RECAP: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, Episode 4
Man, I am loving Season 18. These girls are firing on all cylinders and giving us classic “Drag Race” vibes without feeling forced. While what happened on the runway is undoubtedly the headline from this episode, we should also point out: almost all 12 remaining queens did well in what I consider to be a fairly challenging design challenge. That’s pretty impressive. Add to that an absolutely hilarious Untucked and this week was a much-needed injection of silliness, non-hostile drama, and fabulousness in a dark world.
But first: the girls are fighting. After the E3 lipsync, in which Briar Blush sent home Mandy Mango, despite Mandy pretty clearly outperforming her in the (bad) song, Mia Starr fully got into it with Briar over a variety of issues. First, I would not want to get on Mia’s bad side. Mia has an intensity that I could feel through the screen, and she was irritated that Mandy went home when she objectively beat Briar, and also because Briar can dish it but can’t take it. Other queens jumped in here – notably Athena Dion – pointing out that Briar likes to irritate and antagonize people, but when the attention turns to her, she shuts down. Which Briar did even during that moment.
Check out the first 10 minutes here:
The theme for the whole episode was basically the Briar Blush Dogpile. I always flinch at those types of situations. I don’t think it was deliberate on the behalf of the rest of this cast. I don’t think they sensed Briar’s low moment and collectively decided to pounce. But that is basically what happened (or at least, what was shown to us). And I think that contributed a lot to what ultimately happened by the end of the episode.
SPOILERS, SWEETIE!
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The challenge for this week was for the queens to pair up with their besties in the competition, and then have “Who Wore It Better?” battles over their designs that remixed two iconic red-carpet fashion moments. For the people who complain that this show’s production is hopelessly stuck in the 1970s to the 1990s, I would point that I think only two of the 12 looks came from pre-2000. Most of them were from the Met Gala in the past 10 to 15 years.
Here’s how the pairs and red-carpet moments shook out:
Juicy Love Dion and Briar Blush got Lil Nas X’s hot pink suit from the 2000s Grammys and Rihanna’s massive yellow train from the 2015 Met Gala (I question how “iconic” that last one is – gorgeous, sure, but super memorable?).
Jane Don’t and Discord Addams had Cher’s 1986 Oscars look and Sarah Paulson’s Ocean’s 8 premiere outfit (again – this is iconic?)
Nini Coco and Myki Meeks got Jennifer Lopez’s 2000 Grammy dress and Nicki Minaj’s 2011 Grammy’s look (I don’t even remember this being a big deal at the time)
Ciara Myst and Kenya Pleaser got Lady Gaga’s VMA meat dress and Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ denim outfits from the VMAs (both absolutely iconic)
Vita VonTesse Starr and Mia Starr got Katy Perry’s Met Gala chandelier look and Lil Kim at the 1999 VMAs (both absolutely iconic)
Athena Dion and Darlene Mitchell got Zendaya at the Dune 2 premiere and Kim Kardashian at the 2013 Met Gala (sure, although Kardashian has had way more memorable red-carpet moments)
I agreed with most of the judging here. Juicy was the clear winner in her pair (although I agree with the comment that the yellow fur trim cheapened the look), and Briar had the worst look of the night, even ignoring the hole in the crotch that widened as the episode went on. Nini Coco for sure had the better look in that pair, Myki overaccessorized it and I don’t think it all worked together. Ciara gave us one of the best looks of the night, although I thought Kenya’s look was generally pretty good – it just didn’t necessarily read as the inspo. I thought Athena was the obvious winner of that match-up, but the internet is telling me that many thought Darlene should have won. I thought they both looked good, but Athena’s felt less forced and more believably her.
