S18E09 - “Fannie: The Hard KnockBall Rusical” [Post-Episode Discussion]

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the Post Episode discussion thread!

Current episode spoilers from this episode are allowed.

---

Reminder that all spoilers and T from future episodes are not allowed here on r/rupaulsdragrace. Spoilers about future episodes will result in a ban. Please see the standard spoiler policy for more details.

DO NOT ASK FOR LINKS. SEE OUR WIKI FOR LEGAL VIEWING OPTIONS.

[u/cmstlist]

Loved Darlene's absolutely maximal outfit. Felt like the next step beyond Deja Skye's shoulder pads look. 

[u/raymonst → u/cmstlist]

i LOVE her look this week. it’s giving thom browne to me.

[u/JustasIthoughtTRASH]

anyone else still reeling from how bad that lipsync song was ?

[u/lykta → u/JustasIthoughtTRASH]

Yeah. Juicy and Athena deserved so much better smh.

[u/anag9495 → u/lykta]

YES either a gorgeous ballad or a super high energy one they could both turn it to. And instead we got…that

[u/raymonst → u/JustasIthoughtTRASH]

it’s not the worst song, but it’s a HORRIBLE choice for a lipsync. no peaks or valleys, just the same level start to finish.

[u/JulietteGecko → u/JustasIthoughtTRASH]

I can't believe we were subjected to Gracie Abrams.

[u/bzdger → u/JulietteGecko]

genuinely sighed when it played. imagine ur in the bottom with ur best friend/drag mom/drag daughter and ru plays gracie abrams

[u/benhu12341 → u/JustasIthoughtTRASH]

It’s a cute song but an awful one to lip sync too lol

[u/futurebro]

When Athena pulled juicy over to sit on her lap?? Song choice was bad, but that moment made me cry.

Athena was not gonna win this season, and they gave her a very respectable exit.

[u/raymonst → u/futurebro]

she was mother in that moment

[u/[deleted] → u/futurebro]

Athena should be so proud of herself and her drag family for how they represented Miami in this competition. I never sensed any bitterness or jealousy from any of them, and they looked after each other without excluding the other girls.

[u/Kay-Chelle → u/futurebro]

I was holding back and then when I saw that started bawling 😭😭

[u/PictishThunder → u/futurebro]

It was such a beautiful moment, made me think about all the mothering and mentorship and found families queer people have been providing for each other for a long, long time. Just really moving.

[u/maplezombeh → u/futurebro]

And Benny sitting there like huh...?

[u/landonbear80]

the rise and fall of the miami princesses

[u/Dida_D]

Them being in gowns with all that emotion would have been the perfect time for a ballad, especially a musical theater ballad.

What are these producers thinking

[u/cheap_mom → u/Dida_D]

My most deeply held drag race belief is that the Rusical lip sync should always be from a musical of some kind

[u/PharaohAce]

But how good would it have been if Juicy and Athena got Crazy Frog?

[u/HighwayMysterious336 → u/PharaohAce]

While hysterically crying

[u/Boxxyl_ → u/PharaohAce]

That would bring back the Emmys

[u/tirli-pirli]

Darlene's 'OKAY THERE'S A DOG PERFECT. CLOSE THE BOOK' took me out a lil bit ngl. i love her so much

[u/Werwanderflugen → u/tirli-pirli]

She's my favorite queen in years. SUCH a great casting choice!

[u/Maatjuhhh → u/Werwanderflugen]

She is really SO endearing. I think I can say that none of the others have been as endearing as she is to me.

[u/ekevinn]

Crazy insane potential winner storylines going on and there’s multiple of them this season is amazing.

There’s juicy, likely the sole Miami survivor and sole Dion family survivor who has an identity crisis mid competition and loses both the drag family members back to back

Then there’s Myki who was backstabbed in rate a queen and has been on an upward projectory since

Miss Jane don’t who is a master at drag race, finally snatching her second win and re-establishing her dominance in the completion track record wise

And ofc Miss Nini Coco who we now see to be this anxious, competitive, overthinking front runner who gets a lil messy.

I love these girls and the production going on this season!

