RPDRUK Series 3 - Episode 4 Review
Before we jump into this, there are spoilers below if you haven’t watched the episode yet. All the comments below are just my fun opinion, its a TV show, don’t get upset if I didn’t like your favourite Queen!
When the teaser for this episode dropped at the end of last weeks episode everyone was curious as to how the Queens would tackle the singing challenge. Drag Race UK has managed to produce not one but two chart topping songs, something the other spins off have not managed to do. First we had the Frock Destroyers and then United Kingdolls. Can the Series 3 girls live up to the hype of another pop banger… let’s find out!
The episode starts with the Queens entering the werkroom after the shocking elimination of Veronica Green, but as Vanity rightfully says she (and the other Queens) all have a fight and right to be there and that’s something that no one can take away from them. The crown could be snatched by anyone of them, it just depends who wants it the most.
When the new day in the werkroom arrives Ru enters to drop the challenge onto the Queens that they will be splitting into two teams to create girl groups and will be recording 2 tracks. The two team captain spots are given to Scarlett Harlett as the winner of last weeks episode and Vanity Milan the surviving bottom of the lip sync. Each take it in turns to pick Queens to join them which gives us on team Scarlett, Kitty, Charity and Krystal. Then on team Vanity we have Ella Vaday, River Medway and Choriza May! Ru then tells the Queens that there are two versions of the song, an upbeat tempo version and a slow ballad. Scarlett gets to pick which track she would like and goes for the uptempo one and clearly thinks she has already won the challenge, as do her team who appear to be all smug about their version. But this is interrupted by the one and only STEPS (minus Lisa who is in Dubai).
H & Claire from Steps take the teams one at a time to go record their lyrics and the Queens all do okay but the real stand out moment was between River and H. H is touched by the lyrics written by River and says he should be proud as so many kids will connect with them, to which River tells H he was that person for him growing up. After recording their lyrics they join Lee and Faye who work with the Queens on choreo… well I say work with them, more watched them scramble to come up with ideas and drop a little bit of input in. With all the guidance from one of the best pop groups in the world all that is left for the Queens to do is rehearse and get ready.
As the Queens get ready River Medway gets emotional and discusses with Ella Vaday about her touching lyrics and how sadly she lost her Mum to covid. The moment really showed a huge insight into Rivers world.
Moving to the main stage joining Ru, Michelle and Alan is Spice Girl Emma Bunton. First group to perform is Slice Girls, the name given to Scarletts group. Overall it was a bit messy if I’m honest. The Queens didn’t blend together very well but having said that Kitty Scott Claus killed the challenge, her lyrics were funny and she gave full girl group energy! Krystal blended into the background a little and Charity stood out mainly because her outfit didn’t fit (I wasn't that made at it though, just a comment) but the real stand out sadly for the wrong reason was Scarlett who fluffed her lip sync, instead of trying to go with it she showed the whole world she messed up. I really felt for her as for me she had some of the best lyrics out of the team.
Up tempo version done team Vanity, named Pick n Mix perform their ballad version and they smashed it! From the simply yet rememberable moves to the hilarious strange shoulder thrusts…I don’t know what to call it, either way it was great and Ru thought so too and it was pretty obvious the win was going to their team. But before they can be given it the Queens walk a Spice Girls themed runway.
All the Queens actually brought it however, I say that as a non Spice Girl fan (don’t hate me! I was just about Steps and S Club 7 growing up). Runway done Ru gives the win to Pick n Mix which means Slice Girls are all up for elimination. It becomes fairly obvious that Ru is going to choose Scarlett and Charity after judges critics which is a huge shame as both are incredible Queens.
Scarlett and Charity both lip sync it out to the Spice Girls and it wasn't the best lip sync ever to deserve a double save. But for who the bottom Queens were I think they both deserved to stay and that’s what Ru does! I guess this means another Queen won’t come back later to take Victoria Scones place.
And with that we have 2 new Drag Race singles, does B.D.E stand up to the success of Break Up and Bing Bang Bong? For me, sadly not but the Queens did a good job all the same.
Both versions are available to buy and stream now!
Imagery credit BBC, World of Wonder and Guy Levy