RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back for its second episode. Here’s a quick recap of everything that happened…
After a sickening first episode, Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK has returned to BBC iPlayer for round two.
The competition is heating up between the Queens, as this week’s episode involved a Micro Mini Challenge, Mini Challenge and the Maxi Challenge. Plus, special guest judges Graham Norton and Maisie Williams.
Here’s a recap of episode two’s best moments and a rundown of the lip sync challenge that left one Queen eliminated from the competition.
The competition has truly started
As part of a ‘Micro Mini Challenge’, Ru has taken inspiration from the Brits’ love of queuing and asks last week’s winner, The Vivienne, to line up the Queens in terms of who’s her biggest competition.
Despite being in the lip sync battle last week, The Vivienne positions Vinegar Strokes as her biggest competition. For the bottom, she picks Scaredy Kat, who says it felt “a little bit shit – but it’s good to be underestimated”.
In a twist, Ru tells the Queens that as last week’s winner, The Vivienne will act as team captain and, Scaredy Kat will serve as captain for the competing team.
The first acting challenge: Downton Draggy
The Queens are assigned their first competition of the series: a starring role in a new comedy costume drama, Downton Draggy. First things first, The Vivienne and Scaredy Kat have to pick their fighters.
The Vivienne chooses Vinegar Strokes, Baga Chipz and Sum Ting Wong, while Divina De Campo, Cheryl Hole, Blu Hydrangea and Crystal are grouped with Scaredy Kat.
Ru tells the girls they’ll be “judged on star quality, stage presence and the lols you bring to your assigned roles” before adding, “Gentlemen, start your engines and may the most Jane Austen-tatious woman win.” (We love a British-themed pun from Ru, especially as some of the jokes thrown around seem to go over his head sometimes. And – admittedly – ours, too.)
When it comes to filming, Michelle Visage acts as director and it’s clear to see who the strong actors are. Baga Chipz instantly positions herself as the strongest actor. On the other team, Cheryl and Blu keep forgetting their lines, Scaredy Kat is called out for her whining staying at one level but they’re saved when Divina kills it.
“I’m just finding the whole thing really bloody frustrating. Like, I’m the strongest by a bloody country mile,” she tells the camera, “It’s really hard to deliver as good a performance as you can when you’re looking at people floundering. Oh my god, kill me.”
The Queens are bonding
The Queens have been together for two weeks so it makes sense that they’re already beginning to bond.
One particularly touching moment comes when Scaredy Kat, Sum Ting Wong and Vinegar Strokes are doing their make-up.
Vinegar Strokes asks Sum Ting Wong if her parents know she does drag. To which she responds, “I don’t have the heart to tell them. I think it’s a cultural thing.”
Speaking to the camera, Sum Ting Wong explains, “It’s just a little different being first generation Chinese. I was around 12 years old and I told my dad I was gay – and he just didn’t acknowledge it. So we haven’t brought it up since.
“Now our relationship is a little bit weird because I still love my mum and dad but I just keep this side of my life away from them. A, they don’t know I’m a drag queen. They still think I’m some marketing exec. somewhere in London. B, they don’t know I’m gay. C, they don’t know I live with my partner of five years.
“So having that side of my life completely cut away from my mum and dad feels like I’m not letting them enjoy my successes as well. My mum and dad have given so much of their lives to make sure I had the best chance I could and all I want to do is make them proud.”
Sensing it’s a difficult subject, Vinegar tells Sum Ting, “To be honest, if you want them to feel that love and respect, you don’t even need a show. You’re enough.”
So sweet.
Things are getting intense
In this week’s episode, The Vivienne reveals (more than once) that she isn’t a fan of Cheryl Hole.
During judging, Cheryl reveals that she thought Sum Ting’s acting was a bit weak (“Mariah Carey? More like Mariah Scary.”) Meanwhile, The Vivienne, Vinegar, Sum Ting and Baga are talking about Cheryl backstage, calling her a mix of Alyssa Edwards and Gemma Colling.
When everyone is together, Cheryl begins clearing up her comments to Sum Ting Wong, even though Divina and Blu are visibly upset. Sum Ting tells Cheryl that all of the girls feel like she isn’t being herself.
Speaking to the camera separately, Cheryl says, “Yeah I play up. We’re all human. But when we’re in drag, it’s that element of stepping yourself up. I knew I was not being myself because I was too scared to let my guard down.”
Now, onto the serious stuff…
Who was crowned the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, season one, episode two?
This week, category was… Bond Girl Glam’o’rama – and some of the Queens really delivered.
Crystal (who’s Bond Girl name was Wanda Whipper) comes out in an incredible knotted catsuit, which she reveals she made herself. As she walks around the stage, she cracks her whip – making guest judge Maisie Williams almost jump out of her seat.
But the moment Baga Chipz comes out in her Bond Girl alter ego Lazer Minelli (complete with bowler hat), it’s game over.
The Vivienne’s team are declared the winners of the Downton Draggy challenge and Baga Chipz is crowned the winner of episode two with a RuPeter Badge.
Who was eliminated on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, series one, episode two?
Despite getting a lot of praise, Divina gets emotional, telling the judges that she thought she could’ve done more. Ru reassures her, “The acting job you did in this challenge was fantastic.” Blu also got upset, telling the judges that she felt alone.
After judging the Queens, Ru reveals that Scaredy Kat and Blu will lip sync against each other to Venus by Bananarama.
“I am going to skin this cat,” says Blu.
“I’ve never actually performed properly on the stage before but bring it on girl,” says Scaredy Kat.
Game on.
As soon as the song begins, Blu goes into full performer mode. Twirling, jumping and sashaying around the runway, it’s no surprise when Blu Hydrangea is saved.
Sending Scaredy Kat home, Ru tells her, “They say cats have nine lives and I know we haven’t seen the last of you yet.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK airs every Thursday at 8pm on BBC iPlayer.
Images: BBC
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