RPDR 17: Episode 15 Rucap

The Return of the Fallen Queens

This episode was everything—a Lipsync Lalaparuza Smackdown where all the eliminated queens stormed back into the werkroom to battle for the title of Queen of "She Done Already Done Had Herses" and a $50,000 cash prize! Last season’s Lalaparuza was iconic, and this year? The girls came to FIGHT.

Let’s take a quick look at our returning queens (in elimination order):

Lucky Starzzz

Hormona Lisa

Joella

Crystal Envy

Acacia Forgot

Kori King

Arrietty

Lydia B Kollins

Lana Ja’Rae

Suzie Toot

First impressions? The glow-ups were REAL—Arrietty looked stunning, Kori and Lydia were serving loved-up couple vibes, and let’s just say, some queens left their stress (and maybe a few pounds) since they were last seen.

And drama resolution alert! Arrietty pulled Onya aside to clear the air about that messy mirror message. Growth? We love to see it.

The Lipsync Battles: Who Brought It (and Who Flopped?)

This season’s twist? The queens could choose their opponent or the song—a smart move to avoid riggory accusations. Let’s break it down:

Round 1: Hormona Lisa vs. Lydia B Kollins

Song: "Liza with a Z" (Liza Minnelli)

Winner: Lydia

Hormona picked the song, but Suzie was SEETHING in the background—she lives for Liza. Lydia delivered the campy theatrics needed, while Hormona… well, she tried.

Round 2: Suzie Toot vs. Joella

Song: "Training Season" (Dua Lipa)

Winner: Suzie

Joella picked the song, but Suzie DEVOURED. She was giving precision, energy, and most importantly—she looked GOOD. A redemption arc we didn’t know we needed.

Round 3: Lucky Starzzz vs. Acacia Forgot

Song: "Step by Step" (Whitney Houston)

Winner: Lucky

Lucky shook those basketballs like her life depended on it, and honestly? It worked. Acacia held her own, but Lucky’s athleticism won over the judges.

Round 4: Arrietty vs. Kori King

Song: "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" (P!nk)

Winner: Kori

This was the robbery of the night—Arrietty was giving fire, but the judges apparently wanted emotion (read: favoritism). Kori’s win felt… questionable.

Round 5: Lana Ja’Rae vs. Crystal Envy

Song: "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (Sylvester)

Winner: Lana

A decent lipsync, but nothing groundbreaking. Lana’s energy edged out Crystal’s, but neither fully wowed.

The Semi-Finals: The Wheat vs. The Chaff

Suzie vs. Lucky

Song: "We Found Love" (Rihanna)

Winner: Suzie

Lucky recycled her same tricks, while Suzie brought something fresh. A clear win.

3-Way Lipsync: Lana vs. Kori vs. Lydia

Song: "360" (Charli XCX)

Winner: Kori

This was… a choice. All three queens just twirled aimlessly, but Ru’s favoritism for Kori shone through.

The Final Showdown: Kori vs. Suzie

Song: "APT" (Rose & Bruno Mars)

Winner: SUZIE TOOT!

A K-pop adjacent lipsync on Drag Race? Groundbreaking. Suzie embodied the song’s sultry energy, while Kori… well, she was there.

Suzie joins the elite ranks of:

Raja (AS7)

Morphine (S16)

…as the third Queen of "She Done Already Done Had Herses"—and she earned every penny of that $50K.

Final Thoughts & Next Week’s Finale

Lalaparuza vs. Reunion? Can we merge them next season? The drama of a reunion + the excitement of a lipsync smackdown would be perfection.

#TeamJewelsSparkles for the crown! It’s been too long since a Latina queen won (Bianca who?), and Jewels has charisma, talent, and heart. But if Onya takes it? We won’t be mad.

What did YOU think of the episode? Did Suzie deserve the win? Was Kori overpraised? Sound off in the comments!

Next week: THE GRAND FINALE! Who will snatch the crown? 👑💎