RPDR S4,E11-The Fabulous B*tch Ball: Top & Bottom

The Lounge has gone to the Dogs

Please forgive the Queen. But the best moment in RuPaul’s Drag Race History couldn’t POSSIBLY wait until my Untucked recap:

Bianca and the Queen spent more time talking about Untucked and other things, than we did talking about this episode. It’s not that it didn’t have its moments…it’s just that after 10 episodes of the same tired conflicts with no additional substance, it negatively colored everything else. It was like being in the middle of Groundhog Day. No…the Queen takes that back. Even in the movie there was something different about each day–there was forward motion that advanced the plot. The Queen was thinking that the producers should think up a different format when the cast is down to the last four or five. Why not copy Project Runway? Why not give them an elaborate challenge and more than a day to finish it, and let them go home so that we can see them in their own environment? ANYTHING other than having to sit through manufactured drama that the queens don’t even invest in all that much. Even Phi Phi has to dig deep to come up with her bitch face…okay, maybe he doesn’t need to dig that deep.

The Queen thought the premise of the episode was wonderful. It was out of the box and gave a lot of possibilities for creativity. And we got to see Jason and Shawn in their skivvies.
The mini-challenge was cute too–although the Queen is tired of challenges in which the dolls have to give shade. Ms. Michaels won, and I agree with Ru’s decision. I must admit that even though the dissing of other contestants gets boring, it was kind of nice to see Chad pull out his well-manicured claws and take a few swipes at Phi Phi. It’s just so telling that Miss O’Hara can dish it out, but has such a hard time taking it.

So then we meet the real stars of the show.

Here’s another reason the Queen knows much of the drama is manufactured: dogs don’t lie. The fact that Hunter took to Phi Phi immediately goes a long way with me. When the charming canines were brought out by the equally charming Pit Crew–each of the queens seemed delighted. No fun in that. So Phi Phi has to stay in character and pretend to be frustrated by Winner Chad’s decision to pair him with Hunter. Give this Queen a Big Dog EVERY time. The only drama of the workroom that gave me pause was whether Sharon might be getting the losing edit. While I knew it was Latrice’s time, I was slightly worried. I swear, if they deny Sharon the crown I might have to meet RuPaul in the studio parking lot after dark.

The rehearsal drama was a snooze. We KNOW Phi Phi is going to turn up her nose and try to boss everyone around and get her way. Is the viewership of this show really that easy to please, or are the producers just frighteningly out of touch with what their audience wants to see? Dear sweet Jesus let it be the latter.

The Opening Number of the Bitch Ball was cute. Nothing spectacular. And the Queen and Bianca disagree about who stood out. Bianca agrees with Michelle and thinks Phi Phi had a little more “oomph” than the others. I personally think that the dolls did a really good job of working as an ensemble–which is exactly what a group number should be. Everybody had their moment in the spotlight.

We’ll get a little bit more in depth with the queens in the next post. I thought all of the contestants did at least decently on the majority of their Runway looks.

However, once again it’s a well-deserved Condragulations to Sharon Needles

Of course the Queen is quite enamored of Ms. Needles. I am in constant awe of the fact that she has gone out of her way to feature FBQ on her fabulous Facebook Page. However that is not the reason I speak highly of her. I do so because when you meet an Artist of this magnitude, you take note. An artist (like a good drag queen) has something to say and finds a way to communicate it. Every look has a story. Every look has detail. Every motion on the runway has thought. She is the real deal folks. The real deal.

And it’s Sashay to Latrice Royale

The Queen has been critical of Latrice’s performance at times. But never of Latrice. As Sharon has brought a unique Art to Drag, so has Ms. Royale brought the same Art to grace, elegance, poise and humanity. That is one FIERCE Black Queen, and I bow to him. Latrice, as you said to RuPaul, so I can say to you: I have been changed by having you in my life–even if only through a television screen. Your heart and soul radiate through and touch mine. There is no question that your life is beginning in a way you never dreamed. And no one on this planet deserves it any more than you do.

I’d say “God Bless” but it’s clear that God already has.

For an episode I had issues with, the Queen sure had a lot to say.

It’s your turn Miss Things.