| "The Bag Ball" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 13 Episode 5 | ||
| Featured music | "Fancy" byIggy Azalea featuringCharli XCX | ||
| Original air date | January 29, 2021 (2021-01-29) | ||
| Guest appearance | |||
| Nicole Byer | |||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| List of episodes | |||
"The Bag Ball" is the fifth episode of thethirteenth season of the American television seriesRuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3] It originally aired on January 29, 2021. The episode's main challenge tasks contestants with creating three looks for aball.Nicole Byer is a guest judge.Gottmik wins the main challenge and Joey Jay is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing alip-sync contest againstLaLa Ri to "Fancy" byIggy Azalea featuringCharli XCX.
A fight betweenKandy Muse andTamisha Iman on the corresponding episode ofRuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked earned the two a nomination in the Best Fight category at theMTV Movie & TV Awards.
For the episode's mini-challenge, the contestants get into "baby quick drag" to see who is the most misbehaved baby.LaLa Ri is declared the winner. For the main challenge, the contestants are tasked with creating three looks for the Bag Ball, in the categories "Mixed Bag", "Money Bags", and "Bag Ball Eleganza". While preparing for the runway, the contestants discuss theBlack Lives Matter movement and themurder ofGeorge Floyd.[4][5]
In addition toRuPaul andMichelle Visage,Carson Kressley is a judge andNicole Byer is a guest judge.[6] Gottmik, Rosé, and Utica Queen receive positive critiques, and Gottmik wins the challenge.[7] Joey Jay, LaLa Ri, andTamisha Iman receive negative critiques, and Tamisha Iman is declared safe. Joey Jay and LaLa Ri place in the bottom and face off in alip-sync to "Fancy" byIggy Azalea featuringCharli XCX. Joey Jay is eliminated from the competition.[8][9]
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The episode originally aired on January 29, 2021.
Byer was previously a guest judge on the season's third episode, "Phenomenon".
For "Mixed Bag",Denali's look resembles acrash test dummy andJoey Jay uses anintravenous therapy bag. LaLa Ri's outfit has bones attached.Elliott with 2 Ts wears a dress resembling agift bag.Symone has exaggerated breasts.Olivia Lux servesLaila Ali-inspired "boxer couture".Gottmik's look gives the illusion of showing her internalorgans.Rosé wears an outfit inspired by her Scottish heritage.Tina Burner is dressed like apaper bag.[10]
For "Money Bags", Denali's look is inspired by the fictional characterCruella de Vil, with one of her nails holding a cigarette. Joey Jay wears aneyepatch. LaLa Ri is bald. Symone's pink outfit is reflective, and Olivia Lux wears acape. Gottmik has apinstripe suit. Rosé's look is inspired by the 1980s andBette Midler isBig Business (1988). Kandy Muse carries a largeblunt, andUtica Queen's look inspired byChicago.[10]
For the final category ("Bag Ball Eleganza"), Denali's look commemorates her Mexican heritage. Joey Jay wears a black-and-whitepolka dot dress. LaLa Ri's outfit is made is small pink and purple gift bags. Elliott with Two Ts wears an outfit made from a bean bag. Symone has a red-and-whiteminiskirt, and Olivia Lux's outfit is made of holographic bags. Gottmik's outfit is made ofdrawstring bags and straps. Rosé's outfit haspurses, and Tina Burner's red-and-yellow look includessuspenders. Kandy Muse has an outfit made ofbackpacks, and Utica Queen's dress is made from asleeping bag.[10]
LaLa Ri's gift bag outfit earned the seasons' Golden Boot Award.[11]
The confrontation between Kandy Muse and Tamisha Iman[12] during the corresponding episode ofRuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked "sparked an eruption of fan opinions and is considered one of the best parts of the season", according toScreen Rant.[13] Ryan Shea ofInstinct magazine opined, "kudos to theDrag Race people for not teasing Kandy & Tamisha’s blow up ahead of time. We had no idea what we were going into and it was something thrilling to watch from start to finish."[14] The confrontation earned Kandy Muse and Tamisha Iman a nomination in the Best Fight category at theMTV Movie & TV Awards.[13]
Kate Kulzick ofThe A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'A'.[15] LaLa Ri's bag look spawned viral videos and Halloween costumes.[16] Joey Nolfi ofEntertainment Weekly called her bag look both "iconic"[17] and "iconically awful".[11] Bernardo Sim ofOut magazine called the look "infamous"[18] and "hilarious",[7] as well as a "fashion fumble".[19] Ruby Wilks ofOut Front Magazine called the bag outfit an "infamous ... design mishap".[20] Rebecca Alter ofVulture said LaLa Ri "gave a series-best lip sync in a series-worst outfit".[21] Michel Cuby ofNylon called the lip-sync "spirited" and said Joey Jay "put up a worthy fight".[22]
