Grand Finale (RuPaul's Drag Race season 12)

"Grand Finale"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.Season 12
Episode 14
Presented byRuPaul
Featured music
Original air dateMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
Guest appearances

"Grand Finale" is the fourteenth and final episode of the twelfth season of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3][4] It was filmed virtually becaused of the COVID-19 pandemic and originally aired on May 29, 2020. The episode tasks the final three contestants with performing lip-syncs to songs of their choice. There are also guest appearances by former contestants Nina West and Yvie Oddly, as well as American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. After a final lip-sync between Crystal Methyd, Gigi Goode, and Jaida Essence Hall, the latter is crowned the season's winner.

Episode

For the first time a virtual finale is held from remote locations across the country due to the impact of the COVI-19 pandemic.[5][6] For the first lip-sync contest, the contestants all perform to "Bring Back My Girls" by RuPaul, with only their faces showing. The final three contestants then lip-sync alone to a song of their choice. Crystal Methyd lip-syncs to "I'm Like a Bird" (2000) by Nelly Furtado, Gigi Goode lip-syncs to "Take On Me" (1984) by A-ha, and Jaida Essence Hall lip-syncs to "Get Up" (2006) by Ciara featuring Chamillionaire.[7][8] It is announced that Heidi N Closet is this season's Miss Congeniality. For the final lip-sync contest, Crystal Methyd, Gigi Goode, and Jaida Essence Hall perform to "Survivor" (2001) by Destiny's Child.[9] It is announced that Jaida Essence Hall is the winner, making Crystal Methyd and Gigi Goode the runners-up.[10][11][12]

Production and broadcast

The episode originally aired on May 29, 2020. Former contestants Nina West and Yvie Oddly, as well as Dolly Parton make guest appearances.[13][14]

Crystal Methyd portrays both a mother bird and a baby bird during "I'm Like a Bird".[15][16] In 2021, Miles Griffis of the American animal welfare organization Audobon said the bird species in the video was "not positively identified".[17] Jaida Essence Hall had the "most traditional" performance of the three finalists, according to Nylon, which said she delivered a "sexy, fishy rendition" of "Get Up" that used her couch and floor, and highlighted her face and hair.[18]

Fashion

RuPaul wears a face mask.[19]

Reception

Kate Kulzick of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'A-'.[20] Paul McCallion of Vulture rated the episode five out of five stars.[21] Kevin O'Keeffe of Xtra Magazine said "staging their own digital drag shows made for one of the best finale challenges we've ever seen".[22] Daniel Reynolds of The Advocate called the "I'm Like a Bird" performance "unforgettable".[23] Sam Damshenas of Gay Times said Crystal Methyd "served one of the most batshit crazy performances in the show’s history; reenacting the life cycle of a bird and regurgitating in her mouth".[24][25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Damshenas, Sam (2020-05-30). "RuPaul crowns Drag Race season 12 winner in genius lockdown finale". Gay Times. ISSN 0950-6101. Archived from the original on 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  2. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race season finale recap: Who won Season 12?". Xtra Magazine. Pink Triangle Press. ISSN 0829-3384. Archived from the original on 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  3. ^ "And the Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Is ..." People. People Inc. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  4. ^ Murray, Tim (2020-05-30). "RuPaul's Drag Race Finale: Jaida Essence Hall Crowned the Winner". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  5. ^ "The winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 12's quarantine finale is…". Entertainment Weekly. People Inc. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Archived from the original on 2025-02-23. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  6. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race crowns season 12 winner in lockdown finale". Metro. DMG Media. 2020-05-30. ISSN 1469-6215. OCLC 225917520. Archived from the original on 2020-10-03. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  7. ^ Holland, Scott (2020-06-03). "RuPauls Drag Race Season 12 Episode 12: The Finale". Hotspots Magazine. Archived from the original on 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  8. ^ Richards, Jared (2020-06-01). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Recap: Sure, Gigi's Goode And Crystal's Addictive, But Jaida Is Essential". Junkee. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  9. ^ Malone, Chris (2020-06-08). "Lip Sync Herstory: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Destiny's Child's 'Survivor'". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on 2025-06-28. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  10. ^ Guzzo, Bianca (2020-05-30). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Episode 14 Recap: Grand Finale". IN Magazine. Archived from the original on 2025-11-12. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  11. ^ "The winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 12's quarantine finale is…". Entertainment Weekly. People Inc. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Archived from the original on 2025-02-23. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  12. ^ Jones, Dylan B. (2020-05-30). "RuPaul's Drag Race recap: season 12 finale - she's a winner baby!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2021-07-05. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  13. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race announces its s12 winner as Jaida Essence Hall". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. 2020-05-30. Archived from the original on 2022-07-10. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  14. ^ Swift, Andy (2020-05-30). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Finale: Did The Right Queen Snatch The Crown?". TVLine. Static Media. Archived from the original on 2025-12-31. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  15. ^ "The 'Drag Race' Season 12 Finalists On What It Was Like Filming The Finale At Home". Bustle. Bustle Digital Group. 2020-06-01. Archived from the original on 2025-12-18. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  16. ^ "Crystal Methyd: Queen of the Queen City". Sartorial Magazine. 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  17. ^ "A Brief History of Avian Drag". Audubon. 2021-06-29. Archived from the original on 2025-11-14. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  18. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Winner Jaida Essence Hall On Winning The Crown". Nylon. Bustle Digital Group. 2020-06-02. ISSN 1524-1750. Archived from the original on 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  19. ^ Street, Mikelle. "Watch 'Drag Race' 12's Finale Performances, Read Our Take". Out. Pride Media. ISSN 1062-7928. Archived from the original on 2025-06-13. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  20. ^ Kulzick, Kate. "RuPaul's Drag Race brings DIY charm and surprising polish to its werk-from-home finale". The A.V. Club. Paste Media Group. Archived from the original on 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  21. ^ McCallion, Paul (2020-05-29). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season-Finale Recap: Long May She Reign". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2025-11-26. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  22. ^ "Where does 'Drag Race' go from here?". Xtra Magazine. Pink Triangle Press. ISSN 0829-3384. Archived from the original on 2025-11-14. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  23. ^ "Drag Race's Crystal Methyd Explains Her Name and Unique Drag Origins". The Advocate. Pride Media. ISSN 0001-8996. OCLC 60638931. Archived from the original on 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  24. ^ Damshenas, Sam (2020-11-11). "Drag Race season 12 was just the beginning for Crystal Methyd". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 2025-07-11. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  25. ^ Damshenas, Sam (2020-06-22). "Crystal Methyd spills the T on Drag Race season 12 and plans for "world domination"". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 2025-01-17. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
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