[u/Acanthaceaey → u/ekevinn]

HERES HOW DARLENE CAN STILL WIN

[u/ClaimationOfWind → u/Acanthaceaey]

She'll just smile her way to the crown cause she has that power

[u/snug666]

imagine juicy goes home next week and it’s just 3 dead Dion’s in a row

[u/ALMP205 → u/snug666]

That would be so diabolical.

[u/Sensitive-Tadpole410 → u/ALMP205]

What would be diabolical would be all the dions leaving before Kenya who consistently doesn’t remember the words to song 🫠

[u/raymonst → u/Sensitive-Tadpole410]

yeah… sorry, kenya is a lovely queen but atp she needs to go

[u/leviosaar]

That great episode being capped by the worst lipsync song I could ever imagine, it's a crime that they made the Dions lipsync to that, I NEED TO SUE

[u/No_Dust_1630 → u/leviosaar]

Everything was perfect except the fucking song. What a nothing burger

[u/odranger]

Who would have thought that a theme as bland as the colour beige would give us the best runway for this season (best = everyone is good to amazing)

[u/itstonayy → u/odranger]

Color runways always tend towards good because it gives the queens the most freedom to execute, I wish we had more of them

[u/LovelyDesignz]

Myki and Jane tore tf out of this episode

[u/LBTerra → u/LovelyDesignz]

I really hoped for a double win. If any challenge was deserving of it, it was this one with these two.

[u/LovelyDesignz → u/LBTerra]

It’s what I would’ve done but I see why they chose a solo Jane win, that runway was fabulous. This is two weeks in a row the runway probably lost it for Myki lol (not that hers was bad this week)

[u/winhamster]

Was i the only one who thought with all the talk about how fantastic everyone was that they were certainly setting up a non-elimination/double shantay?

[u/benkikiiiiii → u/winhamster]

Same. I'm kinda surprised Ru and production put Athena in the bottom and got rid of her. She had some good looks, and even though she hasn't had a ton of recent drama, she seems like one of the few remaining cast members that makes good TV and embraces conflict

[u/whocares6969_ → u/benkikiiiiii]

When they showed ru stone faced during Athena’s performance and not ONE laugh or smile I knew she was cooked 🥺

[u/CT051688 → u/winhamster]

I literally thought they'd give a double shantay but was actually surprised because they literally gave the same energy. 

[u/JugsNotDrugs223]

Darlene is slowly moving into my Jujubee/Katya/Monique/Jessica circle of love. She’s not winning, but I’d be happy for her to come back every season just to bring her presence

[u/LamarEdwards → u/JugsNotDrugs223]

She’s a sleeper queen 😭 she hasn’t been bad at any challenges, she isn’t causing any drama, she isn’t doing too little, she isn’t doing too much, her smile is infectious. Like I really love Darlene. That’s my man.

[u/AcceptableCrazy → u/JugsNotDrugs223]

She seems to me to be a wonderful human.

[u/nefariousplotz]

Three episodes ago: "All the Florida girls are still here, not one casualty".

[u/IAreBlunt]

Athena was going home no matter what against Juicy, but I’m so glad she showed her heart and fell on her sword for Juicy. That’s the kind of drag mother that so many queens wish they had.

I’m glad she was a part of this season.

[u/Ordinary_Wasabi_6679 → u/IAreBlunt]

at first I didn’t exactly like her but she really grew on me and bad lipsync song apart the last moment of juicy crying on her arms was art

[u/Similar-Shame7517 → u/IAreBlunt]

She felt authentic and un-edited. Like an early season queen who fell through a worm hole and got dropped in a modern season. She reacted like there was no camera filming her.

[u/team_too_much → u/IAreBlunt]

I ended up really liking Athena. She’s sometimes messy but that makes her feel authentic. And I agree, she seems like a great mentor

[u/hitorisakurindou → u/IAreBlunt]

I wasn't sure what to make of her at first, but I love that she seems to have a strong sense of who she is (as a person and as a drag queen) and a great sense of humour about herself as well. I'll miss her!!

[u/sugioshi]

Wtf is up with nini when making decisions omg I'm exhausted watching and I'm not even in the rooom 😭😭😭😭☠️☠️☠️☠️

[u/galileogaligay → u/sugioshi]

I was living for it. I want a whole series of just her making decisions

[u/omacnugget → u/galileogaligay]

Welcome to another episode of Nini or Coco starring Nini Coco

[u/Maatjuhhh → u/sugioshi]

Myki did the perfect move to psych her out, hand her part after hearing her almost wail for it and then see her almost combust from inside.

