Welcome to our weekly look at what has been going on in the Werk Room and Main Stage of Rupaul’s Drag Race Down Under.
If you want to avoid spoilers for Rupaul’s Drag Race, stop reading now.
Last week’s eviction was something of a shock and as the girls came into the Werk Room following the elimination, many of them are gagged. It seems everyone expected Art to be in the final, that’s not to say some girls aren’t happy one of the biggest competitors has gone.
This week Ru entered the Werk Room and detailed the mini challenge, a slow motion lifeguard skit ala ‘Baywatch’. All the girls came out one at a time in the famous red swimsuit and were joined by the Pit Crew as they took it in turns to do slow motion running to save an imaginary victim. Fake boobs aplenty! Ru picked Scarlet and Elektra as the two winners.
For winning the challenge, Scarlet and Elektra got to take it turns to pick members of two rival girlbands who had to write and record verses, as well as come up with their own choreography for a song called ‘Queens Down Under’. Scarlet chose Etcetera, Coco and Anita leaving Elektra to pick Kita, Karen and Maxi.
As the girls worked on their lyrics the video siren went off, revealing songwriter/producer Leland alongside Troye Sivan on the screen. The pair gave songwriting tips over telling the girls to ensure their personality comes across in both their lyrics and their performance. Buoyed by this the girls headed to the Main Stage where Michelle Visage was waiting to record their verses.
Karen was up first for Three and A Half Men and needed a little coaching from Michelle to get in to character, which was not the case for Kita who brought bags of energy and slayed her vocals. It was Maxi that struggled the most not really having a grasp of timing and admitting she’s not really a singer.
As the Outback Fake-Hoes took their turn, Etcetera tried to give advice to Scarlet; it fell on deaf ears. Anita had Michelle in stitches with her funny lyrics and rap, but Coco struggled with singing in tune and her timing.
Team Three and a Half Men went through dance rehearsals led by Elektra and everyone was getting along really well and enjoying themselves. Elektra then revealed that she hadn’t taught dance for a long time as she had a dance studio and she had lost it as well as everything else, ending up living in a garage. Maxi bigged her up and told her that she really needs to get out there teaching again and Karen agreed and was grateful for all Elektra’s help on this challenge. Meanwhile, Scarlet, as a dancer, wanted to show her skills this week but I’m not sure her team mates were agreeing, especially Etcetera who tried to take over once more.
On the Main Stage, Ru joined Michelle and Rhys as they took their seats for the two girlband performances. First up was Outback Fake-Hoes and the first thing that was clear was their looks weren’t really coordinated. Scarlet stood out as the most girlband like in a sexy denim number whereas Etcetera looked like a middle-aged Real Housewife type in her lingerie. The performance went well despite Coco and Anita messing up a little here and there.
Three and a Half Men were next and it was Kita that stood out as just this big ball of energy (anyone else think she looked like Thorgy Thor?). Karen’s lyrics felt lacking and her outfit was just a bit weird. Elektra pulled out all the kicks and tricks whilst Maxi slutted it up in a bra top barely holding in her fake breasts!
On the runway, category was Bogan Prom (a Bogan is aussie slang for someone who is unsophisticated and unrefined – bit like what we’d call a Chav). Etcetera was first out in her pink velour tracksuit setting the tone; Scarlet literally shone in a foil dress that was an homage to the silver bag inside a wine box – her handbag was the real version and she proved it by pouring herself a glass on the runway; Anita actually looked quite crisp and classy despite her fag-end earrings. Coco’s look was a little of the basic side; Elektra had tried to elevate her look with a gold dress and accessories but didn’t really get there; Kita went neon, which didn’t scream Bogan; Maxi had a gold boob tube and leggings complete with a bum bag and Karen wore an 80s style frilly jumpsuit – quite hideous!
Ru asked Etcetera and Karen to step forward and told them they were safe, leaving the other girls as this week’s Tops and Bottoms of the week. Coco was told she needed to elevate her looks as was Elektra. Scarlet was praised for both her look and the choreography whereas Elektra was criticised for making herself look too much of the star of the group – something that didn’t come across in the rehearsals and I think her group didn’t feel that either. Anita was told she was manic but brilliant and Maxi was told she doesn’t need to always go for comedy.
Scarlet was crowned this week’s winner with Kita and Anita saved, leaving Coco, Elektra and Maxi in trouble. Coco was told she would be lip-syncing and then Maxi was let off the hook, leaving Elektra in the lip-sync. The girls performed to disco classic ‘Shake Your Groove Thing’. Both girls are previous lip-sync winners and both gave good performances, Coco looking the more natural whereas Elektra looked a bit frantic as she threw all her gymnastics at it. Ru decided to save Elektra which I was pleased about as I think she needs this journey to help her get her confidence back.
Next week, the girls will be making treasure from trash in a design challenge.
Rupaul’s Drag Race Down Under is on BBC Three every Sunday. Watch on iPlayer.
