Review: Canada's Drag Race, S2 E5 Bye Flop

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

Wow, a Drag Race challenge that perfectly fits with the theme of this website (comedy and country)?? Never thought I would’ve seen it. Maybe people are reading these recaps…

To be honest, I was bracing myself for this episode. The girl group challenge last season was a little rough, and I didn’t want to have a repeat of girls flopping around on stage to half choreography. But this episode redeemed Canada in the girl group department, so kudos!

I was a little nervous about the inclusion of a country song on Drag Race. All Star 6’s final country song wasn’t exactly the RuMix it thought it was — in spite of best efforts by the top four. I’m glad they leaned into the pop/country mix on this, the eve of Red (Taylor’s Version). I know Kimora doesn’t fuck with her, but it really got us (me) in the mood for that ten minute All Too Well mix.

After watching the performances, Gia’s team The Giddy Girls won pretty handedly this week. I was obsessed with Gia’s kindergarten teacher energy of asking everyone to pick their favourite dance move so it can be incorporated. But to be fair, that’s how you manage a team — patience, support, understanding and communication. We love to see it.

The Do Si Hoes were a different story. We’ve seen time and time again how queens who label themselves “choreographers” try to show out on Drag Race only to leave their less coordinated teammates in the bottom. I understand you wanna show how talented of a dancer you are, but just save that for your section. 

Synthia doesn’t understand that, when Eve tells you they can’t do a dance move, they’re not going to come up with another suggestion. They don’t know how to dance — you do! Stop trying to be the Beyoncé and make your Michelle’s look good in the group sections.

The win tonight goes to Gia, which is well deserved and a long time coming. Gia’s been so consistent and talented so far, and her Snatch Game combined with her look last week were more than safe. It’s great to see her win and hopefully we’ll see it more… If we can get a word in edgewise.

I was with the judges on these bottom placements, and on their comments about Eve. It’s hard to watch someone that came in with so much talent struggle this much in a competition they were expected to do well in. It was her time, unfortunately. 

Well, if you’re looking for iconic Toronto drag queens who didn’t show their true potential on Drag Race, Tynomi just found a friend.

Overall, this episode is just doubling down on my problem with it, which is that everyone’s just really good at drag? I’m finding the judges a little too nitpicky with some of their critics, and I think that’s just a symptom of everyone being good. Tough competition, but I feel like this ball challenge is going to shake out some leaves loose — if you know what I mean.

Get it? Because Kimora was… Having trouble in the promo… with some leaves… 

Okay, just call that a purposeful flop.