Drag Race UK vs The World episode three power rankings: ‘Jimbo drama doesn’t add up’

Words: Jamie Tabberer; pictures: BBC

Spoilers for episode three of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World follow.

This week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World delivered shocking drama the likes of which we’ve rarely seen on the show before, as one of the strongest contestants in herstory bowed out early.

Yes, a tearful Jimbo was given her marching orders (and took them in improbable shoes, naturally) despite a weak effort from Jujubee and some eyebrow-raising antics from Baga – and Drag Race fans online are not happy to say the least.
 
But, outside opinions aside, here’s our own (highly subjective) rankings for this week…

1) Pangina Heals

With such questionable, if not borderline problematic material to work with, how passionately did Pangina sell not-so-little orphan Annie? And with that breakneck speed lip-sync – and to such an underrated song! – plus her objet-d’art polka dot-inspired look, Pangie had the best Drag Race week in recent memory. (One note: could the make-up be refined?)

Things turned sour when she sent Jimbo home over Juju, though. Was it tactical? Perhaps, and if so, fair enough – Jimbo was tactical last week. But we find this unlikely, given the loveliness Pangina emanates in confessionals. Incomprehensible elimination decisions? They happen, but…

2) Blu Hydrangea

There was more avant-garde brilliance from Blu, who had her best-ever week and deserved to be in the top. Her make-up was flawless high art, and her velvety orange/blue ensemble, while flattering and premium-looking, was also mind-bending and fantastical – she looked like a fictional creature from a beloved children’s film.

Elsewhere, she showed unmistakable talent in her parody of The Sound of Music’s Julie Andrews, capturing the essence of character and actress while mixing in her own IP for good measure. She should be headed for the final – but are the judges guilty of overlooking her?

3) Jimbo (eliminated)

A sickening departure, and not in a good way. Is it hyperbolic to apply the term ‘controversial’ to a TV talent show? Probably, but here, it feels correct. Something about Jimbo’s exit, after such an awesome start, doesn’t add up, and exposes the producers’ tired lipstick provocation for the idiocy that it is. True, her cross-bred Dorothy and Toto from The Wizard of Oz creation was baffling. But she smashed it with her futuristic fashionista look, and the way she posed it out? Her commitment, and that special measure of effort she puts into everything, is unrivalled.

Then there was that exit line. (“I’ll get you RuPaul! And your little dog too! I mean Michelle…”) You imagine queens struggling to come up with meme-worthy parting shots; Jimbo, we suspect, was reacting in the moment with wit and charm, like a true jokester. Please, drag gods, let this not be the last we see of Canada’s finest.

4) Janey Jacké

However chic and praised by the judges, Janey’s runway look was surprisingly unremarkable, and that colour? Confrontational. But she excelled in the challenge, taking on an impossible task – how do you send up the most garlanded actress of all time? – and hitting the sweet spot with an affectionate, and as Michelle put it, effortless Meryl Streep impression.

We’re bumping her down, however, because of her lip-sync: a neat and polished effort it may have been (again, like last week, we’re getting Eurovision vibes), but she was ultimately obscured by lip-sync assassin Pangina.

5) Mo Heart

Essentially, Mo served up fierceness once again this week, with an elevated, Disney-tastic under-the-sea look and a plucky Rocky Horror Picture Show moment that suited her to perfection. That she took a nasty tumble – before immediately styling it out, Anne-Marie and Madonna at the Brits-style – is no big deal. If anything, it’ll only endear her to viewers more.

But, as with many a pro, Mo is evidently her own harshest critic. Her body language when she was being judged expressed premature defeat, her discomfort bleeding through the screen. Flanked by so many super-talents, she can’t afford such moments of profound self-doubt.

6) Baga Chipz

One woman with no self doubt is our Baga, whose IDGAF attitude ceased to be entertaining this week. Thank god she had her “spoiled brat” breakthrough towards the episode’s end. Seeing BFF Jimbo given the boot will have shocked further sense into her, surely.

She should, really, have been in the bottom – even if losing another UK queen at this point in the competition would have made a mockery of the show’s format. If her ‘safe’ status seems confusing, it’s worth remembering judges don’t see behind the scenes. (One assumes). And on paper, her talent show performance was decent, and her hot pink Cheryl Hole-ready runway look, cute. Cuter than Juju’s, anyway…

7) Jujubee

If we were ranking queens based on priceless reactions, Juju would be top: her face when Mo snatched her wig was a picture. Otherwise, it was yet another disappointing week for this lovable drag legend, who seems to be collapsing under the weight of expectation.

We didn’t entirely agree with the judges’ harsh feedback on her musical performance – it was fun, silly, effervescent – but they didn’t go far enough critiquing that amateurish, overly simple runway look. (The inflatable snakes looked about as flammable as the hair. And the tights.) Unless she pulls it out the bag next week, Juju’s days are surely numbered.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World continues on BBC Three and the BBC iPlayer next Tuesday from 9pm.