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marielorax
Reviews
Drag Race Germany: Fetish (2023)
Very entertaining but lacks direction
Since episode 1, I was immediately engaged and attached to this new franchise, which was a relief after I struggled to enjoy the first episodes of drag race brazil. The main difference between these two seasons that I managed to pinpoint was the editing.
In terms of editing, Brazil is more slow paced. It tends to linger on some shots/moments for too long and uses generic music and almost no sound effects, while germany is quicker, uses a lot more fun sound effects and cuts to the chase and only shows the juicy bits (sometimes a bit too abruptly tho).
However, I realized with this episode that it may be a fault. Yes it shows only the most interesting parts of the episode, but these parts do not connect with storylines and with the queen's placements. Normally, in drag race episodes, the winner and the bottom 2 queens, especially the eliminated one, get the most screen time to create some pay off at the end + to solidify the validity of these placements in the audience's mind.
This sounds unimportant but when the edit and judging clashes, it creates a weird disruption that messes up with the vibe and structure of the episode completely. Take Down under season 1 for example. The edit mostly always showed Electra shock in a positive light only for her to never be rewarded by the judges and to even be mistreated in the end.
In drag race germany, the clash is less violent, but it is still very apparent. Why were Naomi, Nikita and Metamorkid so heavily featured and even had storylines started in this episode only for them to end up safe? Especially since they could have (in my opinion) qualified for high and arguably a win (Naomi and Metamorkid) and bottom 2 placement (Nikita). On the other side, Vanessa, Tessa Testicle and Loreley were barely and i mean BARELY featured in this episode (i'm not crazy enough to count their amount of confessionals but i genuinely think vanessa had 0 before the runway, loreley 1 and tessa 2-3). Barbie Q had a small moment but not enough confessionnals to lead up to her elimination. Same for Pandora with her high placement.
In conclusion, I feel like the judging was fair (except for Nikita being safe...) BUT because of the edit, I was extremely confused and unsatisfied about it when Barbie called the safe queens. I feel like showing only entertaining bits and confessionals is good for the short term entertainment value, but is bad for the long term one because it all feels disjointed and all over the place in the end.
Also, I feel like we didn't get enough of the queen's creation process which is part of why there was not really any storylines that connected to the challenge and thus the placements, except for maybe Nikita and Kelly that talked about their lack of sewing skills. Only 4 queens got to talk about their creative process and only one of these 4 had a significant placement which isn't normally how it's edited. Why would you show this moment to the audience if it serves no purpose to the episode's main narrative other than it being entertaining? I say this but at the same time I was very very touched by Naomi and Metamorkid's moments so I am glad that they included it. But there needs to be a general, global direction to the editing for it all to have the weight it deserves to have. Or at least a link to the judging which may be more of a production issue.
Anyway, I will still tune in every week since, as I said, this franchise is really entertaining + the cast and host are extremely loveable!! I just wanted to share how this franchise could get even better :)
Hack My Home (2023)
Wholesome and original
This team genuinely helped people's lives with their craft and it was very emotional to see, especially since the participants were so endearing! A home is so much more than just a building and we all deserve to feel as comfortable and happy as possible in it.
Plus the team's ideas were so smart and innovative, both in concept and execution, which made watching the show unique and very entertaining. The casting diversity both in participant and team members was also really refreshing to see!
My only negative point would be that some parts of the creative/construction process dragged a bit too long at times and that the team often feel a bit too stiff/unnatural in their delivery, but these negatives are easy to ignore.
Drag Race España: La gran final (2021)
Perfect ending for a perfect season
THE RAW WARMTH THIS EPISODE GAVE ME...... like the way you can FEEL how much all the judges and contestant care about each other, the show and the gay community, it's incredible.
This finale was really needed after how overproduced and cold seasons hosted by Rupaul and Michelle became. Like, after over 20 seasons, I feel like they both lost contact of the humanity of the show, seeing queens more like products/brands/emmy winning opportunities rather than people. That's why we need seasons like drag race españa to remember why we loved and needed this franchise in the first place; because it's a safe and loving platform that gives a voice to queer artists.
Anyway, I already can't wait for season 2!!!
Drag Race España (2021)
The best season of all of drag race idc
This cast? So wholesome, so talented, so lovable, so unique, so charming, so funny... I loved all of them since day 1 (except for Dovima but her storyline and character growth through the show was INCREDIBLE and made me absolutely love her too in the end). They're insanely great at being hilariously shady toward one another while still being fully and genuinely supportive of each other in the most heartfelt ways. Also it's probably the most diverse cast in terms of gender identities which we love to see especially since drag race has a rather transphobic history.
The judges? So interesting, so kind, so articulate, so funny, so lovable... They all feel like professionals who know what they're talking about while also genuinely caring a lot about all the contestant. The judging has been pretty fair and consistent this season, a rare thing for international seasons especially, but also for the american ones. I found myself being very attached to each one of them which I don't think has happened for any other rpdr seasons. Supremme is so charismatic and warm, Los Javis are so funny, articulate and hum attractive fhcjcjv (also I've become particularly fascinated by them like to be a successful director/public personality with your husband...) and Ana Locking has such good and pertinent fashion critiques while also being very goofy.
The editing? So, SO good. Storylines feel so organic and natural and their payoffs... *chef kiss* Also the confessionals are always so funny chchcjv
The drama? SO GOOD!!! So much good tv and genuine, raw drama like you rarely see. Plus it's not petty, childish fights or overproduced rivalry. It's actual human drama that just feels real and entertaining and emotionally investing.
The challenges and runway? So good! I'm not Spanish and knew close to nothing about Spain's culture before watching the show, but I didn't feel a cultural clash at all. Instead, I felt so interested by all these icons, shows and references that I've never heard of before and it felt so refreshing and new. I can't believe I never had heard if the absolute legend that is Cristina La Veneno before!!! (Go watch the show "Veneno" by Los Javis if you haven't, it's great)
Conclusion: it's everything Drag race down under failed to accomplish but also what the whole Rupaul's drag race should be like; genuine emotions, unique talent and raw heartfelt humanity.
Drag Race España: Drags de la comedia (2021)
The best episode of all of drag race
THIS EPISODE!!!!! God it had it all; great humor, great drama, great emotions. I laughed, I cried, I stressed, I felt warm, I screamed, I gasped, I cried again... It was just so perfect.
In other seasons, this lip-sync could have felt forced for storyline purposes but here, it just worked so perfectly, so organically because it was just Done Right. Plus its conclusion was so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time god.... Dovima's character growth storyline is easily in like the top 3 storylines drag race has ever made tbh, because it was just so well edited and so real and human.
Anyway, this cast and these judges are S tier we don't deserve them!!!
Space Force: Save Epsilon 6! (2020)
Err
I enjoyed the previous episode, but this one got very over-the-top towards the middle, getting almost cringy.
Space Force: The Launch (2020)
Enjoyable
After reading many disappointed reviews of this show, I was very skeptical to watch it. But it isn't that bad in my opinion, well at least for now.
This episode is very flawed, the pace and the tone often clumsy, some awkward and predictable jokes here and there, but it was still enjoyable.
It's mainly because when the show gets hysterical, it's really funny (especially the ending). And for that I'll keep on watching the show to see more of these moments.