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RuPaul's Drag Race officially started 2025 with a bang, bringing a new twist to its elimination procedure on the second episode of Season 17. The long-running reality competition program, which pits drag performers against one other in tasks to test their charm, individuality, nerve, and ability, aired its second episode on January 10th with guest judge Doechii.
Following last week's premiere, in which Suzie claimed victory and raised the bar, this episode showed the remaining contenders demonstrating their skills and walking the runway in cake-themed outfits.
The show's highlight was the Badonka Dunk Tank, a humorous new elimination process in which queens might potentially rescue themselves by dunking judge, Michelle Visage, in water. The premiere of this season of RuPaul's Drag Race maintained the show's trademark combination of competitiveness, drama, and entertainment while adding new aspects that signal this season might be one of the most surprising ever.
What happened in RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 Episode 2?
Unlike typical episodes that spend considerable time on preparation and behind-the-scenes drama, this week's show cut straight to the action. By the 20-minute mark, viewers were already on the runway, creating what felt like "pedal-to-the-metal, capital-D Drag Race." The episode focused primarily on performances and runway presentations, featuring an "Is It Cake?" themed runway that called for posterior-focused outfits.
Lexi Love emerged as this episode of RuPaul's Drag Race's clear victor, delivering what many considered the season's best talent show performance thus far. Her roller-skating routine, complete with cartwheels and splits, showcased what RuPaul referred to as the depth that comes with experience. At 33, this "Auntie Grandma," as contestant Jewels dubbed her, proved age brings advantage.
Crystal Envy was also impressed with a polished performance featuring multiple reveals, though some noted her delivery lacked emotional expression. Onya Nerve's scrappy energy and catchy original song ("Right foot in, out") earned praise from guest judge Doechii, who specifically complimented the hook's quality.
Runway highlights and the latest elimination twist
The cake-themed runway produced mixed results. Suzie Toot's transformation from maiden to "literal *ss" after drinking a potion stood out for its storytelling. Lucky Starzzz's sponge-inspired look and Lydia B. Kollins's porcupine quill-decorated posterior received positive attention.
However, Acacia's screen-printed design and Joella's Marie Antoinette interpretation with its "ugly red wig" drew criticism.
The episode of RuPaul's Drag Race's most significant development came during eliminations. After Acacia won the lip-sync against Hormona Lisa to Ariana Grande's 'Yes, and?,' the show introduced the Badonka Dunk Tank. This new twist, while production-controlled, adds an extra layer of suspense to eliminations, though some might view it as merely a mechanism to keep contestants in the competition longer.
The bottom two lip-sync proved anticlimactic following the high-energy performance between Lexi and Crystal earlier in the episode. Acacia's victory came largely due to a surprising prop reveal - a makeup brush concealed in an unexpected location - rather than exceptional performance quality.
Despite losing the lip-sync, Hormona Lisa's survival via the Badonka Dunk Tank twist suggests the production's potential interest in maintaining her presence for dramatic value.
The decision to keep both queens, while perhaps undermining the tension of the lip-sync format, sets up interesting dynamics for future episodes, especially given Hormona's contentious relationships with other contestants.
This episode of RuPaul's Drag Race suggests this season's most memorable queens may come from this second group of performers. The retention of Hormona Lisa, despite losing the lip-sync, particularly hints at potential drama ahead, as she has already shown signs of friction with other contestants.
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The introduction of the Badonka Dunk Tank to RuPaul's Drag Race raises questions about how this new element might affect the competition's dynamics moving forward. Will it fundamentally change how queens approach their performances knowing there's an additional safety net? Only time will tell, but one thing's certain: Season 17 is determined to keep both contestants and viewers on their toes.
You can watch new episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 every Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
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