The Queens Parody Some Prestige Dramas, But the Most Drama Is Happening In The Werk Room

RuPaul's Drag Race, Episode 2: "Good God Girl, Get Out"

I feel like I would be remiss if I didn't mention the things that have came out about this season's most controversial contestant, Silky Nutmeg Ganache. Since the show has started, its gone way past her being really loud and overpowering. She's made a joke that reeks of Islamophobia towards Mercedes Iman Diamond, the show's first Muslim contestant. There have been some sexual assault allegations made against her. She hasn't really addressed any of these things, which is not a great look. It's hard to be objective about her, in regards to what I'm seeing on the show, but I'm going to do my best. That being said, let's dive in.

The queens head back to the Werk Room after the first elimination and say good-bye to their "cyster," Soju. It's clear some of the queens doin't think Soju should have shared that, but I'm all for it. Don't let them cyst shame you, girl. Brooke Lynn is feeling her oats after winning the first challenge, but Scarlet is not having it and tries to say that her dress is so great and she should have been in the top. Brooke Lynn wastes no time in pointing out the holes and puckering in the garment. You could seem them from space. They seem to be setting up a rivalry between Brooke Lynn and Scarlet? It's early so it could fizzle out like the hyped rivalry between Miz Cracker and Aquaria last season.

The next day, Ru announces that the mini challenge will be one of his favorites, the celebrity photobomb challenge from last season. So, those are going to be annual now. Cool, cool. After 15 minutes to get into quick drag, the queens begin photobombing. There are so many at this point that it's hard to focus on everyone. There are for sure some stand outs. Brooke Lynn's photo bomb of the Trumps and Marcons. Scarlet as the "wedding girl" or bride with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Silky getting buck ass naked with Tom Brady. You have to hand it to the girls. Ru likes shocking and nudity for Ru is shocking. So, not a huge shock when Silky and Brooke Lynn win the challenge.

Working girls

It's time for the queen's first acting challenge! Silky and Brooke Lynn are team captains. Team Brooke Lynn is Brooke Lynn, Shuga, Nina, Ra'Jah, Plastique, Ariel and Honey. Team Silky is Silky, Vanjie, Mercedes, Kahanna, Scarlet, A'keria and Yvie. The queens will be parodying two films that really brought black culture to the forefront: "Get Out" and "Black Panther." Team Silky will be starring in the "Get Out" parody, "Good God Girl, Get Out." Team Brooke Lynn star in the "Black Panther" parody, "Why It Gotta Be Black, Panther?" I will say that it's a little troubling that the majority white team got the "Black Panther" parody, but I'm willing to see how it plays out.

Mama Ru heads into the werk room to meet with the queens and stir that drama. The look that Ru has when Ariel says that they think Silky is loud and won't work well is a team is one of pure, unbridled joy. When the other queens chime in Ru is living her best life as she stirs the pot and then heads over and promptly tells Silky what the other team said along with some embellishments. I mean, Ru is just filling in the blanks. Silky, being the least self-aware person ever, takes no responsibility and instead rages on these queens dragging her. Sure, girl.

Best directors.

When the queens meet with Ross and Michelle, there really isn't a clear cut winning time and losing team. Team Brooke Lynn goes first. It's pretty clear that Plastique is killing it. Her accent really works well for her nail technician character. Is it stereotypical? Sure. But in these acting challenges, you don't really need to re-invent the wheel. Plastique is a Vietnamese immigrant, as far as I'm concerned if she wants to do that, then she should. And it's hilarious. Shuga seems to do really well, which is kind of a surprise. Brooke Lynn struggles a lot. Her character seems one note very reminiscent of Kameron Michael's "Breastworld" performance from season 10. Ariel is lost. She's like a malfunctioning robot that can only say girl. Ra'jah struggles with her lines as well.

Team Silky has some issues as well. Silky is one. She can't memorize her lines. She can't stay focused. It's clearly wearing on Michelle and Ross. It reminds me a bit of Alyssa Edwards. Like, sure it's funny and entertaining, but after a while, the schtick gets old. It's definitely getting old. Mercedes and Kahanna are spastic messes as the maids. But the "oppalance" moment with Mercedes will go down in Drag Race herstory. As will, Michelle using the word "opulent" to explain to Mercedes what "opulence" means. Girl, find a thesaurus.

