RPDR 9 Episode 7: Review, and My Picks for the Top 3!
As someone born one year before Farrah in good ‘ol 1992, I am more familiar with Degrassi The Next Generation, than 90210. But luckily, if you’ve seen one of these types of high school drama shows, you’ve seen them all! Last week, the queens were challenged to channel their inner teen TV icon, and star in their very own dragged out version of 90210, appropriately titled 9021-HO.
The roles consisted of a few popular girls, one of their mothers, a virgin a pregnant elderly student, a drunk cafeteria lady, and much more. And I must say – this has been one of the best written acting challenges in a long time. The roles were creative, the lines made me laugh and the production value was pretty great. Just think of the boring challenges from the past such as the Shakesqueer plays before you come for this episode. Let’s get to judging. There is a lot to talk about.
Also, this week I will be announcing the top three that my boyfriend and I have seen coming for weeks now. And this week, let’s just say, really cemented our feelings. Let’s see if I’m right a few weeks from now!
AJA
The Look
It’s unfortunate that our girl Aja had to leave us this week, because she had just upped the anti on her makeup and runway game. This to me was such a lovely dress with some really fantastic detail to it. It looked expensive, it was chic and edgy, and the hair was just big enough for the garment to fit the challenge. This was definitely something I never expected to see Aja in (perhaps because she’s not really a queen with a theme like someone of them are every week on the runway.) But I suppose that if there’s any outfit to leave on and be remembered for, it’s not horrible to have it be the best outfit you’ve worn throughout the competition. TOOT
The Challenge
This week, Aja’s performance during the main challenge was less than stellar, which ultimately sent her packing. But at least it won’t soon be forgotten what with its legendary makeout scene with Peppermint. That will be invading my dreams and my nightmares for weeks to come. Fun fact: In Untucked, Peppermint also mentions that Aja hilariously got black lip liner all over her cheeks after that lip lock.
Let’s Get Personal
It seems as though Untucked is going to have to be our new form of getting to know the girls. The show barely has any time for them to get a word in edgewise about anything not having to do with the challenge. And no, the five minutes of nose powdering and pep talks right before the main stage is not good enough for me, thank you very much.
This week during Untucked, Aja explains to the queens that after her parents passed away, she had been adopted by a couple who ultimately separated, with her adopted father being estranged. With the knowledge that Aja grew up a gay man in the mean streets of Astoria, this to me just adds to how strong of a person I believe Aja to be. She’s a very confident individual with a great sense of humor who looks like she can take care of herself completely. And with so many challenges to face in her young life, it makes me happy that she can now call herself a Ru-girl and a drag-household name. Bye Aja, see you next time I’m at the Ritz.
ALEXIS MICHELLE
The Look
Ladies and Gentlemen…here we have Helena Bonham Carter as Ursula in Tim Burton’s The Little Mermaid. While I don’t hate this look, I think there were just some dimensional issues with it that were off-putting. Her hair was flattened from the front and back, her skirt had some odd geometry going onto it’s shape. and the length of the hair on the skirt was way off. And don’t even get me started on the shoes. It’s a shame, really because I thought that her makeup and body looked fantastic. But this didn’t really look gothic, as much as it read as someone trying out a gothic look for the first time ever. I love Alexis, but BOOT.
The Challenge
You would think that the girl who knows 90210 like the back of her moisturized hand would choose a more ambitious role and really go for it. But then I think back to the fact that Peppermint did not place in the top during the cheerleader challenge and that Cynthia and her cucu placed low in a Kardashian-themed challenge. Perhaps people just tend to choke or not take enough risk when the topic at hand is so close to what they’re passionate and knowledgeable about.
FARRAH MOAN
The Look
This week, Farrah was a Dolly. In more ways than one. I think this is an exquisite and mature look for Farrah to don. It’s a little too much volume for her frame in my opinion, but still a beautiful runway look. She gives me all the Dolly Parton realness with that youthful and polished Farrah touch that I can’t get enough of. And I’m glad she’s not taking Michelle Visage’s advice when it comes to her highlighter. The more the merrier. I like that her face glows like no other. TOOT
The Challenge
This week, I was a bit surprise that Farrah wasn't in the top for this challenge. I thought she had a stand-out performance and was so convincing as the vapid popular girl. It honestly enhanced Trinity's performance, as it gave her a lot to work with. So I think she deserved more praise.
