RPDR Season 17, Episode 15: The Recap.

Season 17 has been undeniably entertaining - and we're getting down to the business-end of proceedings.

This week was a lip-sync smack-down bringing back all of the eliminated queens to compete for $50K.

The timing

What's interesting is that this seems to have filmed relatively recently - after much of the series has aired. It's possible that they filmed this after they filmed the finale episode? Not sure, but it makes this lip-sync episode a reunion and brings a fresh dynamic as the queens are able to reflect on how the season has been received by the fans.

Round 1

It's a straightforward knock-out. Each lip-sync, the winner progresses and the loser is eliminated.

The Top 4 got to sit this one out and enjoy the show.

Hormona versus Lydia

Hormona was selected first. She could pick her opponent or the song she wanted. She opted to pick the song and went with Say Liza by Liza Minelli. The bingo barrel chose Lydia to go up against Hormona.

This is a tough track to do. Hormona and Lydia both knew the track but Lydia is a more engaging performer and took the win.

Suzie versus Joella

Suzie was selected and opted to choose her opponent (she really wanted to do Say Liza). Suzie chose to go up against Joella. That meant that Joella got to pick the song and she went for Training Season by Dua Lipa.

This is a cute track with lots of potential. Both Suzie and Joella both did the track without really bringing anything fresh to it. The outcome could have gone either way. Suzie was declared the winner.

Lucky versus Acacia

Lucky was up next and she chose to pick the song - she went with Step By Step by Whitney Houston. The bingo barrel chose Acacia to go up against her.

This is an awesome track and both Lucky and Acacia did a good job. Acacia had solid reveals and found some personality and humour in her performance. Lucky had a killer costume and used her basketball titties to perfection.

You could mount an argument for either to win, but I would have gone with Lucky as it felt the fresher of the two performances. RuPaul agreed with me.

Arrietty versus Kori.

Arrietty was up next and she chose to pick the song - she went with Blow Me by Pink. The bingo barrel chose Kori.

Love, Pink and both Arrietty and Kori knew the track and did the song. Kori was connected to the song but I really liked the energy and intention that Arrietty brought to the performance. Plus, I'm overall obsessed with Arrietty. For me, it was a clear win to Arrietty. However, it was Kori that was declared the winner.

Crystal versus Lana

At the end of Round 1, the remaining queens were Crystal and Lana. The bingo barrel determined who got to choose the song - that responsibility fell to Lana.

Lana chose You Make Me Feel by Sylvester.

This is a tough song for a white woman like Crystal to do, but she did her best - approaching it like a stripper in Atlantic City. Lana's performance felt more playful and connected to the energy of the song.

My vote went to Lana. Thankfully, that's the way the decision went.

Round 2

Lucky versus Suzie

The bingo barrel chose Lucky to kick off Round 2. She opted to choose the song and went for We Found Love by Rihanna. The bingo barrel allocated Suzie to go up against her.

Not the easiest track to perform. Suzie looked like she was going through the motions and we'd already seen everything that Lucky's outfit could do. The outcome could have gone either way and you couldn't complain about it.

The decision went in favour of Suzie.

Kori versus Lydia versus Lana

That left us with a 3-way lip-sync to complete Round 2.

The remaining song was 360 by Charli xcx.

This is a difficult song because it's a light melody and all a bit one-level. As a viewer, it was really difficult to get a sense of everyone's performance because the edit was constantly chopping between them all. Based on what we saw, it felt like Kori was most in control of the stage and the song.

Kori was declared the winner.

Round 3

Kori versus Suzie

The track was APT by Rosé and Bruno Mars.

It's a cute track - not easy. Suzie did a solid job but Kori had more stage presence and had saved a tittie reveal for this moment.

You could mount an argument for Suzie to win this but, for me, it was Kori who took it.

However, it was Suzie that was declared the winner.

Episode 15, done. Next week, the grand finale!

The Cast

Still in the competition

• Jewels Sparkles: A fan favourite. Deserved. There's something really engaging and likeable about everything that Jewels does.
• Lexi Love: Lexi has given us good TV throughout the season.
• Onya Nurve: Great presence and engaging personality - seems to be a favourite with the judges. She's a lock to win this.
• Sam Star: She's a pageant queen from a very accomplished Drag House - that can take you a long way in this competition, and it's taken her all the way to Top 4.

The eliminated queens

• Suzie Toot: With a quirky sense of humour and clear perspective, Suzie was my early pick to win. She made it to Top 5. Her elimination was a shock - beaten in the lip-sync by Sam Star - but she's established herself as an accomplished performer. She also picked up $50K as the winner of the lip-sync smack-down. It's been a good season for Suzie.
• Lana Ja’Rae: Stunning and her personality is super-charming but Lana never felt like she was hitting her full potential in this competition. Against the odds, she made it all the way to Episode 12, beaten in the lip-sync by Sam.
• Lydia Kollins: Lydia is a surprisingly success story of this season - her low-key personality and quirky humour kept her in the mix, on the radar, and in the game for longer than I imagined possible. Unsurprisingly, it was an acting challenge that was her undoing. Eliminated in the lip-sync by Lana.
• Arrietty: I adore Arrietty - she's got great personality and serves stunning looks. This season was a roller-coaster for her and, unsurprisingly, it was a comedy challenge that was her undoing - beaten in the lip-sync by Jewels after struggling in the Roast. I just need to restate how much I adore Arrietty.
• Kori King: Lots of personality, great presence, and engaging energy. Kori gave us good TV but she didn't win challenges and that ultimately caught up with her.
• Acacia Forgot: Acacia had a rocky start to the season and never really found her feet. She made it to Episode 8, beaten in the lip-sync by Kori.
• Crystal Envy: It was a surprise to lose Crystal in Episode 7, making her 4th out - she's a strong performer with strong looks who hit every challenge with intention. Snatch Game was her downfall, and the lip-sync against Lana went against her.
• Hormona Lisa: The rest of the cast never seemed to gel with Hormona and it wasn't clear if it was because of the way that she was cast, or just a personality clash. It could have been a bit of both. Regardless, Hormona gave us the storyline that she was sent here to do but she never really seemed like a force to be reckoned with in this competition. Eliminated in Episode 6, beaten in the lip-sync by Lana.
• Joella: Joella gave us the Katy Perry storyline that no one wanted but beyond that it seemed as if production didn't have any storyline options for her. What endeared Joella to everyone was that her level of delusion was off the charts - it's glorious to behold.
• Lucky Starzzz: Hugely talented and a crafty queen in the best possible way. Surprisingly, it was the sewing challenge of Episode 3 that was her undoing, beaten in the lip-sync by Joella. Lucky is the Pork Chop of the season.