RECAP: Drag Race France Season 4, Episode 2 (Talent Show)
Two episodes into “Drag Race France” Season 4, we have a problem: I love all of these queens, and I hate watching any of them get eliminated. Truly, it’s such a lovely group of contestants, with such unique perspectives on drag, and they all have such relatable backstories. It’s hitting me in the feels, in the best way possible. But it is genuinely sad watching them be told to sashay away, when you know they all have so much more to give.
Episode 2 gave us the now de rigeuer Talent Show, but with a campy twist. It was a wild ride featuring some inventive talents that left me astonished and amused (and at least one left me turned on). Read on for my take – SPOILERS AHEAD – but please know I am very much an American swine, and I only took one semester of French in college. Quelle dommage!
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I’ll go over each queen’s performance in the camp-oriented talent show, as well as their Intergalactic runway presentations. Before I do, let’s discuss the Golden Baguette twist for this season, in which the eliminated queen each episode bestows upon one queen a golden baguette, which can save them from the Bottom 2 should they fail the next challenge. The dearly departed Creatine Price left it for her E1 lipsync rival, Margarette. I think this is a unique take on the Golden Beaver/Chippy Tea mechanic introduced in other international “Drag Race” seasons, and I’ll be curious to see how it impacts the competition going forward.
Azemylia: For her talent, dancer Azemylia took the classic “Drag Race” line of “Swiffering the floor with her taint” to new, literal heights, as she wore an outfit festooned with cleaning cloths and then proceeded to use her body to wipe down a powder-covered table, and then roll about the stage - but fiercely. I liked the concept of this more than the execution. I wish she had actually done more cleaning, as that was the gag. But ultimately it was an excuse to show off her flexibility and physicality, and on that end it worked well. For her Intergalactic runway, Azemylia gave us Cunty Darth Vader, much of which left whelmed, although I did love the helmet-styled wig that had a see-through bit over one of her eyes — that was fierce. Azemylia is one of the more competitive queens this season, and one of the few throwing barbs at her competitors in talking heads. You need a bit of bitter in the stew, otherwise the overall flavor can be too sweet. She’s an important ingredient for this season and I’m enjoying her thus far.
Daisy Superbitch: I was surprised that Daisy missed the Top 2 last episode, and she wasn’t going to allow that to happen twice. Daisy devoured that Talent Show with a chair-sitting number that I think will join the pantheon of all-time great “Drag Race” talent show numbers. It was wild, it was funny (the repeated interruptions to correct the speaker on her title), it was inventive, it was impressive, and it was sexy. This bitch was stretching out her punani all over that stage, and she did it masterfully. I adored her Intergalactic runway, seemingly nebula inspired, which went more conceptual and high-fashion than most of her competitors. This was a spectacular episode for Daisy, especially considering she admitted in the work room that she had serious doubts about her place in competition after last episode. Imagine being this talented, beautiful, and sexy and doubting yourself! Daisy! Love yourself! Or call me, I’ll love you plenty.
Fluffy Bidule: I was immediately captivated by Fluffy in Episode 1, and I am even more enamored of her now. She gave us a genuinely clever camp monologue that transitioned into live accordion playing the tune from Amelie. Fluffy is so special. Her runway was a reference to a few different cinematic icons, including Creature from the Black Lagoon (designed by a woman!) and the being from The Shape of Water. I think it was a stretch for this category, but Fluffy executed it well.
Holly White: It’s important to note that Holly injured herself in the potato-sack race mini-challenge, which made her gymnastics-oriented talent number especially precarious. She also had issues with the mat for her tumbling routine. She approached the camp element by taking on the role of a precocious little girl showing off her gymnastics skills, and I do think she did a good job embodying that character. I just found the whole thing awkward and a little embarrassing, even aside from the physical foibles. On the runway, Holly gave us a bedazzled version of Frieza, a bad guy from “Dragonball Z.” Listen, it’s a very good Freiza costume. I’m going to be honest, if I want cosplay, I’ll go to San Diego Comic-Con (where I will be next week; reach out if you’re going!). That was her vision, she executed it, well done. But it’s not for me.
