Thanks to a perfect Rusical episode, Drag Race season 14 is proving itself as one of the very best

What we witnessed on this week’s RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 episode was the franchise at its absolute very best. It was the kind of episode that had that fresh, addictive and outrageously watchable quality that helped the early seasons of Drag Race build the show into a cultural phenomenon and global franchise. It was so good, in fact, that even its negative aspects were easy to swallow. This cast of queens are solidifying themselves as consistently great performers who have the Drag Race formula locked down to a tee – making every episode not only entertaining on a high drag front, but creating solid drama and interesting relationships with each other that allows the producers to do some of their greatest storyline reality TV work they’ve ever done. Here’s exactly why the Moulin Ru episode of Drag Race season 14 is one of the greatest of all time.

The drama was drama-ing

The queens this season have really been putting their heeled feet down for the roles they want, and it’s been spicy. This week it honestly reached fever pitch. With Bosco and Lady Camden both after the lead role of Saltine. Both Bosco and Camden have proven throughout the season they’re great actresses, so it came down to a matter of who would back down first. Bosco really showed a different side to her with her ruthless and sharp edge during this confrontation, and the flair up between the two really echoed the drama of Drag Race of old – before queens were worried about how they’d be perceived.

The fact the casting came down to a vote only added to the dynamics between the group – especially because it was such a close call. With Bosco eventually beating Camden to the role, it came down to both of the queens competing to see who could outshine each other and prove if their fellow competitors made the right choice. It all added to the stakes of the Moulin Ru, and the pressure was on for it to be a showstopping Rusical in the best way.

The special guests added so much to the episode and helped the queens be their best

Honestly, we don’t deserve Leslie Jordan. He is just wonderful TV – whether he’s acting or whether he’s just being his iconic endearing self. He was the perfect choice for guest director because it was clear the queens had such love and admiration for him, as well as him being such a fan of the show and drag. He just gets it – and the story of him being a baby drag queen in Atlanta before Ru herself even started going by the name of Miss Baby Wipes was legendary.

Leslie directed the queens like a pro, and him and Andra Day were such a dream to watch interact with the queens. It was so fun seeing Leland and Leslie get to have their roles in the Rusical too – Leslie Jordan is just so watchable.

Moulin Ru was hands down one of the greatest Rusicals ever

Despite the rows over roles, the queens absolutely came through for one of the greatest Rusicals we’ve ever seen. Not one of the queens let the side down – nobody slipped up, nobody missed a beat. Jorgeous was the weakest if we’re really getting down to it, but only because you can sometimes see the flicker of nerves and panic in her eyes when the rest of the queens are performing like they do this on Broadway five nights a week. Deja Skye gobbled and left no crumbs, Daya Betty was understatedly great. But this challenge belonged to Lady Camden who truly proved her place in the competition and a lot of the girls should be SCARED.

The prior drama made Camden’s victory all the sweeter. Although she wanted Saltine, the role she was born for was Mama Z. I’m surprised she didn’t fight for that part in the first place, to be honest, because it had far more going for it than Saltine even if the latter was officially the lead. Lady Camden shut any naysayers mouths with her performance, and the choice of the Rusical being a parody of Moulin Rouge was inspired and just worked so wonderfully. Willow’s part was also a huge success, and definitely played to her quirky strengths. It was just a blast!

The chocolate bar storyline conclusion ended on a high

After a particularly ruthless “Who should go home tonight?” segment that did NOT favour Bosco, her and Jorgeous ended up lip syncing for their life. They both absolutely brought it, and even though it was Jorgeous’ time to go she definitely won the lip sync. Bosco sashaying away at this point would be devastating, and the reveal that she had the golden bar after the entire “It’s chocolate” saga is one that feels deserved. It was the wake up called Bosco needed – she can’t coast to the final on likability and the same runway five times. Hopefully, this week’s Drag Race Moulin Ru lights a fire under her ass and she gets back to being the threat to the crown that she should be!

But most importantly, it was a satisfying end to an immaculately produced episode of reality competition TV. Moulin Ru proud Drag Race can send no one home and still have high stakes. Who will even take the crown now? It is truly all to play for. If this season of Drag Race has more Moulin Ru style episodes up its sleeve, I hope this delicious season of high drag TV never ends.

Catch RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 every Saturday on the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus. For all the latest Drag Race memes and Netflix news, drops and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.

Featured image courtesy of World of Wonder.

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