Review: Canada's Drag Race, S2 E7 The Roast of Brooke Lynn Hytes

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, I don’t think I knew the true definition of the word cringe until finishing this episode. I didn’t have high expectations for this roast episode going into it, but what a slog. I thought we were roasting Brooke Lynn Hytes, not trying to recreate the emotional embodiment of her snatch game performance. But enough of my silly jokes, let's get this roast a cookin’.

First off, I always love the cut around of queens trying to get excited about a guest judge they don’t know. At a certain point, they weren’t even faking it. I understand people didn’t watch The Beaverton or one of her many other projects, but leave Emma Hunter alone! Respect the — as Adrianna put it — “comedy specialist.”

The roast itself was a little under done. Kendall’s win wasn’t a surprise considering Icesis Couture did what the stand up comedy community calls “running the light.” Though if Icesis was going for a traditional stand up experience, she would’ve just kept going even if everyone was begging, pleading with her to stop.

That lip sync though… Okay, I’ve seen some bad lip syncs, but I’ve never once felt as uncomfortable as I did watching that one — and b4-4 is my favourite! Did Kimora get one of her feathers caught in Gia’s gum dress? Cause she was crowing her. Canada’s Drag Race has always delivered on the lip syncs, I didn’t realize they were delivering Steven King’s The Birds.

I get that Kimora’s decision to leave is hers to make and I always respect when someone is just ready to leave a situation they no longer want to be a part of. But if you’re going to throw a lip sync, don’t harass someone on stage to the point of the judges even chiming in. Have we learnt nothing from Mimi Imfurst?!

Reality television — specifically Drag Race — is a pressure cooker, and she could probably feel in the room that she wasn’t going all the way. But on a show where Ben DeLaCreme self eliminate after winning every challenge in All Stars 3, Ginny Lemon just walking off stage in UK Season 2, this was not the move to make. She could’ve made it a moment, like Inti in Drag Race España. I’m trying to cut her a little bit of slack, but Pythia was right; if you want to go, you should’ve just started packing.

Kimora really turned out this season; she’s had a stellar run this entire competition. She’s been such a light delivering some amazing looks, confessionals and moments. I truly think she could’ve gone to at least top four and was good enough this episode to be at least safe. 

Her roast jokes this episode started funny and her runway was amazing — barring some fit issues. Production obviously put her in the bottom because she wanted to go home, and that makes me so sad. But after that lip sync, she was ready to go. To paraphrase the incomparable b4-4: I just want to take the time to understand before she set her spirit free.

Wish I could call all this episode “so bad it’s good,” but that would be a lie — like saying anyone watched Handmaid's Tale or enjoyed getting styled by Brad Goreski. But I guess in a season that’s been so good thus far, you’re bound to have a clunker.