With the absence of Jasmine Masters, shade diminished by at least 50%, but there was plenty of other drama to keep our tongues wagging long into the night after this episode took me for a loop. If the choice was #PunnyorDie, we might have to choose death now that we have an episode, earlier than we expected, where we disagree with the decisions that Queen Ru laid down.
Samir: So, I must say I was disappointed in the lack of a mini-challenge, but that disappointment dissipated as soon as I discovered that it was a music video maxi-challenge, meaning dream man Lucian Piane was bound to be back, and cuter than ever. I also felt that the episode as a whole was more manipulative than the show usually is. I was constantly surprised by how things turned out based on how they were presented. I know that there is always an obvious kernel of the final result planted throughout, but things looked disastrous for nearly everyone from the get-go.
Margaux: I thought Ginger Minj and Kennedy Davenport’s team had a clear cut idea from the jump, even if their ‘Drag U’ line almost sunk their ship. I was worried for Max’s team and my worry wasn’t misplaced for Trixie’s team, they’re lucky they snagged Katya because if Miss Fame outshone them out all in that challenge, that’s not going to speak highly of Pearl or Trixie’s performance skills. I guess it doesn’t really matter in the end though, since they ended up in the bottom two anyway and like it looked they would for the outcome of their #PunnyorDie video.
Samir: OMG, When we heard that line and Ru reacted that way, I was actually scared for the Minj for a moment. And then when we heard the whole track in the video, I cringed because they repeat it like 5 times! But Kennedy and her were actually good singers, to my surprise since Ginger is a self-admitted chain-smoker.
Margaux: The line itself wasn’t funny to repeat five times but their concept was clever enough and executed kind of perfectly so, it’s forgivable. I’m just surprised the line made it into the recording to begin with, it sort of slowed down the funny pacing of the song. Anyway, the challenge of making a parody video can be elusive as setting out to make a viral video so, I was expecting MacBitch level disasters. Which, they weren’t.
Samir: Macbitch, I just love saying that word. The whole challenge, to make parodies of RuPaul songs, was genius because it gave them all the chance to send up Ru and the queens from previous season finales and their final music video challenges… and sell RuPaul’s music. Damn this was a LOT, the bar really is raised high this season.
I actually felt Miss Fame did much better in this episode. She did struggle with that high note, but she was less stiff this time around and actually got laughs! I guess compared to 1 laugh total in episodes previous, more than one in a single episode is a vast improvement. Katya is my goddess, and she was completely hilarious with her South Beach leatherface tan queen bit. Team Trixie’s idea was actually a lot more entertaining than I imagined it would be, because they were struggling mightily all the way home! Through choreography to lyrics, to team cohesion. It was all so flailing in the wind, it felt.
Margaux: It made me wish Miss Fame and Katya teamed up and did their own thing because the “I Wanna Tan With You” video turned out to be funnier concept on the screen than on the page only because Fame and Katya were so committed to their characters. Fame ‘blowing’ one of the Pit Crew guys and Katya’s Tan Mom four Long Island’s deep, yelling about needing some baby oil, bitch – were the laugh out loud moments for me. I kept wishing Pearl would stop blending into the background because I wanted to know how drag Paris Hilton does ‘the beach’.
Samir: With an entourage of sycophants whose purses are filled with Vicodin and vodka shots.
That is so true re: Katya and Fame, that I was really shocked when Ross Matthews said that there were no knee-slapping LOL moments, because I actually got quite a few, and so did Ru judging from the sound editing.
Margaux: I could see where he was coming from with that critique; it was Trixie’s team, so to speak, as Jessica Alba put it, “don’t let anyone else be funnier than you”. She calls herself a ‘comedy queen’ but I must agree with my spirit animal Michelle Visage, the camp is there but the funny has risen all the way to the top yet.
Samir: She was a great guest judge! I never thought much of her, but she was on point with her critiques and seemed to get where everyone was coming from, so she wasn’t just shady for laughs, but sincere and charming. RuPaul even said Trixie’s audition video was one of the funniest things she’d ever seen, but that Trixie hasn’t brought that personality out yet. I will say that is mostly true, but we did see her rock the Glamazonian Airways challenge too, she definitely outshone her team there. She was admittedly more full of character in the preview videos than on this season so far. She was still a step above dead, which is where Pearl has been residing since the start.
Margaux: As far as the Lip-Sync for Your Life between Trixie and Pearl, I must I was shocked by the outcome, I thought Trixie’s lip-sync was really entertaining and really fit her character of being animated and funny but, she can dance a little too. Who knew.
