RECAP: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’ Series 8, Episode 1
So, I’ll level with you: I entered into the premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” Season 8 with no small amount of trepidation. I thought last years Series 7 was one of the most lifeless, forgettable seasons not only of the UK franchise — which has had its ups and downs — but among the entire “Drag Race” franchise. Had the franchise lost its magic? Have we spilled all the tea worth spilling in the UK drag scene?
I’m happy to report that the premiere episode of “Drag Race UK” Series 8 had more personality and memorable moments than pretty much the entirety of its preceding season. That may sound like hyperbole, but I genuinely mean it. I won’t tell you the premiere was perfect, and there are a few inclusions on the cast who whose star power I find lacking (so far). But on the whole it was miles (kilometers?) ahead of where we were last season, and for that I am truly grateful. I love the UK and I love this franchise, and I only want to see it succeed.
Let’s dig into the premiere episode of UK8. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Want to watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK”? You should be! You can catch stream it now at Wow Presents Plus.
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Check out the first act of Series 8 Episode 1 on the World of Wonder YouTube:
I’ll go over my thoughts on each of the 12 queens, in alphabetical order, covering their entrance looks/first impressions, their Working Man’s Club talent acts, and their signature drag looks on the runway.
Alik: Alik is the life partner of UK1’s Scaredy Kat (that’s a blast from the past!), and I’ll be honest, that’s about all I can recall from Alik immediately after watching this episode. I did think the winged runway look had visual impact, but as a character I didn’t really get much from Alik. I honestly don’t even remember what their talent was. I also question that drag name, which you’ll hear me say about several of these queens.
Anita Piss: One of the things that excites me about this cast is the age diversity — half of them are over the age of 35. That would be positively ancient by U.S. “Drag Race” standards, but the UK knows the value of a seasoned queen, given how successful La Voix, Ginger Johnson, and Divina DiCampo (to name a few) have been on this show. Anita is one of our older queens this season (37), and I enjoyed what she was giving us. The fashion isn’t pushing any boundaries, but she’s polished and put together. I thought her talent show, a performance piece about a stroll through Britain, was a hoot and quite smart. She got screwed by certain queens deliberately fucking with the rankings, and you could see how hurt she was by being seemingly rejected for her art. I don’t think Anita did a thing wrong, and I’m excited to see more from her.
Coral-Hole Mandi: I am sure that this Irish lass’s name has some kind of significance or pun that my Yankee ass is not appreciating, but on the face of it — terrible name. Like, I wince whenever it is said on screen. But what’s in a name? Because Mandi as a queen is a treat. I love her energy, her insane marine biology-inspired aesthetic, her wit. All of it! Just not the name. Mandi takes the “more is more” approach to her drag, and yet I still found her looks strangely chic — I loved that final runway with the custom sea creature breastplate. Her Irish jig-adjacent talent charmed me completely. And I live for her deadpan delivery of literally everything. Weird! Iconoclastic! Charming! Three things I love in a drag queen.
The Delta Quadrant: Speaking of weird and one-of-a-kind, I was instantly hooked by The Delta Quadrant. Coming from the same kooky drag family as Sally TM last season, The Delta Quadrant is inspired by the big-business women of 1980s New York — think Working Girl, Big Business, etc. That is SO relevant to my interests. Let the river run, Delta Quadrant! Her talent was a perfect encapsulation of her comedy and business schtick, and she carried that into her signature runway. When RuPaul asked, “Are we going to get tired of this very niche character?” and Delta responded, “Yes,” before turning heel and walking backstage, this instantly became a Delta Quadrant Stan Account. I have no idea how she’ll perform in the “Drag Race” format, but I can’t wait to watch.
Flesh: Flesh is, appropriately, the drag sister of Series 7 winner Bones (as well as the sis of Series 3 winner Krystle Versace and Series 5 standout DeDelicious). I know we aren’t supposed to compare queens to other queens, but it is impossible to not compare Flesh to Bones. And in this episode, I found myself much more engaged by Flesh than I ever was by Bones, who was fierce and a solid competitor, but minimal in the personality department. Flesh is, appropriately, warmer than Bones, and thus far seems more composed and willing to engage in the action as opposed to merely exist alongside it. All of the looks were great this episode — you expect that from the Haus of Heavenly Bodies — and I thought the fox hunt burlesque number was executed well, but I agreed with some of the other queens in that it was all quite expected. We have seen SO many burlesque numbers on “Drag Race” at this point, you can’t just give us a paint-by-numbers approach and call it a day. I thought Flesh’s signature runway was spectacular, and that custom print featuring her favorite things was brilliant and LUX. Her being in the Bottom 6 was more a function of six other queens doing better in the talent show, not Flesh doing poorly in anything.
