The competition has been heating up on RuPaul’s Drag Race. As much as I’ve been enjoying Season 16, there’s something that I just can’t get over. On March 1, fan-favorite queen Plasma was asked to sashay away after losing a lip-sync battle to Mhi’ya Iman LePaige.
Some may not agree with me, but I don’t think Plasma should have gone home. Plasma had a fantastic run on Drag Race up until her departure. As a theater kid, I was rooting for her from the first episode. In my opinion, her run was cut way too short. If there was ever a need for a Ru-demption, it’s this season for Plasma. Here’s why I think we need Plasma *needs* to come back ASAP.
RDR Live!
In the comedy sketch challenge, RDR Live!, Plasma was amazing. This wasn’t my favorite comedy challenge, but Plasma’s group, and mainly herself, saved this sketch. Her Barbara Streisand impression was top-notch. It was her first challenge win, and she had completely earned it.
The Sound Of Rusic Rusical
As the theater queen of the season, Plasma had something to prove during the Rusical in episode 7. She fought for the lead role and later proved why she deserved it. She killed it and earned her second win of the season.
Snatch Game
The Snatch Game was interesting this time around. It wasn’t the worst Snatch Game, but it definitely wasn’t the best. Plane Jane and Sapphira owned this season’s fan-favorite challenge and though Plane Jane deserved the win, Plasma held her own as Patti LuPone.
Overall Track Record
After her goth runway look disappointed the judges, Plasma went home at the end of episode 9. I get it. Her outfit wasn’t giving goth and she’s looked way better on the main stage before. However, Plasma was the first queen this season to have two wins, and she at least made her own outfit.
Mhi’ya Iman LePaige didn’t make her gown, and the judges didn’t love her look. She also has the worst track record of any of the remaining queens. Both Mhi’ya and Plasma performed incredibly well during the lip sync but Mhi’ya outshined Plasma in the end.
I felt like Plasma held her own against the lip-sync assassin of the season and deserved to slay another day in the competition. Also, what about the sped-up TikTok lip-sync song? That was… something.
Despite the sisterhood of the traveling Cher wig saving the other queens, Plasma wasn’t as lucky. These tweets sum up how I still feel after episode 9.
No One Went Home On Episode 10 – Despite The Immunity Potion Twist
The immunity potion twist was introduced earlier in the season. During episode 10, Plane Jane was the only queen left with the potion and chose to give it to Nymphia Wind. At the end of the episode, RuPaul revealed that no one was going home. Not only was no one asked to sashay away, but there were no bottom queens in this episode — only two top queens.
TBH, the immunity potion twist was pointless because no one went home. It would have made more sense to do a double win for episode 9 and then have the audience wonder if the immunity potion would be used to save the queen (cough cough Plasma) who was in danger of going home.
It feels like the stars were aligned with each challenge Plasma competed in before the goth challenge, from her getting to play Barbara to starring in The Rusical. Of course, it’s a competition, and people go home, but I truly believed Plasma had the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to be the next Drag Superstar.
There have been a lot of twists in past seasons where eliminated queens come back, and I just hope this happens during Season 16 and Plasma can make her triumphant return to the main stage.