Sporty Sisters! (Patreon)

Happy Saturday, Patrons! I hope you're all having wonderful weekends! I've watched Back to the Future I AND II for the very first time in the last 48 hours so I'm having a pretty good post-final papers weekend. I am VERY late to the game, but THOSE MOVIES ARE WILD. 

But, this review isn't about some big haired, whacky dressed characters trying to figure out where they fit in, in the world. 

Actually, it is. 

Let's talk about Drag Race Down Under episode 6! 

We start on the heels of an Elektra win! Though it was a bit of a shock it still sends a surge through this dim competition. But I can’t look away! This season has been so confusing and emotionally manipulative of its audience’s feelings but I’m somehow still holding on for some good! I kinda feel like I've stayed at the electronic roulette table in Vegas WAY TOO LONG but I'm hoping one more spin will FINALLY win all of my money back. Ya know, a real comforting vibe like that. 

Side note: did anyone else notice that Maxi actually knows how to clean a mirror message? Lol! I think we finally found something she’s great at! 

So, the emotional roundup is that Karen has got her shrimps in a barbie-bunch because she’s not meeting the expectations that everyone seems to have for her and...yeah, that's bascially how I feel about her situation too. I appreciate your self awareness, Karen! The top of the episode feels like they’re setting us up for a Karen promotion or full Karen firing from the Finance department this week.

On the flip side Elektra has a big ol ego boost after her win and, though I love her, I think she might need just a teeny tiny humility lesson before she teeters over into full blown annoying. But who knows how much coaching from producers is happening bts to give her a saucy storyline. Regardless, the feud between Scarlet and Elektra feels faker than the tan I venmo'd a nice woman to paint on my body for before we went to Mexico.

It’s a new day in the werkroom and we learn that Art’s last relationship was a decade ago but he still wouldn’t fall into the K-hole. Sorry, Kita. Then we get a message from Aunty Donna and I have no idea who they are. Are they Australian Epic Meal Time? Whoever they are Scarlett is losing her whole mind about them. *shrug*

Then Ru invites the whole Pit Crew into the werkroom and the queens turn into sweaty, giddy, horny cartoon versions of themselves. Honestly, their reactions are hilarious. They genuinely look like parched desert wanderers seeing water for the first time. They’re all practically on the verge of tears I love it. They play the classic watchu packin ...but the down under version. If you don't know it's is a game where ten toned, stuffed animals have secretly stuffed animals on or around or seemingly in their junk. It’s a  fun game for the whole family! But I don’t know that I’ll look at stuffed animals the same again. 

But Maxi wins! And that's nice! She's great at cleaning mirrors and guessing wiener-adjacent-toys! 

We then get introduced to the fully clothed members of the pit crew … i.e. the members of the Falcons Rugby Team - which I learn is the gay rugby team! How fun! The maxi challenge is a family resemblance challenge where the queens have to make over the rugby players. I’m into this one! And Maxi gets to assign the queens to their teams! And she plays nice! That's very Maxi of her. Every queen gets a comparable jock.

And these jocks are itching....to get into drag! Kita's teammate says “You are popping my cherry and you better fucking rip it open!” WOW OKAY! Here we go! I love that they’re all secretly not-so-secretly SO excited to do this! But Maxi’s gotta work with a 12 year old beard…and they’re THE WORST. So clingy. But she seems so nice in her consideration for her partner and his face.

They start the makeover process and OMG I AM SO GIGGLY ABOUT THEM PUTTING THEM IN CORSETS AND HEELS! I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I COULD WATCH MAXI TEACH DAN HOW TO WOBBLE WALK ALL DAY!!! AND OMG THEN WE LEARN THAT TWO OF THE PLAYERS ARE DATING - SORRY FOR ALL THE CAPS BUT THIS IS QUICKLY BECOMING MY FAVORITE EPISODE!

Side appreciation for Art's talking head saying Maxi and her partner ... “They’re doing the 5th hobbit movie in the corner there.” That's good shade.  

Moving on it’s elimination day!

