As the queen return to the Werk Room post runway, one thing is clear: Snatch Game was a bit of a rocky challenge for many of the queens from this season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Now, they’re about to dive directly into another beloved challenge that will put their various skills to the test: the Rusical.
The elimination of Crystal Envy has clearly shaken the entire cast, with the general feeling being that A) the "Jersey Shore" gem was poised to make it to the end of the competition and B) absolutely no one is safe from elimination now. Despite the stunning elimination, Onya Nurve was relishing her win, while Suzie Toot remained firm in her stance that she should have been placed higher for her Ellen Greene re-imagination during the Snatch Game. The contestants also dove into the blossoming love story between Lydia B. Kollins and Kori King, which has been percolating for several weeks now.
The Rusical theme this year is both timely and classic: “The Wicked Wiz of Oz.” The queens choose their roles, with some unexpected battles quickly cropping up in the Werk Room. Kansas Dorothy was a popular role, with Toot, Acacia Forgot and Sam Starr all interested in the portrayal (with Acacia ultimately grabbing the role). Starr snatched up the role of the Wicked Witch, a Cher-inspired role that will allow Starr to stretch her talents a bit. As for Toot, she ended up assigned the Green Witch. Kollins and King were teamed up as the Flying Monkeys, Arrietty as the Scarecrow, Lana Ja’Rae was the Tin Woman, and Nurve will inhabit Bronx Dorothy.
An interesting and unexpected run-in occurred when the role of The Good Witch was up for grabs. Both Kori and Jewels Sparkles were interested in the role and they went head-to-head to prove exactly why. Ultimately, a quick vote between the remaining contestants gave Jewels the role of The Good Witch, which left Kori not pleased with the outcome.
The queens joined Michelle Visage to record their verses and showcase their vocal talents. Both Lydia and Lana showed definite vocal prowess, while Kori showcased that she was definitely not a vocalist. Toot showcased a vocal talent that she was clearly not letting her fellow competitors see before, and Forgot portrayed an earnestness in her vocals, but it was clear at this point that she needed to blow her Kansas Dorothy role out of the water. The choreography portion was with Jamal Sims, a fan favorite whenever he appears on-screen or behind the judges' table. The queens ribbing each other while they each performed their choreography is always a lighthearted moment and we get to see a sneak peek of what this year’s Rusical truly could look like.
The pre-Rusical Werk Room discussion was especially intimate this episode, with Arrietty discussing her pre-drag eating disorders very openly and Forgot disclosing that she was not expected to live past high school after a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.
We headed to the main stage and RuPaul and Visage were joined by Jamal Sims and Adam Lambert. The Rusical began with Jewels, Lana and Sam each being particular stand-outs this week, while Forgot’s Kansas Dorothy looked picture-perfect on the surface, but lacked that something extra within the performance. The “Chorus Line” kick line at the end of the Rusical though, was a stunning ending to a unique hybrid of beloved musicals.
The runway theme this episode was “Parasol: Shady Ladies.” Toot delivered a “Busby Berkeley Showgirl Realness” look, while Jewels Sparkles, Arrietty, and Lexi Love delivered darker and sultry looks that glistened on the runway. Sam Star wore a gown that was keenly aware to loyal “Drag Race” watchers, Kollins parasol inspired headpiece was unique, and King delivered a “Wizard of Oz” inspired look. Nurve was a vibrant standout and Forgot hit the runway stacked, with several wigs sitting on top of each other.
The Rusical snagged Star a win, with Toot Jewels and Nurve joining her in the top placements. Arrietty, Lana, Love and Lydia were safe, while King and Forgot landed in the bottom placement and were poised to Lip Sync For Their Life. The queens battled it out to Adam Lambert’s “Wet Dream” and after a powerhouse performance from both queens (complete with King unfortunately losing her wig momentarily during a split), King ultimately prevailed, leaving Forgot to sashay away this episode.
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