(EDDIE's RE-view) RPDR Season 5 - Episode 5!

by Eddie Walker 

It’s “Snatch Game” time. In Episode 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race - Season 5, we see a return of our favorite part of the competition, “The Snatch Game” - a TV game show where the girls give there best celebrity impersonations. A couple of the girls gave stellar performances that I think Meryl Streep might even give a nod to. But I’ll get to that in a minute.

The episode started with the mini-challenge, where the girls created red-carpet looks out of Snuggies. Of the three categories (i.e. Zebra, Giraffe, and Fuschia), Detox, Roxxy Andrews, and Alyssa Edwards were declared the winners, respectively. Out of all of the girls, these three have the most fashion-sense, the highest taste levels, and the ability to put a fashionable look together out of nothing, effortlessly. I almost guarantee that one of them will be America’s Next Drag Super Star. But, you never know. Last season, Sharon Needles, considered by many to be the dark horse in the competition, came from behind to win the title. After watching the girls play “The Snatch Game”, a dark horse may win the title again this season.


For “The Snatch Game”, the girls played the game with guest judges comedienne Julie Brown and former MTV Veejay, Downtown Julie Brown, and competed as the following celebrity characters:

- Alaska as “Lady Bunny”

- Alyssa Edwards as “Katy Perry”

- Coco Montrese as “Janet Jackson”

- Detox as “Ke$ha”

- Ivy Winters as “Marilyn Monroe”

- Jade Jolie as “Taylor Swift”

- Jinkx Monsoon as “Little Edie”

- Lineysha Sparx as “Celia Cruz”

- Roxxy Andrews as “Tamar Braxton”

For this main challenge, the girls are tested on their celebrity impersonation skills, improv skills, wit, and humor. Only one of the girls entered the competition with all of this in mind, which showed in her performance and resulted in her winning the main challenge. And that girl is, one of the two dark horses of this season, my homegirl from Seattle, Jinkx Monsoon as “Little Edie”. I must admit, it scared me when she picked “Little Edie”. Not many people knows who she is, unless you’re from a certain demographic. Luckily for her, the judges, RuPaul, and myself included are from that demographic. Although she picked an obscure celebrity to impersonate, her skill at improv, wit, and humor could not be denied. Jinkx Monsoon is a true performer, and I think she can go far. She just needs a higher level of style, taste, and fashion-sense, all of which can be had for the small price of one stylist. (Hint. Hint.)

Roxxy Andrews as “Tamar Braxton” gave the second best performance. Although I recognized the Braxton name, I did not know who “Tamar” was. But after watching Roxxy Andrews impersonate her, I now know exactly who “Tamar Braxton” is. She’s Toni Braxton’s sister - a sexy, stylish ‘girl from the hood’ with a really good weave, who’s desperately wanting to step out of her sister’s shadow. Roxxy gave the most animated, and definitely the loudest (appropriately) impersonation out of the group.

As for the rest of the girls, RuPaul deemed Aylssa Edwards, CoCo Montrese, and Jade Jolie all safe, meaning ‘they weren’t that bad, but they weren’t that good either’. Alaska received ‘honorable mention’ for her impersonation of “Lady Bunny”, which I thought of as more of a ‘safe’ performance, but I would give her the title of ‘third best’.

Ivy Winters, Lineysha Sparx, and Detox gave the three worst impersonations. Ivy Winters gave the least worst of the three. All she did was smile; the girl wouldn’t talk for nothing in the world. She’s lucky her look was cute. Otherwise, I’m sure that RuPaul would have made the ‘lip-sync for your life’ a three-way. Regarding Lineysha Sparx, I have no idea who she tried to impersonate. Her lack of fluency speaking the English language made whatever she said sound flat, and her look was nondescript and very Halloweeny. I would have named Lineysha the worst of the bunch, but Detox’s horrifying behavior made me give her the title. After Detox squatted in front of the judges and started pretend peeing pouring liquid out of something, I became disinterested.

For the runway challenge, the girls had to create a ‘fishy glamazon’ look. Detox took the challenge a little too literally, showing up in a jellyfish inspired garment. A garment described by Julie Brown as resembling ‘two stacked shower-caps’, and I agree. But, Detox’s look was not the the worst to walk the runway. The worst runway look was worn by, I regret to say, Jinkx Monsoon. Again, she was called out by Michelle Visage, for her look being too ‘pedestrian’. Like Michelle, I’m waiting for Jinkx to show us some glamour. All she needs is a little bit of glamour, and the girl will be a contender. Fortunately, Jinkx did so well in “The Snatch Game”, that RuPaul gave her a pass and did not put her in the bottom two.

Although Lineysha Sparx wore a poppin’ Sheila E. ‘Glamorous Life’ look, it did not save her from ending up in the bottom two with Detox. The two of them had to ‘lip-sync for their life’ to “Take Me Home” by Cher. They both put on commendable performances, but Detox did this trick where she over mouthed the words that made you pay attention to her. Then Detox started spinning, which made her dress turn into ‘the rings of Saturn’. There is nothing I love more than a dress that can do tricks. And in my book, two tricks equal a win. RuPaul agreed with me, and named Detox the winner of the lip-sync.

It’s now down to eight girls, and the competition is getting real. I can’t wait to see the girls fight it out next week. It’s getting ruthless, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.