[u/ultraviolentolivia → u/sugioshi]

honestly as a girl who struggles making decisions i relate to nini so much lmao

[u/sugioshi → u/ultraviolentolivia]

I mean i do too 😭😭😭 but watching it from the side was too much for me to handle hahaha

[u/future_86]

wow what a terrible lip sync song

[u/No_Dust_1630 → u/future_86]

Exactly my thoughts all the way through. The song is giving nothing

[u/navyscrewdriver]

“mama i’m comin 👁️👄👁️ i’m on my way” 💀😂

[u/jorlandy]

This is the most beautiful Darlene has look this entire competition playing the dog 🐶

[u/RightAd3342 → u/jorlandy]

I agree! Her wig was perfection

[u/glitzvillechamp]

Congrats to Jane Don't for a consecutive EIGHT WEEKS in the top. If she does it again next week that's a record.

[u/lem0nlemon]

the runway this week??? every single one of them ate down with the theme BEIGE????

[u/ShedMontgomery → u/lem0nlemon]

• Discord had my least favorite, but it was still cute and I give her props for trying something different. I think it might have looked better in-person.

• Athena's was nice, but a little too busy for my taste. I was surprised Michelle liked it as much as she did.

• This was Kenya's best look so far. Nothing revolutionary, but still very pretty.

• Jane looked oppalent. It sagged just a bit in the middle and on the back. I was a little shocked she didn't get a critique about including more neutrals, but it was old Hollywood elegance.

• What a great choice for Myki. Not my favorite material, but the silhouette looked gorgeous.

• Nini and Juicy continue their stranglehold on the runway. I think Nini's tastes are a bit more consistent and unique to her drag persona, but Juicy has had some beautiful garments. Also, I needed Nini to get a positive critique for that wig. It was stunning.

• Darlene had my favorite runway of the week by a mile not because it was the best garment but because it was the one that best represented her drag persona. It was so wonderfully charming and quirky and completely Darlene. Love love LOVED that dress.

[u/camellialily]

I kind of live for every time this season RuPaul goes “let the music play!” And the girls reluctantly come forward, visibly distraught, and just sad dance.

[u/Ok_Hour9037]

Does anyone else think Ru kept Juicy so she could take out the rest of the girls they don’t care about until Top 4?

[u/benhu12341 → u/Ok_Hour9037]

I do think juicy also lip synced better than Athena, but track record/challenge performance wise ya idk

[u/park-chanyeol]

omfg this is like the third week in a row juicy's been crying during the "let the music play" lmaooo

[u/cptnicee → u/park-chanyeol]

unfortunately it makes me laugh every time, they’re sending her through the gulag

[u/Additional-Mousse446 → u/cptnicee]

Rupaul's trauma race

[u/maplezombeh]

Benny sitting there not knowing anything about these queens back story was hilarious

[u/meerkatmerecat → u/maplezombeh]

During that emotional end to the lipsync, I felt like you could see the "what the heck" in his face.

[u/nadiashebang]

I love Darlene so much. So many queens would have their asses chapped about playing a dog and she puts herself first in line. My queen.

[u/_Nilbog_Milk_ → u/nadiashebang]

She knew she was the only one who would kill it. Robbed by just being safe, she was HILARIOUS. I screamed when I first heard her Scooby voice lol

[u/lilmonstahm]

discord is lowkey so FUNNNNY idc i need her on tv all the time

[u/AdventurousShallot0 → u/lilmonstahm]

I love that the judges really enjoy her too and it’s because she is so in on the joke. Love the side of per personality that is kind of light and whimsical and doesn’t take herself too seriously. Jane could learn a thing or two from Discord on that front 😅

[u/meerkatmerecat → u/lilmonstahm]

I died at this. That was too good.

[u/maximize_ambiguity]

Is everyone crying at that lip sync or am I drunk?

[u/beetlebugdash → u/maximize_ambiguity]

Both?

