RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 4: The Aftermath of an Emotional Elimination

Editor's note: Before you dive into episode 4, read our recap of last week's episode.

First eliminations tend to be emotional, as the reality of the competition and its stakes set in. But last week's elimination of Miami's Lucky Starzzz was more intense than most. Her absence brought many of the queens – Suzie Toot, Lexi Love, and Arrietty included – to tears. It was enough to make Joella feel her competitors wished she'd gone home instead.

The tears eventually turned to celebration for Sam Star’s win, which left Arrietty disappointed, Kori King motivated, and Jewels Sparkles wary of Onya Nurve.

There wasn't much time to wallow as RuPaul announced the next challenge with yet another pink furry box. This week, he tasked the queens with creating music from iconic moments in Drag Race herstory for compilation albums Bitch, I’m a Drag Queen Volumes 1 and 2, or the drag equivalent to Now, That’s What I Call Music. The episode was a mélange of Season 4’s “Glamazons vs. Champions” and Season 7’s “Spoof! (There It Is),” with a touch of Season 5’s “Lip Sync Extravaganza Eleganza,” where the queens reenacted famous fights from previous seasons. This time, however, RuPaul stressed he wanted interpretations, not impressions.

After a two-part talent show and design challenge, it was fascinating to see the queens work in groups. The group was split into two teams at random. Crystal Envy took a lead role in the first group, whereas several queens — Suzie, Lexi, and Onya — battled for the spotlight in the second.

Before they screened the final product, the queens took to the runway for “Quilted for Your Pleasure,” a challenge showcasing quilted looks. The trick was to master an appealing silhouette despite the bulky material.

Hormona Lisa and Acacia Forgot opted for more traditional, country-quilted looks. In contrast, Lexi, Crystal, and Sam Star embraced opulence. Lexi’s unconventional pairing of quilting and rhinestones dazzled, Crystal’s two-in-one look embraced volume, and Sam’s sculpted Viktor & Rolf-inspired sleeping bag gown stood out.

Lydia, Lana, Suzie, and Jewels presented character-inspired looks: an anthropomorphized cushion, a '90s supermodel, a Middle-Earth maiden, and a video game villain, respectively. Onya's look paid homage to Kente cloth.

Joella, Kori King, and Arrietty's looks were less successful. Joella came up with a terrific concept but failed in the execution. While others created sleek quilted looks, Kori’s outfit was lumpy and lopsided in contrast to her well-balanced body. Arrietty’s look was wonderfully graphic and streamlined, but it was not quilted.

In the end, Onya, Suzie, and Crystal landed in the top three. Arreitty, Joella, and Kori languished at the bottom.

Suzie showed a completely different side of her artistry, trading in her Depression-era chorus girl for an angsty rocker. Onya’s scat recontextualization of Laganja Estranga’s comedy routine was hysterical. Crystal earned her spot by taking the leadership role, but Onya’s thoughtful runway presentation clinched the week’s win.

Arrietty's performance was decent, but Joella and Kori faltered in their performances and on the runway. They emerged as the clear weak links for the week.

Despite the setup for a battle between the season’s messiest queens, the lip sync was unremarkable. Joella missed lyrics and cycled through rote drag moves. Kori pulled an acrobatic performance with enough stunts to hold the judges' interest and secure the win. Unfortunately, Joella had little chance of getting dunk-tank immunity — the producers are clearly saving that for later in the season. Without her, the season will likely lack some much-needed humor and drama. But two eliminations in, other queens — Onya, Lexi, and South Florida’s Suzie — are emerging as clear frontrunners.