Drag Race France - S3E8: The Re-cap.
Are you up to speed?
Season 3 of Drag Race France has now reached its conclusion - we have a winner!
It has to be said that Drag Race France are doing the finale the way that it ought to be done - this is an event!
Having embraced the live-theatre finale format in Season 2, they have continued that tradition with Season 3. It really raises the energy of the whole experience and feels like a fitting way to celebrate such an impressive showcase of drag talent.
There were obviously group numbers, highlight packages, interviews with the cast, and the presentation of Miss Congeniality - which was won by Norma Bell.
But the focus of the event was on the four finalists.
As we've seen in the American franchise, the first round was a solo performance to an original track from each of the finalists. It seemed that Leona was singing hers live, whereas the other three recorded their vocals and performed a lip-sync to themselves.
The results were all solid production numbers. Leona's probably had the most emotional impact, but the live singing meant that some of her vocal moments were a bit challenging.
We then got a decision on which two queens would be progressing to the final lip-sync.
There seemed to be some kind of social media drama with Leona which made it seem fairly clear that she wasn't really in contention to win the crown, and Lula is more of a concept queen than a performer, so it seemed fairly obvious that we were going to end up with Le Filip taking on Ruby in the final show-down.
The track was I'm Alive by Celine Dion - a big song from a camp icon, perfect for a drag performance.
We got fairly similar approaches from Filip and Ruby - neither are pulling any dance stunts, they're delivering the song. Ruby seemed to have a fairly heavy Joan of Arc outfit that hampered her movement a little, but she got through her reveals smoothly. Filip had a simpler silhouette to work with but incorporated quick-change reveals which all went smoothly.
So, who wins?
Personally, my vote was with Ruby. She's been an engaging performer throughout the series and seemed to really find momentum as the competition progressed.
However, it was Filip was snatched the crown. She's got a dry sense of humour and an iconoclast's perspective. A worthy winner.
Congratulations, Le Filip!
The Cast
Le Filip
Final Ranking: While it felt as if Le Filip was initially a little overwhelmed by the production process, it quickly became clear that she's a talented queen with plenty to offer. Her dry sense of humour is a joy and it's taken her all the way to victory. Le Filip is the winner of Season 3 of Drag Race France!
Ruby On The Nail
Final Ranking: Ruby quickly emerged as my favourite in this cast. She had a bit of a rocky start to the competition but the win in Snatch Game set her on the trajectory to the top. I'm fully expecting to see Ruby popping up on an edition of Global All Stars in the very near future.
Lula Strega
Final Ranking: It's been a strong season for Lula - the quiet achiever in this competition. To be honest, I didn't expect to see her in the final but her conceptual approach to drag seemed to resonate with the judges.
Leona Winter
Final Ranking: Leona is used to being on TV and she's used to competitions - that kind of experience goes a long way in this format and it's stood Leona in good stead throughout this season. I don't quite understand the social media drama that she was apologising for in the final, but she seems to have shot herself in the foot in the final lap of this race.
Misty Phoenix
Final Ranking: I underestimated Misty - she's a very strong performer. She's a great dancer, and also gives good TV. I now officially adore Misty. She made it all the way to Episode 7, beaten in the lip-sync by Leona.
Perseo
Final Ranking: The queens of the Canary Islands know how to put on a show. Love her energy. I recently saw Perseo perform at Madrid Pride and she's still serving jaw-dropping stunts at every opportunity. Adore.
Norma Bell
Final Ranking: Norma's had a good season - winning Week 1 and establishing herself as a talented and likeable queen. Snatch Game was her undoing, beaten in the lip-sync by Filip.
Edeha Noire
Final Ranking: Edeha's got a big personality but she never really found her level in this competition. Eliminated in Episode 3, beaten in the lip-sync by Ruby.
Magnetica
Final Ranking: It feels like we're losing Magnetica a bit early in the competition - she's got an interesting perspective and seems like an accomplished performer. However, Episode 2 was the end of the road for her in this competition.
Afrodite Amour
Final Ranking: Afrodite is the Pork Chop of the season - eliminated in Episode 1. With only a year of drag under her belt, it was always going to be a big ask to put her skills to the test in this format.
Means Happy
