RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race: HERstory Of The World
September 9, 2016 1:34 PM - Season 2, Episode 3 - Subscribe
The queens get assigned a plethora of famous queens (and queen-like folks) to impersonate this season's lipsync extravaganza. Runway theme is "the future of drag."
Could this be our first "controversial" elimination?!
Could this be our first "controversial" elimination?!
I literally gay gasped when Detox came onto the runway. I know some people thought it looked messy, but it was giving me life, as the kids say. That Lady Di assignment for Katya was shady - the whole challenge is a "steal the spotlight" thing and you can't exactly get wacky with a person who died tragically only two decades ago.
Also if anyone was wondering, the other characters were to be Coco: Cleopatra Tati: Joan of Arc Adore: Frida Kahlo.
The Frida Kahlo song is apparently terrible and mostly just repeats "Uni-Brow, Uni-Brow, Uni-Brow" over and over.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 2:14 PM on September 9, 2016
Also if anyone was wondering, the other characters were to be Coco: Cleopatra Tati: Joan of Arc Adore: Frida Kahlo.
The Frida Kahlo song is apparently terrible and mostly just repeats "Uni-Brow, Uni-Brow, Uni-Brow" over and over.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 2:14 PM on September 9, 2016
There was no way for Katya to succeed. She got criticized for not having a big train on the dress. But if she had, she wouldn't have been able to dance, and it would have gotten in the others queens' way. If she went more camp with her look, it would have been disrespectful. Diana didn't belong in that group either. She wasn't even the most iconic woman in the royal family during her lifetime.
I am happy about Alyssa's win. Though I would have liked a bit more from her look, to go further with the big hair 70s country thing. I thought Alaska should have been top 2. Her VMA Britney Spears was neat and worked well since the singer kind of sounded like Spears.
Also, I liked PhiPhi in season 2. I liked Sharon more, but I want queens who keep the show competitive. It can be boring when the winner is obvious from the start (Raja in season 3, Bob in 8). Chad Micheals and Latrice were older, so from a narrative view, it was good that Sharon had a rival her own age with a totally different aesthetic. It made for entertaining TV. Unfortunate that PhiPhi was targeted for assassination because of it.
The problem PhiPhi is that she isn't very funny, so she can't charm her way out of a bitch edit Raven in season 2 or Willam in 4.
Adore as Frida Kahlo would have been great.
posted by riruro at 4:10 PM on September 9, 2016
I am happy about Alyssa's win. Though I would have liked a bit more from her look, to go further with the big hair 70s country thing. I thought Alaska should have been top 2. Her VMA Britney Spears was neat and worked well since the singer kind of sounded like Spears.
Also, I liked PhiPhi in season 2. I liked Sharon more, but I want queens who keep the show competitive. It can be boring when the winner is obvious from the start (Raja in season 3, Bob in 8). Chad Micheals and Latrice were older, so from a narrative view, it was good that Sharon had a rival her own age with a totally different aesthetic. It made for entertaining TV. Unfortunate that PhiPhi was targeted for assassination because of it.
The problem PhiPhi is that she isn't very funny, so she can't charm her way out of a bitch edit Raven in season 2 or Willam in 4.
Adore as Frida Kahlo would have been great.
posted by riruro at 4:10 PM on September 9, 2016
The group performance: altogether amazing. No major missteps, and a few truly incredible moments. Alaska's Eve, Phi Phi's Helen of Troy, Alyssa's Annie Oakley, and Roxxxy's Eva Peron were all phenomenal.
Detox was hands-down my least favorite performance of the night. Were the judges chugging cough syrup backstage? (I concede Detox, along with Katya, had one of the hardest musical numbers to work with, but still.) I just don't get it, even with that incredible runway outfit. Some arm-waving and that weird little jaw-flapping move that she relies on whenever she doesn't know what else to do. Ugh.
And I'm similarly baffled at the exclusion of Phi Phi from the top two. Her performance was incredible and impassioned, AND her runway outfit was, for lack of greater eloquence, fucking COOL. (I have no Phi Phi baggage, as I never saw her season.)
Also, can I just say that Alaska's runway outfit was the future of clowning, not the future of drag? Sorry, Alaska. Love you.
