Drag U Recap: Back in the Saddle

Ru takes the women to the main stage where they meet Phlex, their dance instructor who’s also worked with Beyoncé so you know he’s legit. Unfortunately…he’s not that creative and chooses I Will Survive for their dance. He’s cute, though, so two out of three ain’t bad. The women, for their part, are just happy that they all know the song and it’s slow enough that they won’t be too taxed. But Hilary finds a way to get overwhelmed and flustered, anyway.

Who run the world? Not these girls.

This week’s drag tip is how to create cleavage with make-up because you don’t like to pad but like pissing off the other queens…by Professor Raja!

Looks totally natural.

It’s the next day and the women are bonding by rehearsing the steps. Hilary’s still having problems. Faith offers a hug but Hilary brusquely says no then explains that she’ll just cry if she hugs someone. This is a cue for the professors to arrive and…Manila’s wearing yet another pair of fancy tights, this time with latex stripes, and a car for a fascinator. Sure, why not. Hilary grabs Jujubee because she needs to talk and fakes that she’s worried about the dance but confides that she’s flashing back to how angry she still is at her jerk ex for leaving her. Juju bemoans how she and Hilary are freaking out but everyone else is just dandy. Perfect segue for Hilary’s meeting with Ru.

I know, gurr. I know.

Once in the office with Ru, Hilary admits that she’s angry because she used to be a really strong person and she can’t figure out how to get back there. Ru tells her not to let that anger sabotage how far she’s come and to commend herself. Let Tatiana guide her back to loving life.

Latrice wants to know what’s going on in Faith’s head. She says that even though she knows she can do this there’s always this lingering self-doubt. Latrice tells her that Elantra has no doubt so she needs to get into that character. In her meeting with Ru, he asks her about her anger over her divorce. Faith thinks it’s because she was left alone and gave everything up to raise the boys. Ru tells her that she’s holding on to the anger to keep the relationship and that she needs to let go because we forgive, not for the other person, but for ourselves. So we can move on…and, well, even I’m not enough of a jerk to make fun of that. Then they talk about who “Elantra” is. Faith thinks she’s sexy and confident, so Ru tells her that she IS Elantra, all she needs is a little more “faith” in herself.

Lest all this sincerity take over the show, it’s time to bond with the professors. Latrice tells Jujubee she likes her 80s look because it’s very Dynasty but Manila nonsensically asks if “80s” is a look. Jujubee mocks the car on Manila’s head and Manila has the best whiny, teen-aged, wobble when she tells Jujubee to shut up, because it looks cool. Ah, the universal engine that drives Buzzfeed: The need to look cool. Manila gets off one last read telling Juju’s one to talk with her lash so Juju asks Latrice if she has a wonky eye. Latrice tells her no, it’s just her face. Heh.

Y’all jus jellus.

With that out of the way, it’s time for Shana’s meeting. Ru tells her she’s special and asks if she knows that. Shana says she used to but all those bad choices are weighing her down. She admits that she’s following her father’s lead of just moving from one bad relationship to another and Ru goes all Cher in Moonstruck and basically tells her to snap out of it. To literally remind herself not to make those same mistakes and become the “Callie” persona to write a new script for herself. Then they have a briefly awkward moment when Shana tells Ru she loves him…but he saves it by telling her he loves her, too.