RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Hold My Purse While I Snatch the Crown

Let’s start off by admitting something: Snatch Game has been a challenge with diminishing returns for years now. Last year’s version had two good performances, in Onya and Jewels, and was otherwise a total dirge. The season before that was the same thing with Plane and Sapphira being totally good (not thrilling, though) and everyone else just trying to get by. Jinkx Monsoon’s Judy Garland excepted, because that was an all-winners season, it’s been so long since any Snatch Game performance absolutely destroyed that it can be hard to remember a time when the challenge was turning out at least two master classes a year.

Nowhere was that demonstrated better than in the fact that, between seasons 11 and 16, no regular-season winners placed above safe during Snatch Game. It was a mainstay, yes, but one that, even within the show, was not prioritized as an important part of potential winners’ story lines. So despite its repeated usage, it lacked stakes. And, I’d imagine, that’s at least partially because the challenge winners’ work wasn’t so exceptional that it had to be taken into account at the end of the season. Looking back over winning performances like Silky Nutmeg Ganache’s Ts Madison, Deja Skye’s Lil Jon, or Plane’s Jelena Karleuša, there is a distinct lack of the heft that performances like Jinkx’s Little Edie, Bob’s double act as Carol Channing–Uzo Aduba, and even Aquaria’s Melania Trump had. When those queens won the show, the Snatch Game win was a huge part of what got them there.

I say all this to explain why I think this season’s change to the Snatch Game format was ultimately great. It shook the girls up a little bit! It gave them a chance to use new forms of physical comedy! It felt … fresh! The format change is assisted by the fact that the average Snatch Game performance this season is the best it’s been in years, and the worst Snatch Game performances in this group are the absolute worst they’ve been in years. (Both of these things are good for the episode.)

If there’s a downside to this year’s group, it’s that none of the performances are necessarily breakout triumphs, and choosing the winner felt a bit like picking from a group of equals. I don’t think it’s a mistake that Onya and Jewels were the only good girls last season and they ended up as the top two at the finale. This year, I’m not so sure that our winner, Nini, had so much more to offer than the other high placements or even that the top three were leaps and bounds ahead of the safe girls. What I do know is that this Snatch Game is indicative of a generally strong cast and that it was, for once, a joy to watch. These days, that’s a good deal more than enough.

As for the specific format they went with: I think it worked! The All Stars mainstay Snatch Game of Love has never really been my thing. It kept the girls too isolated for my liking, spread out across the stage. It was also strange to be able to see their whole bodies while simultaneously confining them to stools. Only Jimbo as Shirley Temple (one of the all-time greats) ever fully took advantage of the fact that she could stand up and tap dance. Snatch Game of Love Island, meanwhile, brought the girls out of their seats and into the real world. It’s not random that all the top performers of the week had fully embodied physical performances as well as quips in their rolodexes. The “confessional” section was also great — it gave each girl a chance to do her completely prepared material before then forcing her to volley later. That’s a good mix.

One last good thing before I get into the individual performances: I was really glad to see that all of the top three were people doing actual impressions. I have to agree with Myki Meeks on this one: Snatch Game is a challenge about impersonation — impersonation in a style of drag that is important, even if Ru doesn’t do it, and that should be supported by the show. I don’t like made-up characters, and I especially don’t like made-up characters where the only new fact about them is that they’re gay. (That was a gigantic problem, as I mentioned last week, on the currently airing UK vs the World.) It’s nice to see the show specifically rewarding impressions.

On to the performances! First in is Athena Dion as “Greta” — a.k.a. the fictional first wife of Aristotle Onassis before he married Jackie O. (He did actually have a real previous wife, named Tina, who ended up marrying his arch-rival.) Athena wasn’t planning on this character, but Ru makes her change from “Charlie Chaplin, who is breaking his silence and coming out as a homosexual” in the Werk Room. That was a good call by Ru! This version is still too complicated, but it gives Athena the ability to just be Greek and call it a day. This is totally passable.

Next in is Jane Don’t as Truman Capote, which is fabulous. Jane is prepared, Jane can volley, and Jane has a fully realized character. Her voice is no Philip Seymour Hoffman’s, but it’s good enough. She knows when to do preplanned bits like the note-taking and when to shut that down and answer the questions. Her Cary Grant quip is one of the best of the episode, and calling David Attenborough “Cynthia Nixon” is not far behind.

Then it’s Mia as “Bloody Mary,” which is so tragic that it immediately circles back to being fun. This is just a total disaster from start to finish. She has absolutely no character in mind and she cannot even finish sentences, let alone come up with a joke. While her “bloody shoes” non-quip is definitely a highlight, my favorite terrible moment is when she refers to a plane’s “cockpit” as its “pitcock.”

Nini does the aforementioned David Attenborough. I’m of two minds on this. I think she’s very quick-witted, and I like that she has a fully realized idea for her character. But she would not have been my pick for the win. My problem comes down to the fact that this is no longer really “drag.” While Jane’s Capote feels like a drag-king performance, Nini is kind of just playing Attenborough in a sketch. Her makeup is more indebted to theater makeup than drag makeup, and she’s just kind of a “grounded man.” It’s really well done, but there’s a distinct lack of fabulousness that isn’t really what I’m looking for at a drag show.

Finally, it’s Darlene as Mrs. Claus, and she gets totally lost in the shuffle. I’m glad that she has a take on Mrs. Claus beyond just “She’s a lesbian,” which would be most queens’ first thought. But it’s just not that funny. I honestly think this could have been high on a bad Snatch Game, but here it doesn’t measure up. Darlene is so incredibly charming, but she’s still working on funneling that into the challenges.

The second group begins with Kenya’s Lizzo, which is awful. She doesn’t have any idea of the character beyond “sexual and fat.” Watching this performance, it struck me how little Kenya has been able to get her remarkable personality to appear in her work. Where is the fun?

