RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings: Season 18 – Who’s Slaying and Who’s Staying?
Welcome to our weekly debrief of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18! Each week, we break down the latest episode to determine which queens are thriving and which are in desperate need of a she-mergency. This week’s Rate-a-Queen Talent Show delivered surprises, a tough lip sync, and ultimately, a heartbreaking elimination.
Rate-a-Queen Chaos
The Rate-a-Queen judging was…a mess, to put it mildly. Vita placing Kenya Pleaser second despite a messy performance, while simultaneously ranking her sister, Discord Addams, fourth? Darlene randomly downranking Myki Meeks? The inconsistency was baffling. However, Mia’s strategic voting, prioritizing Kenya and Athena Dion as promised, was clear, even if her placement of Jane Don’t in fourth felt questionable.
Nini is spot on: this group’s performances paled in comparison to the previous week. The talent was simply not as strong.
Runway Realness
On the runway, Mia’s hauntingly gorgeous videotape look was a standout – a true Blockbuster widow vibe. Vita and Juicy O’Juice delivered looks with strong upper halves but unresolved bottoms. Darlene’s clowny fringe was a bold departure for her, while Nini’s conceptual folds were intriguing but ultimately confusing.
Farewell, Ciara
Sadly, Ciara was sent home. Despite attempting to secure an easy opponent in the Lip Sync for Your Life, her performance to “Toxic” wasn’t enough to save her. Combined with an underwhelming showgirl look, the writing was on the wall. While she may not have deserved to be in the bottom last week, her elimination feels fair – a queen who wasn’t consistently standing out was eliminated after a below-average performance.
Myki’s Unfair Fate
Myki Meeks’ elimination feels particularly unjust. She received top two placements from Michelle Visage and Amy Taylor, and her Bride of Frankenstein burlesque act was genuinely clever and fun. Her zip-tie runway was also a hit. Despite this, she landed in the bottom due to her fellow queens’ questionable ratings. Credit to Myki for persevering and delivering a solid lip sync, edging out Ciara.
Discord’s Potential & Singing Restrictions
Discord Addams narrowly avoided the lip sync, but questions remain about the format’s restrictions on live singing. Like Gottmik in All Stars 9, Discord’s punk rock background suggests she should have been allowed to sing live during her performance. Without that advantage, her catchy song felt a little flat. However, Discord continues to grow on viewers each week.
Kenya’s Struggles & Jane’s Dominance
Kenya’s struggles are concerning. Michelle Visage’s pointed critique about forgetting lyrics during “Lights, Camera, Action” seemed targeted and likely contributed to her performance anxiety. While Kenya acknowledges the difficulty of drag, fans want to see her perform at a higher level.
Meanwhile, Jane Don’t continues to dominate. She’s tied Angeria Paris VanMicheals’ record for most sequential high placements, and if she maintains her momentum, she’ll break the record next week. Jane is the clear frontrunner, but her paranoia could be her downfall.
Athena’s Strategy & Controversy
Athena Dion’s strategic gameplay in Rate-a-Queen was impressive, securing her win. However, her whining about other queens’ strategies and Nini’s jokes left a bad taste in some viewers’ mouths. While she won the week, her behavior raised questions about her sportsmanship.
Stay tuned for next week’s Power Rankings as the competition heats up! Don’t forget to subscribe to Xtra newsletters for more LGBTQ2S+ culture, politics, and health coverage. Xtra is currently being blocked on Facebook and Instagram for Canadians as part of Meta’s response to Bill C18. Stay connected, and tell a friend.
