Ep 1. Return of the Vanjie, I declare
- April 30, 2018
Rupaul's All Stars Drag Race season 4 episode 1, named "Return of the Vanjie, I declare," presents the highly-anticipated return of ten of the most beloved and iconic queens from the previous seasons of the show. The episode opens with the contestants entering the werk room in glamorous and flashy outfits, setting the tone for the fierce competition that lies ahead.
The queens are greeted by the reigning All Stars champion, Trinity the Tuck, who welcomes them back with a couple of shady remarks and some friendly banter. The episode quickly moves on to the first mini-challenge of the season, which involves the queens posing, strutting, and twirling in front of a giant spinning wheel that randomly assigns them a style of drag they must embody.
The contestants showcase their versatility and creativity as they present their interpretations of different styles, from pageant to avant-garde, and from disco to cowboy. After a hilarious and entertaining round of performances, Rupaul announces that Monique Heart has won the mini-challenge, earning herself an advantage in the main challenge.
For the main challenge, the queens are tasked with creating and performing in a hilarious and outrageous parody of Rupaul's hit TV show, "VH1 Divas Live." The catch is that each queen has to impersonate a celebrity diva, chosen at random by Monique Heart who earned the advantage earlier.
The queens go to work on their characters, costumes, and choreography, trying to put their own spin on their assigned divas while still staying true to their signature style. From Cher to Whitney Houston, and from Mariah Carey to Celine Dion, the queens channel their inner divas and deliver a series of lip-sync performances that are both sidesplitting and impressive.
As the challenge comes to an end, the judges - consisting of Rupaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and a special guest judge - Amy Sedaris - critique each queen on their performance, style, and overall execution. While some queens manage to nail their diva impersonations and deliver a standout performance, others struggle to find their footing and fail to leave a lasting impression.
At the end of the episode, Rupaul announces that Manila Luzon and Monique Heart have been named the top two queens of the week. Manila and Monique have to face off in a lip-sync battle for their legacy, with the winner earning the power to select which queen out of the bottom three will be sent home.
Overall, "Return of the Vanjie, I declare" is an exciting and laugh-out-loud episode that showcases the talent and charisma of some of the most beloved queens from the previous seasons of the show. With a fierce competition, witty banter, and show-stopping performances, this season of All Stars Drag Race promises to be one of the most entertaining yet.
