RuPaul’s Drag Race: Can season 4 top The Heathers?

RuPaul’s Drag Race season four has begun! I wasn’t sure any season could top season three with Raja and The Heathers, but with talk of zombies, and a futuristic apocalypse, the first episode got my attention.  I’m pretty sure when the apocalypse does occur, drag queens will be the last ones standing, looking fierce atop the wreckage in their seven inch glitter platforms. As the new queens made their way in the “Werk Room” I had a few first impressions.

The Ru-Pocalypse challenge had them create couture from items they were able to lift off of zombies of seasons past.  Side note, even as a zombie Raven was gorgeous!

Willam was pretty, but her personality was not attractive.  She couldn’t stop letting you know that she has been on TV. Her outfit was safe; she met the criteria, but it was nothing special.  They may keep her around for her annoying factor, a la Shangela.

LaShauwn Beyond’s hairpiece could barely come through the door, but I saw a little Tyra Sanchez in her. After listening to her miss pronounce “apocalyptic” numerous times, I questioned what her outfit would look like. In the end, she couldn’t say the concept, but she seem to grasp it. She came out elegantly wrapped in a tarp with a busted globe headpiece. However, as she stood in front of the judges, she admitted a lack of confidence and nerve, a requirement for Drag Race, hunty!

Jiggly Caliente was fierce by association, as I had seen her in Manila Luzon’s “Hot Couture” video and hoped she would bring that level of drag.  Her outfit looked like a glue gun and a recycle bin exploded all over her. You can’t hang with Manila and look like that! She landed in the bottom two and her excuse was she didn’t know how to sew.  The prize is $100,000, girl, take some lessons before the show!  Not a major contender.

Phi Phi O’hara channels Mariah Paris Balenciaga with a pretty face, but can she bring more?  Her outfit was very Thunderdome and although good, it seemed like she played it just safe. Phi Phi will have to turn it up for me to believe she won’t rest on pretty. On Untucked she showed some fight, If she can bring that fight to the judges, she might have a better chance.

Madame LaQueer – A plus size Puerto Rican with a very pretty face, but she was a bit forgettable in this first episode. She walked the runway in a jungle-maid-of-the-apocalypse, outfit that really made no impression on me at all. In the Interior Illusions lounge, she was making excuses about her shoes.  Again $100,e000 her ladies, come to play!  Not a contender.

Milan did not impress me when she entered the show in a pimp outfit. I cringed, hoping she wouldn’t be like Shangela. In the end she had my second favorite look of the night, like an “infected Betsy Johnson”, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Her attitude is good, but sewing is not her strong suit and seems she relied on other queens to help her. Tip: other queens will stop helping you very soon, so stand on your own and you may have a shot.

Alisa Summers is fishy, but not at the Carmen Carrera level.  She took the easy way on the challenge and relied on a breastplate, pretty face and, for some reason, went drag ski bunny for the apocalypse, which landed her in the bottom two.  I was not impressed and neither were the judges. She’s out!

Dida Ritz walked in with a busted wig and busted paint and I felt like she would be out in no time, but she cleaned up well and her make up and hair got better quick. Her outfit was just safe. She has long Naomi Campbell legs, but does she have the fierceness? Jury is still out on this one.

The Princess looks older than 32, but she had the best line of the night when she told Sharon Needles, “You are exactly the kind of guy I’m attracted to.  You have that meth look”.  She claims she went with a water world theme, but I’m guessing she made it and then thought up the much-needed backstory as the outfit did not float with me or the judges.  I liked her at first, but her runway presentation was a bit of a let down.

Kenya Michaels is a fishy, tiny, Puerto Rican queen and she could be in the final four.  She has a little Yara Sofia with her, but may lack Yara’s imagination.  Her outfit of a red bird in a glittered diaper was not related to the theme and she may need a scare to get her to think outside what she already has in her luggage.

Chad Michaels is the oldest queen at 40. Known for doing the best Cher impersonation you will ever see, she could be a one trick pony.  She will have to do her best to stop looking like Cher in the contest and that may prove impossible, given all the modifications she has made to her face.  She could win Ms. Congeniality, because she helps the other queens, but that won’t win this race. Her final outfit again was not memorable. Expected more from such a seasoned veteran.

Sharon Needles brings us an entirely new drag and it may be the bright spot in the show if she stays this creative.  She embraced the challenge and won.  Her quick wit and her uniqueness should land her in the final four, but can she pull off more than just strange?

Latrice Royale–finally a big girl who has real confidence! She may look like Darrell Dawkins out of drag but she brings the Chocolate Thunder when she paints up. I’m hoping she goes far, but big girls often have a tougher time on this show.  I have a feeling this double-wide diva will keep it very real and that should be entertaining all on it’s own.  She is in my top four.

Last year there was such a clear-cut winner from the first show, but this year will be less predictable.  This year the playing field is more level, but if I had to pick the top four right now, it would be Sharon Needles (Odd is the new black), Latrice Royale (Too big to fail!), Willam (Annoying factor), and Kenya Michaels (Serving fish).

Let the games begin!

Watch the full premiere episode, RuPocalypse Now!, here:

And check out Untucked here: