Big Opening Number 2

Not to be confused with RuPaul's Big Opening: Part 2.

"Big Opening Number 2"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.Season 14
Episode 2
Presented byRuPaul
Featured music"Fallin'" (2001) by Alicia Keys
Guest appearance
Alicia Keys

"Big Opening #2" is the second episode of the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3] It originally aired on January 14, 2022. The episode's main challenge tasks the contestants with performing in a talent show. Alicia Keys is a guest judge. Angeria Paris VanMicheals wins the main challenge. Daya Betty is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom and losing a lip-sync contest against DeJa Skye to "Fallin'" (2001) by Keys.

Episode

The remaining seven contestants enter the Werk Room. RuPaul greets the group and reveals the mini-challenge, which tasks the contestants with participating in a photo shoot in a bowl of Tic Tacs. Angeria Paris VanMicheals wins the mini-challenge.[4] RuPaul then reveals the main challenge, which tasks the contestants with performing in a talent show for the judges. Following are the contestants and their acts:

In the Werk Room, the contestants discuss Maddy Morphosis's heterosexuality.[5][6] Alicia Keys is a guest judge.[7] The runway category is "Sickening Signature Drag". Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Jorgeous, and Lady Camden receive positive critiques, and Angeria Paris VanMicheals wins the main challenge. Daya Betty, DeJa Skye, and Maddy Morphosis receive negative critiques, and Maddy Morphosis is deemed safe. Daya Betty and DeJa Skye place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync contest to "Fallin'" (2001) by Alicia Keys.[8] DeJa Skye wins the lip-sync and Daya Betty is eliminated from the competition.[9]

Production and broadcast

The episode originally aired on January 14, 2022.

Keys's appearance in one of the Werk Room mirrors recreates a similar appearance by four contestants on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[10]

Fashion

Nylon described Daya Betty's entrance look as a black-and-yellow dress inspired by Jem and the Holograms.[11]

Reception

Trae DeLellis of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'B-'.[12] Jake Dee included Keys in Screen Rant's 2022 list of the season's guest judges, writing: "Keys was among the most humble, entertaining, and knowledgable celebrity guest judges in season 14. In addition to weighing in on one of the best lip-sync performances of the season between Daya Betty and DeJa's rendition of her own hit song 'Fallin,' Alicia imparts genuinely encouraging pearls of wisdom all the queens can take with them after the show." Dee continued, "Beyond being incredibly kind and gracious in the way she critiques the performances of her hit song, Alicia's successful track record gives her advice more weight. Despite failing to gain the same viewership ratings as the season premiere, "The Big Opening Part 2" still ranks as the 4th-highest of the season (per showbuzzdaily.com), reinforcing Alicia's superior judging presence."[13] Stephen Daw of Billboard said DeJa Skye's "embodiment of the song edged her out just enough to earn her place back".[14] Michael Cuby of Nylon described her performance as "emotional" and "infectious".[15] Jordan Robledo of Gay Times called her performance "passionate".[16]

References

  1. ^ McCallion, Paul (January 14, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Jorgeous Jorgeous Girls Love Drag". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Harrison, Frankie (January 15, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 Episode 2 Recap: Big Opening No. 2". IN Magazine. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 Episode 2 Recap: "Big Opening No 2"". Honeysuckle Magazine. January 15, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Cramer, Jude. "The INTO RuView: Season 14 Episode 2 "Big Opening No. 2"". INTO Magazine. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  5. ^ Gregory, Drew Burnett (January 15, 2022). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Episode 1402 Recap: Making HIStory". Autostraddle. Archived from the original on November 18, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  6. ^ Swift, Andy (January 15, 2022). "Drag Race's First-Ever Straight Queen Loses Her Head In Season 14 Premiere". TVLine. Static Media. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  7. ^ "Alicia Keys Surprises the Season 14 Queens in RuPaul's Drag Race Sneak Peek: 'Literally a Dream' Come True". People. People Inc. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  8. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 14, Episode 2 recap: Seven more stars and a lot more dancing". Xtra Magazine. Pink Triangle Press. January 17, 2022. ISSN 0829-3384. Archived from the original on November 12, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  9. ^ "The Diamond Drag: Big Opening No. 2 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". The Diamondback. University of Maryland, College Park. January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  10. ^ "Alicia Keys just channeled Alyssa Edwards in 'Drag Race' mirror moment". Entertainment Weekly. People Inc. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Archived from the original on April 24, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  11. ^ "Exit Interview: Daya Betty On Getting Cut From 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Nylon. Bustle Digital Group. February 20, 2024. ISSN 1524-1750. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  12. ^ DeLellis, Trae (January 15, 2022). "A repeated experiment leads to diminished returns on Drag Race". The A.V. Club. Paste Media Group. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Dee, Jake (February 16, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Season 14 Celebrity Guest Judges, Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  14. ^ Daw, Stephen (January 18, 2022). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Eliminee Daya Betty on How Avril Lavigne Best Described Her Fashion Sense". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  15. ^ "Exit Interview: DeJa Skye On Getting Cut From 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 14". Nylon. Bustle Digital Group. April 5, 2022. ISSN 1524-1750. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  16. ^ Robledo, Jordan (January 15, 2022). "The second batch of queens arrive on the latest episode of Drag Race season 14". Gay Times. ISSN 0950-6101. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
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