NINA BO’NINA BROWN
The Look
While I’m impressed with her makeup skills as usual, this is one of the most predictable things she could have possibly worn. Not only is this a beginners drag look (the bodysuit, the thigh high boots, the corset etc,) but it’s not the first time Nina has worn something like it. While I’m impressed with the face painting and with the hair, we’ve also seen plenty of cats on the main stage (Bianca Del Rio, Kim Chi etc.) It’s time to do something different. Or at least if she was going to do a cat-type outfit, she should have had a wild furry costume to go with it. I expect more from Nina at this point. BOOT
The Challenge
I haven’t been the biggest fan of Nina throughout this competition ever since she started with the defeated attitude problems. Come to think of it, she really is the Trinity K Bonet of this season. From her placing in the top during the first challenge, to her lack of cooperation and confidence during many acting challenges and her passion for the competition being questioned. This episode after a fabulous Snatch Game performance and a supposed new chapter for her confidence in Untucked, I was disappointed to see her acting like she was over it and being uncooperative with Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling.
But again, like Trinity K Bonet, she was a stunner during this week’s lipsync. She really brought the correct energy and utilized her feline makeup to slay the unforgettable and soulful song that is “Finally.” It was the first lipsync of the season that I sought online and watched over and over again, sort of like those old TKB lipsyncs from season 6.
While I’m still not convinced Nina can change her attitude in time to make top 3 this season, it’s good to see that the girl can entertain. And that when worse comes to worse, she didn’t pull a Charlie during the lipsync. Hopefully that energy and fire that got her on the show after 9 years of auditioning will come out to create some more fabulous Nina moments in the meantime.
PEPPERMINT
The Look
Chaka Khan…as in I am chakad that Peppermint Khannot dazzle me on the runway at all. Thank god it’s not a short pink dress, but this is such a basic silhouette (not helped at all by pointy hip pads) mixed with such a basic pageant wig. While the wig is lovely and the color looks great on Peppermint, this is not doing it for me once again. BOOT
The Challenge
This week, while Peppermint didn’t make me (or anyone in the club for that matter) laugh during the challenge, she looked absolutely adorable in her 90s get up. And she did a pretty good job of being a character that gave the show a lot of exposition. I just feel that with some of her awkward line reading and this runway look, she maybe deserved to be in the bottom 3. Although I suppose it doesn’t matter, as she definitely wasn’t worthy of a bottom 2 spot this week. That was all well deserved by Aja and Nina.
SASHA VELOUR
The Look
Well well well… Looks like Sid an Nancy faked their deaths and have brought up a Russian baby in secrecy. I personally love this look. I love anything referencing punk and think that Sasha is so genuine in her nod to it. She really knows how to take a runway challenge and spin it in a way that is true to her style. So the hair more tall than big…So what? It still looks sexy and edgy and is one of the few runway looks I’d actually wear on my own in my spare time if I could. You know. To go to the post office and such. You go, Sasha. Make the punks proud. TOOT
The Challenge
I don’t agree with Sasha’s placement in the bottom this week. In my opinion, she had the same attitude while acting that Pearl always had in every episode of the show. That boozy flippant out of it weirdo character that the judges are always wishy washy on. In my opinion, Peppermint did a far worse job in this challengethan Sasha. But then again, Peppermint really dressed and looked perfect for her role. And very 90s. Although Sasha’s runway look was much cooler this week too. And in the club I was in this past week, everyone cracked up at Sasha and her lines as the boozy lunch lady, but no one made a peep during Peppermint’s parts. Not sure why she was in the bottom this week. My guess is it’s *in Nina voice:* sabotage…
SHEA COULEE
The Look
While I love the hair in this look, I am getting sick and tired of seeing Shea do a different version of her streetwalker look every night. And seeing that she doesn’t really take that aesthetic anywhere different when it comes to silhouette or overall feel, it starts to feel a lot less like a sense of style, and more like a single outfit she uses as a crutch. Wheras Sasha does her gothic artsy punk thing every week, but makes it fit the challenge, also trying out different colors, themes and silhouettes. I think She has an insane amount of potential, but that these looks hold her back from winning more challenges. With queens like Valentina and Trinity doing so well in the challenges and also slaying the runway, I fear that She will not be able to be as appreciated and recognized in this competition as much as she deserves to be. This competition unfortunately judges the runway almost just as much as the challenges themselves. And if you’re not doing significantly better in the challenges than every single person in the game (like Jinkxx Monsoon did,) you won’t get as much attention. BOOT
The Challenge
Welcome to the stage, one of my picks for Season 9’s Top 3. I know I just read her look once again, but Shea is so ridiculously talented and versatile in the acting challenges, and has such an incredible attitude for the competition, that it would make me extremely happy for her to represent this season in the top 3. She has the attitude of a winner. A whole-hearted sense of self, an encouraging attitude towards those around her and a willingness to try whatever it takes to win the competition. Take for example her willingness to take on the role of Grandrea in this episode. And she not only took on the role that others didn’t want, but she mopped the floor with the other queens. Shea is so consistent in this competition and I hope that her energy and positivity maintain themselves throughout the competition.
