It’s hard not to point to Jaida’s edit warming her up tonight. She’s always seemed competent, professional, thoughtful, and pragmatic - perhaps to the point of aloofness, given that the edit’s not been as generous to her with even just confessionals and screentime. Tonight’s narrative points to a soulful passion that…

Back with a curve-flattening set of Random ‘pinions:

In seasons past, I can’t remember off the top of my head who it was in reference to, I’ve called that archetype “That Actress Friend Of Yours”.

he tries HARD and while admirable there’s something about a performer openly wanting and yearning with all their being that seems to rub people the wrong way. I can’t imagine why that is - probably something psychology based

We have at least a few instances of former contestants speaking (in various tones and shades of feeling, mind you) that it’s pretty apparent early on to each season’s cast whos a frontrunner and who’s not, based solely on the judging interactions. That being said, there’s also still a less common tradition of some…

I can definitely see or agree to that - well, the first point, at least.

i see that and I don’t think you’re wrong.

I noticed in Untucked where Gigi congratulations Heidi on her performance. I noticed it being a touch reserved, and tacked onto a round of other congratulations.

In the workroom and challenge prep and Untucked and group challenges, I think that makes perfect sense.

I’m reminded of Aubrey O’Day directing the fragrance commercials back in Season 5 (“Are you Red-ey, for me?”). It occurs to me that she was even more useless.

I don’t think you’re wrong at all to point out the “processing” aspect of what Jan’s going through. I cop to above, the nonzero possibility that the “self’delusion” read of Jan’s arc could be a trick of editing.

Carrying on from that - I found it interesting that we got both S-’s commercial and her runway.

I’m not of the opinion that Jan can’t also be sad for Brita. But the text that we can go off of tonight presents that arc in a progression that’s not so favorable - which we might be able to ascribe to editing, perhaps, but here ‘tis, in order:

As a source of confidence, I don’t think it’s inappropriate for queens when they roll in to have legitimate pride in being successful, but also doing so in some of the larger more crowded markets for drag talent like New York or LA or whatever.

After being a Gigi denier all season I thought her commercial was way better than the judges did.

To my mind, I think tonight’s the clearer indication of Jan’s Tracy Flick, Rachel Berry arc. For her legitimate talent and skill, the judges aren’t wrong to focus on the manic energy she brings to her commercial reading as desperation.

Ladies and gentlemen, whether you like it or not, HEDWIG. I mean - Random ‘pinions!

I’m reminded of Katya’s ill-fated Princess Diana Spencer of Wales from Bad Bitches of Herstory in AS2.

Historically, simple math was the single biggest determinant of winning the season: most wins minus lipsyncs. Of course, that all went out with the Lipsync Thunderdome introduced to the finale of Season 9.

We have quite a few instances in recent memory of front-runners painting themselves with a target for added scrutiny. It’s not quite clear to me that Gigi’s reached that level of runaway success. But as far as serious competition - if we expect to see less of S- through the remainder of the season (save her strongest…