Episode Discussion: Drag My Wedding

[keeper-of-stars.livejournal.com]

Drag My Wedding

Welcome back, squirrel friends! It’s time for the next lap of the race! Bust out your wigs and padding because this is going to be a crazy ride.

Wigs and heels don’t go on for a few hours yet, but let’s get the T flowing now!

Just a few things to keep in mind…
~ Try to stay on topic. This is an episode discussion after all.
~ Don’t be throwin’ no shade towards your fellow LJ-ers. (Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.)
~ Since this is an episode discussion, there will be spoilers in the comments. Enter at your own risk.
~ Please do not post spoilers for upcoming episodes.
~ And of course, don’t forget to werk.

Also, don’t forget that @rupaulsdragrace is once again holding their contest to win a prize pack! Just re-tweet the specified message and you’re entered.

Comments

[thethicket.livejournal.com]

Not my favorite episode, though it had its moments. The addition of the couples kinda cut down on the queens' screen time, which I missed. It was all very cute in a cheesy way, though. I was a weenie and got kinda teary eyed during the vows. I just love a wedding, darnit.

I think the judges were right on the money this week. Bendela and Bianca were clearly the front runners. Their brides looked good, but I loved how they both tied in their own outfits to their brides'. Also, I have no idea why this occurred to me while watching this, but I would pay so much money to see the two of them star in La Cage Aux Folles. They're both just so funny and great, and in very, very different ways. If either of them wins, I'll be happy.

I thought NPH was weirdly harsh towards Darienne. It was fairly obvious was Darienne and her couple were going for - really, Neil? You didn't get it? I thought Santino or Michelle would have something snippy to say about it. I was very surprised that the critiques were coming from him.

Joslyn's groom should've never been cast. Why would he agree to do something like this if he was so uncomfortable with it? I don't want to be too judgey of him - guy has some issues to work through, some growing up to do - but I seriously don't understand why he'd go along with this, only to complain the whole time. He really rubbed me the wrong way, but man, Joslyn really took him in stride. I think so many other queens would've kinda shut down by having a guy with such a negative attitude, but she was upbeat even when dude was vomiting. That said, though I wish Joslyn could've made it to the top five (over Adore tbh), I think it was more or less her time to go. She did sooooo much better than I initially gave her credit for, and I really hope her career takes off.

[ian-exclamation.livejournal.com]

YES about Joslyn's groom! Ugh, it annoyed me so much to see that. She handled it way better than I would have.

And also agree on NPH.

[10101110.livejournal.com]

Yes that guy had issues. I'm a bit tired of the guests on the show too. First off I'm tired of Neil Patrick Harris and his "I'm all that" attitude and what was up with Chaz Bono last week having to mention he was secure in his heterosexuality before he admitted he thought Courtney made a beautiful woman.

[ian-exclamation.livejournal.com]

My babyyy :( Although I'm sad to see her go, I think it was kind of her time. I do think she should have stayed over Adore. She at least knew how to sew. I mean, Joslyn got critiqued for her dude's makeup but imo that monstrosity that Adore dressed her drag daughter in was SO MUCH WORSE.

The main stage weddings were very cute, though, if not a bit cheesy. The couples' vows were emotional and I quite liked everyone's runway look aside from Adore's and Darienne's.

Also, Rupaul, you really couldn't be bothered to get your ass up from behind that judge's table to marry them? Really? I also thought it was a bit strange to THEN critique the looks. Almost like 'Great wedding and all butttt now let's read your looks to filth'. But maybe that's just me.

[barnacleboo.livejournal.com]

Also, Rupaul, you really couldn't be bothered to get your ass up from behind that judge's table to marry them? Really? I also thought it was a bit strange to THEN critique the looks. Almost like 'Great wedding and all butttt now let's read your looks to filth'. But maybe that's just me.

No, I agree - that felt pretty odd. "Hey, you just experienced the best moment of your life - but here's what sucked about it."

[bodacioussylph.livejournal.com]

I dunno--imagine if it had been the other order, critique then vows. "You look TERRIBLE! Now it's time to get married!"

[barnacleboo.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I agree - but I think the whole concept of critique/wedding was a little odd!

[bodacioussylph.livejournal.com]

Distribution of makeover recipients: Bianca was not particularly shady in her assigning. The one with accessories to Joslyn, the heaviest one to Darienne, blond to Courtney, impish one to Dela. Of course, it was all moot given that the people actually being made over weren't even in the room at the time. Way to be shady, show.

Bianca: She really lucked out with her couple, very friendly and game. Both of the dresses were gorgeous, great paint, great wigs. She really bonded with her guy in a very sweet way.

Dela: Another great couple who were into it. Good family resemblance, well-made outfits.

Darienne: Her couple are clearly super-fans of the show, their vows were full of RPDR catchphrases. I appreciated that Darienne went along with the requests of her couple instead of being insistent that the bride wear white. Her bride looked great but her mother-of-the-bride outfit was questionable. This is particularly strange since so many MOB dresses are designed for her exact body shape!

Courtney: Presumably she already had that nude gown and just added butterflies on top to “match” her bride? Because her dress looked fantastic and her bride's gown looked a little crafty. At least the makeup and wigs were really good.

Adore: Just terrible. No family resemblance, I don't think you'd ever find a mother-of-the-bride in a dress like that, her bride's wig and makeup and dress were awful. Let's face it, she realized that the wedding dress was awful and decided to throw the leather jacket on top to try to cover the multitude of sins.

Joslyn: Did her guy not realize that he'd be getting put into drag? Did he not think ahead to the potential locker-room repercussions before sitting down with Joslyn? Joslyn did not do a good job with his makeup, but how much of that has to do with how different his skin tone is from hers? I guess she didn't know to use Doritos or Tang? And the bridal dress was a bit crafty, and the MOB dress looked like strips of fabric safety-pinned together.

