Review: Canada's Drag Race, S1 E2 Her-Itage Moments

Each week Toronto based comedian Chris Middleton will review the latest episode of Canada’s Drag Race. The Canadian version of the worldwide phenomenon RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered July 2 on Crave. The main judges and mentors are Stacey McKenzie, Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman.

Brooke Lynn Hytes and two members of the Pit Crew

From Extra Special Guest Host Jade Hassouné’s awkward remarks, to wooden acting; this episode had all the charm of a straight man trying to hook up with me. An interesting concept, but ultimately a little degrading and horny for attention. But much like the inevitable hook up with that straight man, I’m gonna dive right in (no kissing).

The mini challenge this week was a quick drag ballet performance going from the barre to the club. This was a fun challenge, if a little underwhelming. Priyanka definitely taught the children something they’d never learned on YTV. But the winners were BOA’s disturbed child and Starzey’s Black Swan beatdown.

This week's maxi challenge had the queens overacting in two separate Her-Itage Minutes with BOA as captain of Team Muffragette and Anastarzia as captain of Team I Smell Burnt Tuck. The work room pre-talk involved BOA praising herself for picking “Ilana” . . . but ILONA reminds BOA that, as the last queen to be called, she DIDN’T pick her. But like Kyne to Brooke Lynn, we forgive BOA (this moment was iconic, and I will be buying the “I Forgive You” t-shirt when it comes out)!

Drag Race isn’t known for it’s Oscar worthy acting challenges (roll footage of season seven’s ShakesQueer challenge), but this wasn’t the worst collection of skits. Team Muffragette was brought down by BOA, but propped up by Priyanka. Jimbo played a little small, but gave us great moments. Scarlett and Ilona made a cute pair, and Kyne did the work to not blend into the background.

I much preferred Team Burnt Tuck. Lemon and Tynomi made a strong duo, and you’d never know that Tynomi learnt her lines from the French! Starzey also played so self absorbed it’s like she wasn’t acting (wait . . .). The stand outs for me were Rita and Kiara. As someone who lived in Montreal for five years and was surrounded by French Canadian culture (dick), I appreciated the broad French comedy. Kiara had more opportunity to stand out from her leading part (roll footage of me trying to death drop like this), but Rita playing the butch nurse had me in stitches.

The category on the runway was “Not My First Time”, and the glow ups were real. Honourable mention to Scarlett Bobo who was FIRE on the runway, literally! Priyanka gives us modern Stevie Nicks in . . . slooooooooooooooow . . . moooootioooooon. Kiara’s gold dress was stunning; she’s so pretty I hate it. Jimbo’s zombie cheerleader left me DEAD. Lemon wins, because we‘re able to see her money at work. Sorry Pri, you had the win for me, but you shot your load too early and were slow in the back end this episode.

The bottoms were clear. Though Kyne did well in the challenge, her runway wasn’t the strongest . . . though it wasn’t THAT bad either? These judges were HARSH. This is also the second corset BOA’s worn on the runway, and y’all aren’t saying anything? And Tynomi’s knight look was cute, but I wouldn’t go to war for it.

The lip sync this week between Kyne and Tynomi was, if you’ve seen Tynomi live, a death sentence for Kyne (even though she performed well). Though Kyne’s elimination seemed like a message to the other girls: if you talk back, you get chopped. For me, BOA did the worst, but she’s still coasting on her “personality”; How long can that last? (Roll footage of Silky Nutmeg Ganache in the top four). Let’s hope the judges are a bit Kyne’der next week!

The Spoilers:

Mini Challenge: Nutsmacker Ballerina Quick Drag
Mini Challenge Winners: BOA and Anastarzia Anaquway
Pit Crew: YUMMY
Maxi Challenge: Totally Twisted Her-Itage Moments
Runway Theme: Not My First Time in Drag
Winner: Lemon
Extra Special Guest Host: Jade Hassouné
Lip Sync: Tynomi Banks vs Kyne to "If You Could Read My Mind" By Ultra Naté, Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez (Written by Gordon Lightfoot)
Eliminated: Kyne