RuPaul's Drag Race UK Vs the World - Episode 5 Review
As the episode starts I half expected to still hear Pangina crying backstage. Instead the queens enter the werkroom to Pangina’s lipstick mirror message and they all discuss the elimination. Blu does touch her fears of not having a career after her choice, which is just crazy! As her UK Vs the World sisters remind her, she will. It’s just a competition, anyone who thinks she shouldn’t after this shouldn’t be watching Drag Race! It seems that Pangina’s fate was set either way as Baga had also picked her lipstick reminding everyone that she didn’t like how she took out Jimbo who was at the time the strongest competitor.
Moving onto the new day and a new challenge, Ru tasks the queens with writing their own verse for his song London and putting on a performance. For me the challenge was a little odd as this is basically what the winner gets… either way the queens begin to write their lyrics. Once written they go to record vocals with previous Drag Race Judge and probably ultimate Drag Race fan Jade Thirlwall from Little Mix. The queens took it in turns to record their vocals and apart from Janey they all did okay. Jade was fabulous of course and helped the Queens get the best out of their verse.
Vocals down, the Queens then have to create choreo for the performance, Mo and Janey as the dancers really kick up the energy levels and put on a full show, Blu seemed to follow well but Baga and JuJu just weren’t up to the challenge and so sadly the shows ‘performance’ got slowed down for them.
When it it was time for the final performance the Queens visually all gelled well and their outfits seemed in sync. As for the choreo, it was a bit of a mess and I noticed there were very few wide angle shots and instead the crop was left close, when they did show wide angle shots however, all the Queens just weren’t in time with each other which I think was partly down to some strange jumping move they opted for. Lyrics wise, Baga’s was great and probably the best but with a lack of effort in the dancing part stopped me putting her in the top. The worst, I’m not sure, I didn’t really have a worst but JuJu was the one I forgot the quickest.
For the performance and the runways Ru and Michelle were joined by regular Graham Norton and again Jade Thirlwall who had an intro line with Ru that was actually funny (usually they are awkward and a flop)! I actually laughed outloud at her joke of ‘apparently there is a rumour that one of the queens is leaving the band tonight’.
This week the queens walked to a category of ‘Work of Art’.
First up was Baga, who went for a campy vibe but it wasn't a vibe I was digging and it was a let down for me, next came Blu whose outfit was pure brilliance (I don’t care what Graham said). I really thought she looked stunning and you could tell lots of effort had gone into it. Next was Janey and although I have seen this look maybe a little more polished before I did really love it still, next came JuJu which the judges went mad for and yes, compared to the other outfits she showcased on the show, this was a huge improvement but comparing it to other looks she served on other seasons it wasn’t all that and I didn’t really see the link to the theme. Last came Mo who like all other runways took it to another level and gave us what we expect from such a seasoned queen. For me I think my top was Blu, for her unapologetic lyrics about sending Pangina home and her runway look, my other would probably have to be Mo despite not personally enjoying her mullet hair phase.
Ru picks Mo and JuJu as the winners and as soon as he does I sadly realise that it is going to be a UK vs US finale and Janey is being sent home. Neither Mo or JuJu will send Baga or Blu home and that left just one choice.
The pair (JuJu and Mo) return for a lip sync to Neta’s ‘Toy’, a Eurovision classic and I actually really loved it as a song choice. As the music started I thought Mo was going to dance circles around JuJu but that wasn’t the case and JuJu brought the comedy factor which ended up landing her the win. Then no surprise (to me at least) she pulled Janey’s lipstick, who took the news like a champ and is another reason why she should have stayed in my eyes to the finale. (Next Vs the World season I do feel that it should be an even spread of Queens from each franchise though, just a thought if it does return). To read the exit interview with Janey click here.
What do you think of this top 4 and whose team are you on? For me personally I think I’m #TeamBlu
The series airs on British screens exclusively on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer from at 9pm, with new episodes released weekly (on Tuesdays).
Imagery with thanks to our friends at the BBC.