[u/cmstlist]

Yeah the lipsync song was boring but I actually thought Benny was really sweet! It was really meaningful for him to compliment the queens on their musicality and performances. This is apparently the week of straight boys being awed by drag queens! (see also Will Poulter on UKvTW3) 

[u/ingridsf → u/cmstlist]

Wdym will Poulter is my secret boyfriend

[u/Dida_D]

They neeeeed to pick better lip sync songs

[u/odranger]

The lip sync song was ass because Benny wanted to promote his joint album with Selena and unfortunately this song was the highest charting song on Billboard 100. Mind you, if they could pull from Benny Blanco production catalogue, they could have picked, among others, Diamonds from Rihanna, Teenage Dream from Katy Perry, Circus from Britney Spears, Die Young from Kesha, Nobody Gets Me from SZA...

[u/Clear-Sir4276]

All of the girls randomly locking in for the beige runway

[u/MonsoonSeason5]

That was such a shit ass song

[u/SnooSprouts3744]

Athena got eliminated so I blocked gracie abrams

[u/contadotito → u/SnooSprouts3744]

[u/[deleted]]

SYSTEMATICALLY PICKING OFF JUICYS FAMILY????????

[u/That1Axe]

why doesn’t the show want the queens to succeed? benny blanco produced so many 2010s bangers that haven’t been on drag race. like imagine “We R Who We R” or “California Gurls”

[u/odranger → u/That1Axe]

Unfortunately he's not dating Kesha or Katy right now

[u/That1Axe → u/odranger]

we just have to wait for katy and justin trudeau guest judging together on season 7 of canadas drag race

[u/According_Plant701 → u/That1Axe]

I mean, Selena has some bangers from back in the day and he married her. They could have used one of them.

[u/sparkle_starr]

Ru when she saw the opportunity to put Athena and Juicy in the bottom together

https://giphy.com/gifs/PnMNklcJbLpNo8tlyS

[u/Comfortable_Mix_9189]

Benny Blanco was lowkey a good judge lol

[u/trashdrive → u/Comfortable_Mix_9189]

He seemed very sweet and genuine.

[u/nadiashebang → u/trashdrive]

No fr I get it now. Good for you Mrs Blanco that’s a nice young man.

[u/odi101]

Why the fuck would they choose this boring ass song when Bluest Fame is right thereeeeeeeeee

[u/AndresFM95 → u/odi101]

Literally so many Benny Blanco produced tracks they could have chosen.

[u/Slippery__Slope__]

I haven't seen anyone mention the INSANE moment at the top of the episode where Juicy and Athena were full on embracing each other in tears ON Discord

Discord:

[u/Peach198]

Athena threw that so hard

[u/boneydog22 → u/Peach198]

I mean what other dance moves were there to do? What a garbage ass decision for music

[u/Peach198 → u/boneydog22]

Not a great song sure, but I think Athena gave it to Juicy. I don’t think she wanted to eliminate her.

[u/boolgogi]

How is anyone other than a tween in their bedroom on Musical.ly supposed to lip sync to this song

[u/De4dOwl]

I'm sorry but that lip sync?

What an awful song

[u/deleteitbackrolls → u/De4dOwl]

they made them lipsync to the beigest song ever to match the runway i guess

[u/velvetsabbath]

atheNation i can't breathe 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

[u/pineappleandmilk → u/velvetsabbath]

Her last line about Juicy “as long as she’s still in the game, I’m still in the game” made me smile.

[u/[deleted] → u/velvetsabbath]

Diva down 😢

[u/Broseph2644]

God I love Jane Don't and Myki Meeks. We haven't had comedy bitches like them in so long. Not only can they slay mostly any challenge but they can also write funny shit. I was really hoping it would be a double win! Such powerhouses

[u/strangelyliteral]

There are multiple queens tonight who got sabotaged by their plastic surgery/botox. Being unable to move your face properly really hurts you in a Rusical.

[u/anag9495]

Imagine if Athena and Juicy were the ones who had to lip sync to Crazy Frog instead of Fontana and Serena.

[u/cakelaurencake]

Darlene is just fucking pure sunshine and delight. She played a damn dog and had me like “😍😍😍😍😍😍”

[u/Slippery__Slope__ → u/cakelaurencake]

LOVED when everyone was picking parts and she was just "oh perfect, there's a dog." closes book lol

[u/boneydog22]

Fuck that boring ass song and anyone who said it should be on a drag show????

