Review: Canada's Drag Race, S1 E3 Not Sorry Aboot It
Each week Toronto based comedian Chris Middleton will review the latest episode of Canada’s Drag Race. The Canadian version of the worldwide phenomenon RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered July 2 on Crave. The main judges and mentors are Stacey McKenzie, Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman.
Okay gentlemen, the engines have been started! This episode turned this show around for me! These queens really showed us their talent. Was their talent dancing? (*crickets*) . . . Let's get into it.
This week's mini challenge was a newscast featuring Canadian TV personality Traci Melchor, being degraded into acting like a squirrel for screen time. They didn’t need to go nuts over explaining squirrel friend; it’s a play on girlfriend . . . but fUnNNiEEEE.
I wasn’t a big fan of this mini challenge when they did it in season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But they judged the winners on their presentation and less on their literacy (break classist structures of oppression!) The winners of the mini challenge were Priyanka and Lemon, who now are the Beyoncé’s to their maxi challenge girl groups.
This week’s werk room walkthrough really ingratiates Jeffrey in a way we haven’t yet seen on camera. It’s almost like when he drops the play acting of a catty old queen, he’s pretty likeable.
Canadian songstress, Ralph, runs the recording sessions, and I’m surprised that everyone really turned it out with their lyrics. Tynomi was super strong, Rita gave us PIPES, and Scarlett had her own distinct sound (this isn’t a read I swear). BOA was too loud (would’ve never guessed such a thing) and Anastarsia Anaquway was over it from the beginning. But TBH, Anastarsia wearing this trench coat with house coat layers to learn choreography with Hollywood Jade is a mood.
The actual girl group rap battle challenge was full of highs and lows. Highs because everyone had a solid verse and the song slapped. Lows because I watched 10 adults bump into each other like Bay Station at rush hour. The judges also cackled more obnoxiously than I do (this is a joke for people who’ve seen me at any comedy show ONLY).
The runway tonight was Que-Becky with the Good Hair, and, to quote Katy Perry, Wig. Everyone did so well I was splitting hairs picking favourites!
Priyanka and Scarlett SNAPPED in the challenge and on the runway! Kiara’s verse has become the mantra I whisper to myself as I drift to sleep, and I was so upset over the judges’ notes. She has taste, she just needed a belt, get it together. BOA’s runway was veryyyyy good and Ilona’s was SOOOOOO good, but they both kind of gave us nothing in the performance despite having good verses. Also, “Jimbo faded in the challenge,” was something I never thought I’d write, but here we are. Good thing her runway was a serve; balanced out her challenge performance and got her out of a hairy situation.
The bottom two of the week were Anastarsia and Tynomi, which makes sense. Anastarsia beat her meat so hard she couldn’t move and Tynomi didn’t know her words and her runway look was a gag…ging cat coughing up a technicolor hairball. And in front of her former employer Deborah Cox too? Yikes.
This lip sync was on point, and Tynomi did a Ruveal™ to a better outfit than her original which . . . what are you? Religious? Take your clothes off, girl! Starzy loses the lip sync, and leaves NO mirror message?! MOTHA!! Your talent and excellence will be missed. This episode was so fun and I’m glad they’ve finally got their shit together. Let’s hope it sticks like Lemon’s on a dead tree!
The Spoilers:
Mini Challenge: Canada Gay-M News Anchor Teleprompter
Mini Challenge Winners: Priyanka and Lemon
Pit Crew: None! WE MISS YOU
Maxi Challenge: Not Sorry Aboot It Girl Groups
Runway Theme: Que-Becky with the Good Hair
Winner: Priyanka
Extra Special Guest Host: Deborah Cox
Lip Sync: Tynomi Banks vs Anastarsia Anaquway to "Absolutely Not" by Deborah Cox (Chanel Club Mix)
Eliminated: Anastarsia Anaquway
SORRY NOT SORRY ABOOT IT 👢
