RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 5: The Return of RDR Live!

Editor's note: Before you dive into episode 5, read our recap of last week's episode.

On this week's episode of Drag Race, RuPaul announced the queens would take part in RDR Live!, the show's answer to Saturday Night Live and a returning bit from Season 16 and All Stars Season 8. This time, there was a substantial production budget increase and a shot of Miami in the opening credits. The casting meeting was largely drama-free, aside from small skirmishes between Lana Ja'Rae and Crystal Envy as well as Hormona Lisa and Lydia Butthole Kollins.

Onya Nurve jumped at the chance to play host, a daring decision for someone who mentioned not fitting in with the other queens. The monologue lacked funny jokes, but her unparalleled charisma shone through. Before her solo, she proved to be the best of a bad bunch in the night's worst sketch — a satire about the anti-LGBTQ agenda in which Arrietty and Kori King played Neanderthal Karens upset by the arrival of homo sapiens, played by Lana. Arrietty swung big and Kori's Jersey accent was serviceable, but the sketch lacked punch.

Sam Star, Hormona, and Jewels Sparkles opted for a shameless ripoff of SNL's "Delicious Dish" sketch starring Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon. Hormona's naivete played perfectly against the skit's double entendres. Jewels' Australian accent left much to be desired but was effective enough. Sam suffered the judges' critiques for playing the lesbian straight man.

The "Weekend Update" segment faired much better. Lexi Love and Crystal benefited from coordinating outfits and clearly constructed jokes with actual punchlines. Suzie Toot's turn as RuPaul's former babysitter who claims to be the originator of all the host's catchphrases cemented her theatrical bonafides.

The final sketch matched Acacia and Lydia for a play on The Golden Girls. Acacia's broad role worked well, but Lydia didn't seem to know the show very well (she claimed she didn't like it). She failed to channel Estelle Getty or make the role her own.

On the runway, the queens put their unique stamps on "tickled pink" monochromatic looks. Onya's recycled shoes looked like they came straight out of Lady Gaga's fictional planet Chromatica. Lana played with a Little Bo Peep meets 1950s Dior silhouette, Jewels' look channeled Eliza Doolittle out at the discotheque, and Kori offered her take on Barbie. Sam paid homage to the classic showgirl, but it felt slightly overpraised for what amounted to a corset, panty, and some feathers.

Kori and Sam's presentations underwhelmed but reinforced their personal styles and points of view. Arrietty sported a futuristic pink vinyl look, Hormona delivered another pretty gown, Lexi's pink leopard faux fur served body, and Acacia embraced the '80s in a pink punk power suit. (She should've had points docked for not referencing Jem and the Holograms in her voiceover.)

Three queens took a more playful approach to the challenge. Crystal's silicone made her look like a sexy wad of gum, while Lydia's walking penis look added some blue humor to the pink runway. Finally, Suzie's 1920s harlequin tested Bob the Drag Queen's conjecture that dressing as a clown helps win the season. The approach paid off, earning Suzie her second win.

Onya and Hormona also earned high placements, leaving Arrietty, Sam, and Lydia at the bottom. Like last week, Arrietty was fuming. It might behoove her to study the way Sam and Lydia took their critiques — with consideration, charm, and humor. While the judges' comments are not always constructive, some queens have warped expectations of their final placements.

Arrietty and Lydia were equally encumbered as the lipsync began, but the latter shed her outfit more easily while the former struggled to break free of her vinyl chaps. It was hard to guess who would win until the moment RuPaul locked eyes with Lydia. Arrietty's performance started well enough but, much like her talent show performance, it devolved into a mess of empty motions without motivation.

Again, it seemed far too early for the season's second save. But Arrietty picked the first lever and dunked Michelle into the water. It revealed an Easter egg from the show's producers: The season's winning levers are numbers one and seven. (For Season 17, get it?) It will be interesting to see if the queens are as hostile to Arrietty as they were to Hormona.