We're halfway there. Who's got the best chance to come through as the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2?
By Owen Panettieri (playwright, lyricist)
This current season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2 has been compelling reality competition TV. The twists to the regular formula have come fast and often: Lip synching for your legacy instead of for your life, having the contestants eliminating each other, and having the eliminated queens stick around for a chance at revenge, has raised the stakes in the competition. Not all the queens who returned were up for the competition. Adore Delano got through one round of harsh critiques before realizing the show and the crown were not worth it for her and quit. Phi Phi O'Hara became fixated in getting a redemption story that was not coming, and following her ouster, declared she would not be attending the still-to-be-taped Reunion Special and shared some harsh words for Ru with Vulture. Still, from the original 10 queens who re-entered the workroom, the five remaining on the runway are (with one exception) definitely in it to win it. Let's break down who's most likely to win the crown.
5. Roxxxy Andrews (Originally Season 5)
Roxxxy's edit is more likable this season than it was in her first appearance on the show. She won the first lip sync legacy battle to end up on top in Week 1. After that, her performance placement slid. She's been in the bottom group 4 of the next 5 subsequent weeks. She's still competing but she also seems to realize that she doesn't have the resume to compete for the title with the other remaining queens. She hasn't thrown in the towel, but it seems like that she knows she can't win in the end and that is affecting her performance.
4. Katya (Originally Season 7)
I love Katya. She seems to be having so much more fun this season than the first time she competed in Season 7. She's been at the very top twice, though she lost both lip sync's to Alaska. She's been safe twice and in the bottom twice, but has avoided elimination. She's a strong queen, but I don't know if she has show-mentum. The other queens (aside from Roxxxy) seem to be getting stronger at a faster rate than Katya as they reach the finish line. Considering the rest of the field, I'm not sure Katya can make the finale.
3. Detox (Originally Season 5)
Detox has been safe 3 times, and only fell in the bottom once, She's had the chance to lip sync for her life twice, but never claimed the $10,000 prize. Detox seems like the dark horse of the remaining queens. Her attitude remains one of her strongest assets. She's so much fun to watch and you can tell she's enjoying herself. The title is definitely not out of her grasp, but it will take a series of very strong challenge performances to lift her past my top two.
2. Alyssa Edwards (Original Season 5)
Alyssa has a very strong sense of her character. She's a glamorous, goofball weirdo and she owns it. She revels in it. During won two lip syncs, was safe twice. She also got eliminated by Phi Phi, before immediately re-entering the race. Alyssa is fierce and fun. If the remaining challenges play to her performance strengths it will be very hard to knock her down.
Alaska has been killing the competition. She has never been in the bottom. She has 3 Lip Sync Legacy wins and is performing from a place of ease and confidence. What can shake her? It doesn't seem like the remaining contestants can get in her head. It's going to take a serious misstep on her part along with a last minute surge from the other contestants to put her at risk for losing the crown.
Could there be more twists ahead that affect the final episodes of the season? It's certainly possible. We can't take anything for granted. Tune in Thursdays on Logo to find out who will ultimately take the crown and the glory!!
OWEN PANETTIERI is the author of the awarding-winning plays Vestments of the Gods and The Timing of a Day. Tickets are now on sale for his latest play, A Burial Place, in November. Member of Playwrights Gallery in NYC. www.owenpanettieri.com
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