Review: Canada's Drag Race, S2 E10 Queen of the North

Each week Toronto based comedian Chris Middleton reviews the latest episode of Canada’s Drag Race. Season two premiered October 14 on Crave.

The new Queen of the North has been crowned, and it’s made Canada’s Drag Race a bit colder. Congrats to Icesis Couture for taking home the second crowning in what was a really tight race.

While my personal pick was Pythia, because I love my culture — gay and Greek — Icesis is a more than deserving winner. Yes, her looks are next level, but I think her personality is what makes her so special. She’s so warm and authentic, I’m so excited to see what she does with the crown.

The actual episode on the whole, however, was not my favourite. I mean, I don’t know why the back half has been such a drag.

First, the choreography. Look, Hollywood Jade, you’re great, but your choreography isn’t going to be executed properly if you’re not going to choreograph for different skill levels. Of course, when you were doing it, I got it, but they’re not professional dancers! 

I’m so sick of choreographers trying to show out with choreo on this show. It makes the final challenges look sloppy and takes away from the episode. I get you want it to be this big show, but no amount of editing could cut away from the fact that these queens struggled.

Take a clue from Call Me Mother’s Farra N Hytes and choreograph to the skill level of the queens. She’s proven you can have simplified choreography without sacrificing any grandeur or spectacle. If everyone knows the choreo, the performance will look better and you’ll all have a better time.

Also, no offense, whoever did the mixing on this song needs to be phased out. The track was so thick it muffled the already effect-heavy vocals — it was like listening to pudding. This wasn’t a mini challenge, you had months to figure this out, and you just went with the performance mix?

The best part of this episode, much like the best part of every episode this season, was the runway and lip sync. I think it really showed just how deserving all these queens in the top three were of winning.

Kendall’s outfit wasn’t my favourite; the bottom of the dress was so baggy and she had already burnt that wig on her Stacy Makenzie look. Not exactly the best showcase for the final runway. But I think the judges nailed that Kendall is just an undeniable talent with a certain it factor. Her drag is good, but she is the one who makes it great.

Pythia, as always, showed out on the runway. The grayscale grecian bust look was smart, beautiful and captured what makes Pythia unique. She always turns the corner of that runway with a concept that’s so perfectly executed with her specific, fantastical POV. Her drag and message really resonates with me, which is why she was my pick going into the finale.

But when Icesis turned the corner, I let out a huge gasp in my tiny little apartment. It was edgy, it was beautiful, I was floored. Icesis just has this distinct essence that runs through her vast collection of looks, and we got to see it from the very first episode. It was nice to see her also showcase her talent outside of her looks and show just how well rounded of a queen she is. She really turned it around for me, and pulled me onto her team by the end of the episode.

Before I close, I want to continue to remind you that the fact that Stephanie Prince and Suki Doll didn’t get to showcase all their amazing runways was a crime. Holy hell did they eat up everyone in that final all cast runway — my god.

With that, season two of Canada’s Drag Race goes into hibernation till next year. This was such an amazing season, and it really sucks that it didn’t get it’s own cycle in the thousands of seasons of Drag Race that are currently airing. Everyone on this cast has talent and you should go follow them all!