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thecineastes-blog · 7 years

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Grand Prix RPDR RuView: Material Gurlz (S06E06)

Dust off your vintage cone bra from the closet! For Grand Prix RPDR RuView, we’ll be giving you the overview of each episode, top moments of each episode, the shadiest moment of each episode, our favorite queen of the each episode, our least favorite queen of each episode, best looks on the runway, and our predictions for next week.

So the episode begins on a rather somber note. For the first time this season the lipstick farewell message was read aloud, Eureka’s was especially heartfelt. But all these warm feelings were cut short when Farrah asks Nina Bo’Nina a rather pointed question, “Do you even want to be here?” But before things could really get heated Shea defused the situation. Farrah’s question, however inappropriate for the moment is very valid. All we have heard from Nina is how she thinks people are trying to sabotage her.

One of the best moments of this season is Peppermint coming out as a Transgender Woman. I think Peppermint will be a great advocate for the Trans community. I am so happy she felt comfortable enough to live in her truth. Unlike instances in other seasons where a contestant has come out as Trans, this was taken more seriously and less for dramatic effect. Peppermint is a trans woman of color, who performs as a Drag Queen. She has spoken about how some Trans people are against Drag Queens and how some Drag Queens are combative with Trans people.

Now let’s get to what we have been waiting for this ENTIRE season (and no I don’t mean my intervention…) SNATCH GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! American Horror Story’s Dennis O’Hare and Drag legend Candis Cayne were the contestants on the show. I’m glad they chose some more animated guests, because the supermodels from last season were so boring.

Now I’ll just say this, Snatch Game has become the be all to end all for RPDR; this challenge separates the tops for the bottoms of the season. And most importantly, BE FUNNY! BUT just because someone bombs Snatch Game does not mean they will no win (Tyra Sanchez) and just because someone wins Snatch Game, does not mean they will even make it to top three (Tatianna and Stacy Layne Matthews).

So the queens (from best to worst):

Alexis Michelle as Liza Minnelli

I’m actually surprised that no one had never impersonated Liza before in all 9 nine seasons (and 2 All Stars Seasons) of the shows; though Mrs. Kasha Davis has said she would have done Liza for Snatch Game had she made it that far. Classically Liza is one of the major Gay icons that is rather shocking no one did yet (I’m still waiting for Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and Barbra Streisand). Alexis was definitely able to capture Liza’s funny manic personality. She was definitely one of the saving graces of the episode. I also recommend watching Liza Minnelli’s appearance on HSN from a few years that’s on YouTube.

Shea Couleé as Naomi Campbell

I was really hoping Shea was going to be Grace Jones. But Naomi is just as good! She was quick with the quips and had a great British accent. I just wished she threw that cellphone at someone! Now I want her and Raja (as Tyra Banks) to do some videos together.

Nina Bo’nina Brown as Jasmine Masters

It was rather fitting that Nina decided on RPDR alum Jasmine Masters. Nina was able to embody Jasmine’s dissonance and cold indifference. I hope the judges were able to see Nina in a different light after this episode.

Sashsa Velour as Marlene Dietrich

Sasha was very strong as Dietrich; she was able to give a funny, phony German accent (reminiscent of Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles). It would have nice to have some have some jokes about Marlene never having a German sausage she did not enjoy. And it is true, Teutonic Bisexuals do make the most forceful and unforgettable lovers.

Trinity Taylor as Amanda Lepore

Trinity did a good job as Amanda, but it was nothing groundbreaking. She asked where were Cynthia’s jokes...I wanted to ask Trinity the same thing.

Valentina as Miss Colombia

Valentina was humorous, even though the character was rather one note.

Aja as Alyssa Edwards

This was a swing and a miss. This seems to be the big unwritten rule of RPDR, DO NOT impersonate an alumni unless it is HILARIOUS; I think it was especially jarring since Nina as Jasmine Masters was so much more entertaining. I was hoping that Aja would have done Rosie Perez, or with the way, her makeup could have been Telenovela star, Itatí Cantoral. Itatí Cantoral would have been even that more overly dramatic and hilarious. Also, Aja’s second choice was Crystal LaBeija.

That would have been a great history lesson for everyone who is not aware of LaBeija, and how modern Ballroom culture owes so much to her.

Farrah Moan as Gigi Gorgeous

I had NO idea who Gigi was prior to this episode...and unfortunately, Farrah was dry as month old toast. There were no zingers, just a lot of her smiling and throwing makeup around.

Peppermint as Nene Leakes

As much as I love Peppermint, this was so hard to watch! Like in the earlier acting challenge, Pepper kept flubbing her lines. And We barely got ANY of Nene’s quips. This was a definite Xanadont.

Cynthia Lee Fontaine as Sofia Vergara

This is arguably the WORST Snatch Game performance in the show’s herstory. Cynthia was so scatterbrained; her long tangents were not funny, just torturous. I’m glad she was not called on much.

Fashion Over-Ru:

Category is Night of a 1,000 Madonnas-the sequel. I'm so glad they decided to do this runway again after #KimonoGate of the last season-although they technically had a celebrity inspired look in episode 1 with Lady Gaga. First up on the runway was Aja, in a look inspired by Madge’s Who’s That Gir Tour. It was kind of just a basic look, it lacked a lot of refinement and detail.

