IMHO "RuPaul's Drag Race" (1.06): Absolut Drag Ball

Spoilers below

I think having Shannel chantay away last night was the right move for several reasons.

Yes, Shannel was good and yes she's arguably more talented than Rebecca right now.  But she's always had an air of over-confidence and entitlement that I'm sure turned off the judges (esp. Santino).  She also seemed to only be interested in portraying a "look what I can do" kind of vibe (juggling, really?) rather than focusing on female impersonation in look AND demeanor.  She's also tacky and tasteless (butt baring and jiggling, fava beans slurping, etc.) which can work sometimes but I found annoying rather than humorous.  And she always whines when she doesn't win.  And, oh gosh, did you see the commercial shoot she did.  Eeeeeeeeek! 

But most of all, c'mon she freakin' said she didn't want to be on the show anymore!!!  You just don't recover from that whether it was a strategy or not.  Her fate was sealed with that comment.  In my opinion, it showed her as being very conceited and whiny and actually very insecure despite her comments (I'm so beautiful.  Please tell me I'm beatiful.  Tell ME!!!!). 

Rebecca survives because she's been constitently pretty good (not great) while others have floundered at key times.

I'm totally pulling for Nina and have been all along (although I liked Ongina, too).

 

Okay, I've never been a fan of Shannel's overconfidence and verboseness and occasional condescension. She was a diva, for sure. But she was talented. And listening to her rant, realizing she had never won a single challenge, I started to understand where she was coming from. Because there were a couple (like the make-up mini challenge and the girl fighter makeover) that I do feel she should have won. And seeing Ru choose Rebecca's absolutely godawful vogueing over hers pretty much confirmed there's been a bias against her. If I were her I would be overwhelmed with frustration too. Especially since -- as it became very clear at the end -- all her bravado covers up very deep insecurities. She kept saying in her exit interview that she didn't need the judges' validation, but it was obvious that she did. Made me feel for her a little.

And I'm sure Rebecca's not really the villain the show is trying to cast her as, but seriously, how the hell is she still there? Her voice is emotionless, her personality is painfully bland, and her only apparent 'talent' is being fish-like. I can't imagine her headlining a Pride Tour.

Two weeks in a row that I've hated Ru's decision. I have a feeling that BeBe's going to win (because it seems like Ru sees a lot of herself in BeBe, and isn't this whole show about Ru trying to carry on her legacy?) but either way if Rebecca beats out Nina I think I'll get out while I can and not come back for season two.

 

I think the judges were smoking crack. I have been, and still am, a fan of Bebe. But last night should have gone to Nina. Her outfits were much more creative and I loved the way she incorporated the fruit in her clothing, rather than just sticking them in her hair.

Nina and Bebe represent drag at both ends of the spectrum. Bebe is, in my opinion, a more traditional girl while Nina plays more with androgyny. I have a feeling the show's corporate sponsor would rather have a "regular" looking drag queen promoting their product. I wonder if a rep from Absolut had not been one of the judges if the outcome would have been the same?

Anyway, I'm glad Shannel is gone. Beautiful as she is, she is annoying and whiny.

Can't wait to see who wins! 

 

Am I the only one who just realized the 4 chosen categories on which the contestants are judged were quite deliberately chosen?

Charisma.  Uniqueness.  Nerve.  Talent.

It can't be a coincidence that they chose those for words in that order.  Also seemed like they have quite a laugh about them and I never understood why until now.  I thought it was a rather quirky list of criteria (Is "uniqueness" even a word?) but now I get it.  Am I the only one who was this slow to catch on to it?

