‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 5, Episode 5 power ranking: Grunge girls

Welcome to Canada’s Drag Race Power Rankings! Every week, we’ll debrief the week’s new episode of Canada’s Drag Race Season 5 to determine which queens are riding high, and which need she-mergency care. Which queens’ ’90s girl group performances had us saying their name this week, and which had us saying “Beverly Hills 9021-NO”?

8. Jaylene Tyme (last week: 2)—ELIMINATED

Well, this sucks. Just last week I was saying the show seemed invested in Jaylene to the point of her making the finale. But after the Lip Sync Slay-Offs, it was clear that any other kind of performance challenge was going to be a speed bump for her. Interestingly, I think Makayla Couture might’ve been inclined to save her in a head-over-heart decision were it not for two factors: one, The Virgo Queen had already done that with Jaylene a couple weeks ago, so she had her free pass then. Two, Minhi Wang saving Makayla set a standard of saving the most deserving queen based on track record, and it would put Makayla in a very awkward position if she immediately turned around and saved someone based not on track record. Regardless, the end result is a major bummer, and I don’t think this season will be the same without Jaylene.

7. Xana (last week: 4)

I mean, obviously I would’ve preferred Xana go home. It seems like that was the consensus among the queens, too, considering how much she’s getting shaded in confessionals (especially by Makayla). But she outperformed Jaylene in the lip sync, no argument. And I do still see value in keeping her brand of anything-goes villainy around. But to repeat a comparison I made before, I’m not seeing either the personal growth or the level of performance that the similarly arch Nearah Nuff brought us. In fact, it almost seems like Xana has regressed after her moment of connection with Jaylene in Episode 2. She got vulnerable once, then went back to stock shit-stirring and bad challenge performances. I think next week is probably her time to go.

6. Helena Poison (last week: 3)

This was a stumble for Helena, but an understandable one. She telegraphed in her rehearsal confessional that her team’s paired choreography was likely going to interfere with her performance, because she would have to keep Jaylene moving at her pace. Indeed, that’s exactly what happened—but wisely, Helena chose not to blame Jaylene for this. In fact, she said in another confessional that she would’ve done it the same way, because helping her sister is more important than the challenge. That was a really nice moment for Helena, and I think will be remembered longer than some less-than-impressive dancing this week. Makayla made exactly the right choice with the Golden Beaver, and I have no doubt Helena will use this brush with danger to bounce back even harder in the back half of the competition.

5. Minhi Wang (last week: 1)

In a roundabout way, Minhi was the biggest beneficiary of this challenge being judged individually versus in teams. Had Brooke Lynn Hytes simply declared VMXP the victorious group, then the bottom three would’ve needed to come from the Backdoor Girls, and Uma Gahd’s was clearly their team’s best performance. That leaves Minhi in the bottom three with Helena and Jaylene. And while Makayla likely saves Minhi there as repayment, what if she decides to throw a curveball? At best, Minhi now has a low placement on her track record; at worst, she’s going home after losing a lip sync to Helena after Makayla follows her heart and saves Jaylene. All of this is to say that Minhi got a lucky break with the judging this week, and keeps her pristine track record heading into the back of the season. Considering that’s the second time such a thing has happened—she’d definitely have been lip syncing for her life in the Slay-Offs if Perla had won that final duel—it’s fair to say that while Minhi is doing well in this competition, her track record may be a somewhat inflated testament to her performance.

4. Uma Gahd (last week: 8)

Big week for Uma! Not only did she deliver the best performance in her group, with a style that Simone Denny correctly noted is distinct and unique to her, but she also got in a dust-up in Mini-Untucked. Now having had arguments with Xana, Sanjina Dabish Queen and Makayla, there’s a case to be made for Uma as the actual shit-stirrer of the season—which is kinda fun! We don’t usually see that from the camp queen archetype. Unfortunately, while Uma came out on top in her other conflicts, I don’t see the show taking her side against Makayla. If they can resolve things, maybe there’s space for them both in the finale; if not, I can very easily see a world where Makayla sending Uma home is part of her storyline.

3. Perla (last week: 5)

Perla in the top! Perla was gagged! I was gagged! We were all gagged! I firmly thought the show wasn’t interested enough in Perla to notice her great work again, considering what had been happening over the past couple episodes. But no, here she is with a very deserving high placement. She wasn’t realistically in the mix for the win, considering just how strong both top queens were, but she made a great impression with a fun, spooky verse and a gorgeous, grungy take on Cher Horowitz’s iconic yellow plaid. Perla is a stealth favourite of mine this season, and if this isn’t just a blip in the top, I’ll be thrilled. Her work so far this season has been far better than her track record indicates, and she’d be a very worthy finalist.

2. The Virgo Queen (last week: 6)

No one is bodying this competition like Virgo is. She is a ferocious performer, has a clear and strong aesthetic in her drag and is a great confessional queen. I was bowled over watching her perform in “Not”—her verse was excellent, and she moved with such confidence and swagger on the stage. She also delivered great looks both in the challenge and on the runway; I’m obsessed with her rhinestoned tartan-and-denim look. (Though I would’ve changed the wig, I’ll admit.) I am all in on Virgo, who I think would have to pull a Valentina “I’d like to keep it on”-level mistake to get sent home before the finale. Might we be looking at Canada’s Next Drag Superstar? I’m not quite willing to make the prediction, for reasons we’ll talk about in the #1 queen’s write-up, but I’m very bullish on her chances of taking the crown.

1. Makayla Couture (last week: 7)

If Virgo is dominating the competition, Makayla is dominating Canada’s Drag Race as a TV show. She is a fascinating character, as open, vulnerable and kind as she can be boastful, assertive and strong-willed. To Virgo’s point, she backs up the boasts with talent, but that means moments like telling Minhi that she “will” save her are going to be divisive. (Personally, I loved it.) There are a lot of reasons for CDR to be looking seriously at Makayla as a winner: she’s got incredible star quality, some incredible drag looks—the Lil’ Kim-inspired look this week was nothing short of showstopping—and she’s giving story producers and editors lots of material for a compelling arc. Plus, as a former makeover partner, she’d be the first to actually come back and win were she to take the crown. Again, I think it’s too close to predict between her and Virgo, and there’s always a world where a wild card like Minhi snatches the victory instead. But if you had to put your chips on one queen right now, I think Makayla’s your best bet for Season 5’s ultimate champion.