There’s Only One Way To Stay Safe in ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 9’

The big picture

• Forming alliances is crucial to winning
  RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
  Season 9 to ensure protection and support.
• Building diverse alliances with queens with different talents is key to meeting the challenges.
• Making strategic decisions about which queens to line up and share precious benefactor badges will affect the outcome.

After two consecutive episodes that premiered for season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, it's clear that the only way to win in the end is to form an alliance. Although no one is eliminated this season, queens have the power to prevent another queen from winning a beautiful badge of benefactors the following week if they win the lip sync. With only eight queens competing, there's nowhere to hide, so making sure you have an alliance is the only way to make sure you don't get cut by this season's blocker, the Ruby Snippers .

At this point, there are four duos that have been established: Roxxxy Andrews i Plastic tiara, Gottmik i Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Georgeous i Angeria Paris VanMichaelsand by default Chanel i Nina West. With outside friendships and established work relationships dominating the Werk room, this game can come down to who has the most friends at the end. Building an alliance with other queens with diverse talents and skills will allow them to support each other when a challenge comes outside of their wheelhouse. Let's hope these queens took note surviving and they wore their rhinestone shirts for a bribe! The queens have spoken.

This isn't “RuPaul's Best Friend Race,” but this season's queens are playing it cool with charity. With no eliminations and a grand prize of a $200,000 donation to the Queen's chosen charity, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 9 may not have the strength that other editions of the spin-off can have, but there will definitely be bonds that form and grow throughout the season. With power placed in the hands of queens, they will have to rely on each other to prevail this season. The only way to win is to collect precious benefactor badges. And the only way to receive these beautiful benefactor badges is to win a maxi challenge. As long as you don't get cut first! Keep your friends close and your rivals even closer!

Friendships are the key to alliances in this “All Stars”

Like any reality show with returning contestants, outside forces affect the action within the game. RuPaul's Drag Race is quite unique when it comes to his All Stars seasons in that after his original run, the contestants go out into the wild and fulfill their careers as drag artists, working with each other in various clubs, concerts, tours and events. Some queens may not be on our TV screens, but through their careers, their drag family grows. Of course, past links from their previous shows can also come into play. One of the biggest multi-season Drag Race alliances in the history of the show was RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 RoLaskaTox, formed by Roxxxy Andrews, Alaskai Detoxification. They were such a dominant force when it came to the art of drag, the trio made it to the final four. But fans love an underdog story, so all three lost as the lovable oddball Jinx Monsoon took the first of the two crowns.

The three queens met RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2 where, once again, they reached the final four. Thanks to the All Stars rules in place, their existing alliance allowed Roxxxy to stay until the end of the season as she saved herself several times when she was at the bottom. All it took to establish control of this alliance was a rhinestone shirt and a $10,000 transfer via PayPal. As the most recognizable alliances in franchise history, RoLaskaTox set the tone for future All Stars seasons. As it happens, Roxxxy is back RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, but without the LaskaTox in his Ro. But he has found a new colleague to lean on.

Soon enough, viewers learned that Roxxxy had formed a real-life bond with Plastique Tiara when the two appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race: Live in las vegas Upon entering the Werk room, they came together to share the same space and alluded to relying on their strong friendship. And this is what leads to the start of a comprehensive strategy this season. With a couple already formed, the next natural alliance came in the form of the RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 sisters Jorgeous and Angeria Paris VanMichaels. While they may not have been very close in their original season, their shared bond and time on tour together brought them together as number one this season. In addition to both winning the first challenge of the season, they shared an immediate goal as the first two holders of the Beautiful Benefactress Badge.

Next up were Gottmik and Vanessa Vanjie. Although their outer friendship has not been fully revealed, their bond in the Werk hall brought them together as another couple. That leaves Nina West and Shannel. As this season's two older queens, who also have an old-school drag sensibility, they teamed up by default. Now, with every queen having a person who has their back, unless something wild happens, It is likely that couples will not be guided by each other when deciding who to cut. Will these duets be expanded now? That would be a good strategy!

Solidifying a diverse alliance is crucial this season

As we have established, there are four groups of two in the Werk room. These pairs are the basis of projected alliances. With two challenges under his belt, four queens currently have precious benefactor badges: Angeria, Gottmik, Jorgeous, and Plastique. Two queens have already been cut: Roxxxy and Angeria. With a song and dance challenge and the ball already happening, the queens should project the upcoming challenges and who might excel in those challenges.

As viewers we know that the third episode will be Snatch Game. Everyone knows that Nina West is a sensational comedian and actress. He'd be someone you'd want on your side if he won the challenge. Gottmik won Snatch Game during her original season, so this is another queen you might want to have as part of your alliance. Angeria is naturally funny. He is a good asset to have on your team. But after that challenge is over, let's say there's a makeover challenge. Having someone like Plastique, Gottmik, or Roxxxy might be the best option to line up should he win. They can keep you safe. Forging an alliance with people who have a different skill set is crucial. Sharing the wealth of talent is like being one of the top three badge holders in the final episode.

This is RuPaul's Drag Race. There will be twists and turns when you least expect it. During the winner-takes-all season, there were moments in the season where Ru threw a curveball and revealed that during certain challenges, the winner would receive a second star that they were tasked with giving to someone of their choice . When it comes to alliances, it would make sense to give your charity badge to your nearest and dearest. But depending on the score closer to the end, it may be more beneficial to give the extra badge to the lowest ranked queen to ensure that no one can overtake you. That's how integral every decision made this season is.

Turned on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7, Monet X Exchange he brought her survivor knowledge and game skills to ensure that there was an alliance that would keep her safe, allowing her to reach the final lip sync. If this cast is smart, they will follow in his footsteps and isolation to keep your game afloat. With only eight queens in the Werk Room this season, there are very few places to hide. But if these queens have done their homework, will be adapted to this version of the game which can help catapult them to the finish line and earn $200,000 for their charity. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 9 it's giving top notch drag. Art is artistic. Hopefully, the game within the game will be engaging enough to carry the season through to the end. Bring on the drama!

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars airs every Friday on Paramount+. All stations of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars are available for streaming on Paramount+.

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