Next up is Myki, who I think gives my favorite performance of the week. I love her Drew Barrymore. I love the way she sits and holds her mouth. I love that she’s fully “talk show” Drew, which is such a clear personality. I love that she has a “parody of millennialspeak” quality. I love that she has both quotes from Barrymore and a clear-enough idea of her character that she can come up with new ones. And her look is cute! It’s a really great draggy parody.

Juicy’s JoJo Siwa is not a total bust, but it’s not good. In the Werk Room, she makes it clear that she has no idea who she wants to do, and we don’t even see her land on Siwa as an idea. It’s smart to choose someone who dances, but her dance moves aren’t in character. She has a voice and she can answer questions in some version of a character, so she’s better than Kenya and Mia. But we’ve also seen two successful JoJos on the show before (Lemon on Canada and Elle Vosque on UK), so this version’s problems stand out even more.

Finally, it’s Discord as “the pope.” I love the visual of Discord running around the stage as the pope, and I think she gets a few good-to-great jokes in. But I also got the sense that I was laughing at some of her stuff rather than laughing with her. I think she’s in the top in most Snatch Games, but I see why (to her chagrin) she’s kept out of the top this week.

On the runway, the category is “’80s Ladies.” Athena does Joan Collins. It’s very Athena, and the dress is beautiful. But the makeup remains too harsh, and she always significantly ages herself up. Jane does Kate Pierson of the B-52’s, and it’s totally cute. She remains super-polished. Mia does Prince, and it’s her best look of the season. Thank God she’s in a massive wig. So funny that she kept the breastplate. Nini’s Cyndi Lauper is accurate and adorable. Darlene does Dolly Parton (of course), and she looks very well put together. Darlene should maybe do more breastplate drag? It balances her out. Kenya’s Chaka Khan is terrible. It is so incredibly basic. I don’t know how she possibly thought this tube dress with plain gloves was enough. Really, truly awful. Myki’s Olivia Newton-John is accurate. Unfortunately for her, she chose an outfit where Newton-John is wearing the ugliest shoe known to man. I agree with Michelle: Don’t replicate a shoe that ugly. It’s a disqualifying shoe. Juicy’s Celia Cruz is absolutely stunning. Nice to see her in hair — it looks great. She’s got some fab runways. Finally, Discord’s Reba features her best walk yet and some truly terrifying makeup. The outfit is fine.

Jane, Myki, and Nini are in the top, which is right. Mia, Juicy, and Kenya are in the bottom, which is also right. Nini wins. I would not have gone with her, personally. But I also think this is the show being like, “Nini is a top contender, and she hasn’t been in the top for a while — let’s remind people.” Myki was my favorite in Snatch Game, but Jane probably had the best package of the week. Ru quite rightly chooses Mia and Kenya as the bottom two, and they lip-sync to “Head Over Heels,” by the Go-Go’s. Here’s the thing: Kenya does win it. It’s a joyful song, and Mia is just a little too intense for it. Kenya has a lot of fun, and her moves are right on time. Here’s another thing: At a certain point, you gotta just send Kenya home. She has not done well in a single challenge. I know Mia’s Snatch was all-time bad, but, like … she’s just doing better in the competition than Kenya is. Kenya is a total light in confessionals, but her challenge performances and runways have been terrible. I don’t know where she will succeed at this point. Given that Mia was totally competent in the lip sync, I think it was probably time to set Kenya free.

• Juicy freaks out about receiving the critique that she’s not showing herself to the judges, because even she isn’t sure who she is. She also teases that some terrible things have happened to her recently, which will probably be revealed eventually. Discord is pissed she’s not in the top. The safe girls hide snacks from Mia. Guest judge Brooke Shields comes backstage and is generally fab. The girls are absolutely sure that Kenya is going home.

• One reason to send Mia home: This is the first of the five Florida girls to go home. That much FL was becoming untenable!

• Interestingly, my complaint for the first few episodes of the season was that the producers weren’t innovating. Turns out they had surprises in store. Oh, me of little faith.

• Trauma Makeup Corner: Darlene talks about how she loves having this queer community and how she grew up with a lot of shame around being gay. Of anyone this season, she has the most honest transformation, continually learning to come out of her shell.

• UK vs the World report: These episodes are getting stronger by the day, even if the talent level is pretty well below this U.S. season. Sminty’s arc was a great, classic downfall arc that I haven’t seen executed so well in a long time, in which she is entirely hoisted with her own petard. She was nasty, both under- and overconfident, didn’t learn her words, and then still blamed someone else for her elimination. That’s good stuff. Still rooting for the fabulous Gawdland.

• Gay thoughts from gay people: I felt it was necessary to get a Greek American’s thoughts on Athena Dion, so I turned to my friend Kat. “Athena Dion, Yiayia, thank you for being so incredible to watch onscreen and representing Greek Americans. So slay diva boots,” she said. “She’s the woman who, when you show up to your local Greek festival, is somehow doing everything but doing it all just fine. She’s doing the group dancing, and she’s made four different dishes and she’s saying, ‘Sharon is so bad at spanakopita,’ but her spanakopita is also only okay. She’s presenting the raffle winner for whoever won the spit-roasted pig, and she has a handmade evil-eye-jewelry stand. And you’re like, How is this woman everywhere? Some people don’t see the vision, but they just don’t understand what a seasoned, well-rounded, established Greek queen is these days. What other queen is going to wear a gown every runway? I hope she sends me an evil-eye kaftan at her earliest convenience, ευχαριστώ.”

• Predicted top four: Jane and Nini remain locked. Myki’s stock continues to rise while Juicy’s continues to fall, but I’m not sure who would take her place. For now, keep them both in.