching this episode she felt more secure in her position and her power, to me — because she has literally everything it takes to win this crown. Makayla’s wardrobe this entire show was outstanding, and I liked the concept of her spoken-word talent show, and thought she executed the bit well. It just felt like it was too short. We were just about to take off when the engines spun down. I know they had a time limit, but several other queens maximized their time more than Makaya. But she is certainly one to watch.
Nearah Nuff (Season 4)
Nearah spent much of this episode reminding people that she is THE lipsync assassin of “Canada’s Drag Race,” and you know what? She should. Because she’s correct. I love having Nearah back on my screen. She gives GREAT confessionals (“I heard you ordered a fucking bitch.”) and when she hits that lipsync stage, it’s game over for anyone else. She just moves so fluidly, with so much control — it’s magic. I was so excited for Nearah’s cup-stacking talent, and I was glad she pushed herself to do something unexpected instead of dancing, which we already know she can slay. (Sidebar: thank you to the producers for banning lipsync talent-show numbers, it made the queens get much more creative and give the viewers a more compelling show.) I agreed with the judges that the waitress uniform almost screamed for a connection, and Nearah got visually frustrated by the end of her number. That’s a problem. I thought Nearah looked beautiful in that evening gown runway, but compared to many of the other looks on that stage, it did not stand out. I know in my heart that Nearah can do better than this. A+ performance in the Golden Beaver deliberations, though.
Pythia (Season 2, Global All Stars)
I was lowkey stunned that Pythia came back after “Global All Stars,” especially so soon. But she is unquestionably one of the biggest stars to come out of “CDR,” and a truly unique queen and visual artist. As expected, all of Pythia’s looks this episode were on another level, even the swimsuit that most queens took as kind of a throwaway. Pythia gave us a whole concept and story, and that was carried through in everything else she did. Her balancing act talent was stupid and impressive. Pythia is regarded as one of the biggest threats in the room, and the thing is, she seems to know it. I’m not sure I would have given her the episode win — I think Aurora might have just edged it out for me — but she had a great episode, for sure.
Sami Landri (Season 6)
Such a treat to have the natural, feminine beauty of Sami Landry back on our screens again so soon. Sami charmed both the judges and the audience in Season 6, emerging as an unlikely finalist. She seems ready for business this time, and already the glow up is very real — I loved her evening gown look. Her talent was one of my favorites. She had me at the clogging, then took me higher with the coonskin cap, whooping and hollering, and sad white-boy twerking. It was authentically Sami Landri and I cherished every moment of it. Absolutely the right pick to rep “CDR”’s comeback season.
Tiffany Ann Co. (Season 5)
I am so excited to see Tiffany back for “All Stars.” Yes, she was second out on her season, but I always thought she was obviously talented and held back by a limited wardrobe budget. I listen to her verse in “Go Off Queen” often — it’s just so good. I thought Tiff had a good episode, and I especially loved her talent, which was part dance and part illusion. She did seem nervous in the beginning, but when she let go and focused on the prop, she was wonderful. I could see the improvement in her looks, although I think they still need more refining. I’m rooting for Tiffany to have a great run this season and to prove the haters wrong. Because they are!
In addition to Pythia being named the winning queen of the week (Aurora was second, Sami third), the bottom queens were named as Nearah (agree), Juice Boxx (sadly agree), and Jackie Cox (debatable — but I also don’t think anyone else did at all poorly, so it was kind of bottom by default). The twist of having the Golden Beaver determined by group vote (excepting the Bottom 3) is both brilliant and ruthless, as it brought out the strategy from the jump. Makayla voted to save Juice, who she sees as the weakest competitor, while other queens voted to not save Nearah after she blew up their secret alliance in deliberations. It was all quite saucy.
Ultimately, Juice Boxx was given the Golden Beaver, meaning the Bottom 2 was Nearah vs. Jackie lipsyncing to “Where Is My Husband?” by RAYE. Jackie got screwed here. She had the weakest connections with these queens, so they were less inclined to vote to save her. Some wanted to punish Nearah. Some presumably just wanted to watch the world burn. But putting almost any queen up against Nearah Nuff in a lipsync is like playing Russian Roulette with six loaded chambers. You are going to get blown away.
And that’s what happened in the lipsync. Jackie really did her best, playing to her comedic and theatrical strengths. She knew she couldn’t out-stunt or out-sex Nearah. Very few queens could, from any franchise. But she did her best. So I was heartbroken when Brooke announced that Jackie would be the first elimination this season.
You could see the hurt and disappointment on Jackie’s face. I would have loved for a nonelim episode to kick things off. I want to see more of Jackie. I know Jackie has so much more to show. I hope this whole experience hasn’t soured her in any way on “Drag Race,” because I truly do think she’s wonderful and deserves another chance.
What do YOU think of “Canada’s Drag Race All Stars”? Which queens are you rooting for? Drop your comments below!
