RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 episode 9: Reading and squirming
Brook Lynn Heights squeezes out the other Drag Race competition. (Netflix)
The Drag Race L.A.D.P. have shut down the party. Let’s have a kiki.
Drag Race Season 11 Episode 9: L.A.D.P., the verdict
How much Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent was episode nine packing?
Overall: C.U.n.
L.A.D.P.—the Los Angeles Drag Patrol—ticked all the boxes.
Hilarious mini-challenge. ✓
Inoffensive (and sometimes pretty amusing) main challenge. ✓
A fun runway serving style, storyline and silhouettes.✓
A solid lip sync, with a semi-surprising elimination (Shuga Cain survives again.) ✓
But—am I crazy?—doesn’t it still feel a bit… filler? This episode might’ve topped the bar for Season 11, but I’m not sure it would have climbed over even a quarter of the episodes from Season 10.
Runway: C.U.N.
Category is: Facekini fantasy
We all know this wasn’t based off Ru’s runway, but instead paying homage to the most iconic fashion moment of the decade:
Drag Race royalty Asia O’Hara inspires generations with her mermaid Facekini. (Netflix)
Most smashed it. Hats off—or on—to Shuga, A’Keria Davenport, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Nina West and Yvie Oddly.
But Silky Nutmeg Ganache was a mess. Truly, a full-frontal assault on the senses. Nina should have been top instead—just like last week—but I think Michelle Visage really wanted to show that she’d spotted (/been told) Silky wasn’t wearing make-up. And they wanted to scare her a bit.
Challenge: C.U.n.
Listen, comedy-acting > acting, for sure.
It’s just that most other challenges > comedy-acting.
A’Keria Chanel Davenport wows the Drag Race panel with some plastique surgery. (Netflix)
Still, it was mostly silly and fun—which is all I ever ask Drag Race to be. Also going off site was a wee treat, we haven’t done that in years!
The breakout star of L.A.D.P. was Ms. RuPaul Andre Charles herself.
What privilege it’s been to watch our hostess really let loose this season, taking every single god damn opportunity to shine.
Her improv on the phone desk should be included in next year’s mandatory LGBT-inclusive education.
ok @rupaul‘s cat dialect is a national treasure #DragRace pic.twitter.com/2vIRaelP8X
— World of Wonder (@WorldOfWonder) April 26, 2019
Drag Race season 11 episode 9: Because reading is what?
Yay, the library is open!
And it was fab.They were all genuinely funny—especially Ru (to Silky: “Take your time it’s only a 90 minute show”).
None of them had the bite of previous seasons (e.g. “Roxxxy Andrews, I think about you all the time. Especially in the morning, by the bus stop”). But they all came through with a solid set of puns.
Even Miss Vanjie—who didn’t say anything that went within a 100-mile radius of a joke—slayed. Her energy sparks SUCH joy in my heart, we need to protect her at all costs, OK?
And then came Silky, who took the police theme really and ran with it—indulging in a not-unusual bout of lazy stereotyping.
“…then Mercedes walked up and I said, ‘This season’s gonna blow up!’” -Silky
Gurl… pic.twitter.com/C1HFlMYERT— grant (@urdadssidepiece) March 4, 2019
It was a bit like hanging out in public with that one ‘un-PC’ relative.
No, granddad, it’s Inuit—not Eskimo.
No, you absolutely CAN NOT imply that person is a terrorist.
WHY ARE YOU SUDDENLY SCREAMING AT THAT WOMAN TELLING HER SHE’S JAPANESE WHEN SHE’S TOLD YOU A HUNDRED TIMES SHE’S FROM VIETNAM?
*Squirms uncomfortably*
Silky during the reading challenge #rupauldragrace #dragrace pic.twitter.com/Ijtrh371ns
— Shawn Timmons (@KingWithNoLand) April 26, 2019
Oh, also, who here got Nina’s joke? Because I thought it was legit funny. Am I alone?
But the funniest lines came from clapbacks:
Vanjie on Silky: “Edit that out, we don’t need that!”
Silky on Shuga: “Speaking of expiration dates, ain’t yours coming soon?”
And Brooke Lynn:
“Plastique Tiara, I’m looking for a room, how much are you charging for the vacant space between your ears?”
“Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Ru, isn’t she precious?…No, really, isn’t that Precious?”
So Brooke is funny? And in the challenge too?!
So what was that Snatch Game about? Could it be down to the fact that Celine Dion was her back-up? Willam—on her podcast Race Chaser—suggested that Brooke was actually about to play Caitlyn Jenner, but was warned off by producers the day before the challenge.
Drag Race season 11 episode 8: Quotable Queens
Brooke Lynn Hytes
“I’m a level four vegan. I don’t eat anything that casts a shadow.”
I’m not angry that she got praise for a quote ripped directly from The Simpsons, because it worked. And she was funny.
I am a bit pissed, however, that she paired up Vanjie with Plastique—hadn’t we just agreed to protect her?
But Brooke is killing the season. It took a while, but I’ve been fully won round.
Nina West
“I call her Paula and I keep her hidden.”
This was the line of the night. Iconic and powerful. I’m humbled. I really hope she pips A’Keria to make it to that final four.
Nina West serves face on Drag Race. (Netflix)
Miss Vanjie
“You know I’m just happy to be here. I can’t help being a 10.”
LOVE.
Yvie Oddly
“She knows that if she put two good actresses together she wouldn’t have a chance.”
Weird flex from Yvie seeing how A’Keria proved her acting chops in Good God Girl Get Out.
And I’m a bit worried about our supposed star of Season 11, she’s getting a wee bit lost—though I’m sure she’ll bounce back in time to make the top four.
Silky Nutmeg Ganache
“Honey you been working all day, I’m going to give you a nice bit of fried chicken.”
Problematic as hell? Maybe. But she sure is quick.
A’Keria Chanel Davenport
“That’s the best part of it, having fun.”
She did well this week. But while A’Keria often exceeds expectations, she never really hits that outstanding grade.
Shuga Cain sweetens the runway. (Netflix)
Shuga Cain
“It could be anyone’s game, really.”
We stan an optimist.