Samir: And with neither Jaidynn nor Katya winning the challenge, but Kennedy, who was great but not anywhere on the level of the other two, I was already reeling a bit. Then Pearl starting showing some signs of a heartbeat and began flailing her arms about like a drag Jim Carrey in her amazing snake outfit.
Margaux: It was an odd judging night but no will argue that Pearl’s snake outfit was fuckin’ awesome. But drag Jim Carrey, hahahahahahaha, accurate.
Samir: I loved Pearl’s take on the green theme, a runway challenge seemingly designed by Ru to specifically irritate Michelle. But she dressed in green too, so it was all good. In her LSFYL…remember that moment in Pulp Fiction where Uma Thurman gets an adrenaline shot to the heart and then jerks awake and flies all over the room- that’s the other memory Pearl brought me back to. She did show a sense of humor with the “wake-up” glass of water bit at the beginning of the episode, but not enough to make me feel okay about her winning over Trixie.
Margaux: I thought that was cute but still didn’t solve the problem. I do sympathize with Pearl feelings of being ‘picked on’; maybe this is all she’s all got which, made her comment about Trixie deserving to be there more all the more bittersweet.
Samir: I can’t hate on Pearl totally, obvi, but I am still sad, because as you said Trixie’s LSFYL was perfection and I really wanted to see more of her. Although, my psychic/amateur sleuth spidey senses are tingling because I remember one of the interview clips from the supertrailer of Trixie calling Ginger Minj a beanbag chair or something, which we haven’t seen on the show yet-WILL TRIXIE BE THE QUEEN THE JUDGES “SURPRISE” BRING BACK LATER IN THE SEASON???
Margaux: Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Samir. You also predicted early on that Trixie wouldn’t last so, there’s that.
Samir: I did, but I didn’t think it would be before they tired of her clown makeup.
Margaux: Maybe the newest episode of Untucked has some more clues.
Samir & Margaux: 4 stars; the off judging resulting in Trixie’s departure and a head scratcher of a win for Kennedy Davenport.
UNTUCKED: EPISODE 4
Samir: The documentary feel of the new Untucked hits a high this week. I’m wondering how “untucked” they truly are back here, but it does have a realistic tone, following Pearl’s emotional journey to her LSFYL.
Margaux: I knew Pearl already felt like giving up but geez, after watching Untucked, I’m surprised she even showed up to the LSFYL.
And oooooh boy, THE SHADE OF IT ALL.
Samir: Is that Latrice I hear? The “safe” queens were letting the shade fly about Pearl before the bottoms come join them, and then this episode also became about their journey to accepting her. We really saw everyone come to her aid here. The mothering, loving moment we’ve been missing in the show proper really played out here, charmingly over a smoke break outside.
Margaux: With the exception of of Kennedy, “she don’t need everybody out there, changing her Pampers”. I live for these epic moments of shadeeeeeee. I can’t believe Kandy Ho just sat there while everyone talked about how she was more likely to LSFYL than Trixie and kind of Kanye shrugged at it all.
Samir: I like that the sea change on this show has been in the direction of the contestants being honest and straightforward with each other, instead of playing mind games. When Jaidynn says she was upset with Violet and she will bring it up to her, she actually does. When the queens read each other, they’re being sincere, but you really sense a sisterhood among them. But we’ve a long way to go yet, who knows how intense things will get when they’re down to the wire.
Margaux: It was sad watch Trixie pack her 100 bags and go, especially since there was clearly A METRIC FUCK TON we didn’t see. Girl, how much does it cost to check all them bags?!
Samir: More than a lace-front wig I’d imagine, I guess we’ll just have to seek her out in real life and see her perform!. The emotions of this Untucked were deeper than I expected, so this may be a turning point going forward, to more DRAMA!!! We saw what the “safe” queens were talking about in regards to Trixie though. As she read the notes left by Max and Pearl etc, we saw more of her quick wit and charm and character than we saw in the music video this week where she just kept wandering off. We leave the backstage waiting area this week feeling more sympathy and respect for Pearl, and for me utter heartbreak that Trixie left early as we predicted. I actually shed a little tear when Trixie sashayed away.
Samir & Margaux: We’re not going to blow our five star load just yet, we love the direction and cinematic intention of Untucked – 4 ½ stars.
Also, don’t miss out on our Shady Ladies podcast that you can catch below:
About Author
