Misplaced Pages

"Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown" is the eighth episode of the fifteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on February 17, 2023. The episode does not have any guest judges. It has the contestants participate a series of lip-syncs that culminates in the elimination of Jax.

Episode

The contestants return to the Werk Room after Aura Mayari's elimination on the previous episode. They congratulate Mistress Isabelle Brooks for winning the previous main challenge, and share who they think are the frontrunners of the season. On a new day, RuPaul greets the contestants in the Werk Room and reveals the next main challenge: to participate in a "Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown", a series of lip-syncs that culminates in an elimination. For each round, a contestant is chosen at random to select her opponent, who then selects the lip-sync song.

On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow judges Michelle Visage and Ross Mathews. The contestants come to the main stage and RuPaul explains the rules before commencing the contest. First, Malaysia Babydoll Foxx chooses to lip-sync against Marcia Marcia Marcia, who selects "Boys Don't Cry" by Anitta. Marcia Marcia Marcia wins the lip-sync and is safe, while Malaysia Babydoll Foxx must continue to the next round. In the second lip-sync, Loosey LaDuca chooses Spice as her opponent, who selects "Do You Wanna Touch Me" by Joan Jett. Loosey LaDuca wins and is safe. Spice continues to the next round.

In the third lip-sync, Luxx Noir London chooses Salina EsTitties as her opponent, who chooses "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion. Salina EsTitties wins and is safe, while Luxx Noir London must continue to the next round. In the fourth lip-sync, Mistress Isabelle Brooks chooses Jax as her opponent, who selects "Tell It to My Heart" (1987) by Taylor Dayne. Mistress Isabelle Brooks wins and is safe. Jax continues to the next round. The remaining contestants Anetra and Sasha Colby lip-sync. Anetra is randomly selected to pick the song and chooses "I'm in Love with a Monster" (2015) by Fifth Harmony. Sasha Colby wins and is safe. Anetra continues to the next round.

In the first lip-sync of the second round, Malaysia Babydoll Foxx chooses Spice as her opponent, who selects "Don't Go Yet" (2021) by Camila Cabello. Malaysia Babydoll Foxx wins and is safe, while Spice must continue to the final round. The three remaining contestants (Anetra, Jax, and Luxx Noir London) lip-sync to the remaining song, "The Right Stuff" (1988) by Vanessa Williams. Luxx Noir London wins and is safe. Anetra and Jax continue to the final round. Before the final round, RuPaul reveals a twist: one of the remaining contestants will be selected at random and she must choose one of the others to save without having to lip-sync. Anetra is selected and she saves Spice. Thus, Anetra and Jax lip-sync to "Finally" (1991) by CeCe Peniston. Anetra is declared the winner, and Jax is eliminated.

Reception

Trae DeLellis of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'B+'. Drag Race contestant Brooke Lynn Hytes considers the episode's lip-sync among her favorites on the show.

References

1. McCallion, Paul (July 29, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season-Finale Recap: No Contest". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
2. Spilde, Coleman (February 18, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Just Aired Its Twistiest Episode of the Season". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
3. Duncan, Charlie (February 18, 2023). "Drag Race season 15's Lip Sync LaLaPaRuZa leaves fans gagged with unexpected twist". PinkNews. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
4. Gregory, Drew Burnett (February 18, 2023). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Episode 1508: Participation Trophies". Autostraddle. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
5. ^ "The Diamond Drag: Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". The Diamondback. February 21, 2023. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
6. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15, Episode 8 recap: Sync test | Xtra Magazine". February 19, 2023. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
7. Daw, Stephen (February 18, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Every Lip Sync Ranked From Season 15's 'Lalaparuza'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
8. "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 Episode 8 Recap: "LipSync LalapaRuza Smackdown"". Honeysuckle Magazine. February 18, 2023. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
9. "RuPaul introduces 'punch to the gut' twist to 'Drag Race' LaLaPaRuza lip-sync smackdown". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
10. Daw, Stephen (February 21, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Jax Breaks Down Exactly What Happened in 'The Hunger Games' of Lip Syncs". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
11. "March Madness comes early on RuPaul's Drag Race". The A.V. Club. February 18, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
12. Wratten, Marcus (February 5, 2024). "The best Drag Race lip-syncs of all time, as chosen by Drag Race queens". PinkNews. Retrieved March 29, 2024.

• LGBTQ
• Television
• United States

• 2023 American television episodes
• 2023 LGBTQ-related television episodes
• RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 episodes