RuPaul's Drag Race: RuCo's Empire

March 21, 2016 7:12 PM - Season 8, Episode 3

Our queens take on the Supreme Court for the mini-challenge, then split into teams for an Empire-themed acting challenge. The runway portion features the added difficulty of staying upright on roller skates. And... a familiar face rejoins the competition!
posted by duffell (17 comments total)

I loved Bob the Drag Queen and Thorgy Thor SO, SO MUCH this episode. It was pretty obvious they'd both be at the top. I would totally be up for Bob & Thorgy in the finale.

I was really getting tired of Robbie going into this episode's lipsync. Firstly, she had not demonstrated enough talent to be nearly that shady about Naysha's return. Secondly, her litany of excuses for her poor performance tonight reminded me of Lincoln Chafee more than anything. But then we had that epic roller skating lipsync, and I was like, okay, you can stick around.

I'm getting a lot more humor and depth from Naomi Smalls than I'd expected. Her SCOTUS bit in the mini-challenge was fucking hilarious.

Derrick Barry? Nah. Naw. Nooooope. Needs to be gone.

Acid Betty was fine. Whatever.
posted by duffell at 7:14 PM on March 21, 2016

FUCK

YES
posted by en forme de poire at 8:33 PM on March 21, 2016

god damn this season is so much better than last season, the putting of Robbie in the B2 on a roller runway was such an obvious plant and yet IDGAF because it was so worth it. (Sorry Cynthia, I will miss your Yara x Tammie-Brown kookiness)
posted by en forme de poire at 8:46 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]

Was Bob's roller skating outfit borrowed from Kandy Ho in her Robotika routine?
posted by bcwinters at 10:19 PM on March 21, 2016

I am wondering if a lot of the Robbie Turner editing this episode was to set him up for that epic lipsync? He's a competitive skater, so why wouldn't you want him to do spins right on the runway? "Heels or wheels?" Like they wouldn't have a roller-skating LSFYL!!

I'm getting a bit tired of Kim Chi, to be honest. He's a lovely guy, a total nerd, adorable, etc. But he's being propped up for some reason (probably because of his big social media following), and it really shows. Terrible at performances that are edited to show just what an adorable dorky guy he is, but all he is is look, I think.

Derrick Barry is too famous to be cut now, which is a shame. He's a total nonentity. I'm assuming his first LSFYL (meant to shake him up) will be to Britney's "Toxic" or something to give him a solid fourth-place finish.

Bob and Thorgy and Betty can do no wrong, in my eyes. Betty is a total nightmare to be around, it seems, but brings the goods when it's needed. I think Thorgy is my favorite, just because he seems to be having the time of his life. Bob is amazing, but I think he's pretty much convinced he's the winner and is acting like it. It's very Bianca.
posted by xingcat at 8:02 AM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]

Loved it. I think the win was well deserved, but a close race between Bob and Thorgy. My current top tier is both of them plus Naomi, just for the pretty.

The next-to-sashay clump pretty clearly includes Derrick, Robbie, and likely Naysha. And that gives me a middle of Chi Chi, Kim Chi, and Betty, who I like in that order. Betty is trying too hard to be meaner Bianca, and it's just tiresome already, along with that mohawk.

Tammie Brown x Yara = Cynthia is my new favorite math.
posted by donnagirl at 8:08 AM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm really enjoying Bob and Thorgy, and I think Betty is terrific in the "heel" role (with a possible redemption arc). I agree with Michelle that she needs to start bringing some looks that are a little less Aunty Entity, though. Also, for some reason, her cheekbone contours are still pissing me off.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:17 AM on March 22, 2016

Man, there's been so much talk about the "level of competition" and how everyone's "bringing it" this season, but apart from Thorgy and Bob... there was really not much to say about the acting challenge. Kim and Robbie were awkward and Cynthia was wackadoo but I don't really remember anyone else. Well, Betty had that horrible wig, but yikes.
posted by psoas at 9:57 AM on March 22, 2016

I kind of feel that Bob was just too good in that challenge for anyone else to hold a candle to - Thorgy was good but Bob more or less set the damn thing on fire. Bob`s runway outfit was nothing, and it didn't even matter because of the strength of her acting.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 11:36 AM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]

I really truly felt like Cynthia not only won that lipsync, but EASILY won that lipsync. The bar I was at heartily disagreed. Robbie's roller skating was great, but her actual lipsyncing was pretty darn awful.

Bob MURDERED that challenge, though. Thorgy was nearly as good.
posted by zug at 2:39 PM on March 22, 2016

Robbie's roller skating was great, but her actual lipsyncing was pretty darn awful.

Oh man, really? I thought Robbie actually gave better face and more range. Cynthia was kinda one-note the whole time. I mean, it was a great note, don't get me wrong, but still.
posted by en forme de poire at 2:59 PM on March 22, 2016

Cynthia was wearing Nike shorts, how are you going to hide your cucu behind a bush like that.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 3:44 PM on March 22, 2016

Yeah, it seems to be a minority opinion, but I was genuinely shocked when they sent Cynthia home instead of Robbie.
posted by zug at 9:20 PM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]

Color me underwhelmed by Naysha's return—what, so now we can watch you make your SECOND-ever garment in the next sewing challenge?

Everything else I'm loving, though. Cynthia is a sweetheart (my vote for Miss Congeniality) but I'm okay seeing her go. I'm crossing my fingers to see more from Robbie in the future.

Agreed wholeheartedly that Thorgy and Bob can do no wrong.

I love her dorkiness and she seems sweet, but I can't stop thinking about whoever says that Kim Chi is like wind chimes: she's beautiful with just a little bit of movement.
posted by Zephyrial at 6:12 AM on March 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

Watching Untucked last night, I was struck with how out of place Derrick is in the group. I suppose in a lot of ways she doesn't move in the drag world and therefore doesn't share their references/behaviors/ways of interacting. Watching her try to talk (really talk, not throw shade) with Betty about Betty's dismissal of Trixie was really interesting. She's trying to connect as a person, not a personality or a persona, and it went kinda nowhere. I'm starting to wonder if you don't see much of that on Drag Race outside of the friendships they've established prior to being cast.

I still don't think she's long for the show, but it did make me appreciate her more.
posted by donnagirl at 7:20 AM on March 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

Rollerdrag without a Starlight Express tie-in? BOO

Also: never read YouTube comments, but people really don't like Acid Betty's attitude in Untucked.
posted by roger ackroyd at 3:59 PM on March 23, 2016

So I just spent the past few days in A Gay-Friendly California Desert Resort Community™ with some people who know Robbie Turner personally, and... they're totally mystified by what they see onscreen. Kind of curious if his first impression is just the shock and nerves of adjusting to the competition.

(Also, we went to see Morgan McMichaels last night, and that there is a performer.)
posted by psoas at 1:58 PM on March 28, 2016 [1 favorite]