Previously on RuPaul’s Drag Race 14 queens entered the Werk Room, with Miss Vanjie leading the way out, backwards and into our hearts, and a place in pop-culture herstory. She was followed by Kalorie, Yuhua, Dusty Ray, Mayhem, Blair, Monique, The Vixen, Monét and Cracker, leaving us with a battle of the South and NYC for the crown. But that is next week. This week, it is time to re-une. I know that isn’t a word, can we encourage people to reune from now on? Thanks.

Anyway let’s kick the reunion off by congratulating the winner of the night, Yahua, who came dressed as Samara from the ring. Wait, scrap that – the winner is always Vanjie, who was treated to a minute montage of her viral exit before she admitted the fact she didn’t think she would be going home so just said the first thing that came into her head. She then shared that Vanjie is now a multipurpose word and all she cared about after leaving the show was making the most of her fifteen minutes and getting the bookings, and vanjie-ing her way into the zeitgeist was not something she could have ever expected.

Ru casually confirmed that Kameron, Eureka, Asia and Aquaria would be lip syncing for the crown before talking about some of the most iconic lip syncs of the season, congratulating Dusty and Monét on their Nicki Minaj number, and most importantly, Monét’s death drop fake-out. On the other end of the spectrum, Monique and The Vixen spoke about Monique’s Valentina-esque fail of not knowing the lip sync. Though none compared to the battle of the Fine’s between Kameron and Eureka – which infamously irritated Aquaria – and Kameron surviving four lip syncs, thus far.

Monique pulled popcorn out of her bag as they transitioned to discussing The Vixen’s fights throughout the season. The Vixen defended her telling Cracker about Aquaria and Monét’s Untucked discussion about Cracker and Aquaria’s rumoured twinning in NYC. We then transitioned to Eureka and The Vixen’s fight, with both of the queens downplaying their fight and trying to keep things calm. That lasted about ten seconds after Ru probed them about whether they stand by what they said, which The Vixen said she did while Eureka said she only did in the moment and felt bad now. She then denied baiting The Vixen, despite admitting to it on the show which pissed off The Vixen and lead to five other queens joining in to tell The Vixen not to react when baited, without acknowledging that baiting someone is more fucked up. Poor Asia tried to defend her, before The Vixen and Ru started to get more and more tense until The Vixen decided to leave the reunion.

Poor Asia went in to defend The Vixen and her choice to leave the reunion so as not to continue fighting. While Mayhem, Monique, Blair and Ru argued that she needs to pull her head in before poor Asia tried to remind everyone that she seems like she just wants to be acknowledged and heard. As she continued to talk about The Vixen with Ru, she completely broke down about how everyone had let The Vixen down, herself included, and wished that they could help her. Ru and Asia then argued back and forth, though ultimately felt like they cleared the air. Though that could probs be the wine talking.

From one trauma to another, we pivoted to Dusty’s homophobic family and how he was exorcised through a church for being gay. Yep, you read that correctly. It is fucking horrible and once again, I’m crying. Dusty then shared about how his family still don’t support him and see him as equal, despite apologising for the conversion therapy. He then shared his love for his chosen family, though was disappointed not to get support from those that are meant to love him most while strangers approach her on the street to talk about how proud they are of her. We then went back to Monique’s Untucked breakdown about fearing her mother’s reaction to seeing her on the show, with Monique focusing on wanting to inspire the little kids that feel they don’t have a place or are broken and like Vanjie, I’m fucking crying again.

Continuing the tears, we checked in on Blair and how finally admitting being sexually assaulted had improved her life and helped her deal with it. She spoke about drinking to dull the pain and that she has been completely sober since getting home, much to the delight of her fellow queens. Monét spoke about her own homophobic family in St Lucia and her fear that they may disown her, finally bringing some joy back by sharing that her mum has been checking in on how she is going on the show, despite not mentioning it by name. Yuhua spoke about drag making her feel free, though doesn’t talk about it with her parents which made me feel like it was going to get joyous and then I was kicked in the nuts.

Ru then tried to bring some actually levity to the proceedings with a game of Toot or Boot, with Kameron’s bird dress universally beloved, Cracker’s silverfosy loved by all by Eureka and Monét’s sponge dress hated by all but Mayhem. We then say a package of the judges with the takeaways being Monét thought Andrew Rannells was Jonathan Groff and Alex Trebek quoted Detox.

We circled back to the drama, focusing on Asia saying Miz Cracker wasn’t a star which lead to a sincere apology for Asia. While Cracker accepted the apology, she assured her that she wouldn’t the next time.

With that, Ru threw the floor open to the queens to ask questions to each other with Mayhem asking Aquaria and Asia why they were shady about her outfits in Untucked. Aquaria apologised and explained that she was just expecting more and wanted her to stand out, while Asia just told her she didn’t feel it was her place to read her outfits. Monique then asked Kameron why she has so much personality on social media though was silent and stand-offish on the show. Dusty joined in and said she is hurt by the fact she never gave her that personality, followed by Monét and Vanjie agreeing they never really got the chance to know her.

Ru challenged the queens to read each other one last time, with Vanjie slaying Kalorie, despite Kalorie being the one trying to read her. Eureka did the same thing during Mayhem’s turn before Monét finally landed a joke about Yuhua butchering the english language, Monique and Aquaria did a killer Wakanda joke and Dusty tried to tear everyone apart, from Kameron to Michelle Visage.

And just like that, the reunion reached its crescendo … though not before Mayhem, Dusty backed Aquaria for the win, Kalorie, Yuhua, Cracker and Vanjie professed their support for Eureka, and Monique, Blair, Monét are rooting for Asia.

Womp, womp for Kameron, I guess. Which season 5 victor and dear friend Jinkx Monsoon – who I was reuning with myself – felt horribly about. I first became friends with Jinkx Monsoon in a support group for those who have been personally victimised by Rolaskatox. Despite all being friends now, I will forever be grateful for their clique for uniting Jinkx and I in our pain. Our early catch-ups were marked by drinking and talking, so I obviously whipped out our old Ginkx & Monsoonic to accompany this date.

Tart and earthy, this is the perfect drink for those wanting to work through some pain, reconnect – or reune – with friends, or appear to be a classy drunk. No judgement.

Enjoy!

Ginkx & Monsoonic
Serves: 1.

Ingredients
1 lemon, cut into wedges
ice
2 shots gin
tonic water, to top

Method
Place a couple of lemon wedges in a glass with ice.

Top with gin and tonic water.

Down.

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