Week ago, I was obsessed with Raja. Then I fell for Stacy Layne. Last week, I was reals into Shangela! And now, after last night’s delightful, patriotic-themed episode, I found myself falling for the charming Alexis Mateo, who I previously hadn’t been that into so far this season. After loving on all these different gals over the past few weeks, I feel like a Drag Race slut.
Because, of course, you know whose fault this constant love-shifting is? The Drag Race producers! They’re playing games with my heart, making me love a different queen each week, by using genius editing and their other unseen tricks of the trade. No fair! So yes, I do love all the queens on Drag Race, but this week Alexis was especially sparkly and pretty and alluring. And on the producer thing, well, I suppose that is their job — to make we, the viewers, fall in love with each of the different characters on a reality competition show before they’re picked off, one by one. Heartbreaking! But it ensures that I’ll tune back in each week. (As if I wouldn’t anyway.) Honestly, if I had to say who I love most right now, I simply couldn’t. All the girls are doing it for me this season.
But back to Alexis Mateo, who ruled with her three different looks last night. (See: above.) I guess I always thought that she’s lovely, sure, but until I saw her nuttily heartfelt PSA for the troops and that dress blues drag she wore, I didn’t really get what she was all about: Heart! That sort of seems to be the thing she’s all about. And that touching story about the man she was in love with being shipped away to combat? Well, pass the hankies, gurl, cause I’m crying! Well, I was at the time. No one deserved to win last night’s challenge more than she did. In fact, somehow, the rest of the gals didn’t perform too well when it came to the PSAs. Right? It seemed like Alexis was the only one who was really having a good time. Well, of course, Yara was, too — that crazyface — but when does she do anything that’s not insane? Everything from her PSA to that traditional Puerto Rican dress she wore were, in a word: insane! “Are you resting on wacky?” the judges asked her. No doubt that she is.
The surprise of the evening: No one went home. How about that? It was a first in the history of Drag Race, according to RuPaul. In some way, it did seem like an appropriate challenge for there to be no elimination. How can you kick someone out when they were all just making patriotic PSAs about freedom for the troops? You can’t. Which is why Yara Sofia lives for another week, thankfully.
A handful of other favorite tidbits from the evening:
• When Ru announced that the winner would win a luggage set from Antler. “Antler. Yes, Antler,” she said in a deadpan voice. I don’t know why that’s funny, but it just is!
• The fact that Johnny Weir basically made out with Carmen Carerra. Like, no. Like, don’t do that. Also loved that, when announced at the Main Stage, Johnny said he was “tucked in anticipation.” I can’t wait to use that line.
• Raja’s native American look on the runway. How many ways can she blow your mind? She looked stunning.
• The always-nasty Michelle Visage’s assessment of Carmen Carerra: “She was a stinkball!”
• Died for all of Ru’s hilarious one-liners last night. In particular: “I’m so proud to be a part of the wig party.”
What’d you think, readers? Love the show? Love Ru? Love Alexis Mateo? Think Raja should have won? Or who? Should someone have gone home instead of the save? Sound off below!
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
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He is so dull though.
Dull? Really?? Check out some of her performances on YouTube. That queen has got so much energy!
She’s not only Dull! But very disrespectful!! Aside from the suit jacket that fit him ever so perfectly just shows how much of man he is!!
stupid f-a-g-g-o-t-s.
Yeah Will, keep throwing that love around. It will all come back to you, in droves….ignorant a$$hole
Will is a m-o-r-o-n.
oooohhh, so by stupid (expletive)s you really mean, I secretly want to do all kinds of sweet nasty things to you.
I understand now.
@will I wonder if you troll the internet for all gay-centric entertainment, or specifically drag. Anyhoo, it’s crystal clear that you are a closet case. I just wish you’d give me a call next time you’re in Florida. This F@##$%% would love to kick your a$$
Stupid t-r-o-l-l-s.
So glad you’re FINALLY onboard with Alexis!! She’s sweet, gorgeous, funny and she works it out week after week…
I adore Alexis Mateo. I know its rumored that Raja wins it all, but I am rooting for Alexis!
I know what you mean i love Alexis, and although Raja is fierce just doesn’t cut it for me
we all know though there’s a price to pay for a no going home elimination.. that just means there will be 2 queens going home next week… but i felt shangela and yara should have battled it out in the lip synch competition.. with shangela going home… but oh well..
If only that were the case jay!
Seriously, the Steven Seagal hair’s gotta go.
LOL! Too funny and so true. Love Alexis in drag (very pretty) but out yes, Steven Seagal
Speak for yourself Will.
Ugh…I really thought it was a perfect time to get rid of that ultra=boring, one-note Carmen. Pretty? Yes. But as they pointed out in the very first episode there is nothing else. And Raja is coming off more as androgynous than drag queen to me. Sorry but not one of the queens from this entire season would have made the top 4 or 5 from the first two seasons.
