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In Episode 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, tensions rose as Lydia B Kollins delivered a striking blow to her rival Kori King during a dramatic Lip Sync for Your Life, which resulted in their separation. Meanwhile, Kori faced off in a design challenge inspired by Betsey Johnson but was unable to secure a victory, while Jewels Sparkles achieved her first maxi challenge win, inching her closer to the frontrunners Onya Nurve, Sam Star, and Suzie Toot, each with two wins to their names.
This week’s episode showcases the remaining contestants as they prepare for the inaugural “Villains Roast,” featuring guest judges Kandy Muse, Plane Jane, and Mistress Isabelle Brooks. The drama is palpable as participants vie for recognition and potential victory, sparking curiosity about whether one of the established frontrunners will extend their win tally or if a previously winless competitor will claim their moment in the spotlight.
As we dive into the recap of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17, Episode 10, titled “The Villains Roast,” which aired on March 7 on MTV, the contestants competing for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” include: Arrietty, Jewels Sparkles, Lana Ja’Rae, Lexi Love, Lydia B Kollins, Onya Nurve, Sam Star, and Suzie Toot.
SEE ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ winners list: Every season, plus ‘All Stars’
“I like to come off cute, but then what comes out of my mouth is not cute” — Arrietty
This week’s mini challenge, hosted by Michelle Visage, brought unexpected twists with the Badonka Dunk tank. Accompanied by writer Joey Nolfi, the queens faced a rapid-fire trivia round where every incorrect response led to splashes in the dunk tank. Ultimately, each contestant ended up drenched, setting the tone for the roast to follow.
Having won the previous maxi challenge, Jewels had the honor of determining the order for the roast. Sam vocalized her desire to perform after Arrietty, Lana, or Lydia. In crafting the order, Jewels aimed to balance the competitiveness of the stronger contenders with support for those who had yet to win a challenge. This led to an arrangement of Onya, Arrietty, Jewels, Lana, Sam, Lydia, Suzie, and Lexi, with Lexi expressing displeasure at being placed directly after Suzie, perceived as a comedic threat. The brewing tension escalated when Arrietty felt slighted by Jewels’ chosen order.
“The tension is thick, bitch … the tension is tensioning” — Jewels Sparkles
In the group workshop, guest judge Whitney Cummings emphasized the importance of humor in roasting, encouraging contestants to allow their targets to poke fun at themselves. Michelle offered Arrietty advice to embrace her mean side as a comedic strategy, while Jewels was prompted to accentuate her provocative persona. The session also illuminated the struggles of Suzie and the creative tensions within the group, as Arrietty contemplated rehashing Jewels’ material in retaliation.
Jewels became aware of Arrietty’s discomfort as she observed her friend’s shift in demeanor, leading to a frank discussion about the implications of the order. Arrietty expressed frustration that Jewels might have deliberately placed her in a vulnerable position to appear stronger in comparison.
“That set was the villain of the season, baby” — Plane Jane
As the roast unfolded, Onya’s initial performance did not generate much excitement, followed by Arrietty’s stumble through jokes about Kandy. However, Arrietty later attempted to co-opt Jewels’ jokes, prompting an immediate comeback from Jewels, who struggled to recover from having her material undermined.
After a series of mediocre performances, it was Lana who unexpectedly captured the audience’s laughter with adept humor, only to be outshone by Lydia’s standout set that cleverly critiqued the season’s villains. Suzie’s lackluster delivery followed, setting Lexi up for a challenging closing act. Despite her skill set, Lexi faltered under pressure, leaving the judges perplexed over her performance.
After the runway segment themed “Who Wears Short Shorts,” RuPaul designated Onya and Suzie as safe, while naming Lana, Sam, and Lydia among the top performers. Arrietty, Jewels, and Lexi found themselves in the bottom three. With Lydia praised for her comedic timing and clever quips, she ultimately stood out, leading to a lip sync battle between her and Jewels. Ultimately, RuPaul decided to eliminate Arrietty, signaling a turning point in the competition.
Next time on Drag Race…
Next week, the queens face off in a melodramatic evening spoof entitled “Ross Mathews vs. The Ducks.”
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