RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars, Episode 9: "Sex and the Kitty Girl"
This season of All-Stars has been really good and I'm sad to see it end. Sure I'm bummed to see Manila gone, but I appreciate that all of the remaining queens are in it to win it and they aren't worried about how the way they are playing the game might look and that is super refreshing actually. Heading into the finale, it's really anyone's game and it feels like a lot is riding on this final challenge, more than it has in any of the other penultimate challenges.
This is probably the most entertaining regroup post elimination of the entire season. Trinity is clearly pretty shaken up. She's trying to play it off and joke, but she knows that all bets are off. Trinity believed that everyone was on the same page when it came to eliminations, but Manila's elimination makes it clear that they are not. Trinity and Monét now have the same number of challenge wins so Trinity knows that if she ends up in the bottom two, she could very easily get the chop. Now, I appreciate a good gag as much as the next person. And I don't have to agree with someone's decision or respect their gameplay to acknowledge that it was their decision. I kind of wish that Naomi and Monét, who also chose Manila, would have owned their decision a little more. Naomi comes really close by saying in her confessional that she sent Manila home because she wanted to and because Manila was fierce competition. But then she tacks on she did it because Latrice saved her last week and she felt she owed it to her to save her. That part feels disingenuous and it feels even more so later in the episode.
Monét doesn't even really acknowledge Manila's status a front runner. She seems super hung up on the fact that Manila was going to send her home over Latrice and claims that Manila played a "shady game." I don't really agree with that. Manila was up front with her from the jump, so maybe this just goes to show that Monét really is a petty bitch from Brooklyn.
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| Almost done |
It's time for Ru to deliver the girls penultimate challenge. They will be acting in a scene called "Sex and the Kitty Girl 3." It's a mash up of a "Sex and the City" sequel that was never to be and a documentary showing the backstage drama. Ru gives Naomi the distinction of assigning the roles since she was the winner of the Lip Sync For Your Legacy. Naomi immediately takes the part of SJP, which is the biggest part. I can appreciate Naomi taking the largest role in an effort to prove herself, but from the jump, I'm not sure it was the best choice. Sometimes it's good to know your limitations and take a smaller role that you can make memorable. The drama comes from Monét and Trinity who both want the role of Kim. Neither one of them back down and a rock/paper/scissors battle determines the victor.
This is another great example of the gloves really being off. Most times, someone would back down or the person assigning the roles would make an executive decision, but Naomi is smart when she let's Trinity and Monét battle it out and come to a decision on their own. Monét ends up with the Kristin part, Latrice is Cynthia and Monique is KJo. It kind of surprises me that Monique and Trinity aren't familiar with "Sex and the City" since that was their era, but Monique's explanation of her mom not wanting her to see boobs on HBO is both super endearing and feels legit.
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| I'd watch this sequel |
When it comes time to shoot the scene with director Ross Matthews, you're not really sure who is going to get the chop. You definitely have a little bit of an idea of who did well and who maybe did not so well, but the editing is slick to keep you on your toes. Naomi clearly struggles. She receives a lot of direction from Ross, but she doesn't seem to be taking it to heart. Monique seems to do really well. She's really funny right off the bat and wisely doesn't use any of the weird facial tics and affectations she was toying with when they were rehearsing. Everyone else has highs and lows. Monét seems to be struggling a little bit with Kristin's prissiness. Trinity can't seem to nail Kim's deep sultry voice and Latrice sort of fades into the background as she has in past challenges. Some of her reaction shots to the other queens fucking up are pretty funny though.
In the Werk Room, everyone of course thinks they did great. Monét seems to be sipping that Valentina Delusion Tea when she says she was making herself laugh. Well, girl, at least you were making someone laugh. There's also a little drama, methinks manufactured, when the queens talk about the decision to chop tonight. Naomi certainly believes that track record should come into play now. Sure girl.
The runway theme is Kitty Cat couture and the top 5, well four of them bring some really great looks to the runway.
Now, I'm not thrilled with another caucasian queen joining the Drag Race Hall of Fame, but can I be that upset when Trinity is bringing looks like this to the runway? You could ding her for this being simple, I mean, it's basically a Catwoman catsuit that is airbrushed for filth, but it's so perfect. It's on point and Trinity sells the fuck out of it.
Monét's Pink Panther inspired look is really great in theory but the execution is somewhat lacking. Before anyone reads me, I know the Pink Panther has round ears, but it's not just that that makes the look read not cat. If Monét had made the nose black like in her Instagram pics of this look or made the snout more cat like, the look would have worked a lot better. I also am not a huge fan of the hair. I think it would have been better minus the bangs and just a long ponytail.
I'm not sure what the fuck this is. I mean, from the neck up, Latrice looks great. Her make up is flawless and I love that hair. The neck down though? No. I don't get how Latrice can look at the other queens and think that an airbrushed dress that looks like it came from a carnival with a weird fabric cape is acceptable. It's not great and I'm surprised that the judges don't come down harder on her for it.
The judges and a lot of others really loved this look, but I'm not super into it. It's Naomi's modern, fashion take on a cat lady. It's fine, but it didn't make me lose my mind. It reminds me a lot of Valentina's deconstructed drag look from the curves and swerves challenge. A nice idea, but not my favorite.
Monique's look is by far my favorite. Her Puss In Boots realness gave me everything I needed. I love the big dramatic hat. Her make up is impeccable and she reads the most cat out of everyone who walked the runway. I love the whiskers and I really want to know if she consulted Nina Bo'nina Brown about this look.
The judges critiques are what you'd expect. After watching the final product, Monique and Trinity are pretty clearly the top 2. Monique is laugh out loud funny. From the moment she steps on screen, you can't take your eyes off her. She changes the whole energy of the scene. Slow clap for Monique Heart. She came back after a relatively short turn around and has really done well. Trinity is also praised for her take on Kim. Trinity is always funny and her more subdued take really wins over the judges.
As for the bottoms, Naomi is probably the worst in the acting challenge. The judges ding her for making SJP unlikable, but for me Carrie was never the most likable in SatC. That wasn't really the issue. The issue was that the whole time it was me watching Naomi. There was no transformation. Naomi basically played her self. It's tough. No one really flat out bombs. Latrice has some great moments in the scene. I'd probably say more than Monét, but her shoddy runway is a joke. Monique and Trinity earn top honors and the remainder of the queens comprise the bottom three.
The deliberations are really great and Trinity gives us some great comebacks and one liners when she's talking to the queens up for eliminations. None of them are on par with Katya's "Party" from All-Stars 2, but they're good. It's great to watch Monét and Naomi throw Latrice under the bus, especially when none of those things mattered last week when they were making their deliberations.
Trinity and Monique lip sync to Janet's "When I Think Of You." It's not really the Janet song I would have chosen to lip sync. It's a great song, but it's not a song you really give a show stopping performance to. Trinity and Monique are pretty evenly matched, but in the end Trinity pulls it out and she stays true to her desire to compete against the best and gives Latrice the chop... again.
We have a top four. I'm going to break it down with how I think the final four queens will finish.
4. Naomi
3. Monét
2. Monique
1. Trinity
I'd love to hear who you are rooting for. I'm Team Monique for life. I love her. I think she was robbed in season 10 and it's been so great seeing her excel in All-Stars 4. I just think that Trinity will win. It makes me sad, but if Trinity wins, you can't say the bitch doesn't deserve it. Let me know what team you're on in the comments.
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