Ep 1. The Pork Chop

At long last, the wait is over. RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 premiered with its first episode named ‘The Pork Chop.’ The show's format has gone back to its traditional roots, with an introductory episode that presented all the queens of this season and divided them into two groups. The episode began with RuPaul's grand entrance, eager to see the new crop of queens ready to battle for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar.

Before the queens could even put on their makeup, RuPaul announced a twist that nobody saw coming. The queens would not be competing against each other in the episode, but rather going head-to-head in six separate lip-sync battles. The twist was that the winner of each lip-sync would be declared safe and get the chance to choose the name of their team and the opponent they wanted to face. The losing queen of each lip-sync would have to wait until the end of the episode to learn whether they were safe or up for elimination. However, everyone was shocked when the first lip-sync was won by group A, and all the queens in group B were up for elimination.

The episode showcased the variety of talents and personalities in this year's cast. There’s Kahmora Hall, whose drag style is a throwback to old Hollywood glamour. Denali, the first professional ice skater in drag, combined her skating skills and showed off acrobatics during her lip-sync battle. Rosé, another professional musician, brought some rock anthems to the stage. Meanwhile, Tamisha Iman, a drag veteran from Atlanta, had the queens in awe with her charisma.

Symone, who presented her unique combination of drag and fashion, was the clear standout of the episode. She won the first lip-sync, chose the name 'The Pork Chop’, and delivered a memorable performance in the final lip-sync of the evening. Another standout was Gottmik, the show's first trans man contestant, who wowed the judges with her stunning makeup skills. Other queens like Joey Jay, Tina Burner, and Utica Queen, surprised the judges with their lip-sync talent.

The judging panel for this season comprised of RuPaul, Carson Kressley, Michelle Visage, and a new addition, Ross Mathews. They provided thoughtful and sometimes hilarious critiques of each queen. While some queens excelled in the lip-sync battles, others stumbled, and the judges did not hesitate to deliver honest feedback. However, the judges also recognized that it was only the first episode, and there were plenty of opportunities for queens to showcase their talents further in the competition.

The Pork Chop episode gave us a glimpse of the fierce competition ahead. This season's queens had a tall order to follow, as the previous season crowned one of the most popular queens in the show’s history- Jaida Essence Hall. Nonetheless, this episode showcased that this season's queens are just as talented and competitive as any other season. This season's cast is also notable for having many queens of color and varied cultural backgrounds. The show highlighted the diverse stories and experiences that drag queens bring to the stage.

In conclusion, the first episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 named ‘The Pork Chop’ lived up to the hype. It showcased the cast's different personalities and talents in the six lip-sync battles, providing an enjoyable and entertaining experience for viewers. The legendary show's long-standing format is still exciting and fresh, with enough twists and surprises to keep the contestants and viewers on their toes. The Pork Chop's episode set the tone for what promises to be an incredible season of the show, with its talented cast, and fierce competition.