RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: The Very First Sin Was a Woman Who Ate

"It was a perfect representation of Drag Race at its best: clearly developed storytelling, production decisions that forced girls to navigate new twists without seeming out-of-bounds, and a couple of performances (including a lip sync) that absolutely knocked my socks off. What more could you ask from this show? The most exciting part is that, for the first time this season, the production side has shown some life."

"Until now, the challenges have largely been warmed-over examples of stuff that worked, or (in the case of RDR Live!) didn't work, in previous seasons without anything to really keep these girls on their toes. The cast has been universally great, but it didn't feel as if the show was pushing them to be the best performers or personalities they could be. The bus driver was asleep at the wheel, and the drag queens in the back were driving the season."

"But it turns out they had this challenge up their sleeve. This week, the "Rate-A-Queen Talent Show," which appeared on the previous two seasons, was back. Whereas in those seasons, a version of this challenge kicked things off, this time the producers cleverly placed it at just the right point in the season. There are enough queens that the show still feels full, but the tensions have also started boiling up and queens have developed new relationships playing out in real time."

Production choices and a strategically timed challenge revived the season by forcing queens into new situations and sparking genuine strategizing. Previously recycled challenges left contestants untested and production seemingly complacent, allowing personalities to dominate without pressure. Reintroducing the Rate-A-Queen Talent Show midseason increased tension, showcased standout performances including an impactful lip sync, and prompted alliances to form. The Dions alliance—Athena, Juicy, and Tia Mia—shifted positional advantages, with Athena benefiting most by aligning Juicy and Mia to compete the same week. The episode balanced storytelling, production ingenuity, and performance excellence to elevate competitive dynamics.

Read at Vulture