RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14: Save a Queen
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.
This week's episode began with a truly shocking reveal: Kornbread was injured in the last challenge, forcing her to withdraw from the competition. My head is still spinning. Her absence was felt throughout the rest of the episode, featuring a challenge she would have CRUSHED. The "Save a Queen" Public Service Announcements was another creative challenge, with the added bonus of showcasing three "first eliminated queens" from season's past on the show again. Tempest DuJour, Jaymes Mansfield, and Kahmora Hall are all absolute stars, and I'm so happy they got the chance to shine this episode. But enough about the cast of All Stars: Porkchopped, here's how our current cast of Season 14 queens ranked:
12. Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté (withdrawn, last week: 10th)
Beside myself. My jaw was on the floor when Kornbread informed us, via video message shot in her hotel room, that she would no longer be competing for the crown due to an ankle injury. I had to pause the episode and take a walk to fully process what was happening; I'm heartbroken! If you've been reading along, you know that I thought Kornbread was a lock for the finale, and could have easily won the whole thing. The production team probably had similar thoughts, so I'm a little worried how the rest of the season will pan out, storytelling-wise, with a de facto frontrunner suddenly gone. Kornbread will be sorely missed for the rest of the season; here's hoping she's back for Season 15.
11. Orion Story (eliminated, last week: 11th)
We all saw this coming. Orion Story has been turning in bottom 2 worthy performances week after week; it was about time we saw her Lip Sync for Her Life again. She didn't stand a chance against Jorgeous, who publicly executed her on national television for all to see. RIP.
10. Jorgeous (last week: 6th)
In the confessional chair, Jorgeous is one of the funniest queens this season. I wish she could apply that natural sense of humor to the challenges, because she would be a force to be reckoned with. Flopping the PSA ended up being a good thing for her, as she got to show us what she is truly capable of in a lip sync. She ATE in the LSYFL, with no crumbs left. This girl is a PERFORMER; if she keeps falling short in the challenges, she could easily just lip sync her way to the finale. Now that is what you call a lip sync assassin!
9. Jasmine Kennedie (last week: 9th)
Jasmine Kennedie finally received judges critiques this week, but they were negative, giving her a low placement for the challenge. Her performance was stiff and unsure, not at all funny and just kind of awkward. She wasn't nearly as flat as Jorgeous or Orion Story, so I'm glad she wasn't forced to lip sync for her life. However, I imagine she'll be doing so sooner rather than later now that her "rivalry" storyline with Kornbread saw a sudden end.
8. DeJa Skye (last week: 7th)
Once again, DeJa Skye made zero impact on me this week. Her performance in the challenge just simply wasn't memorable, while her runway look was questionable. I wouldn't have put her in the bottom, but as the competition goes on, she should step it up or risk being known as a "filler queen" of Season 14.
7. Maddy Morphosis (last week: 8th)
I'll give credit where credit is due: Maddy Morphosis was decently funny in the challenge this week! Not funny enough to be in the top, but funny enough to save herself from being in the bottom. Her runway walk is still giving "straight guy in heels," which makes me cringe week after week. Again to her credit, she's made it further in the competition than I ever would have imagined. However, I don't see a challenge win in her future.
6. Kerri Colby (last week: 12th)
Love when the LA queens are told to be ugly and what they hear is to be "old.” That's Los Angeles for you! Kerri threw on some old lady drag in her group's PSA this week, and it made for an enjoyable performance! Not top, not bottom, but safe. Her "ugly look" on the runway wasn't necessarily ugly, rather very bizarre and out there. Close enough?
5. Daya Betty (last week: 4th)
Based on her performance and for storytelling purposes, I thought Daya Betty had a good chance at a high placement this week. Unfortunately for Daya, she was once again deemed safe by the judges. She's such a presence in the confessionals that I have to assume her big challenge win - or at the very least a high placement - is coming, it's just a matter of when. I'm ready to see our Missouri girl thrive!
4. Willow Pill (last week: 2nd)
This was Willow Pill's first week not receiving positive critiques, she was just safe for the PSA, but she could have easily added another high placement to her track record if she wasn't so light in the edit. Willow was far and away the best of her group, and owned the Springtime runway - easily the top toot of the week. If she had just come out in the dress itself, it would have been a satisfying look, but throwing a dollhouse on her head really elevated it to being one of the most memorable looks of the season. But that wasn't enough for Willow Pill! The reveal of the bloody "HELP!" on the back of the dollhouse was drag perfection. Even if it wasn't reflected in the judging, Willow Pill killed this week.
3. Lady Camden (last week: 5th)
Eating my words from last week! The judges and story producers have woken up (or are scrambling after a frontrunner unexpectedly exited the competition) to the talents of Lady Camden. She was a solid presence in the challenge, and offered some laugh out loud line readings, with her British accent amplifying the funny. On the runway, her spring look was whimsical, campy, and complete with a reveal - Drag, mawma. This was Bosco’s week to shine, so Lady Camden wasn’t winning, but if she keeps this momentum going, a main challenge win could very well be in her future.
2. Angeria Paris VanMichaels (last week: 1st)
With Kornbread out of the competition, Angeria Paris VanMichaels will have an easier - but still deserved! - time winning the crown. Her comedic timing is spot on, and she is always a sight on the runway - even if the garment may have been a little big on her this week. As Trixie Mattel would say: skinny legend!
1. Bosco (challenge winner, last week: 3rd)
This was Bosco's week - the other girls were just living in it! Her group had the funniest PSA of the bunch, and I believe a lot of this can be attributed to Bosco's direction of the group in the challenge. I really admired her pushing Michelle Visage aside as the director and putting her group's fate into her own hands. This, along with a hilarious performance, and a fun rain cloud to a sunny reveal on the runway cinched her win. If I'm ever in Seattle, I would LOVE to see her "seasonal affective disorder" performance in it's full glory.
The real winner of the episode may have been Kahmora Hall, who stunned in a Bob Mackie 2001 Spring/Summer Collection original. Even RuPaul was gagged. With that runway alone, she secured her spot on the rumored "First Outs" season. Back to Season 14, we have another design challenge next week, so I'm expecting yet another high placement for Miss Angeria Paris VanMichaels. Just crown her now. Thanks for reading! :)