I think you hit on the meta-ontology of this challenge.

Paula Abdul is like - 2/3 on hardcore kaikai lezz on the mainstage.

I swear to jeebus, that is easily the sixth time I’ve made that mistake posting here. Ugh!

There’s at least one very successful local queen who’s famous for her wig-rips.

Thanks for the reminder - I feel that’s a mistake I’ve made before.

I definitely see your second point - although I’ll admit those episodes (1, 3, & 7 for those of you keeping score) still don’t necessarily stand out in my mind among all legendary lipsyncs. Even Alaska has far more legendary performances committed to YouTube (sidebar: treat yourself to her very NSFW ‘I Will Always…

I’ve been trying to think of song choices that wouldn’t have given such a clear, decisive edge to Bebe.

Confidence could certainly be part of it.

I dunno - I’m remembering quite a bit of criticism of the Legacy format back in AS2, where there was similar complaint that the lipsyncs seemed lower energy than in a normal season.

I’m thinking that we have examples of queens in the past being able to command attention while looking naturally effortless doing it - say, Latrice’s ‘You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)‘. Contrast that to the desperation ballet that Milan put up against it, which fortunately, Trixie’s effort never quite reached.

Alaska carried a significant number of last year’s LSFYL in boots.

I’m throwing my not insubstantial weight beyond Mayhem Miller.

Aja’s look was attractive and stylish, but the judges were right that the visual referents were off-the-mark, and just a little scattershot. It was a matter of failing successfully, but one that combined with her lackluster, vague soup can concept.

Random ‘pinions:

I’m mostly surprised she’s not quoting Olivia Pope, six seasons after that peaked.

I think you back-handedly get to one of the key points about what makes Shangela disagreeable to watch.

I might add to that, that the fandom has all sorts of binarist oversimplification.

Random ‘pinions (after a week off):

Category is: Alternative Facts

I don’t think you’re wrong - Trixya themselves haven’t been alone in the observation that succeeding at drag and Drag Race are not synonymous.