As for Discord and Jane Don’t, I actually didn’t care for either design. They both executed what they set out to do, and they were generally constructed well. I just didn’t find either look aesthetically pleasing. Jane’s was bulky and fussy, and Discord’s did sit too low on her chest, and I thought the whole bottom of the dress was a flop. Also, I’m just going to say this: I’m getting increasingly bored of boy body on the runway. Several of the girls this season are doing it, but none as egregiously as Discord. There isn’t even an attempt at feminizing the figure. I get that genderfuck is part of Discord’s drag, but I think every week we have gotten a chest piece that doesn’t fit to the body at all, and all I see is boy. I’m not feeling the fantasy. (But I love Discord and how well she is taking the ribbing from the cast and the judges.)
With Vita and Mia, I thought it was neck and neck, or perhaps tit for breastbone. I personally liked the top part of Mia’s look better than Vita’s – it was overly complicated and that was less a keyhole and more a gloryhole that, again, was giving me man – but I thought the bottom part of Mia’s look felt sloppy and unresolved. As a whole, both were strong. If this wasn’t judged 1 v. 1 I think both could have had a place in the top.
That said, the top were Ciara (absolutely), Vita (I guess), and Jane (not for me), and Vita was given the win. Eh. The look she made in E1 was unquestionably better than this look, and this almost felt like a make-good for her not winning that challenge. Jane being in the top over Nini feels plot driven, as Jane is unraveling over the increasing pressure to keep topping herself. But still, I don’t think any of them squabbled this opportunity.
Speaking of, let’s talk Briar. She was in the Bottom along with Kenya and Darlene. Darlene was spared B2, which is correct. Darlene was dinged again for her footwear – second week in a row – and I imagine that’s quite frustrating for her, because like, she can’t just go out and buy or make new shoes. She brought what she brought.
Briar had the moment of the night, and probably the season so far, when she fully fainted after receiving her overwhelmingly negative critiques at panel (guest judge Law Roach was especially brutal). Eyes open, Briar stumbled, leaned on Juicy, and then fell to the ground, unresponsive for a few moments. I’ve seen a lot of discourse as to whether this was a real medical episode, or if she was faking it for attention. Even some of the queens on stage muttered that they thought it was an act.
Personally, I don’t think it was. The fact that her eyes remained open the whole time, including when she was down on the ground – I don’t think a person doing that voluntarily could physically will their eyes to remain open as they fell. Secondly, Briar went into that runway already in an emotional state. I think the Bottom 2 last week really threw her, then getting dunked on by several queens (Mia, Athena, I think I’m missing others) throughout the episode left her in a low place. I don’t think Briar is used to that kind of relentless criticism, and I think it took its toll on her. After hearing virtually no positive comments during critiques – aside from her face, which is truly gorgeous – I think she got overwhelmed and her body just went into shutdown mode.
Briar was removed by medical to get checked out, but ultimately was given a clean bill of health. She and Kenya had to lipsync to the Kylie Minogue banger, “Lights. Camera. Action.” and this one conclusively went to Kenya. That being said, I am concerned about Kenya and any future appearances she may have in the B2. What I saw in that lipsync – which she fully knew was coming – were the same tricks we have seen many, many times, delivered sloppily. I love Kenya as a character, but I am becoming increasingly concerned that she lacks the polish and finesse to keep up with this group. Likable as hell, though!
Kenya was named the winner, and Briar was eliminated. That is surprising, given how prominent Briar’s role has been in the first 25% of this competition. Say what you will about Briar, but she is certainly memorable. She came in wanting to stir the pot and she was exceptionally good at that. I also think she’s a gorgeous queen with a strong aesthetic (just maybe not in garment design), and she is a good performer. Like her or not, she was great casting. One of our most engaging early-season antagonists in a while, and I personally would love to see Briar come back for an All Stars season.
As for the remaining queens: I am enjoying literally all of them. Everyone is showing up. Everyone is in the mix. And they are all cutting up and giving us good TV, with great energy. If you are not watching Untucked, I highly recommend it with this group. They’re just so funny and delightful, even when they’re getting into it with one another. Spectacular group of queens this season, well done, casting.
NEXT: Two-part talent show, Rate-a-Queen returns, and the queens are getting strategic, henny.
What do you think of Season 18 so far? Which queens are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments.
