Review: Canada's Drag Race, S2 E8 Prom

It’s time for a makeover montage, and another week of me bawling my little eyes out at this episode. Seriously, I dunno if I’m emotional over this episode, the season coming to a close, or I’m feeling the Drag Race exhaustion, but the tears are running faster than Gay Twitter™  trying to post their Spotify Wrapped’s commenting on how “gay” they are!

I really appreciate the extra effort Canada’s Drag Race put into the makeover episode so far. With Rainbow Railroad last year, and this queer prom, they’re really use the makeover episode to send a message. It’s empowering seeing these segments of the queer community get a good drag makeover so they can be fierce boot hunty etc.

You often see a transformation in confidence during the makeover challenges in the people that need it the most. I mean, RuPaul made a whole ass show that was dedicated to doing drag makeovers for celebrities and we saw it there! There’s a special energy that comes with being in drag, especially in a place that celebrates it, and it helps empower people to be their truest selves.

The queens this week took extra special care to listen to their drag children, even to the detriment of their placement in the competition. It was really sweet seeing them connect with this younger, more open generation and sharing their similar struggles that still persist to this day. It adds an element of tenderness to these episodes that is so touching — truly loved to see it!

Though Pythia’s commitment to putting Apollo in a look that they felt comfortable in was the most inspiring part of the episode. Drag Race has done a lot from the drag community, but mostly for the queens. Other drag competitions — like Dragula and Call Me Mother — have been highlighting more than just queens, but the whole drag community.

Pythia took this opportunity to celebrate the otherness of drag. For a show that commodifies and conforms drag to being one thing, it’s cool seeing Pythia push that within the show. It was even better that they got the win this week for it too. 

Its especially great on a platform like Drag Race, where RuPaul will let a cis-het male drag queen on the show before he’ll let a king compete… He really said all drag is valid, but only if you present female. Work, I guess.

The makeover challenge — while heartwarming — is also an opportunity to separate the weak links. People often attribute The Ball or Snatch Game to being the challenges that trim the fat, but I find the makeover challenge especially telling of a queen's talent. Before the show, the queens have teams of people that put together looks and give them tips on how to present themselves on the show, but those skills aren’t always transferable. 

Different face shapes and body types have different aspects that help — for lack of a better term — sell the fantasy. Knowing how to help another person get their jush is the mark of an excellent drag queen. It’s even harder letting another person outshine you, cause girl, I know you didn’t start doing drag to take a back seat.

Not to say that any of the queens flopped hard this week, they actually all executed their respective makeovers very well, and no one stood out as a weak link. It was mostly a hair splitting week with the judging. We’re getting down to the wire, and this top four is pretty even. Let's see what next week's reunion episode has in store for us!