RuCo's Empire explained

Series:RuPaul's Drag Race
Season:8
Episode:3
Prev:Bitch Perfect
Next:New Wave Queens

"RuCo's Empire" is the third episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1] [2] Faith Evans and Tasha Smith are guest judges.

Episode

RuPaul invites Naysha Lopez back to the competition. For the mini-challenge, contestants participate in a runway show, with the category being "Supreme Court realness". Naomi Smalls, who wore a look inspired by Sandra Day O'Connor, was declared the winner. Naomi Smalls and Naysha Lopez serve as team captions for the main challenge, which asks contestants to perform in a sketch inspired by the television series Empire.[3] Naomi Smalls' team includes Bob the Drag Queen, Chi Chi DeVayne, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, and Robbie Turner. Naysha Lopez's team includes Acid Betty, Derrick Barry, Kim Chi, and Thorgy Thor. The scene is co-directed by RuPaul and Faith Evans.[4] Bob the Drag Queen is declared the winner of the main challenge.[5] Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Robbie Turner face off in a lip-sync to Evans' "Mesmerized" (2005). Cynthia Lee Fontaine is eliminated from the competition.

Reception

Oliver Sava of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'C+'.[6] The sketch was included in Screen Rants 2022 list of the show's ten best acting challenges.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Moylan . Brian . 2016-03-22 . RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: The Empire Strikes Back . 2024-02-03 . Vulture . en . 2023-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327160552/https://www.vulture.com/2016/03/rupauls-drag-race-recap-season-8-episode-3.html . live .
  2. Web site: 2017-09-07 . RuPaul's Drag Race Ru-cap, Episode 3: 'RuCo's Empire' . 2024-02-26 . Attitude . en-GB . 2024-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226233310/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/rupauls-drag-race-ru-cap-episode-3-rucos-empire-288165/ . live .
  3. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' recap: The queens channel Cookie Lyons . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230818025008/https://ew.com/recap/rupauls-drag-race-season-8-episode-3/ . 2023-08-18 . 2024-02-03 . . en.
  4. Web site: Boulet . Ruth . 2016-03-22 . RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 episode 3 recap: RuCo's Empire . 2024-02-26 . Channel Guide Magazine . en-US . 2023-06-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604142534/https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2016/03/21/rupauls-drag-race-season-8-episode-3-recap-rucos-empire/ . live .
  5. Web site: The 'Drag Race' GIF-Cap Xtravaganza: 'Shading on Thin Ice' . 2024-02-26 . www.out.com . en . 2023-09-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922074744/https://www.out.com/popnography/2016/3/22/drag-race-gif-cap-xtravaganza-rucos-empire . live .
  6. Web site: 2016-03-22 . RuPaul's Drag Race stumbles with a misguided Empire-inspired challenge . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026130301/https://www.avclub.com/rupaul-s-drag-race-stumbles-with-a-misguided-empire-ins-1798187093 . 2021-10-26 . 2024-02-03 . The A.V. Club . en.
  7. Web site: Elauria . Jom . 2022-06-26 . RuPaul's Drag Race: 10 Best Acting Maxi Challenges . 2024-02-26 . ScreenRant . en . 2022-07-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220719010726/https://screenrant.com/rupauls-drag-race-best-acting-maxi-challenges-ranked/ . live .