Ginger, we will miss you. You are talented and hilarious! But I'm still glad it wasn't Katya! KATYA FOREVER.
soups, when I read your comment about the planned assignments for the eliminated queens, I got SUPER bummed that we didn't get to see Adore's Frida Kahlo... until I read about the unibrow song. No thanks. :-)
posted by duffell at 4:24 PM on September 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Detox was hands-down my least favorite performance of the night. Were the judges chugging cough syrup backstage? (I concede Detox, along with Katya, had one of the hardest musical numbers to work with, but still.) I just don't get it, even with that incredible runway outfit. Some arm-waving and that weird little jaw-flapping move that she relies on whenever she doesn't know what else to do. Ugh.
And I'm similarly baffled at the exclusion of Phi Phi from the top two. Her performance was incredible and impassioned, AND her runway outfit was, for lack of greater eloquence, fucking COOL. (I have no Phi Phi baggage, as I never saw her season.)
Also, can I just say that Alaska's runway outfit was the future of clowning, not the future of drag? Sorry, Alaska. Love you.
Ginger, we will miss you. You are talented and hilarious! But I'm still glad it wasn't Katya! KATYA FOREVER.
soups, when I read your comment about the planned assignments for the eliminated queens, I got SUPER bummed that we didn't get to see Adore's Frida Kahlo... until I read about the unibrow song. No thanks. :-)
posted by duffell at 4:24 PM on September 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
duffel, PhiPhi's season is pretty iconic, it's well worth watching if you can ferret it out online somewhere.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 5:56 PM on September 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 5:56 PM on September 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
I would buy a metal album with the queens in tonight's runway looks on it.
posted by Hypatia at 6:24 PM on September 9, 2016
posted by Hypatia at 6:24 PM on September 9, 2016
Alaska's runway outfit was the future of clowning, not the future of drag
I'm not normally one who cares much about makeup skills (unless it's really obviously daring like Kim Chi's looks or Jinkx's calavera, it usually doesn't register to me) but I couldn't take my eyes off Alaska's face - it was transfixing! (As soon as Chad Sell puts up his drawing of it, that is mine mine mine.)
Phi Phi has had some stunning looks, but the performance just isn't there. I'm calling it now: the next to go is either Phi or Roxxxy.
posted by psoas at 7:19 AM on September 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm not normally one who cares much about makeup skills (unless it's really obviously daring like Kim Chi's looks or Jinkx's calavera, it usually doesn't register to me) but I couldn't take my eyes off Alaska's face - it was transfixing! (As soon as Chad Sell puts up his drawing of it, that is mine mine mine.)
Phi Phi has had some stunning looks, but the performance just isn't there. I'm calling it now: the next to go is either Phi or Roxxxy.
posted by psoas at 7:19 AM on September 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Princess Diana is such a weird choice. It doesn't fit with the other women at all, and I don't think there is any way she could have been more of a character without being disrespectful. As Ru herself said, she's the only one who was alive in our lifetimes. Katya would have been a great Joan of Arc.
posted by apricot at 2:26 PM on September 10, 2016
posted by apricot at 2:26 PM on September 10, 2016
Princess Di basically meant Katya couldn't possibly succeed. I think this was producer shadiness to either 1. eliminate a fan favorite early, causing drama or 2. force one of the girls to go beyond the judges' critiques, causing drama. Ginger didn't really deserve to go home either (Phi Phi had the worst record so far, and Ginj had consistently outshone her in the challenges), of course.
Really, the challenge wasn't hard enough to really differentiate the queens: they all lip sync for a living and so nobody really tripped up. Nice to show them succeeding, but not great for setting a curve.
Alyssa was on fire tonight. Some people apparently thought this lip sync was underwhelming; I think those people are tripping. Alyssa slow-building into that slide into the hyperextended high kick was everything. And TAYLOR DAYNE FINALLY.
I also loved Alaska's look, and the scream exchange between Ru and Alaska.
Phi Phi finally delivered a redemption-worthy look tonight, too. Miles beyond what she was doing on her original season. I agree her performances have been weak, though, except for tonight where basically everyone was good.
posted by en forme de poire at 12:24 PM on September 11, 2016
Really, the challenge wasn't hard enough to really differentiate the queens: they all lip sync for a living and so nobody really tripped up. Nice to show them succeeding, but not great for setting a curve.