Back in the Werk Room, there's drama and bonding, in equal measure. The drama comes from Yvie trying to get out who was talking shit about Silky. Only Ariel steps up and Yvie voices her disappointment in Ariel being the only queen to step up. This leads to a fight with Ra'jah. I kind of appreciated that because I routinely forget Ra'jah is around. I'm of two minds on this. I don't think Yvie needs to be defending Silky. Silky is perfectly capable of speaking up for herself. But, it's not a great look for no one else to speak up when Ariel does. She was not the only one voicing their opinion. Mercedes puts a pin in this drama when she mentions that she was put on the "no flight" list because of her Muslim sounding name and the stress of driving state to state to do pageants caused her to have a stroke. This is the type of thing that I love about Drag Race. There are a lot of white heteros and white gays watching this show and these queens being vocal about the shitty, ridiculous racism they encounter and how it impacts their lives is super important. It changes minds. It puts a face to something that maybe feels nebulous and makes it real. 

The runway theme is "what's your sign" and the queens take to the stage dressed in their best Zodiac couture. The looks are fine. I will say that I think Miss Vanjie could have been in the top. I loved her in the challenge and her Libra look with the flowers and the scales is straight up stunning. She has stepped her pussy all the way up and it's really lovely to see. 

The queens movies premiere and the "Black Panther" is super cringe-y. And not really funny. The "Get Out" parody is much better, but as they've been doing recently, there is no winning and losing team. Four queens from each team are singled out. The top queens are Shuga, Plastique, Yvie and Scarlet. The bottom queens are Brooke Lynn, Ariel, Mercedes and Kahanna.

Team Black Panther So White

Brooke Lynn's Pisces look is stunning. It's fashion and Brooke Lynn is for sure going to be a look queen. Her acting is criticized as it should be especially the "Beyoncé-what" line. Plastique looks gorgeous and it's nice to see that she isn't doing that same silhouette again. She is praised and is one of the standouts. Shuga is read a for her Scorpio look. It doesn't scream Scorpio to me, even with that long tail and her make up is super harsh. That being said her Auntie Maxine was my favorite in the Black Panther parody. Ariel's look is fine from the neck up. The neck down is not great. The proportions are off and it makes her look really wide, which no queen wants. I think Ariel is just out of her element and over her head. She read Soju for not being a "performer," but girl, turning it out on stage is not the same as turning it out on "RuPaul's Drag Race."

Team 5 G's

Scarlet's look is fine. I like her make up but the dress is nothing special. Super simple. I love the bubble gun effect, but wish they matched her dress in some way. Yvie's look is my favorite. It's what I love in a drag queen. Her robot lion look is great. It's a wonderful concept. You know what it is right away. Love. Her acting was great and she and Scarlet are praised for their work together and are co-winners of the challenge. On the other end of the spectrum are Mercedes and Kahanna. Mercedes is a mess. That dry ass, glitter covered pompadour is tragic. The bow and arrow looks like it's going to fall apart. As bad as it is, Kahanna's is even worse. That wig is where kitty cat wigs go to die. It's definitely on it's last life. Her dress is just basic. And the reveal that gets ruined is nothing to write home about it. Their performance in the challenge was so erratic and it definitely could have been a season 3 Twinbots moment had they worked something out together. It's no surprise when they land in the bottom.

The lip sync for your life to Britney's "Work Bitch," an homage to the "dearly departed," Derrick Berry, perhaps, is fine. Mercedes immediately ditches the pompadour for a much better, shorter wig. She's really serving it, while Kahanna just feels desperate with her flipping across the stage, as impressive as that is. In the end, Kahanna sashays away.

I really liked this episode. I feel more connected with the queens than I did before and I'm excited to see more from them. A few are definitely rising to the top, for better or for worse, and a few more are fading into the background. 

I'm curious to see what you all thought? Did you think the Black Panther parody was as awkward as I did? Has your favorite changed? Let me know in the comments.