RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5, episode 8 recap

After a super-emotional episode last week, we need a little levity this week. So RuPaul’s Drag Race gives us what could be a super-campy main challenge. The task this week is to come up with a signature fragrance — its bottle & name — and then come up with a commercial for that fragrance.

But first, Drag Racers, one must have a mini-challenge. And this week the mini-challenge is …. Whatcha Packin’? It’s a dirty version of a match game. The Pit Crew has grown to over 20 members — the queens have to ask 2 members to drop trou and show their branded underwear. The queen who matches the underwear colors the fastest wins. After many sausage jokes & giggling drag queens, Ivy wins the challenge. As victor she gets a phone call home.

In any of these reality shows, I’m always surprised at the DRAMA of the phone call home. We all know that the show isn’t filmed over 14 weeks. Don’t we all know that? I mean, yes, I would miss my family & friends if I was away from them for 3 weeks but I would have to be seriously sleep-deprived to get that emotional.

Again, in creating their scents and commercials, each queen gets sort-of good feedback from Ru and not the greatest feedback from Michelle Visage and guest judge Aubrey O’Day. Alaska does the best — she’s clear in what she wants to do from the start. Ivy didn’t know that her chosen background was Tokyo and not New York. And she lives in New York. Oy. Coco is a confused mess of leopard print. Alyssa again doesn’t seem to be able to perform beyond looking pretty. Her perfume is Alyssa’s Secret. When Ru asked what the secret is, Alyssa didn’t have an answer. Sigh.

As the drag queens are getting ready, we learn that Jinkx has a crush on Ivy Winters. RuPaul had mentioned 2 queens falling in love over the season. Is this the couple? Hard to tell as we don’t get any real indication that Ivy likes Jinkx in that way. They’re definitely close but is it reciprocated? We’ll see how RuPaul’s Drag Race progresses.

Time for the runway! Alyssa is giving 2030 business-woman realness, which she interprets as very 1980s power bitch. Ivy goes with ice-skater flounce for some reason. Detox has a see-through dress. Jinkx is in flapper chic. Coco goes zebra with tons of chains and sparkles. Alaska goes with a red bra-skirt combo and a black jacket. It’s a confusing runway.

Then we get to see the commercials — Alaska’s Red for Filth, Detox’s Heroine and Jinkx’s Delusion are the hilarious. Ivy, Coco and Alyssa are the weakest links.  Roxxxy’s in the middle — her commercial turned out well, but Michelle was not impressed with how she put the commercial together.

Back on the runway, Alaska finally wins a challenge. Now everyone left has won at least one challenge. Up for elimination are Ivy and Alyssa. Ivy’s strategy is to just stand still & try to draw the judges to her using her mouth. Oh, Ivy. That strategy never works. Alyssa is a dancer. Granted, Ivy doesn’t want to try to compete as a better dancer, but she needed to show some kind of fire.

So Ivy is sent home. Jinkx is upset, naturally. But are they the couple? UPDATE: I guess not. On the Michelle Visage Elimination Lunch, Ivy said that she didn’t know about Jinkx’s crush until last night. BTW, if you’re not watching the Elimination Lunch, you’re missing out.

Will Coco continue to demonstrate her insecurity by being really bitchy to Jinkx? Only time will tell. And we get more time, as it looks like we won’t get another new RuPaul’s Drag Race until April 1. Boo RuPaul!

RuPaul’s Drag Race Photos: Courtesy Logo’s Tumblr page