Maybe cause some discourse on this lovely Tuesday?
HA!!!
As we get closer to 'RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 10" (expect a cast announcement very soon), I thought it would be fun to dive into the seasons that come before it and give you all my official ranking.
Of course, this is absolutely my opinion, and would love for you all to share yours as well!
We're going to count them down!!
Coming in at #9:
Season 3
A bit shocked that season 1 isn't bottom of the barrel right?
Well, yours truly had a major issue with the 3rd installment, so let's look at some positives first.
The cast was absolutely bonkers good, with Bendelacreme almost running away with the entire thing, while Aja rightfully earned her redemption along the way. Bringing OG winner Bebe Zahara Benet back was a nice touch, and I'll never complain about the late, great Chi Chi DeVayne. We miss you angel.
Now, let's discuss the negatives and why it lands rock bottom for me.
The jury twist absolutely destroys what the season could have been. It takes all of the momentum away from the stakes of the competition and leaves it as RuPaul's Best Friend Race.
Yes, there are plenty of memorable moments (Dela's exit is legendary), but the jury twist is the worst thing the franchise has ever done.
#8
Season 8
Okay, hear me out.
Again, some memorable moments (you'll notice that's a theme) but it's not enough to save what I consider to be a dud. Production fuckery paired with an OBVIOUS winner from the start, there really didn't seem to be stakes during this. Jimbo was clearly never going to lose this, and even though Kandy really showed UP and showed OUT, it was never going to happen. Do I think Jimbo did a great job? Of course, but watch the season back and tell me there wasn't any bias. And don't get me started on how dirty the season did Heidi.
#7
Season 1
Okay, now is the time to bitch about the teams twist.
What we NEED to remember though, is how legendary this cast is. Having Raven/Jujubee/Latrice/Manila/Yara/Alexis/Chad/Shannel/Tammie/Nina/Pandora all back for the very first All Stars was genius casting and really had the goods to sell the season.
Oh, and Mimi. lol
Pair that with an EXPLOSIVE first Untucked (series high in my opinion)cand there was something that really could have worked here.
But the teams twist really hurt the season and we never really got to see each All Star shine like we know they could.
#6
Season 5
This is going to be somewhat similar to 8, but not as much.
When Shea Coulee walked into the werkroom, it was hers to lose. Sure, Miz Cracker and Jujubee really gave Shea a run for the crown, but the fandom was fully behind Shea. The challenges were forgettable while even the lip syncs didn't really live up to any hype. (Who brings the dancing goddamn diva Kennedy Davenport in to lip sync to Fancy by Reba?!)
Other highs of the seasons included Shea/Jujubee devouring Snatch Game of Love, and Alexis Mateo giving us the iconic "And this is why Derrick don't like you" during India's elimination.
Still, it didn't really live up to the hype.
#5
Season 9
Competing for charity really didn't pan out as the idea the producers thought it would.
While boasting a fantastic cast, there was never really any high drama to this season while most of the cast was just happy to be doing this for charity. Which, don't get me wrong, is a fantastic idea and really gave us some of the most legendary looks of the franchise (thank you Gottmik and Plastique).
It's just the show has built itself on very gag-worthy moments over the course of the years, and this season was lacking it.
#4
Season 6
Allow me to just say this to start:
SILKY. NUTMEG. GANACHE.
I mean, how else can you start this!? The good ol' Silk came to PLAY in the major highlight of the season, the secret lip sync showdown. Barbie Girl will go down in herstory as one of the most batshit, insane things to happen on the show. Ru's reaction said enough:
But back to the season as a whole.
WHAT A CAST! Finally seeing Trinity K. Bonet back in the race, a game changing Kylie Sonique Love, and I love that we got to see Pandora Boxx get a proper run as a singles competitior. I'll also shoutout how fun the lip syncs were this season. Ginger/Mayhem doing "Phone" by Lizzo was hilarious, Kylie/Manila amping it up during Xtina's "Dirrty", and of course.....
Laganja Estranja with the epic entrance to her lip sync against Trinity to Dua Lipa's "Physical":
#3
Season 4
This may come as a surprise to some of you, but this season absolutely holds up over time.
Another great cast, the returns of Latrice Royale/Manila Luzon, the delusion of our beloved Valentina and the full redemptions of Monet XChange and Mo Heart.
Let's also not forget what insane runways the iconic Naomi Smalls brought.
I found this season so much fun and full of drama which was very welcomed after the disastrous results of AS3.
Not to mention it also includes the best promo package! I mean LOOK AT THEM!
#2
Season 7
Don't even pretend to be surprised by what #1 is going to be, but I will say season 7 does come pretty damn close!
Seeing the first ever winners season come across so exceptionally well only means we're bound to get another, and I'm also going to give you my predicted/preferred cast for it. But let's remind you all why this season was so amazing.
The talent was obviously through the roof, with past winners Raja, Jinkx Monsoon, Shea Coulee, Trinity the Tuck, Monet XChange, Jaida Essence Hall, Yvie Oddly and the late Vivienne.
From the hilarious challenges (the Fairytale Justice is SO GOOD), to the epic lip syncs (Supernova, Designing Women) and the Raja dominated runways (its not even close by the way), this season delivered and then some.
It also included the best reading is fundamental challenge in the shows herstory. Watch it back and tell me I'm wrong.
And through it all, we got our very first 2 crowned queen in Jinkx Monsoon!!
#1
Season 2
You knew this was coming.
And I'm sure this is probably everyone's favorite All Stars season, as it should be.
With the best cast the franchise could have possibly given us, the moments were just too incredible to count. Let's just focus on what EVERYONE talks about:
Revenge of the Queens!
The episode that will probably go down as the best episode of the entire franchise, and what no other All Stars episode has come close to.
Between the mirror moment, the challenge itself (BEAST!) and the iconic Shut Up and Drive lip sync between Tatianna and Alyssa, this episode showed up and showed out.
But let's just remember other iconic moments in no particular order:
- Alaska's Mae West Snatch Game
- Detox's silver runway
- Jaremi's (Phi Phi) galatic cosplay runway
- Katya's Roxxxy read during the library mini challenge
The show is going to have a mountain to climb trying to surpass this season for me.
And there you have it!
What do you guys think of my ranking?
Let me hear YOURS!!!
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