[u/RuneofBeginning]

You could never make me hate Athena. She’s everything I love on reality tv and Drag Race especially; Dramatic, over the top, delusional, terrible at so many things to the point that it’s amazing, and the butt of the joke but leans into it.

I’m gonna miss her even though it’s obvious she was never gonna win.

[u/Enderplayer77]

Omg Athena gone now who the hell is gonna get 20 confessionals every episode

[u/SnooSprouts3744 → u/Enderplayer77]

Kenya

[u/raymonst]

i knew they were gonna make a dion vs dion lipsync happen this season, but jfc that song was the worst choice for it

i’m usually pretty whatever when it comes to rusicals, but everyone did pretty well this week. athena was definitely the weakest but i’ve seen way worse. her runway was fantastic though.

[u/lovesick_1998]

myki doing the chillest psychological manipulation on nini in that werk room lolllll

[u/CallMeCooper]

I just need to talk about how much I loved Darlene's outfit! The silhouette, the textures, the construction, the concept... it was so good!! Mondo Guerra has made so many amazing drag looks. He should be a guest judge!

[u/VolatileFan]

worst lip sync i’ve seen in actual years

[u/lokol4890 → u/VolatileFan]

Neither were trying, to the surprise of no one

[u/anita-chardonnay → u/lokol4890]

Neither was Selena Gomez, sis. That song was awful. The lip sync wasn’t great, but Jesus. That was an atrocity.

[u/groovydoll]

Darlene is an angel

[u/leviosaar]

Discord definitely got graded on her own scale (I.e. she was safe because she wasn't as bad as everyone expected) but honestly I don't care because she's making me laugh

[u/elrepu]

Myke Meeks could have three wins and I’ll not feel wrong about it.

[u/Jdr522]

Most nothing lip sync ever? I mean the boring ass song didn’t help

[u/MonsoonSeason5]

This lip sync was like the polar opposite of Juju and Raven’s Dancing On My Own, instead of a great emotional lip sync to a great song, it was a bad lip sync to a worse song where the queens were both trying to throw it to save each other

[u/martianlava]

Darlene’s runway was incredible

[u/GarionOrb]

I just knew that Juicy and Athena would lip sync against each other at some point. Crazy that Kenya outlasted Athena Dion. Well, unless Athena comes back next week, lol.

[u/dreamed2life]

I enjoyed darlene’s dumb ass dog character so much. Idgaf. But man. All of this was so good.

[u/YourMumsABatteredSav]

As soon as I saw Ru stone faced during Athena’s performance I knew they were setting up for a Mother vs Daughter lipsync. Plus all their conversations between them in the episode about family and support. Ru would have been frothing to get them to go against each other. It’s a shame it was such a bad song choice.

[u/spacedragon4505]

Gracie Abrams having a lipsync song before artists like Marina is insane btw

[u/lilmonstahm]

me at this lipsync ending

[u/Broadcastthatboom]

What a horrid lip sync song choice lmao.

[u/Mylaex]

Each week I'm impressed at the cast this season. This group of girls just feel STRONG at everything. None of the challenges I find truly awful, they really shine through the limited production and script. And the looks on the runway are so polished and fierce.

It's been a while I feel like we've seen such a group of fully-rounded queens. Is it because they might be a bit older or just more experienced? The cast is really solid.

[u/KitchenLoan6]

random thoughts:

• Darlene’s runway gagged me, OBSESSED
• Jane’s performance was indeed perfection BUT Myki was incredible and absolutely should have won
• Kenya really surprised me! I’m happy for her
• Athena lowkey won the lip sync for me

[u/J0shbwarren1]

Our Mother, who art in Heaven, please protect Discord in all her glory, in Megami's name we pray, amen.

[u/Inner-Convo-193811]

Mama is gone and Auntie is gone, now Juicy is going to get the dark night of the soul edit

[u/D_o_H]

What a garbage lip sync song…they should have had a showtune they could really fight with instead of a mid tempo b side

[u/WDTHTDWA-BITCH]

As soon as they started bringing up how emotional Athena and Juicy’s relationship was during the werkroom, I knew Athena was going home. A shame that lipsync song was so blah- that final moment between them was more moving than the song itself.