I was disappointed that Shannel left this week, because I feel like I "get" her, I feel like I know what's going on underneath, which manifests as her diva-ness and conceitedness.  I feel like Shannel is what I would be, unchecked, so I have great empathy for her.  Bebe was right, she did want this so damn much.  It's undeniable how hard she worked at everything, and I get how frustrating it is to be doing your best and still be rated as mediocre.  That said, I think nominating herself for ousting was sincere, and I'd likely have done the same thing.  However, I did wish she'd stopped talking about a third of the way through her rant - silence can make a point just as well, and it was painful to me to see her dig her own grave - while in that dress nonetheless!  (just an aside, I've loved the looks of so many of the girls, but I consistently loved Shannel's Showgirl/Hello Dolly designs)

It's a tossup for me between Bebe and Nina - I don't know how people can differentiate between them as far as the magic they turn out with their looks - they're on equal footing with me there, and I dearly love them both.

Although I thought Rebecca should have gone, I didn't want Shannell to win. So in the end, isn't this decision ok?  In the end the real battle is between Nina and Bebe. Both have language and speaking issues but they have a very strong persona and a commitment that is proven unlike Rebecca. Nina said it right, the winner should be poised and strong in persona to represent what RuPaul wants to carry on. Bebe and Nina seem focused on the true art of drag and promoting as a performance art. Rebecca has been edited to seem focused mainly on winning and not something larger than that. Shannell wanted to win for fame to but she also was focused on the performance aspect regardless of how shamless her juggling and fanny shaking was. Tacky yes, performer definitely.  I am staying with Nina on this one and hoping she wins. She not only represents the art of drag best but also the idea of helping her fellow drag performers do their best as evidence of all the help she has given the others throughout the show. This show works for me because at the end of the day there is a respect underlying it that makes it worth the TV date. If Rebecca wins though, my tune will change.

rooting for Rebecca, here.

I was for Nina at first, but now I am hoping that Rebecca wins. And from day one I thought that Bebe was just a mini me of Ru Paul, so she seemed like the shoo-in. She has been the best player in the competition so far.

I was completely blown away by Bebe's costumes. And she can't sew? Her dress was a perfect fit.

Shannel is a bitch. She is more fake, more guarded and rehearsed than any of the other contestants; when ever she speaks it sounds like she's rehearsed it in front of a mirror. When she loses a competition, she's all "they should have picked me." How many times had she said that? You would never hear her admit, "the competition is strong and I just wasn't good enough." And I don't think her vogueing was that great, at all. Her flip at the end was out there, but not good enough because her arms seemed stiff and brutal in the rest of it and she just didn't seem to get it. In the end Glasscock admits that Nina was the best, she doesn't lament the loss. Why is she a bitch for that, people?

I liked Shannel's juggling, butt baring and etc. I think it was cheeky fun and very drag outrageous and the kind of thing that adds to a performance. But did she choose to show that schtick at the right times or is the schtick just something she falls back on when her act is floundering. The juggling was great, but that last ass jiggle -come on -I was thinking why didn't she fart too, I mean she was aimed right at the judges and that's what she was saying. Right? (or rehearsing to say?)

Later, when Shannel knows that she may soon be kicked off, she has a break down -"nobody loves me, boo hoo." Has she ever listened to what the judges had to say? Why are they going to show thier love when she ignores and ridicules their judgement? She comes off as this bitch from hell, then cries when people react to that? What about Rebecca Glasscock? The other contestants hate her -Shannel seems to be espically jealous. And Shannel wants to quit the show because she hasn't earned the judges adulations? huh?

I don't know how Rebecca can continue in this show after the way the other queens are treating her. "Who am I kidding, none of the girls like me." she shrugs it off. It's horrible how the others treat her. In the green room they completely ignore her or find subtle ways to cut her down. Did she say a single word in there, other than "okay" when Nina points for her to fetch her a mint or what ever, treating her like a dog. And she does it! They're obviously jealous and see her as the biggest threat. They all said so at the beginning. I'm not seeing them act like the big sisters and community representatives that they all claim to be. They all put Rebecca down for being fake but in being quick to do so, actually reflect more of themselves than Rebecca.

Regardless of who wins, this is the most entertaining reality competition I've seen; Logo should syndicate this show and hopefully they give Drag Race another season and more, so there can be another and yet another drag queen to inherit RuPaul's crown.