Yes, yes, I am several days late, but in my defense, I had a very busy week and I need to feed myself. So I have missed a lot. But like I’ve always said in previous posts, I am doing this for free so I really am trying to not feel bad about not posting right after the episode.
Anyways, let’s watch this Rusical episode!
Last week saw Veruschka “The Villain” Levels leave the competition as well as three of the girls — Veruschka, DeeDee, and Matilduh — lip syncing for their lives. The remaining girls are shady though as they all cheer now that Veruschka’s gone. It’s giving Willam leaving RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4 although I don’t think Veruschka’s at Willam’s level at all.
DeeDee does have a serious moment as she recalls the attempt she made on her life the previous year, recalling how her father used to tell her that being gay would take her nowhere. She also gives the younger queens advice, telling them to make wise choices while they’re still young so they won’t have to look back and regret it once they’re her age.
The day after, M1ss Jade So points out that she’s the only one among the trans sisters not to win a challenge so she’s feeling the pressure to step up this week. DeeDee, on the other hand, reaffirms her commitment to doing well on the challenges moving forward.
The Rusical is teased in the RuMail with clues like “Under the Sea” but before the queens dive into that they have to finish the mini challenge, “Upuan Mo Ako”. We all know where this is going.
As the queens put on “sexy” drag for the mini challenge, Arizona Brady once again proves she’s the narrator of the season as she reads ØV’s body suit. M1ss Jade also gets a lick by simply saying “Where’s the sexy?”
The mini game starts and it is hilarious when they succeed in getting Matilduh out of the competition immediately since she’s won all of the previous mini challenges. The way she just throws her wig off had me cackling.
When just four queens are left, Paolo calls in the Pit Crew and now we have a game. And M1ss Jade So power top? I WAS CACKLING. And Captivating KatKat glomping on the Pit Crew? CACKLING AGAIN. And when it’s just Bernie and KatKat in the final and Paolo suggests a fistfight and they run with it? CACKLING. KatKat crashing onto the floor with the Pit Crew on top of her? CACKLING. And then Hana Beshie saying that KatKat can use the P20,000 she just won for a CT scan? C A C K L I N G.
Can I just say — and this is a sentiment I’ve heard from friends who also watch the show — can we just have Paolo speak fully in Filipino? Or not have her read an English script? Because she’s great when she’s off the cuff but having her read a script? Wooden. Like a lacquered armoire.
To be honest, I did not like the the Rusical of season 1, so hopefully they manage to redeem themselves this season with a The Little Mermaid and Dyesebel-inspired Rusical. Now whether Matilduh redeems herself from her bottom placement remains to be seen because she intentionally chooses a smaller role precisely because she’s afraid of getting a bottom placement again. This will either work for her or she’ll be the next one to sashay away.
KatKat, on the other hand, picks the lead role, which sets her up for another win, I think. DeeDee picks the Tiya Pusit role and she says it’s a role that she’s confident about. Unfortunately, Arizona Brandy is also gunning for the same role. Tension.
But the queens actually resolve this in a really nice way that other franchises should take a look at actually. They state their reasons calmly and come to an agreement. Now was DeeDee being slightly manipulative? Maybe. Was this pretty amicable settlement also something that would have been frowned on by the Western audience? Probably. Depends! Anyway, Arizona relents and lets DeeDee take the Tiya Pusit role from her.
Bernie and M1ss Jade So also both want the Tampalpuke role, so the two of them decide to audition in front of the girls. Bernie’s side eye while Jade auditions is hysterical. And Arizona saying that both Bernie and Jade look stupid? Cackling. In the end, it’s Bernie that gets the role but M1ss Jade doesn’t seem to shaken up about it and says that she’s going to rock this role anyway.
During Pao’s visit to the Werk Room, Matilduh point blanks says that she chose the role of Catriona this week because she didn’t want to take a risk, which practically ensured that she’d be the one going home today. The only thing I need to figure out now is who’s going to be in the bottom two with her.
M1ss Jade is up next for a consultation with Pao and the visible lace on her wig distracted me the whole time. I know she’s not in full drag yet but it was just. so. distracting. DeeDee is another queen who’s consultation with Pao gets aired, so I am guessing either her or M1ss Jade end up on top or on the bottom. You get what I mean.
Teacher Cecile is also different from last year’s choreographer in that she has a relaxing, chill, and collaborative vibe. And yet even with that gentle hand Matilduh is shown to not be giving it in the rehearsals. She’s the next one to go, guys. M1ss Jade also flounders in the rehearsals, so I’m guessing she’s the other half of the bottom two and DeeDee takes the win this week. What a redemption if it happens!
The next day as they’re preparing for the Rusical, Arizona shares a story about how her sister — a pastor — invited her over for a meal after she came out. Turns out it wasn’t a meal but a pray-over and it’s so heartbreaking to hear Arizona say that she couldn’t say anything while it was happening because she loves her sister and she couldn’t handle the betrayal that was done to her.
ØV has a similarly harrowing story, sharing how someone once told her that they wanted her to die of AIDS. And while she doesn’t name who it was, she does say that it was a loved one that told her this. I wish I could say that this was shocking to hear but it really isn’t.
We finally move to the Main Stage for the Rusical and you know what? It’s already better than the previous season’s just from the opening. I do wonder how the get away with this because this sounds a lot like songs from the Disney movie. Won’t they get sued?
DeeDee puts in a performance and the editors even put in a shot of Kaladkaren saying “Ang galing ni DeeDee” which basically cements her win for this episode. And to be honest, none of the other queens do super bad? Maybe they don’t stand out but no disaster so far. Or at least they edited it that way.
The runway theme is “The Shoes” and good on the show to call back on an iconic line from the previous season!
Most of the queens also come in with great looks, with Matilduh being the weakest in my opinion because I think the flowers overpowered the shoes. I don’t think it was a bad look, it’s just that shoes were supposed to be highlighted on this runway and you could barely see them. I liked KatKat’s look in particular because I remember kadang-kadang as a child!
Also the undin reference from Hana Beshie? Amazing. Did the outfit look great? Not really, as least for me, a non-fashion person. But the reference is very much appreciated. She even had a toilet seat cover around her head!
During the critiques, Bernie got so much praise — deservedly — that it made me reconsider my DeeDee prediction. But DeeDee also gets high praise, so maybe Bernie just gets second place this time around.
The bottom queens look to be M1ss Jade, Matilduh, and KatKat, which wasn’t surprising. Personally, I didn’t think they did bad, but they certainly weren’t up to par with the rest of the girls.
As telegraphed throughout the episode, DeeDee ends up winning this week’s challenge and M1ss Jade and Matilduh end up in the bottom. And the lipsync is heartbreaking. Matilduh even actually cried and not as part of the lip synch either. It felt very much like Yara Sofia during RuPaul’s Drag Race season 3.
And I got to give the editing props this time around because it’s a massive improvement from last season’s. Matilduh’s heartbreaking departure punctuated by KatKat’s fall? Giving you a gut punch and then relieving the tension with that little bit of unintended slapstick? Good work!
And the editing in Untucked? Shady! They really want the post-season drama because why are you making these girls look like two-faced bitches!
Ron Does Stuff 
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