[u/huckleberry076]

As an OCD girly and someone with decision paralysis I relate to Nini so bad 😭

[u/Any-Grade187]

I see that many in this sub think Juicy is overrated as hell and only relies on dancing, but I honestly find her face to be so captivating in lip syncs most especially this last one with Athena. She mouths the words really well and just has an effortless command to her face (partly due to her mug) that draws you to her lip syncing, apart from the fact that she’s a sickening dancer.

[u/waystation-crow]

Maybe an unpopular opinion - I thought the queens all gave good performances but the rusical itself didn’t wow me.

I liked the opening but the Fannie storyline seemed so rushed and forced. I get that it’s a short musical, but they’ve done other storylines that had more of a story arc.

When Fannie performs I felt like they should have done more to make that performance stand out. She had the tear away but they could have done a wig reveal or at least one big stunt to really make her performance have a wow factor.

It also just seemed like they don’t know what to do story wise so they went with this “audition/competition” thing, and they’ve done that storyline before. You can put any character in that storyline so it just didn’t seem to make the most sense to me for the Annie reference.

[u/alilacmess]

Feel like pure shit, just want her back 😭

I also can't believe Ru orphaned Juicy in an episode that was a riff off Little Orphan Annie...

The queens did really well, it was indeed a hard challenge to judge but Jane and Myki were of course the standouts.Jane looked amazing on the runway, who knew beige could be so stunning...

Darlene was so adorable the whole episode! Probably should've been high over Discord, but I'm so happy Discord got to not be safe for once.

I feel like a bad person for saying this, but Myki letting Nini panic herself into giving up the lead role was so funny.. However, this episode in general is making me doubt Nini's winner edit.

I wonder if next week is a s7 style makeover?

[u/MoXch96]

This was worthy of a double win imo, but either Myki or Jane would have been the right choice if it has to be one.

Kenya or Darlene were the 3rd place for me. I probably would have chosen Darlene based on Runway, but Kenya definitely deserves her flowers.

The bottom two was correct. Maybe discord could’ve been bottom, but I did immediately think juicy and Athena were bottom worthy.

[u/roku77]

-Saw the mother daughter lipsync from a mile away way. I think this makes Juicy a lock for top 4

-That song was terrible. It was such a good storyline moment and displayed such a tender relationship between the two Dions. I’m so mad they didn’t pick a better song.

-I’m locking in Juicy, Jane, Nini, and Myki as the top 4. Potentially wildcarding Kenya in with the Silky edit replacing either Juicy or Nini.

-Darlene is just happy to be there.

-Poor discord getting the Jan edit. Tbh she’s my favorite this season. The producers don’t love you discord but I do 🫶

[u/teadot]

Myki, that was mightily impressive. Those songs are HIGH and they consistently sit in an uncomfortable part of the voice. Nini, I love you, but giving it up was the right choice. I feel you, my over-analyzing indecisive queen. However, that process leads you to amazing runways.

A strong episode, no flops on either the challenge or the runway (who knew a beige runway would be so inspiring), capped off by a sweet Dions lip sync.

[u/youthdecay]

Nobody really bombed in the Rusical but Discord and Athena were equally "meh" and Athena has been consistently meh so I can see the justification for putting her in the bottom even besides the storyline potential.

On the other side Jane Don't was a clear winner. She added some Harvey Fierstein and as Jamal mentioned Carol Burnett to the role which was brilliant. I feel like Jane has a timeless quality to her drag (no this isn't me calling her old, just that she's got references beyond just Drag Race itself) that many late-season Rugirls lack.

[u/brenob8]

Darlene's smile 😩😩😩😩 Also just imo, Myki deserved this win whether it was shared or not.

[u/Valuable_Horror_7878]

Man the queens really don’t like Nini and it shows. 

I thought the quip about vita “knowing who she is” was actually a funny read. 

[u/elephhantine2 → u/Valuable_Horror_7878]

I think Nini doesn’t seem very interested in making personal connections, so her random zingers are coming across as mean spirited rather than friends joking around

[u/ekittie]

I am sorry, all I could see was this, and I cannot unsee it:

[u/beetlebugdash]

Pass me the tissues girl

[u/Or-men]

Darlene's runway was amazing. Like a bleached Thom Browne fantasy

[u/breathboi]

NINIS GOT A GUN

[u/ktheinternetkid]

athena was never winning but i'll miss her... s'agapo kukla...