Maxi ends up shaving Dans beard! Wow this is quite a dedication to the transformation, but if you're every looking for an opportunity to shave your 12 year old beard Drag Race is a pretty good one! And Maxi just seems so gentle with him, it’s very sweet to watch! I also enjoyed the conversation between Elektra and her player about presenting masculine and learning to live your truth. They seem like they have a comfortable rapport with each other and it's nice to see. 

Meanwhile, shade queen Art reminds us that Kita seems like she might be in trouble. She’s been coasting this competition so she’s gotta bring it. And her partner, Kyle, seems so ready to play and it’s SO SWEET. Is this episode redeeming this season for me? Not entirely but I'll take all the seemingly genuine, unproduced moment where I can get em! Also that Kita concern seems actually like Art projection bc Art is spending the majority of her time working on her own face and not her partners. UH OH?

Time for the runway and Ru is dressed up as a walking Uggs campaign??? Her fashion this season has been as confusing as this WHOLE DAMN SHOW.

Here are my runway thoughts:

Kita and Feta Mean: Cruella realness! And then Cruella morphs into a half Cruella half weird pop Sia/Michelle Visage hybrid … I love it! And Feta Mean is having so much fun!!!

Elektra Shock and Riri Action: They look more like twins than sisters and I'm not sure if that’s the right way to go with this challenge? I literally can’t tell who is who - but it’s still fun and better than what I thought Elektra might do given her assumed resources. 

Maxi Shield and Cilla Wet: the name made me lol but they look like two jellybeans. Hmm, it's cute but I don't think it's competitive enough - but I love the rugby scrum move on the runway!

Art Simon and Craft Simone: The rumors are true-mors, Art is a great makeup artist! They look great but the energy didn’t really tell a story?  But I LOVE THAT FLIP FLOP DRESS and after some Googling I learn this is a Priscilla Queen of the Desert reference that I still need to catch up on! 

Scarlett and Sapphire Adams: It’s not reinventing the wheel but it’s fun and she made the costume from scratch so good for her! Though I'm not loving the makeup on her partner...it looks a little rough, but maybe that's just because Scarlett looks so gorg 

Karen from Finance and Debbie from Reception: I love these stupid names! And I think they look GREAT…Karen actually did something fun! They look like office sisters! But the glasses really hide so much of their faces.

The judges give their critiques and I’m so distracted by Ru’s makeup - is something going on with her face? Is she falling asleep or just waking up? I can't stop squinting at it!

Anyway, judges think Kita nailed it (and her partners bf loved it too awwww), Elektra did her best, Maxi is in trouble, Art rested on her basic talents, Scarlett was a little basic and Karen made a mini me rather than a sister. I agree with most of their critiques other than Karen's...I thought she actually created "Karen's" sister.

Which is why I think Art’s questioning if the challenge it about creating a clone vs sister is warranted. I really don’t know what they’re actually judging on when it comes to “family resemblance”. Are you creating the cosplay version of yourself or are you creating the complimentary version? Is it about overall essence or artistic skill? TBH I’m a little confused. But it wouldn’t be an episode of drag race down under if I wasn’t surprised and/or confused about something!

But Kita wins and I’m so happy for her! I do think she made a complimentary "Mean" sister! But there’s no time to celebrate because Maxi is in the bottom along with Scarlet. Uh oh! This will be …. interesting? I love the athletes cheering them on in the backroom like its’ a rugby game!

The lip sync isn't the worst ... Scarlett really killed it and Maxi always looks like she’s having a blast. It's no real surprise that Scarlett shanty’s and Maxi sashays. It’s bittersweet but I don’t know how much more Maxi could do SHE’S FUCKING 46 YEARS OLD! Ugh, I just love her so much! Anyone know if she’s taking applications for clients because I want her as my life coach!

Thank god this episode was so sweet because I really needed a serotonin boost to keep me hanging on Down Under. What'd you all think of this weeks episode? Who are your tops at this point? I think I'm rooting for Art and Kita and wondering if Karen will ever get a promotion? Okay, gotta go google if Ru was having an allergy attack during this episode - hope y'all enjoy the rest of your weekends! ❤️G