Ron Does Stuff

Drag Race France has been one of my favorite international franchises, and when the teaser for this first came out, I was really excited to catch it. But, of course, life hasn’t been cooperating with me, so I forgot when this was going to premiere and even if I did remember, I wouldn’t have had the time to watch. But now I can!

We start off with a little look back at the previous seasons before being shown an upgraded Werk Room, which really is looking quite good. Regular viewers of any Drag Race franchise knows how this thing works, but now there’s the added twist of the Golden Baguette, which one queen can use to save another in the bottom. Kinda like the hearts in the fifth season of Drag Race España!

Also, can I say how many prizes the show has now? And Kam Hugh’s make-up brand is one of the prizes? You go, Kam Hugh! And prizes from Kiehl’s as well! All that’s missing is money!

The first queen to enter the Werk Room is Lana Cotta, who is apparently the Queen of the Burlesque. She’s followed by Azémylia, who claims she is the best dancer Drag Race France has ever seen. She’s also the daughter of Ginger Bitch from season two, which just blows my mind because we’ve come to a point in Drag Race France where the drag daughters are competing.

Third to walk into the Werk Room is Creatine Price, who is a New Yorker in Paris. She’s followed by Sublyme, who makes her own outfits. That is always an advantage on any Drag Race iteration. Fifth to enter is Fluffy Bidule, who’s got all of her thongs on the Werk Room floor. A statement!

Next to enter is Holly White, who enters wearing zebra print. Not exactly white, isn’t it? She’s the “old” queen at 40, which is frying me. Lana Cotta says she was two years old when Holly White started doing drag, and I can feel my bones turning into dust. Holly White is also Azémylia’s drag aunt!

Seventh to enter is Margarette, who is positioning herself as the comedy/camp queen. Let’s see how long she stays in the competition! Next to enter is Daisy Superbitch, who is the second-oldest queen at 33. She’s Belgian and also considers herself a comedy queen, and I can’t wait for the culturally specific jokes about Belgians that the cast will make at her expense.

La Harpie is the ninth queen to enter the Werk Room, and she’s very much giving The Misfits from Jem and the Holograms!

The final queen to enter is Drag Race France‘s first cis woman contestant, Malawitte! She’s also the first lesbian woman of color to compete in Drag Race herstory! Good for her!

Nicky then enters the Werk Room and tells them that there’s a new member of the judges’ panel this season, and it’s Anggun! Nicky also tells them about the Golden Baguette, and the queens are already thinking it’s going to start some drama. And I feel like they’re not wrong!

After that, Nicky tells them this week’s Maxi Challenge is a performance challenge, with the extra special guest judge being Isabelle Adajani. Drag Race France and Drag Race Espańa really bring extra special guest judges and not C-List people, as Trixie and Katya would describe it.

Before they start on their performance, they have to sorta audition in front of two Star Academy teachers. I know Star Academy because of Katseye!

Creatine Price can sing, and in multiple languages too! But it’s Azémylia who gets top marks and first pick when it comes to the song verses. The other nine queens will have to decide among themselves who gets to sing which part.

There are some disagreements when it comes to verse selection, but I gotta admit that I still don’t know the queens well enough to distinguish who is who, so I do not know who is disagreeing with whom. La Harpie gets the last verse, though, because there’s a whole confessional of her talking about it.

It’s hard to get a sense of who’s going to do well in the challenge during the recording session, because they don’t show a lot of slip-ups. Malawitte even gets an emotional moment because it’s the first time she’s actually being vocal. Fluffy Bidule also gets an emotional moment as the mentor tries to lift her spirits up. The same can be said for the dance rehearsals, and I was thinking we’d get some snark from the instructor because Nicky said he was tough.

It’s even more emotion the day after, as both Malawitte and Fluffy open up about the personal struggles teased during the song’s recording Fluffy, in particular, is moved to tears since she’s still struggling to be proud of her trans identity.

Then we’re headed to the Main Stage, and I like the song! The first four queens to perform, though. Other than that one queen, it felt a little lacking in energy to me? But maybe it felt different inside the studio. And, well, the second batch felt like that too. Creatine Price was also a beat or so behind when it came to the dancing.

It’s a different matter when it comes to the runway. It’s one beautiful outfit after another, and I am also living for Isabelle Adjani looking concerned with Daisy’s clitoral(?) outfit. In fact, Isabelle Adjani looks over it with every look. I am S C R E A M I N G. The only time she looks wowed by something is with Malawitte’s outfit, which, to be fair, really is stunning.

Margarette, poor thing, is the one who gets a negative critique from Isabelle Adjani, and I kinda agree. I can’t articulate it, but her outfit looks like it’s fighting with itself? I hope that makes sense. It doesn’t help Margarette that Fluffy enters right after her and Isabelle Adjani likes her outfit.

Fluffy, Holly, Daisy, and Lana are all safe. And judging from the judges’ critiques, it’s either Creatine, Margarette, and La Harpie in the bottom. Let’s see which queen the Golden Baguette saves.

Azémylia is this week’s winner, and it looks like the Golden Baguette isn’t saving anyone since that comes into play next week. Sorry, I misunderstood! La Harpie is who Nicky save this episode, so the lip sync is going to be between Creatine and Margarette.

The lip sync is “Golden” from Kpop Demon Hunters, which is a surprise to me, because I thought they’d go with a French song. Oh well. And I am so sorry to Creatine, but Margarette won this one.

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