Overall a very open-minded bunch of straight guys, with the exception of Brandon. And even he made progress! Interesting that the consensus among the watchers in the Lounge was that Joslyn should have won the lipsync.

[anaraqueen.livejournal.com]

I was so mad at Joslyn's bride and Courtney being safe while Darienne was low when Lake's dress was so much better that I don't remember the episode really well.

At least Bianca's shades and 3rd win were worth it <3 Joslyn ;_; Adore lip syncing again ;_;

Ranking:
1. Bianca (if she doesn't win, she will be the most robbed in rpdr history, raven runner up as usual)
2. Joslyn/Adore/Ben
5. Darienne
6. Courtney

[fever-play.livejournal.com]

The show has almost always used its status as a platform to subtly educate and enlighten people on gay rights history. I think they should've chosen gay couples instead of straight ones. We can see straight weddings on any other show.

Adore's lip sync wasn't great; it was manic. She just happened to steal the spotlight more than Joslyn, which is what saved her. Both of their looks were bad, but Adore's was a shitshow.

Darienne and Courtney give the same looks on the runway week to week and they're not as fun or compelling in interviews as Bianca, Ben, and Adore. They may be more polished than Adore, but neither's personality is as charming. I'll be surprised if they make it to the top three.

I've always enjoyed NPH and David's Burtka's witticisms. They didn't dissapoint.

[kapvik.livejournal.com]

The show has almost always used its status as a platform to subtly educate and enlighten people on gay rights history. I think they should've chosen gay couples instead of straight ones. We can see straight weddings on any other show.


I thought that at first too. But then I realized that RuPaul specifically mentioned marriage equality, and for it to be gay weddings on an already gay-centric show would have come off as biased. Ru and the show probably wanted to highlight that advocating marriage equality for LGBT people *will not* take away from the institution of marriage as it is for straight people. (A lot of straight people are already doing that just fine on their own. /rimshot)

[redhandedjilll.livejournal.com]

I think they did it because 1. It's seen as more of a "challenge" to transform straight guys and 2. They also think it's great TV to see straight guys in drag. The equality message will always come second to what draws in ratings.

[kapvik.livejournal.com]

You know, I normally don't care for the makeover challenge because it's always about having the queens drag a bunch of resistant, overcompensating straight guys into drag for a day, and after seeing the same thing year after year it just makes me roll my eyes at their token anxiety and boorishness. Case in point: Joslyn's dude. Guy, we get it: pro sports is one of the last (hopefully fading) bastions of homophobia - never mind that this guy was so worried about what his teammates would think and it being all over Facebook when he's a no-name and only an alleged pro basketball player. But if you don't have the stones to do drag, don't sign up for the challenge on this show! Ugh.

That being said, Joslyn handled his objections exceptionally. Courtney's reaction is probably the way I and most gay guys would have reacted to him, but that wouldn't have been the right way to go. I commend Joslyn for 1) pointing out the truth that him coming on the show in this way would do something to help abate sports homophobia, however little, and 2) getting RuPaul to adopt the boob honk. Viva la boob honk!

I probably wouldn't have been as harsh on Courtney as the judges, but they were right in that she upstaged her bride. Although when one looks like Courtney and one's bride is a straight guy doing drag for the first time, it's kind of hard not to. Also, thanks, show, for basically announcing that Courtney will be getting the bitch edit from here on out. I do think Courtney is a little too competitive and overconfident, but it's nice to be able to just cry shenanigans once and have done with it. That being said, I think Courtney's couple had the most amazing vows, and I found my soulless self getting verklempt in spite of myself.

I think NPH needs a vacation to get properly fucked instead of taking funny selfies, because WTF was up with him and Darienne? Yes, there was very little resemblance, but she turned her bride out. And however cheesy, it was nice that Darienne's clearly superfan couple got to have their superfan wedding and say their superfan vows. RuPaul must have been tickled pink.

Adore is still busted and turned out a busted bride. Quelle surprise. Though clearly her drag mother comes from the same school as motherfucking Tyra's: I saw that move where she was on her knees and then jumped straight up onto her feet - the same one that was apparently enough old school drag queen to get Ru to give motherfucking Tyra the crown in Season 2. Adore is busted, but cagey - and that's probably about as panther-like as she gets.

BDLC did awesome, and IMO it was super close between her and Bianca. But Bianca clearly knows how to replicate her drag face on someone else, because holy crap she cloned herself. And it particularly stood out because most everyone else forgot that family resemblance is a part of the challenge. As frightening as the judges' constant retention of Adore is, I can always count on Bianca to be one step ahead of her, so I don't have to worry about Adore actually winning. Plus Bianca gets bonus points for the Gremlins 2 reference! And her bride was so sweet. Of course gay marriage is old hat in the Netherlands, but it was refreshing in a way for Bianca to seem so surprised by that kind of acceptance. "And I made a friend today! Me!"

I always kind of wonder how David Burtka handles 1) being forever known as NPH's plus one, and 2) being the poor man's Jason Bateman. I think there was a point during the show that his soul just walked out. And what really makes it suck is that I actually thought DB wound up being a better and more palatable judge than his husband. I think NPH thought he was on a Real Housewives show instead of this one, because he clearly had his ginormous bitch strapped on and was using it to destroy Tokyo.

[thethicket.livejournal.com]

I think NPH needs a vacation to get properly fucked instead of taking funny selfies, because WTF was up with him and Darienne?

Yeah, he was super grumpy. It's a shame because he always seemed like a nice enough dude, but I'll be honest - this episode kind of turned me off to him. I preferred his husband.