Alyssa was on fire tonight. Some people apparently thought this lip sync was underwhelming; I think those people are tripping. Alyssa slow-building into that slide into the hyperextended high kick was everything. And TAYLOR DAYNE FINALLY.
I also loved Alaska's look, and the scream exchange between Ru and Alaska.
Phi Phi finally delivered a redemption-worthy look tonight, too. Miles beyond what she was doing on her original season. I agree her performances have been weak, though, except for tonight where basically everyone was good.
posted by en forme de poire at 12:24 PM on September 11, 2016
I get how Alyssa could be exhausting in person for an extended period of time. As her drag daughter Laganga said, "Alyssa starts at 10" but Alyssa remains one of the most hilarious unintentionally funny people to ever grace RPDR and PhiPhi isn't doing herself any favors by coming after someone so well loved by the fanbase.
I'm glad Katya is still on the show, and Ginger won't be missed by me though I do agree she is a talented queen. I look forward to seeing how the other queens handle Alyssa changing up the game. Also, I really want to know what the "Revenge" part of the show will entail.
posted by Julnyes at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2016
I'm glad Katya is still on the show, and Ginger won't be missed by me though I do agree she is a talented queen. I look forward to seeing how the other queens handle Alyssa changing up the game. Also, I really want to know what the "Revenge" part of the show will entail.
posted by Julnyes at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2016
Only one queen, Alaska, actually fulfilled the stated runway theme of "the future of drag". The rest of the cast did "drag in the future", where the future mostly looked like 50s sci fi. On that basis, and the strength of her Eve, I would have given Alaska one of the top spots instead of Detox.
I'm not sorry to see Ginger go, although there are weaker queens on the stage. Sending Katya home would have been tragic.
posted by donnagirl at 5:28 PM on September 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm not sorry to see Ginger go, although there are weaker queens on the stage. Sending Katya home would have been tragic.
posted by donnagirl at 5:28 PM on September 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was kind of surprised that Ginger was in the bottom, and I really am sad to see her go. If you ever get a chance to see her perform live GO GO GO do the thing. She's a fantastic performer, a really classic queen with a phenomenal voice and some deadly comedy chops.
That said, reality TV doesn't really show the best of her. And if Katya had gone I would have been a bit more upset - Katya just makes the show more fun. I love the way her perspective adds to the narrative... oh Hell, I just adore Katya so much *feelings*
Plus, I agree that Princess Di was kind of a set-up; she's iconic, but not only is she someone from living memory but she just wasn't that much of a character - there is nothing flamboyant or campy or, to put it bluntly, FUN about her. There's nothing to exaggerate or caricature.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:46 PM on September 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
That said, reality TV doesn't really show the best of her. And if Katya had gone I would have been a bit more upset - Katya just makes the show more fun. I love the way her perspective adds to the narrative... oh Hell, I just adore Katya so much *feelings*
Plus, I agree that Princess Di was kind of a set-up; she's iconic, but not only is she someone from living memory but she just wasn't that much of a character - there is nothing flamboyant or campy or, to put it bluntly, FUN about her. There's nothing to exaggerate or caricature.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:46 PM on September 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
What the fuck was Katya supposed to do with that dress? The train would have covered the damn stage and just made it impossible for her and anyone else to perform.
posted by Jilder at 7:59 PM on November 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Jilder at 7:59 PM on November 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
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- Alyssa with no makeup in the Annie Oakley wig is EVERYTHING.
- I'm so relieved Katya is safe. So many online are saying Alyssa just knew it would be "social media suicide" to eliminate Katya but I don't think so. Alyssa is one of the realest girls on there. You could tell, I think, she really struggled with it, but wanted to find an excuse to keep Katya (and found one). And good thing. Katya is awesome.
- How lame is the producers giving Katya PRINCESS DI?! #setuptofail
- Phi Phi can complain about the edit all she wants but her shady behavior is too real to be just editing. C'mon now.
I'm sure I'll think of more, but this is just what I had to start with. Thoughts, mefiverse?posted by Zephyrial at 1:37 PM on September 9, 2016