RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Episode 1: "The Royal Queens"
Since it debuted in 2009, "RuPaul's Drag Race" has become a cultural phenomenon and a critical darling. As it's popularity and acclaim has grown, the show has expanded. Where we used to have one season per year and an All-Stars iteration to look forward to every few years, now we have both in a year. It's fair to be on the verge of Drag Race overload, even if you're a super fan like yours truly. Then, Ru decided to take Drag Race overseas. There are already off shoots of Drag Race airing overseas like "Drag Race Thailand" but the UK version is the first that is officially branded and features Mama Ru hosting and judging along with Michelle Visage. And believe me when I say, "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" is enough to make even the most jaded fan remember why they fell in love with the show in the first place.
The UK "You Betta Werk" Room may have the same pink sugar walls and pictures of Mama Ru, but the ten queens that stomp inside couldn't be more different than their American counterparts. These queens are familiar with the show and they each come equipped with their own soundbite. Even if I didn't understand the references or the slang, I was still cracking up. These queens are just what I love. They are DRAG. Even the "fishy" queens are painted for filth.
There is a nice mix of your favorite American Drag Race personalities. There are the "dragtors" or drag actors, Vinegar Strokes and Divina De Campo. Vinegar appeared on the West End with Michelle Visage and there's a very funny bit where the editors fast forward during Divina's recitation of her IMDB page. It's very reminiscent of Willam from season 4, just less snarky.
Baga Chipz and Sum Ting Wong appear to be the straightforward comedy queens. Baga is a ball of energy and seems to live up to her reputation as a "gobshite." I could see how she could become annoying but right now she's an early fave of mine. Sum Ting immediately addresses her name and I am here for a reclamation.
Cheryl Hole seems to be a combo of glam and comedy. She's the most outwardly fishy of the gals. Crystal is London by way of Canada and she's the resident arty weird queen with her pit hair and chest hair on display.
Blu Hydrangea, Gothy Kendoll and Scaredy Kat are the requisite baby queens ranging in age from 23 to 19! Yes, at 19 Scaredy Kat is the youngest queen to prance into the Werk Room. Not only has been doing drag for less than a year, she's never performed live, is dating a bio queen and as we find out later has never seen a drag show! I have a feeling Scaredy is going to be polarizing. There's no doubt her make up skills are on point and I can see her making it to the finals for the drama!
Rounding out the cast is The Vivienne. She won a contest a few years ago and became the Drag Race ambassador in the UK. She's got some things to prove. Her face also makes Detox look like a natural beauty.
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| Oh Brit Crew! |
Ru enters and doesn't waste any time scaring the queens and getting them ready for their first mini challenge photo shoot. It's one of my new favorites. The queens are put in a green screen cone so they can do an "Off with Her Head" shoot. After posing, they stick their head through a green screen to deliver a pithy line. This whole segment is great. I don't think Ru is ready for how filthy and bawdy these UK queens are and it's a treat to watch them interact. Mama Ru seems to be more engaged with them then she has been with the American queens recently. Baga shows off her "tuppence." Scaredy shits her head out. Gothy thinks she's killing it but is just so timid. My favorites are Vinegar Strokes who explains her name to Ru. It's a British term for your O face. And her demonstration of it. The Vivienne is hilarious as she delivers her line ala Michael Caine, Dame Maggie Smith and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, Kim Woodburn. Scaredy wins and it feels like a production ploy to stir up some drama.
Ru gives the girls their first maxi challenge. They have to present an iconic look of Queen Elizabeth on the main stage. And that's not all, they need to give a second look that represents their hometown. It's a great getting to know you design challenge with a UK twist. This is a pretty jam packed premiere so there's not a lot of Werk Room stuff. Everyone is getting along and kai kai'ing. Blu plays with Vinegar's silicone titties. Vinegar mother's Scaredy. Baga and The Vivienne are taking the piss out of each other and the other girls. Before too long, it's time for the first UK runway.
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| Stun. |
I'm kind of obsessed with the Drag Race UK runway. It's a little steam punk and just different enough to not feel like a carbon copy of the American runway. I'm definitely obsessed with Ru's runway look. The past few seasons Ru has been showing out and this neon green mini dress with attached gloves and swept back blonde 'do is giving me everything I need. Ru is joined by Michelle and Alan Carr. Alan is a famous UK comedian and host. He's hilarious. He gels well with Michelle and Ru. I checked out his Wiki page and his wedding was officiated by Adele. The first guest judge is the worst Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield. I really hope that every episode Ru and Michelle go back and forth saying English things with terrible accents. I wonder what the BBC audience thought of that.
First up, the queens show-off their hometown looks. There are a lot of great looks. I loved Crystal's wig made entirely out of pearls. Cheryl's look was great with the patchy spray tan and she looked gorgeous. I was obsessed with Baga's Amy Winehouse. I completely agree with Andrew that it was a very British way to pay homage and I think Amy would have loved it. Divina's hometown look was my favorite. I loved the horns on her tits. It was full camp and I lived.
Next up, the queens hit the runway in their Queen Elizabeth inspired looks. I think the judges picked the correct tops and bottoms. Honorable mentions to Crystal and Divina. I loved their looks and I loved the dichotomy of them. They both brought two completely different looks and it was impressive. Sum Ting, The Vivienne and Baga are the tops. The judges are crazy about Sum Ting's stamp look particularly the "Lick Me" on the back. Baga is praised for her look but Michelle believes that she played her too old. The Vivienne is criticized for wearing flats, but the judges overlook that because of the effortless way she transforms herself from Pete Burns to the Queen hunting. I'm pretty sure that was what clinched her the win. She wins a badge. If you're curious why there are no cash or sponsored prizes, it's because the BBC is publicly funded so it has super strict sponsorship rules. The more you know.
The bottoms are Cheryl, Gothy and Vinegar. Chery is read for her Elizabeth look. It's basic and she commits the cardinal sin of not having a handbag something so iconic even Americans would notice it. Vinegar's hometown look is her downfall. No one got the Thames on the front and it all felt basic. Poor Gothy gets it for both looks. Her hometown look with the tiger face paint is kind of sad especially her little roars at the end of the runway. Alan's analogy about an estate agent getting her face painted at lunch made me cackle.
Vinegar and Gothy end up in the bottom and lip sync to "New Rules" by Dua Lipa. It's kind of low energy to start but Vinegar amps it up. Her wig reveals are great and it's pretty clear that Gothy will be the first queen to sashay away. She's gutted of course, but her mirror message declaring her the UK's Porkchop.
I have to say I thought "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" was a breath of fresh air. It was irreverent and real in a way the American version hasn't been in years. Even Ru and Michelle seemed more engaged. I'm excited about it in a way I haven't been for a while and I can't wait to see what these queens have in store.
What about you all? Did you love it? Prefer it? Or is the American version still number one? What British terms did you have to look up after the premiere? Let me know in the comments.
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