Also, I get that Aja doesn't (or rarely) pads or breasts, but I feel like she needed something to fill out the top portion of the dress-it looked a bit saggy and sad. Next up, Alexis Michelle as Breathless Mahoney from ‘Dick Tracey’. This look was flawless. Alexis can construct for the body, and she really looked identical to Madonna in that movie.

Twinsies? Next up was Peppermint as Madonna in ‘Material Girl’. I liked Peppermint’s gown and felt it was really true to the source material, but the hair made it too Marilyn Monroe. I would've gone for dirty blonde wig.

Next up was Shea Coulee...in the exact same look. Granted, Shea’s was more Shea- the black gloves and the jewels were different, also another platinum blonde Marilyn wig. These two looks were just okay. The next set of twins? Trinity and Nina Bo’Nina Brown Joan Hart, as Madonna a la the Met Gala circa 2013.

The pageboy dominatrix plaid no pants look (it was The Met Gala) was well executed by Trinity, very Tailored, although her bangs could've been an inch and a half longer (insert Trinity’s eye roll here). Nina’s look was more Nina, it was less structured and looser, with Nina’s signature breast plate and padding. I preferred Trinity’s but Nina’s was a B+ for me.

Sasha’s ‘Erotica’ look was well done but could've used a little finessing, had she added the tie and did a bra w/ padding than black pasties it would translated better.

Farrah’s SuperBowl 2012 look was spot on. It looked practically identical to Madonna’s. This look was, in my opinion, enough to compensate for her lackluster Snatch Game performance to at least save her from lip syncing.

Cynthia Lee Fontaine’s matador homage to Madonna’s Brit Awards 2015 look was good. Even her intentional slip and fall was spot on (even if it did make her look like runway roadkill). The only thing “wrong” with the look was her face, she contoured so darkly it read ‘beard’ on the runway.

Last up was Valentina as M on the cover of the Sex Book. It was naked to say the least, save for two black strips for censorship bars. This look was kind of genius, although according to the cut scenes, it looked like Valentina had a little, ahem, trouble with her lady bits.

So Peppermint and Cynthia are in the bottom two, and Peppermint shows her exceptional lip synching skills. She went in for the kill, and Cynthia was sent home packing. The best thing about Untucked, was seeing Nina’s mom.

Jonny’s Favorite Moments:

To Thine Own Self Be True: i’m really glad that Peppermint felt safe enough to tell everyone that she was Trans, and that everyone was so accepting. I really think she can the bridge that helps connect the Drag and Trans worlds.

It Takes a Village: In one of the deleted scenes pretty much everyone was trying to convince Aja to be Crystal LaBeija. I wish she had listened.

Jonny’s Favorite Shadiest Moments:

Make ‘em Laugh?: Trinity pretty much summed up this lackluster episode of Snatch Game, “Where are the jokes?!”

Dopplegangerland: WHY did this have to happen two years in a row? You should not have any duplicate looks on the mainstage! The producers should have made sure that all 13 contestants did not do the same Madonna look, even if they did not make to the Snatch Game episode. It’s Madonna, she has a million looks. I also tired of seeing these esoteric outfits she’s worn. Why has no one done “Like a Virgin” Madonna in a bridal gown?

Jonny’s Favorite Queen:

Alexis Michelle: her Liza was flawless and her Breathless Mahoney was even better. I would have also said Shea, but her and Peppermint going dutch on the same costume was unforgivable.

Jonny’s Least Favorite Queen:

Cynthia. These last few episodes, she’s been barely coasting. She was not suited for season 9.

Predictions:

Something else?

Anais’ Favorite Moments:

Original Sin: if another Queen has done a character in Snatch Game justice, don't do the same character. It was really a missed opportunity for Aja to do Alyssa when it had already been done (pretty well, I might add) by Violet Chachki when she could've done Crystal LaBeija. Also I was kind of bummed Charlie and Jaymes didn't make it Snatch Game so we could see their Joan Rivers and Rebel Wilson

How does this still happen?: Contestants should bring an extra look for runways like these just in case. (Also apparently Peppermint did? Why didn't you wear it, Pep???) There's really no excuse for two sets of identical queens with someone who has hundreds of iconic looks like Madonna. I could feel Michelle seething through the television.

Anais’s Favorite Shadiest Moments:

Laugh In: Trinity’s confessional spiel about “where are the jokes”- was the cherry on top of Cynthia’s Snatch Game train wreck.

All T, all shade: the PA’s and editors literally act as an extra shady queen. By grouping the two sets of twins to the added sound effects-I live for them.

Anais’s Favorite Queen:

Sasha Velour. I totally thought she was going to bomb Marlene Dietrich, but she was surprisingly funny.

Anais’s Least Favorite Queen:

Cynthia Lee Fontaine. I think she’s lovely and very nice but I feel like she's a queen that doesn't translate well to drag race.

Predictions:

No more celebrity runways! PLEASE.

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