RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14: Menzeses
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.
The DragCon Panel returned as a challenge this week, with solid results this go-around from our Season 14 queens. Not quite as memorable as Eureka and Monet X Change's "PROPORTIONIZING" panel a few seasons back, but solid nonetheless. Very Season 14! The DragCon Panel allows the queens to practice a skill that they will inevitably use now that they are Ru-Girls; this is essentially a professional development challenge for drag queens. Let's see how the panelists ranked:
7/8. Jorgeous (last week: 6th) & Jasmine Kennedie (last week: 8th)
After this week's double shantay, it made sense to rank Jorgeous and Jasmine Kennedie together. By far the worst performing queens in the challenge, I was not at all surprised to see these two in the bottom. I'm only surprised that it took the production team this long to have them face off in a lip sync for your life. It's been teased in the season's edit since they debuted together in episode two, and I have to say: it was worth the build-up! They both did an incredible job, had fantastic chemistry with each other, and really fought for their lives. Was it worthy of a double shantay? Ehhh. With a golden chocolate bar still at play (lolz), I wouldn't have minded seeing one of the girls sent packing. On the bright side, we'll get to see both of their Snatch Games next week (finally!), which should prove to be disastrous on both ends.
6. Lady Camden (last week: 7th)
Alright, maybe I am worried about Lady Camden. She completely disappeared during the DragCon panel, something she seemed to be aware of in real time as the challenge was happening. After demolishing the Daytona Winds episode, I worry she may have set her own bar a little too high. If she has an emotional "shock" elimination in the next week or two, I personally wouldn't be surprised.
5. Daya Betty (last week: 2nd)
Daya Betty's hot streak has cooled; after dominating the last two challenges and establishing herself as the villain, Daya had a pretty forgettable week. There's definitely humor to be mined from WWE wrestlers being your gay awakening, but Daya needed more time workshopping her jokes. Despite returning to her safe queen status, I don't think Daya has anything to worry about. Now that she's claimed the title of villain of the season, we'll be seeing her compete in the finale.
4. Angeria Paris VanMichaels (last week: 4th)
Honestly, if Angeria had been awarded yet another high placement this week, I wouldn’t have blinked an eye. However, ranking fourth feels correct; she was essential to the success of her team but wasn't a standout, however she wasn't the worst in her panel either. She delivered that classic Angeria brand of charm, got some jokes in, and made it all look oh so easy. Unfortunately, she made her biggest mistake of the season this week when she told RuPaul she has a great relationship with her father. RuPaul likes her contestants traumatized, and I can only hope this "reveal" didn't hurt her chances at the crown.
3. DeJa Skye (last week: 5th)
You, DeJa Skye? DeJa Skye was number third in the ranking? I could not believe it! Yes, it's true - I do have nice things to say about DeJa Skye this week! I thought DeJa gave an exceptional performance in the panel; she effortlessly stepped into the role of the moderator by keeping the panel moving, engaging both the audience and her team while never allowing for dead air. It was easily the stronger of the two panels, and a lot of that success can be attributed to DeJa. She's a fabulous host; I would love to see DeJa Skye live, hosting her weekly bar gigs up in Fresno.
2. Bosco (challenge winner, last week: 1st)
Yet another fantastic week for Bosco. While DeJa was great in the role, like RuPaul, I preferred Bosco's work as the moderator better. Opening with an Electric Boogaloo joke is so stupid that it absolutely works for me, and the stupidly hilarious jokes didn't stop there. Bosco also had to lead the worst of the two groups, which was a challenge in of itself. A lesser queen would have floundered with the rest of the group, but not Bosco - she's a professional, mawma. As the only queen other than Angeria with two wins under her wig, I would say Bosco is a lock for the top four at this point in the competition. Excited for Bosco and Angeria to duke it out for the crown!
1. Willow Pill (last week: 3rd)
When asked what Willow Pill finds sexy in a man, she came through with an impeccable, deeply relatable response: “Well it’s complicated for me because I’m an anarchist who believes men should be punished for their crimes against the world but I do find them very attractive.” Amen, sister! Not to push a "robbed queen" narrative, but I'll say it: Willow Pill was robbed of a main challenge win this week. The DragCon panel allowed her to do what she does best, which is to tell joke after joke after joke, and she nailed. it. Willow hasn't had a main challenge win since the beginning of the season, which worries me; Bosco just took home her second win, DeJa seems to be on the up swing, and Daya has secured a finale spot by being the villain. Did expressing her desire for another win hurt her from a storytelling and production perspective? RuPaul clearly loves Willow Pill, but the producers may keep that second win from her now that they know she desperately wants it. How much of the show is RuPaul's favorite versus production team antics? A question I find myself asking literally every season of Drag Race. Thanks for reading!