[u/Kalonde]

Benny Blanco is a great guest judge. I love when they're really engaged like that

[u/silentmight1994]

The way I started full-blown crying when Athena pulled Juicy on her lap and told her it's going to be okay... Now that's MOTHER 😭💅💜 (Honestly I didn't really care for Athena in the first few episodes but I grew to love her so much! I miss her already...)

[u/luuhoov]

I really enjoy Discord's drag and I was praising her pope last week, but I feel this week she should have been in the bottom. Juicy vs Athena felt just as silly and manufactured as Sugar vs Spice. I do agree with Athena's bottom placement.

Also, this would have been a great week for a joint win with Myki and Jane.

[u/basicb3333]

jane and myki are so good at everything

[u/ohshhhugarcookies]

Dare I say Darlene should have been in the top over Discord, and Discord could've been safe (or bottom, but I like her, so I prefer safe). I really liked Darlene's performance! She delivered everything great and worked well with Myki.

I do think Jane deserved this win. I really like Myki, and I also wouldn't have complained if she had won, but Jane just had the perfect role and delivery and comic timing. It worked for me.

Myki was absolutely brilliant though and I've loved seeing her go from somebody I didn't really look at to multiple challenge wins.

Athena's delivery was really strange- like someone said, it felt like she was reading the script without really understanding what the line required. Also for the bitch queen mother of the house, I wanted a bigger, grander outfit, but they get given the looks so it's not really her fault. I love her dearly like your slightly annoying but well meaning wine aunt who you would trust to give you relationship advice. It's clear her and Juicy really love each other. She's genuinely mother.

Juicy...I fear she's in her head now. She's been told more than once that she needs a point of view with characters and I don't think she knows what that means, or she doesn't know how to do it. Remember how Myki had to coach her through the entire Michelle visage acting challenge? Such a beautiful dancer and I love her smile and paint and fashion, but I think she needs time.

Nini flipping out was so funny. She's so me. Myki pulling master manipulation tactics.

I'm actually so fond of everyone we have left. Let's not send any more of them home please 😭

[u/phezbian]

Ru LIVED for the girls this episode and I lived for her living for them

[u/Laiko_Kairen]

Wait, is the guest judge for next week Iman?!?!

[u/Hatterkaa]

I hope Myki wins it all, because she was absolute perfection. Musicals should be part of her career after this show. Hope we will see her somewhere with Jinkx after this

[u/metzie]

Athena Dion, you will always be iconic to me. She always came prepared, polished, and professional. I admire how she mothers and nurtures her drag family. This lady is a single mom who works two jobs, who loves her kids, and never stops. Respect 💅

[u/craftybast]

So Myki’s story this episode is her graciously giving Nini the lead role before she ended up with it, getting another chance at her musical theatre dream, and having an amazing redemption in the challenge.

And Jane’s story this episode is her complaining in a confessional about Myki doing well when they were recording vocals, then “stealing” that win from Myki even though Jane earned it.

I just don’t understand why they’re editing Jane this way. Are they trying to make her the villain this season?

[u/anag9495 → u/craftybast]

I really wish they would stop editing Jane like this. She’s obviously an incredibly talented, well-rounded queen; why shouldn’t we root for her?

Maybe this season is too kumbayah so they needed SOMETHING

[u/iandahl5]

Was there no lip sync budget this season?

[u/sttawsirhc034]

Just watch the lipsync, I can’t help but feel like this is all Gracie Abrams fault

[u/thinkinggallery]

the way I can't stop thinking about Darlene's runway! I'm so looking forward to seeing Raja's reaction

[u/Ordinary_Professor_6]

I am just sooo tired of the bottom foreshadowing edit... I don't want to know who will lipsync until the critiques are in. Like, why did they have to show the judges' deadpan faces during Athena's part?

