RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 8: Two Flat Feet Spells Defeat

Editor's note: Before you dive into episode 8, read our recap of last week's episode.

After Crystal Envy's shake-up elimination and a shaky Snatch Game, the queens competed in this season's Rusical, The Wicked Wiz of Oz. Featuring characters from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked, RuPaul's Drag Race crammed this intergenerational IP extravaganza into the structure of the 1975 Broadway musical A Chorus Line. The queens took on characters from Oz and auditioned for a new live production.

Before the queens could act out their auditions, they selected roles in the Werk Room. Fighting for roles has become a large part of the Rusical narratives, but this episode revealed more about group dynamics than any individual or role. After a less-than-becoming Untucked, Suzie Toot continued to irk the other queens by taking on the role of casting director. In the first dispute, Acacia Forgot, Sam Star, and Suzie all fought for the part of Kansas Dorothy, the perceived lead character in the production's final ballad. After her experiences working with Suzie during RDR Live!, Lexi Love quickly asserted the machinations of the Wizard and steered the battle over the role. She convinced Sam to take the Cher part and forced Suzie into the role of the Green Witch. As with many past seasons, Acacia's fight for the lead role came back to bite her. Another argument brewed between Kori King and Jewels Sparkles over the part of the Good Witch. The group vote isolated Suzie, who was the only queen to support Kori for the part. Suzie's transformation from the Jinkx Monsoon-style kooky underdog to the perceived megalomaniac manipulator has been one of the season's more interesting narrative arcs.

The queens turned to rehearsals with Michelle Visage and Jamal Sims. As they recorded tracks, the early standouts were Suzie and Onya Nurve. Kori and Acacia struggled. There was substantial focus on Sam's continued effort to loosen things up with Michelle's encouragement. On the main stage, the choreography seemed to trip up Jewels, Onya, and Kori, who Lexi eviscerated with a well-orchestrated double dildo joke.

With a slimmed-down cast, this episode spent more time on personal stories in the Werk Room. Acacia and Onya shared a kind moment. Onya, a bit of a loner at the start, has become extremely supportive of underdog queens like Acacia and Hormona Lisa. If it weren't for the design challenge kerfuffles, it could be easy to see her in the running for Miss Congeniality. Both Sam and Arrietty pontificated on how drag saved them from dark times. Each shared how the art form led to self-actualization and greater confidence. Acacia closed the segment discussing her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. Altogether, it was a life-affirming package made for Emmy gold.

The challenge and subsequent Parasol runway were highly successful. Interestingly, the costumes provided were the low point of the episode — they would have surely been critiqued if the queens had brought them from home. Suzie and Jewels (and her nip slip) took command of the stage while Lexi, Lana Ja'Rae, and Arreitty's trio performance charmed. Sam's surprise entrance as Cher benefited from the shift from backstage musical to stage spectacle. Her number (and those that followed) got a better light show and choreography. Kori and Lydia Butthole Kollins, the season's romantic couple, worked well enough together in what was probably the show's weakest number. Onya's performance was impressive enough to make one wonder if her rehearsal struggle was a hustle. Finally, Acacia's performance showcased a strong emotional core, albeit with a disappointingly lethargic presentation.

With a great runway across the board, the judges, like last week, divided the queens between four tops and two bottoms. The tension was palpable as Acacia, the last for critiques, saw everyone, sans Kori, praised for their performances and looks. Sam took the win not solely for a great runway and performance, but for successfully implementing the judges' critiques. Just as Sam overcame her consistent critiques, Kori and Acacia succumbed to theirs. Kori, like in past challenges, showed a lack of attention to detail and was outshone by her partner. Likewise, Acacia's inability to stand out this season was underlined by her lackluster lead performance.

Kori and Acacia found themselves in a lip sync for their lives. Performing to Adam Lambert's "Wet Dreams," Acacia managed to inject some more personality into the performance, but it paled in comparison to Kori's tenacity.

Kori seemed destined for a win — until her wig popped off. In Drag Race lore, a lost wig typically means defeat. Lana bucked that trend last week and, like Lana, Kori quickly placed the wig back on and continued. Interestingly, RuPaul also hates it when performers lose their shoes during a lip sync. By the end, Acacia was on two flat feet. This week, one lost wig was less important than two lost heels. Acacia had an uphill battle from the start: Kori brings drama to the season, while Acacia was often forgotten in the edit.