See also how I found the Hannibal TV show wonderfully campy at times precisely because it was so over the top, and Bryan Fuller knew it was over the top, and still wanted it to be sincere and straight-faced. The excess + seriousness was the point which helped make it tragic and operatic and campy at the same time. You…

I usually really hate the whole “this X was rigged” but with Shuga’s placement in the bottom, that was very clearly some strings being pulled. I understand an element of production goes into this show and any reality tv show but you could see the seams a little too well when Shuga is put in the bottom over anyone else…

Yeah, Shuga should not have been in the bottom. She did a better job than everybody on the other team, and I liked her triple look.

RIGGA MORRIS. There’s no way Shuga’s performance was worse than any of Black Magic, and her runway was perfectly serviceable (*cough* Michelle *cough*).

There is no winner in this story.

I don’t doubt that colorism plays a part but I think it goes further. Yvie is literally the only black queen that stood out from the beginning because shes the only one not doing either traditional southern pageant or banjie girl drag. Not saying that those drag styles are bad, its just nice to finally see a black…

Definitely leaning quite “meh” on the snatch game performances, and with Jinkx there to give queens advice, it just reminded me how stellar her Little Edie was compared to the top performers here.

dead at “Urkel cosplay”

Yvie’s critiques of other girls are giving me Bianca del Rio trying to elevate her competition vibe, while Silky is just mean and delusional. Yvie should probably be nicer with her delivery, but she is not malicious. Brooke’s hiding inside her little blanket fort asking ‘can’t we just bottle up our feelings like…

I knew someone would bring that up!

Jujubee wouldn’t have been angry.

How many times does Elvira have to be on the show before somebody realizes that she would be a perfect Snatch Game choice? C’mon, queens watching at home, she’s fabulous!

Brooke Lynn in no way should have won. Her first look was well-executed toilet paper... but it was just a mummy en pointe. Nothing new or interesting to me. Her monster outfit with just a snake wrapped aroudn her? How the fuck is that a monster? She was just a woman in a dress with a snake around her neck and a cane.…

Ru’s look was giving me Fruit Stripe gum.

I feel split on Joel McHale. I think he offered generally good critiques and praise to the girls, but he overestimated how much bro energy was needed on this show. I must say, I was thoroughly entertained by every shot of Michelle giving him side eye.

Nina absolutely deserved her win for her leadership, improv skills, and stunning runway. That said, Yvie once again stole the runway show. That jelly look elicited a raucous cheer from the bar I was watching from. I mean... in Denver, but still, she’s proving herself to be the queen to look out for.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I could watch Miss Vanjie’s audition tape for literally any role, so long as it absolutely didn’t suit her.

“Who should be the approachable, goofy dad? Oh, I know! The teensiest, most grizzled, troll-voiced pretty-girl here!”

RDPR has been a TV club staple for years, whine somewhere else

FINALLY! Back to regular Drag Race!

This was a strong premiere, and boy did I need one after an exhausting, repetitive, long-in-the-tooth (though still fabulous) AS4.