KY Kelly: Kelly is another of our established queens (42), and she is exactly the kind of broad I love in a drag queen. Kelly is such a great representation of British drag. That was stated numerous times this episode, but I think it’s true. She’s talented, she’s gorgeous, she’s polished, and she suffers absolutely no fools, and thank god for that. I was here for everything Kelly gave this episode, her looks, her live singing in the talent show, and especially her slapping right back at Paris Baby, who being a fetus who grew up in an age where you can talk shit about people online and suffer absolutely no consequences, does not understand that those of us in Gen X/Elder Millennials do not fight our battles in the comments section. We’ll get right in your face and tell you where you can stick it. Kelly, I am right there with you, babes.
Lucky Roy Singh: I love that we finally have an Indian queen on “Drag Race UK.” I love that Lucky is fully bringing her culture into her character, into the challenges, and onto the runway. I am sure she is a major force on the Manchester scene. But this was a brutal episode for this queen. Her energy in the work room and in confessionals is…unique…and she had the worst talent by a mile. I think part of the problem — a big part — was that she was speaking her track live as it was playing, creating a weird distortion or something that made it virtually impossible to understand what was being said. Beyond that, there wasn’t much content to the actual performance. This would get polite applause as a mid-act number at a pub on a Thursday night, but it was not at the level needed for “Drag Race UK.” Her traditional wedding dress runway was sumptuous to look at, but Lucky could not walk in it, and the accessories she held in her hands felt unwieldy. I came out of Episode 1 the most concerned about Lucky and her chances on this show.
Ma_Danni_X: As I write this, on this very day, I turn the same age Ma_Danni_X was when she filmed this season — 48. I love to see not only a fellow Gen X-er getting a shot on the global stage, but also someone with long career performing alongside some of the all-time greats of British drag, like Lily Savage. I am excited to see what Danni can do. That said, it was not a great first episode for her. I appreciated her singing live during the talent show — you know she wanted to show the chickens how it is done — and I thought the concept of the act was great. But she was out of breath and struggled with pitch, and it all came across messier than I think she intended it to be. Her looks also slightly missed the mark for me. But I am pulling for Ma_Danni_X! I want her to flourish here! Even though that name also gives me hives. I know it’s a play on Madonna (also having a great resurgence at the moment), and it looks like something I would see in an AOL Chat Room. Maybe that was the reason? I wish I liked it more.
Mocha: A white queen from Essex naming herself Mocha is a choice. Let’s say that. But beyond that, I loved everything about this queen. I think she may be our runway queen of the season. That signature piece on the mainstage was fucking stunning, and unlike anything else we’ve seen in 537 seasons of “Drag Race.” And she made it herself! I loved her Essex-inspired bitch track. She’s got comedy, she’s got fashion, she can perform — I have high hopes for this girl, and I thought she should have been Top 2 with KY Kelly tonight. I did not appreciate her fucking with people’s chances via Rate-a-Queen. When you’re that good, you don’t need to pull the pag, gal. Hopefully that was a momentary lapse in judgment.
Naya Thorn: I dismissed Naya at first. Her entrance gave pretty young queen relying on that body. Her talent showed us how smart and subversive Naya actually is. A funny and inventive “lesson” on UK accents, it was packed with personality and charm. Surprising and delightful. I personally was not a huge fan of Naya’s signature runway (the nude fabric with the stones over it did not look elevated to me, I’m sorry), and her barely there make-up left me confused about what she was going for. I’m intrigued by Naya, and I always love it when a queen can subvert my expectations in just one episode.
Paris Baby: Paris is our self-identified villain this season. She is leaning into this, even wearing a sweatshirt that says she’s the villain. I understand that antagonists are needed for shows like this to work. I get what she’s going for. I respect the game. My issue is, Paris Baby isn’t just a villain on the show — she is super messy online and proudly brands herself as a troll. I’m going to be real honest with you, folks: In the world we live in, with all the negativity washing over us seemingly every hour of every day, I have no time for it. People like Paris Baby — trolls — subsist on the attention economy. I refuse to participate in that. So going forward, I will not be commenting on this queen or her antics on or off the show. Except to say this: for someone who likes to shoot down other people, I would expect her to be a stronger competitor than what she showed us this episode.
Tequila Thirst: Tequila is a bundle of energy, and I found her refreshing. She’s British-born Vietnamese — again, love the representation this episode — and I thought she had a great first episode. She’s effervescent, in both her attitude and her fashion. Her equestrian number was a hoot and a half, and that song really is quite catchy. I have high hopes for Tequila, who has wormed her way into my heart!
In the end, KY Kelly and Naya Thorn lipsynced to RAYE’s “Where The Hell Is My Husband?” KY punched Naya in the face — TWICE! — by accident, and won the lipsync. But let’s be honest, I don’t think either of these queens are particularly strong lipsync performers, and certainly not in those restrictive dresses, with this high-energy track. Not a great fit. But I do agree that Kelly should have won the episode, and I am rooting for her overall.
NEXT: The dreaded design challenge, and our first breakdown of the season courtesy of Tequila Thirst.
What do YOU think of “Drag Race UK” Series 8? Which queens are you rooting for? Drop your comments below!