La Harpie: La Harpie did a faux equestrian bit for her talent, which is a clever idea. She just didn’t do enough with it. If there had been a bit more build-up to the jump, or some other element with her “horse,” I think it could have been much more successful. She absolutely wowwed on the runway, with a Dune-inspired runway that featured a prop gag we have seen with several other queens on “Drag Race,” but executed here better than almost all of them. La Harpie obviously has the goods, she just isn’t quite pushing herself fully yet. There’s so much potential there, though.
Lana Cotta: I loved Lana’s talent number, a burlesque with a decidedly masculine edge. This was completely unlike any other burlesque number I’ve ever seen on “Drag Race” — and I’ve seen so many at this point — with a rock vibe that seemed to be paying homage to Elvis Presley as well as emo bands from the 2010s. I thought it was very hot. The E.T. runway as a concept was always going to be a tough sell, and I don’t think Lana came close to pulling it off. This was a mess for me.
Malawitte: I feel terribly for Malawitte. She doubted herself throughout Episode 1, and I hoped when she ended up in the top last episode she would silence that inner saboteur. For her talent show, she did something we have seen before on “Drag Race,” making a dress on stage in basically a minute. Ra’Jah O’Hara notably won over the judges and the fans with this exact talent on “All Stars 6.” Malawitte did a little bit more, adding a brief skit to it, but she lacked the audience interaction, and the finished product simply wasn’t that impressive. I got her Fifth Element reference for her Intergalactic runway, and was glad for something a bit more out-of-the-box, but I don’t think it was among the best looks of the night.
Margarette: After barely surviving Week 1, Margarette came roaring back with a delightful talent in which she gave the judges a lesson on how to speak Ukrainian (she is Ukrainian on her father’s side). This was funny and smart and made great use of Margarette’s timing and physicality. I just loved it. Then, the runway. I think it’s clear that this will be Margarette’s weak spot in the competition, as it has been with so many of our comedy queens (Jinkx Monsoon, Pupi Poisson, Kate Butch, the list goes on). The idea of a bright green alien going the prom — OK. But the body suit didn’t match the facial make-up, there were issues with gaps in the make-up and the accessories…this look was not out of this world.
Sublyme: Sublyme also did a burlesque number, this one a bit more expected than Lana’s. It centered around a giant boa in which she was entangled, being pulled by two assistants. It was successful, it as cute, I don’t think it was ever going to win, especially not with the kind of creativity we saw in several other talents. I liked her Intergalactic runway. It had great volume and drama. But again, I didn’t see a lot of creativity. It reminded me of the table decorations I got at Party City for my graduation party. In 1999. That’s not great.
The Top 3 were named Daisy Superbitch (absolutely), Margarette (for the talent only), and Azemylia (this felt like a stretch to me — certainly Safe, but I don’t know about High), with Daisy taking the win. Absolutely correct answer. The Bottom 3 were Malawitte, Holly White, and La Harpie, the latter spared by Margarette bestowing upon her the Golden Baguette. I think that’s the right call, as La Harpie’s runway was great. But it should be noted: this is her second B3 appearance in two weeks. Not a great start for La Harpie.
Malawitte and Holly White lipsynched to “Champagne” by Suzane. I thought they both did well, but I would have given the edge to Malawitte here. Not the judges, who sadly eliminated the lovely, beautiful, groundbreaking Malawitte. I do think we were already seeing Malawitte struggling with the pressure of this competition, so it may have been a blessing in disguise. But I am so sad to see her go, and more than anything, I hope Malawitte knows without question that she is amazing and she CAN do drag as a career, if she chooses to. I really mean that.
What do YOU think of “Drag Race France” Season 4? Which queens are you rooting for? Drop your comments below!
