Drag Race Down Under, Episode 7: “A Well Placed Slut Drop Can Come In And Steal The Show”
Show us your talent! How good is your head… piece? And a Raven from Winterfell arrived.
The queens returned to the Werk Room to defrock and Art Simone summed up their feelings: “Maxi has gone home, she should be so proud. Legend. Icon. Diva.”
Scarlet Adams and Elektra Shock continued their jabs at each other, joined this week by Karen From Finance.
”Can’t wait to see what corset you wear this week,” she said to Scarlet.
“You’re such a cunt,” shot back Scarlet.
Karen said she thinks Kita Mean is now the biggest threat. On the back of her first win, Kita declared that she’s “finally proving herself” and that she can win but added that she’s “going to fuck them up”, whatever that means.
“It’s top four plus Art” the girls chanted.
“Don’t count me out just yet,” snapped Art, “I am the rash that keeps coming back”.
In the Werk Room, RuPaul arrived and announced this week’s challenge was a Down Under Talent Extravaganza. As Kita was last week’s winner, she got to decide the running order of the show.
Scarlet wanted the last position, as did Elektra, so the fight was on again.
The girls were starstruck by this week’s guest mentor, Raven, none more so than Elektra and she and Raven flirted shamelessly. Electra explained that her talent was dance and that, “there’s muscles I haven’t flexed”.
“I’m flexing a muscle right now,” said Raven.
“You better be. Oh my God, you’re so hot,” drooled Elektra.
Next was Kita, who became emotional when she spoke about the inner demons that try to sabotage her, then asked Raven about dealing with self-doubt. Raven’s advice was direct and just what Kita needed if she’s to have the emotional strength to continue to the end.
Then it was back to the vacuous when Scarlet asked, “How many mLs (of botox)?” Shady queen!
Ru told Karen that she’s been “on a bit of a slide” since her episode one win and that now was the time to step things up and see other facets of Karen From Finance. This was the beginning a melt down from Karen that led right up to the runway. Art, of course, saw an opportunity to “poke the bear” and took it whenever she could.
As the girls prepared for the challenge, Kita remarked that, “the vibe has totally changed. People realise we’re getting so close to the end”.
Karen continued to crack. “I don’t usually have this much pressure on me when I’m about to perform,” she said, while Elektra continued to exude confidence: “I think I can win. None of them can do what I’m about to do”.
The Werk Room D&M evolved after Art was asked if she had ever had experienced people being nasty to her, particularly on social media. What followed were shocking revelations that Art had been subjected to numerous death threats not only from people she didn’t know but also from her own relatives. “It was a really scary time,” said Art. “What was heartbreaking, was me doing something that I love (that) was apparently destroying the world”.
She explained that the death threat came from a family member in a rural area who was transitioning but had no real support and took her own life. Consequently, Art feels it’s important to take drag into regional areas so people have the opportunity to see there are others like them and provide safe queer spaces to people who don’t normally have them.
“I want to let you girls know that if you are ever feeling really really down, please give me a call and we can talk it through together,” said Art.
In the finale, Karen morphed into a sexy “Karen From Bondage”, said Michelle Visage. For her talent, Karen made a balloon animal but she only made one, which left the judges wanting more. For her headpiece runway, her make-up was flawless and she looked pretty in pink, resplendent in a poodle-esque headpiece that was nearly as tall as she was.
Art, whose make-up, dress and hair were flawless, spent her time on stage stuffing things into her mouth, finishing with her whole fist, which had Rhys Nicolson remark that she was “fistilly independent”. Ru asked, “is she unhinging her jaw?” While it was bizarre and funny, was it a talent? On the other hand, her headpiece lewk was a vision of beauty and butterflies.
Kita did a quick-change act that dragged out a little too long but lacked drag elegance. The judges were unimpressed. However, her LED light head piece that crossed club kid with anime and fem-bot was an improvement.
Scarlet admitted prior to the runway that she was, “nervous about the possibility of leaving here in an ambulance”. Her pole dancing routine was a risk as it was her first time performing it, but it payed off. In thigh-high hooker heels and not much else, it was evident this queen had the tightest tuck. Her exquisite performance elicited gasps from the judges.
Her headpiece lewk was a glamorous Siegfield Follies vintage ensemble that brought more “wows” from the judges. It was a spectacular combination and made Scarlet the winner.
We’ve seen throughout the season that Elektra is a talented dancer, however, her choice to showcase that skill this week was not the best decision. Barefoot with a thirsty wig and plain frock didn’t scream drag. However, her headpiece, Moulin Rouge meets Chicago meets Liza Minnelli in Cabaret, was beautiful and her best to date.
Ru asked the queens who they thought should go home. Elektra was nominated by them all. After the battle between Elektra and Scarlet, it was a complete surprise that Elektra nominated Art.
As the queens untucked they video chatted with The Veronicas who described themselves as the, “therapy support dogs,” but immediately created angst when they asked who was in the bottom and who would win. Their best advice was that, “a well placed slut drop can come in and steal the show”.
The lip-sync was Untouched by The veronicas and was a battle between New Zealand sisters Kita and Elektra. There was a slut drop by Elektra but it was not enough to save her and she sashayed away with Kita in tears.
With just the final episode to go, there are some big questions hanging over the competition. Can the still-unexplained return of Art be overlooked to give her the crown? Can Scarlet’s black face scandal be overlooked to give her the win? Can Karen and Kita, who’ve spent more time in the background than shining through, make up lost ground to take the title?
