Gotham City Times
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Season Five
Review by CJ
Judges:
RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Santino Rice
Contestants:
Alaska, Alyssa Edwards, Coco Montrese, Detox, Honey Mahogany, Ivy Winters, Jade Jolie, Jinkx Monsoon, Lineysha Sparx, Monica Beverly Hillz, Penny Tration, Roxxxy Andrews, Serena ChaCha, Vivienne Pinay
Guest judges/special guests:
Latrice Royale, Sharon Needles, Willam Belli, Camille Grammer, Mike Ruiz, Kristen Johnston, Juliette Lewis, Coco Austin, Paulina Porizkova, Chaz Bono, Travis Wall, Julie Brown, Downtown Julie Brown, La Toya Jackson, Anita Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Leslie Jordan, Jeffrey Moran, Nadya Ginsburg, Deven Green, Bruce Vilanch, Aubrey O’Day, Joan Van Ark, Jamie-Lunn Sigler, Maria Conchita Alonso, Wilmer Valderrama, Clinton Kelly, George Kotsiopoulos, Marg Helgenberger, Bob Mackie, Gloria Allred, Candis Cayne, Paula Abdul, Tamar Braxton, The Lady Bunny
Running time:
43-64 minutes per episode
Number of episodes:
14
Fourteen more drag queens compete in a variety of challenges to become RuPaul’s next drag superstar and bring home a massive prize pool including $100,000.
Season five of RuPaul’s Drag Race is, as can be expected, filled with fun challenges, beautiful drag queens, and so much shade.
The fifth season is also, at this stage, one of the most tumultuous seasons in terms of casting, which was quite distracting from the art itself. There has always been conflict and likely always will be when you put strong personalities in competition with each other. However, this season cast two former friends and now enemies together. I know … Manufactured drama on reality television — who would have guessed?! But in this particular case the drama between our two queens was distracting and quickly became tiresome.
One of my favourite things about RuPaul’s Drag Race, aside from the gorgeous costumes, fierce make up and wicked one-liners, is the appearances from special guests including past contestants. This season has plenty of both and definitely makes it worthwhile to ensure you watch the seasons in order.
I highly recommend RuPaul’s Drag Race for anyone who loves competition shows based around art, fashion and performance. The cast in season five is incredibly polarising, but that only makes the viewer invest themselves further in the outcome.