I personally was gagging over Raga’s Native American outfit. Completely original. All the other girls went for the fifties look and she bust out with that headdress. Wham bam, thank you ma’am! Though I love love loved Manila’s money dress too. With the credit cards and such. Lovely~ Her performance in the troops video though…Eh. I was almost embarrassed to watch it, even though I love Manila to bits. Anyone with me on that?
I’ve always thought Alexis was a sweetheart but I was just kind of rolling my eyes at the sob story. I know it’s not her fault the clever producers were pushing her story so hard, to make it that much greater when she ended up winning…But by the time they got to her tear filled speech on the run way, I was eying the skip button…Can’t wait until this season gets its winner! (Raja. For sure. )
YES
Manila’s runway dress must have been inspired by the gold credit card dress worn by Lizzy Gardiner when she won her Oscar for best costume design back in 1994. For The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, no less. But yeah, Manila is getting so lowbrow. It’s secondhand embarassing to watch.
How can you leave out the best line in the history of RuPaul’s Drag Race: “Only in America can a woman like me have a FREAKING CHORIZOOOOOO!”
I adore Raja. She’s so talented and original and I’m baffled by some of the challenges that she doesn’t win. I love the Heathers, minus Carmen, and I thought for sure that after the stellar lip-synch last week that Delta and Manila would both stay, rather than Carmen and Yara both being saved this week. Shangela should have been eliminated weeks ago, but the producers know she’s all about drama so they’ve kept her around, despite a clear lack of talent.
Raja on Johnny Weir: If she gets close to me I’m gonna lick her
I rewound that moment three times. Yet another reason to love Raja!
Tanner I’m so glad you mentioned Ru’s Antler promo … it was VERY strange! I didn’t get it either, but I laughed as well…
I LOL’d – it was a throwback to the early days of TV, where the stars would also do the commercials. Lucy saying, “Lucky Strike…that’s Lucky Strike”.
The Antler plug was nothing compared to “Boobsforqueens.com. That’s boobsforqueens.com!”.
I just can’t get on the Alexis bandwagon. From Nina Flowers, to Jessica Wild, to now Alexis and Yara, can Ru really not find some Latino contestants that are NOT from Puerto Rico and speak some actual decipherable ENGLISH?!? PR is a US territory. They teach English in schools. Why can’t they grab a Cuban immigrant from Miami instead? I’m sure their English will be infinitely better than the trainwrecks Ru always seems to find.
@McProphet:can Ru really not find some Latino contestants that are NOT from Puerto Rico and speak some actual decipherable ENGLISH?!?
Yeah…Carmen Carrera!!! Is she not workin’ it enough for ya?
McProphet: I’m sure you don’t know the word ethnocentrism, but you fit the description.
I have absolutely no trouble understanding Alexis. I live in Florida and know several Cuban-Americans, and I have a LOT more trouble understanding a couple of them!
I love Raja and hope she wins! It was nice to see how much winning meant to Alexis. I wish Carmen wasn’t such a one note ‘pretty girl’.
Does anyone else, who is a fan of RuPaul Drag’s Race, find it that this season does not compare to the other two? It’s quite boring and mean. I don’t think that anyone deserves to win but it’s obvious who is going to. Some of the girls are “talented” but their inner personality shows a lot about who they really. Why would you tease some because they can’t afford expensive things like you? The whole “Heathers” thing is just ridiculous but I’m sure the producers are loving the drama and it keeps ratings up. The first two seasons were much more enjoyable.
Completely agree. I went to a Drag bar last week and the working Queens of the world even hate this season. It’s all about the fights this year and how catty they are. There is no real talent this year compared to JuJuBee, Pandora Boxx, Bebe, Nina Flowers, etc…. It’s still entertaining to watch, but I don’t really care who wins. I just hope it’s not Raja. I’m over her.
Ditto…I thought it was just me, but I completely concur with your comments. I won’t stop watching, but I really do not have a vested interest in any of the queens this season.
I thought the whole episode was a cringe-inducing train wreck. This whole season has been really down.
Totally agree…I don’t thing any queen from this season would crack the top 4 or 5 from the first two seasons. I keep hearing everyone is gaga over Raja but I don’t get it…he somes off as androgynous rather than a drag queen.
You can buy fashionable shoes for $15.00. You missed the point. Why would you “tease”? Why would you watch a show about drag queens/gay men when you dont know anything about them? What you see is TAME compared to reality. It’s called READING, too.
What the hell are you talking about? What do you know about drag queens? I’m stating my opinion and obviously you’re stating whatever it is you’re talking about. Tame. Get the hell out of here and you read a book.
Nothing beats the second season so far! But I think i like this season better than the first still.