TRINITY TAYLOR
The Look
This look is a tough one for me to judge. I think the hair is well constructed, the outfit is high quality, the outfit fits the challenge and her body looks incredible. However I’m not a fan of the fabric or the gloves. And it looks like a garment we’ve already seen before. However, we have to remember: Trinity wore this outfit before All Stars 2 had premiered and before Roxxxy’s pantsuit number with the pant leg attached to her wrists. I think if it hadn’t been for that fashion moment, this would have been a more original look to the rest of us. I can see where she’s going with it and once again, it’s like nothing else she’s worn. TOOT, Trinity.
The Challenge
This winner winner chicken dinner is yet another pick for my top 3 of the season. As you may know, Trinity has been my favorite of the season and my pick for the winner of the competition ever since I saw her gorgeous white latex catsuit in the second episode. While Trinity did have a fall from grace during the news anchor challenge she captained, she has been so consistently in the top. And this episode was no different, with her role as the most popular girl in school’s wannabe mother winning her the challenge. Trinity is such an original when it comes to this show. She is a fierce competitor in her everyday life as a pageant queen, yet she gives you such varying looks every week that are of the highest quality possible, and she can make you laugh like no other. She is going to be a tough one to beat, and I cannot wait to see her with a crown on her head this June.
VALENTINA
The Look
I realize this look is a bit polarizing in its simplicity, but it had to be one of my favorites this week. Sure the silhouette of the hair swallowed her face up a little bit, but the matching volume and floral details on the hair and the pants just made this all fit together so nicely. She was perfectly a 70’s goddess and gave me all the life I needed to make this hair runway the prettiest it could possibly be. TOOT
The Challenge
And my final guess for the top 3 of the season is Valentina. I wanted to mention my top 3, as I’ve had it in my mind for a few weeks now, and this episode happened to be one where they were the top three of the challenge. According to social media, many people have been feeling this way as well. I wonder how long the crowd has had this hunch.
Valentina’s role this week of Monna Dartin the virgin, was such a standout, From the professional delivery of her lines, to her willingness to take the role as far as possible, to her drunk girl realness, this was a challenge I would have been happy seeing her win.
Valentina has been a strong contender from the beginning, with an attitude that tells me that she really wants to win. Her makeup has always been beautiful, her looks have always been gorgeous, her theme has always been nodded to without ever being overdone, she has always placed in the top and never the bottom, her attitude has always been good towards the judges and Ru, and her quiet nature during Untucked and in the workroom tells me she is galvanized and focused. And not interested in drama…at least for competition’s sake. So let’s see if I’m right!
Once again, thank you for tuning into my Season 9 recap. Be sure to subscribe or give me a like on Facebook to see more of these. And let me know who you think the top 3 is!
And don’t forget to watch RPDR Season 2 and All Stars runner ups (damn that hurts to say,) Raven and Jujubee as they Toot and Boot this week’s looks on Fashion Photo RuView. Let’s see if they at all agree with me! This week, I personally am relating to Jujubee’s look. I too am a hot-headed Asian.