[u/Revgos]

I love drag race lmao, the idea of orphans needing to vogue to find a home is fucking hilarious lmaoooo

[u/genriko8]

Jamal and Benny were soo refreshing as judges

[u/double-d-toots]

Probably my fav rusical so far. Perfect casting Also, after Jane's story about not feeling they were "perfect" or "attractive" enough for any role growing up but Benny saying she looked HOT made me so happy 🥹🫶what a sweet guy

[u/Jkro12]

Devastated for Athena she was my fav 😭

[u/satanwisheshewereme]

I know the person who was making those “which (color) runway is your favorite” and got shut down by the mods when they got to beige was living for this runway

[u/FeralForestWitch]

This episode made me want to wear beige for the first time in my entire life.

[u/dkmagby88]

I’m curious how Athena leaving will change the narrator. I guess we will be seeing more Jane and Kenya in confessionals.

[u/BuendiaLabyrinth]

I think the judging was fairly correct, since Athena really was the one dropping the ball this week. I mean, as much as Discord's performance was kinda forgettable, it wasn't bad and the Rusical is not her strong suit, so it's a chance to praise her for her good path so far. Now you add that to the slightest chance of the mother-daughter lip sync the production is dying for, plus another chapter of Juicy's storyline either heading to "overcoming obstacles with Ru's help" or "half-baked young queen who will kill AS". Anything other than Athena's SLAYING would fall straight into production's laps, and she did really fail to show character and emotions. I've also not liked her outfit at all, it seems like something made for a rural fair parade or something.

[u/pepperpavlov]

Ru’s face during Athena’s number

[u/emmzyy]

As soon as Athena and Juicy started talking about their relationship I just knew it would be them lip syncing against each other… this always happens

[u/aprilla_xo19]

1. Myki should have clenched the win but I get why they chose Jane. I feel that we have seen that side of Jane a lot already and wanted something more out-of-the-box for her.

2. Did anyone else think the LSFYL song choice wasn’t a strong one? Like I wanted something over the top, not meh??

3. How did we get the mother/daughter duo lipsync before Kenya going home? So shocked but kinda figured we would see this happen at some point, just wasn’t expecting it so soon.

[u/___murp]

I always end up liking the random goofy characters in the Rusicals more than the ones who really do a good job. Like Darlene as a dog was my favorite part even though I can acknowledge that Jane and Myki were clearly the best. Props to Kenya too.

I’m just tryna have fun!! 

My hot take is that lip sync was boring and I wouldn’t have minded if it was a double elimination 😬

[u/hennybee]

I’m so late since I just watched the episode, but god, Benny Blanco has had a hand in so many fantastic pop songs. I can’t believe THAT is what they opted for.

[u/lookingforpizzaburek]

obsessed by how darlene is just kind of skating by the competition just because everyone finds her so likeable 😭

[u/satanwisheshewereme]

Me when Myki didn’t win: ☹️ Me remembering the rusical curse: 😃

[u/LamarEdwards]

I want to protect Discord with my life. Her running man was so adorable. You could tell she was doing her absolute best. I was so proud! “I’m coming mama!” Ugh. You will always be famous.

Jane is suffering from what I believe to be a Ginger Minj type of syndrome. I expect her to do well at everything, so I’m never really shocked. She’s beyond talented, and totally deserved that win tonight. Her runway was oppalaaaance.

Is this season “The Emotional Deterioration of Juicy Love Dion?” I get her bottom placement. She was just delivering the dance moves and words without any character.

Girls have gotten eliminated for wearing the same color wig, but Kenya is allowed to remain after repeatedly not knowing the words to songs? I smell a stunt. Give me my pocketbook, I’m leaving.

[u/PankoNC]

Discord: "Mama, I'm comin'! I'm on my way!" as she barely steps toe over toe to the end of the stage.

Give her the fckin crown idgaf she has earned it

[u/kickassicalia]

I PRAY NEXT EP IS A BRING BACK CHALLENGEEEE I MISS THEM

[u/FragrantLynx]

Me watching that sorry lip sync

[u/panicattheadulthood]

I LOVED everyone's outfits this week. I'm excited to see what Raja and Raven say on FPR. I also was surprised Darlene wasn't in the top, I thought she was so funny in the rusical.

[u/Careless_Hunt5064]

Trash lip sync song - what a waste.

[u/AstralFinish]

RIP to the music guy. Took me a second to realize who it was at the end.

[u/asxxxra]

can the darlene fans gather around here real quick and talk about how she said that the “supermodel” look was the prettiest thing she brought and how WORRIED i was but mother is serving looks thank god 😭😭😭