RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7: Snatch Game
Power Rankings with P
Welcome to Power Rankings with P, a newsletter ranking cast members on the reality shows I subject myself to on a weekly basis. What can I say? I love slop.
All Stars All Winners ups the stakes of Snatch Game by having not one, but TWO rounds of the Match Game parody in one episode. I honestly loved this, as Snatch Game is not only THE Drag Race challenge, but it adds some drama to a season that is going to desperately need it without eliminations. Not that I'm complaining, the more time with these legends the better! Let's see how the queens did this week, with my favorite performance from each queen bolded:
8. Yvie Oddly (last week: 6th)
Snatch Game: Rico Nasty, the Boogieman
Totally obsessed and slightly aroused by Yvie Oddly’s interpretation of The Boogieman. Unfortunately for Yvie, Snatch Game is a comedy challenge and not a seduction challenge. (Not to be confused with Michelle Visage's ill-fated girl group.)
7. Shea Couleé (last week: 2nd)
Snatch Game: Elsa Majimbo, Miss J.
As Miss J, Shea Couleé absolutely nailed the impersonation, but I wasn't in stitches when it came to the jokes. But her Elsa Majimbo, a comedian I am not familiar with, was very funny. Still, after killing it as Flavor Flav in All Stars 5, I was expecting more from Shea in Snatch Game.
6. The Vivienne (last week: 5th)
Joanna Lumley as Patsy Stone, Catherine Tate as Nan Taylor
After knocking it out of the park as Donald Trump in UK Series 1, I was disappointed to see The Vivienne fade into the background in both rounds of Snatch Game. As impersonations, both were great! But were they funny? In the words of her bitter runner-up Divina De Campo, "I don't think." As both characters are British pop culture mainstays, maybe my American citizenship is just showing.
5. Jaida Essence Hall (last week: 8th)
Snatch Game: Prince, The Lady Chablis
Like Alyssa Edwards as Joan Crawford or Angeria Paris VanMichaels as Tammie Brown, we have another case of "so bad, it's good" with Jaida Essence Hall's Prince. Absolutely hysterical. "I'm a man. I'm sexy!" While it may not have been the best impersonation, she made me, and RuPaul, laugh!
4. Monét X Change (last week: 4th)
Snatch Game: Mike Tyson, Martin Lawrence as Sheneneh Jenkins
Mike Tyson is not your typical Snatch Game choice, but leave it to Monét X Change to make it totally work. Illiterate and ready to fuck you in the ass, Monét's Mike Tyson was a hilarious caricature. This only made her second performance, Martin Lawrence as Sheneneh Jenkins as Monét X Change, all the more disappointing.
3. Trinity the Tuck (last week: 7th)
Snatch Game: Satan, Leslie Jordan
While I loved Trinity the Tuck's point of view as Satan (what a combination of words), her Leslie Jordan is what really worked for me. Opening with a sight gag poking at Leslie's height was inspired, and a strong opening to a great overall performance. My only compliant? Trinity essentially played herself twice in a row, but hey, it totally worked!
2. Raja (last week: 3rd)
Snatch Game: Madame, Diana Vreeland
Going into Snatch Game, I was a little worried for Raja. With a middling performance as Tyra Banks back in season 3, I wasn’t sure how she would hold up against Snatch Game pros like Jinkx, The Vivienne, and Trinity. I should’ve known better than to ever doubt Raja, because she absolutely killed it as the puppet Madame. I wasn't familiar with Wayland Flowers and Madame (am now - thank you to Raja and YouTube), but that didn’t stop me from loving Raja’s performance as a filthy puppet. For the transformation alone, complete with puppeteer rods, Raja should have been the in the top. Pair that with great jokes and a stunning runway, I was gagged when Raja didn't walk away with a Legendary Legend Star this week.
1. Jinkx Monsoon (last week: 1st)
Snatch Game: Natasha Lynonne, Judy Garland
I’m starting Jinkx Monsoon’s Emmy campaign right now. A powerhouse performance as Judy Garland. For me, she somehow surpassed her Little Edie back in season 5, which, until now, was my favorite Snatch Game performance across the franchise. Jinkx's Judy might just be the greatest Snatch Game of all time. Jinkx had me laughing so hard I was wheezing - and not just because I currently have covid! Just joke after joke after joke. “Is this my camera?,” the rendition of “Jealous of My Boogie,” and, of course, bringing it full circle to season 5 and providing closure to the #IKilledJudyGarland story. Just pure perfection. A true masterclass. Thanks for reading!