Rupaul's Drag Race: Season 5, Episode 6
Well, things are certainly going in an interesting direction, aren't they? Has the show ever set up an underdog like Jinkx? There's been a deafening roar of support for her since the Snatch Game, and with this week's singing challenge (and next week's comedy one), I'm betting she's going to keep shining. And she's finally gaining some confidence against the Rolaskatox alliance just as that trio is starting to crumble. How great was it when she shouted "Jinkx!" right after they shouted "Rolaskatox"? Even Ru told her she needed to steal the spotlight.
And I love that she's finally snatching some attention for herself, speaking up more often and stealing the show during the singing challenge. (That girl's got lungs!) I think it'll be reeeeally interesting to see how she develops over the season, and whether she has a shot at the crown. (I sure hope so!)
I love all three queens of Rolaskatox, but I don't like cliques on the show, period. I'm glad that even the judges feel the same way, though I'm skeptical of what might actually change in coming episodes. This week, it seemed like the main problem with their performance was that they were just having too much fun together.
Still, I thought Roxxxy brought a fun energy to the recording session ("Where my people at?") and she was a beaming neon beauty on the runway.
How crazy was Detox's plastic surgery confessional? The only way I could process that was to think of her body as some sort of sculpture that she's shaping however she desires. Which is fair, right? What do you think? (Leave your comments below!)
It's nearly a sure thing that she'll make it to the final three, but I was surprised to hear some of the harsh criticism she got this week. The fact that Michelle is already getting tired of Detox's distinctive lip synching style is a bad sign--it reminds me of the diminishing returns of Manila's slapstick style, which wowed the judges the first few times, but fell flat during All Stars.
Regardless, I hope we see plenty more of Detox... and her assets.
I really liked some other runway looks this week--I had genuinely hoped to draw both Alyssa and Ivy, but I just couldn't find the time. Hopefully next week, though. I think we've got an extremely strong group of queens, and yet I keep falling back to drawing my favorites each time!
I'm interested to see how Coco fares from here. With Jade gone, it seems like the only friend Coco has left is... Alyssa? Still, Coco is such a fierce performer, I have a hard time imagining any other queen sending her home. So my guess? An Alyssa vs. Coco lip synch--coming soon!
Finally: Alaska. I was disappointed to hear the judges complaints about her--before the season even began, I was worrying that Alaska's one weak point would be her lack of vulnerability. And although I think we've seen some really great moments with her in the workroom, I can understand how the judges have a narrower view of her--they mostly just see her runway looks, which are probably where she's weakest. But week to week, I love seeing how she approaches each challenge, and I especially loved her over-the-top vocal stylings during the recording session. Oh, and that girl knows how to paint a face.
All this week's art is already available for sale in my Print Shop, so go check 'em out! And tune in next week for Ru's Roast!