‘RuPaul’s Drag Race 17’ Episode 1 spoofs ‘Squid Game’ as 14 new queens play ‘Ru Light, Green Light’

The 14 new queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 made their way into the Werk Room for the first time after outlasting series icons like Kerri Colby, Victoria “Porkchop” Parker, Angeria Paris VanMichaels, and Kylie Sonique Love in “Ru Light, Green Light,” a Squid Game spoof to introduce the new cast to America. Over the next several months, these queens will compete in mini and maxi challenges testing their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent until only one reigns supreme, chosen by RuPaul Charles and the other series judges as “America’s Next Drag Superstar.”

Here are the queens competing for the prestigious 17th crown in Episode 1, titled “Squirrel Games”: Acacia Forgot, Arrietty, Crystal Envy, Hormona Lisa, Jewels Sparkles, Joella, Kori King, Lana Ja’Rae, Lexi Love, Lucky Starzzz, Lydia B Kollins, Onya Nurve, Sam Star, and Suzie Toot.

Among them are family members of former contestants: Kori is sister to Season 16 finalist Plane Jane, Arrietty is daughter to Season 15 first boot Irene Dubois, Lana is daughter to Season 15 finalist Luxx Noir London, and Sam is daughter to “All Stars 4” winner Trinity the Tuck. All of the girls recognized Hormona from a viral video, where she was “hand-selected” to be on the show by RuPaul himself at the Atlanta stop of his book tour. Though not exactly threatened by Hormona based on low bar first impressions, it was clear that a few girls felt some type of way about Hormona’s “pick me” insistence that the “audition” wasn’t something she planned.

“Hey queens, it’s time for a reality check”

As always, Ru introduced a number of unexpected twists for the new season. First, he disclosed to the girls that while they were voguing to stay alive in “Ru Light, Green Light,” the cameras were snapping candid pics of their stop-and-go poses as their first official mini challenge. While they all stayed alive (and dry) through the cream pie fest, claiming the first mini challenge win with a modelesque flamingo moment was Lana.

Less of a surprise for the cast was that for their first maxi challenge they’d perform in “Drag Queens Got Talent” as two groups of seven over the split premiere format. But unlike in past seasons, the queens themselves would hold more power… much more. Not only would they get to choose which seven perform in each of the two episodes, but they’d also be rating the queens from the other group via the infamous “Rate-A-Queen” twist. By the end of the second part, the queens rated lowest in each group would be peer-selected to face off in the Lip Sync for Your Life and be up for the first elimination of the season.

“And that’s the tea”

The hottest tea of the episode was served early on when the queens decided for themselves how to divide the performers for each week. Right off the bat everyone was on board with allowing Joella the chance to take the stage on night one so that she could perform for her idol Katy Perry, set to sit on the panel as the guest judge. Things got a little more interesting when strategy came into play. Veering hardest left were fast friends Arrietty and Lana who, knowing that the queens sitting out each week would rate the performers, “jerry-rigged the motherf***er” by ensuring that they performed on opposite weeks and thus could rate each other highly. Thinking similarly, Sam and Acacia considered it important that they perform on opposite nights to avoid an unnecessary country singer vs. country singer showdown. On the flip side, Hormona was more concerned with making sure she performed on the same week as any queen she already sniffed out has a distaste for her — specifically Kori — to avoid being rated low simply out of spite.

“She ate, she chewed, she swallowed”

Critiquing the first seven performers and all 14 queens as they walked in the “Masc for Masked Singer” runway category this week were RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Katy Perry. Because the judges sat the decision-making out this week, the queens themselves rated and chose Suzie Toot and Jewels Sparkles as the top two. Not impressed with the “pitchy” live singing, Acacia Forgot sank in the ranking and was the bottom queen of the week.

Tappin’ and tootin’ @suzietoot #DragRace pic.twitter.com/vRyJuqHhd5

— RuPaul’s Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) January 4, 2025

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As the top two, Suzie and Jewels earned the right to Lip Sync for the Win to Katy’s song “Woman’s World.” While Jewels delivered an immaculately poised and sexy performance, Suzie put her tap shoes to use again and was chosen as the winner because of an unexpectedly engaging comedic take on the song, claiming a cash tip of $5,000 and the first maxi challenge win.

Aside from their official selections, the standout runway look was Onya’s “Black opulence” gown made using materials found in a beauty supply store and her improvisation on stage as Ru narrated her slow stroll in between full cackles. In the talent show, Ru and the rest of the panel were equally taken by Jewels’ original song “La Leche” and Lucky’s comedic rap about lemonade that included squirting lemonade out of a tricked-out breast plate. As a “hard mother” to her kitty kat Joella, Katy was willing to admit that she was hoping for more in the looks department, but we nevertheless impressed by how well she sold the performance with her dancing.

Next time on Drag Race…

Hitting the stage next week for their talent performances in front of guest judge Doechii will be Crystal, Hormona, Kori, Lana, Lexi, Onya, and Sam. Once they’re rated, one of them will join Acacia in the first Lip Sync for Your Life to determine which queen gets the Season 17 pork chop.

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