RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a cultural sensation since its premiere in 2009. The show has introduced audiences to countless talented drag queens, inspiring and entertaining viewers with each season. And now, as the fearsome season 13 comes to a close, fans are eagerly anticipating the Reunited episode. The Drag Race queens are reunited to dish on the season’s highlights, share behind-the-scenes stories, and, most importantly, reveal who will be named America’s Next Drag Superstar. In this article, we will recap this exciting episode, reliving the most memorable moments and analyzing the queens’ performances as we prepare for the grand finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The reunion episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race is a combination of everything. It serves as a recap of the season, an attempt at catharsis, and a commercial for the upcoming finale. It is a two-hour program that features all the queens of the franchise’s largest cast. The episode consists of segments that showcase different aspects of the season, from nostalgic highlight clips to exploring the twins, eras, gates, and celebrity guests of the season. It starts with each queen reintroducing herself with a new look and a re-entrance line.
There are various fashion moments throughout the episode, as the queens toot and boot past looks. Salina wins the Golden Boot for the year’s worst look, which is ironic since Salina accepts the award in one of the night’s greatest looks. The best fashion moments came with the reverence the queens paid to Irene’s mostly unused collection of looks and the way Mistress responded to a critique by Robin.
In addition to some friendly tooting and booting, the queens return to the library for some reading. The queens address an exponential problem with RuPaul’s Drag Race, fans behavior on social media. It cannot be ignored that these backlashes often target queens outside of identities like cis, white, and slim. It is clear from the correlation between two of the season’s most outspoken and opinionated queens, Mistress and Luxx, who endure some of the most vicious online attacks.
Drama was expected with the growing tensions between Loosey, Luxx, and Mistress. Their disputes and disagreements are scattered throughout the episode without real resolution. RuPaul dives into Bump-gate, in which Loosey finally yields to Luxx, and Heaven-gate, which Loosey suggests was complicated by Mistress’ insertion into her face-off with Luxx. Most of the drama again centers on the question of who should go home and why.
Aside from battling queens, the reunion also spotlights the battle between queens and state legislatures. The episode uses the homes to several queens to illustrate a polarized political landscape from the oppression exhibited in Aura’s home of Tennessee to the more accepting Connecticut, home to Amethyst, Jaxx, Loosey, and Robin.
As a conclusion to the reunion and a prologue for the finale, RuPaul takes a moment to celebrate the Top 4 of Anetra, Luxx, Mistress, and Sasha. The Top 4 remains a fascinating contrast. Anetra and Sasha, relatively quiet during the reunion, remain cool, calm, and collected, while Luxx and Mistress seem to be the center of drama and most of the season’s gates. It’s a divide that may hint at the eventual top two. They are four great queens, but two of them seem like ideal additions for a future All Stars season.
Stray observations: Salina’s recreation of Chi Chi Rodriguez’s gown was exquisite and instantly recognizable. Princess Poppy demonstrates the ability to know when to insert a joke. Loosey is the winner of the night. She was literally in the hot seat on stage and she managed to handle herself well.
In conclusion, the reunion episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race can feel like filler, but it is also a time of reflection and resolution. The episode serves as a recap of the season, an attempt at catharsis, and a commercial for the upcoming finale. It is a two-hour program that features all the queens of the franchise’s largest cast. The episode consists of segments that showcase different aspects of the season. The reunion highlights the battle between queens and state legislatures and addresses the exponential problem with RuPaul’s Drag Race, fans behavior on social media. As a conclusion to the reunion and a prologue for the finale, RuPaul takes a moment to celebrate the Top 4 of Anetra, Luxx, Mistress, and Sasha.
In the end, the RuPaul’s Drag Race reunion brought together a vibrant and talented community of queens from across the seasons. From sharing their struggles and triumphs to throwing some epic shade, this year’s reunion did not disappoint. We saw old feuds rekindled, new alliances formed, and a celebration of the power of self-expression and fierce individuality. As we eagerly await the next season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, we bid farewell to this year’s reunion and to the queens who have inspired us all to be bold, brave, and unapologetically ourselves. Thank you, queens!
