Sibling Watchery: RuPaul's Drag Race S17 EP1 "Squirrel Games" - Detailed Summary

In the January 8, 2025 episode of the "Sibling Rivalry" podcast titled "Sibling Watchery: RuPaul's Drag Race S17 EP1 'Squirrel Games'," hosts Monét X Change and Bob the Drag Queen provide a lively and in-depth review of the premiere episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17. Despite the numerous commercial segments interspersed throughout the transcript, the hosts focus primarily on dissecting the contestants' performances, entrance looks, and the overall dynamics introduced in this inaugural episode.

Introduction to Season 17 and "Squirrel Games"

At the outset ([02:34]), Bob the Drag Queen announces the focus of the episode: the kickoff of Season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race with the first challenge named "Squirrel Games." Monét expresses her excitement, highlighting the importance of reviewing each drag queen's entrance and performance to understand the season's trajectory.

Contestants' Entrance Looks

The hosts meticulously analyze each contestant's entrance, providing both praise and constructive criticism. Their commentary is peppered with humor and candid opinions, reflecting their deep engagement with the show.

• Lexi Love ([07:59])

  • Monét: Praises Lexi's extensive experience in drag, noting her "13, 14 years" compared to Bob’s "seven or eight years."
  • Quote: "Lexi has been doing drag for 13, 14 years. That's almost double the time I've been in drag."
  • Bob: Compliments Lexi's Victoria's Secret-inspired look, though he critiques the wig slightly.
  • Quote: "I love this look. It’s very cute."

• Joella ([10:01])

  • Monét: Becomes "obsessed" with Joella's personality and entrance, appreciating her use of a gong.
  • Quote: "I’m becoming obsessed with Joella. She don’t care."
  • Bob: Finds Joella's entrance intriguing but jokes about her pronunciation.
  • Quote: "Do you know what they call it? Race Chaser."

• Ms. Corey King ([11:40])

  • Monét: Highlights Corey's "voluptuous figure" and attention to detail, especially her matching panties.
  • Quote: "Corey’s body is so hot, so sexy."
  • Bob: Critiques the placement of Corey's wig.
  • Quote: "Her wig is always so low."

• Lydia Butthole Collins ([14:20])

  • Monét: Discusses Lydia's Beetlejuice-inspired outfit, appreciating the complexity despite some confusion.
  • Quote: "She looks like a Tim Burton stan with those stripes."
  • Bob: Critiques the execution of the Beetlejuice reference.
  • Quote: "But they are not black and white stripes. They’re black and gray."

• Arrietty ([21:17])

  • Monét: Admires Arrietty’s "Alien Seattle" aesthetic and anime-inspired hair, finding her look "so dope."
  • Quote: "This hair is so dope. It’s like anime meets Goku."
  • Bob: Appreciates the conceptual nature but finds some elements convoluted.
  • Quote: "She looked stunning, but I wasn’t fully following the story."

• Jules Sparkles ([53:11])

  • Monét: Praises the engineering of Jules' mask and overall appearance, though remains critical of certain outfit elements.
  • Quote: "I love the mask’s engineering. It’s beautiful."
  • Bob: Initially dislikes the name but ultimately acknowledges the visual appeal.
  • Quote: "I hate the name, but the look is fantastic."

• Harmona Lisa ([34:59])

  • Monét: Finds Harmona Lisa’s grayscale outfit "cool" despite some reservations.
  • Quote: "This was cool. I liked it."
  • Bob: Expresses overall dislike but acknowledges the effort.
  • Quote: "I do not like this look."

• Crystal Envy ([36:33])

  • Monét: Appreciates Crystal's Southern opulence and beauty but questions the mini skirt's proportion.
  • Quote: "She looks beautiful, but why the mini skirt?"
  • Bob: Critiques the lack of a distinct Jersey drag identity.
  • Quote: "I don’t understand the Jersey drag scene."

• Lucky Star ([36:33])

  • Monét: Describes Lucky Star’s "piece of pizza" look with lemon motifs as "exciting."
  • Quote: "I love her lemonade head. It’s so cool."
  • Bob: Envisions Lucky’s performance in a club setting.
  • Quote: "I would love this number in the club."

• Susie Toot ([30:38])

  • Monét: Expresses mixed feelings about Susie’s heavy makeup but appreciates the outfit's ingenuity.
  • Quote: "The outfit is brilliant, but the makeup is too much."
  • Bob: Critiques the visual presentation while acknowledging creativity.
  • Quote: "Revealing to that face is wild."

• Onya Nerve ([57:55])

  • Monét and Bob: Share disdain for Onya Nerve’s overpowering look, finding it "a lot going on."
  • Monét Quote: "It looks like a lot is happening."
  • Bob Quote: "I don’t like this look."

Talent Show Performances

The "Squirrel Games" challenge culminates in a talent show where queens perform various acts, from original songs to tap dancing. Monét and Bob provide their evaluations:

• Original Songs

  • Monét: Advocates for originality, emphasizing the importance of creative expression.
    • Quote: "Original songs are good because they let you say exactly what you want."
  • Bob: Encourages creativity but feels unsure about planning talents.
    • Quote: "I haven’t given much thought to what I would do."

• Lucky Star’s Lemonade Performance ([69:53])

  • Monét and Bob: Both praise the performance for its entertainment value.
    • Monét Quote: "It was a very exciting number."
    • Bob Quote: "I would love this number in the club."

• Joella’s Puppet Act ([56:24])

  • Monét: Appreciates Joella's confidence and creativity with the puppet.
    • Quote: "I love Joella’s confidence with that puppet."
  • Bob: Finds the puppet amusing and praises her personality.
    • Quote: "I’m becoming obsessed with Joella."

Lip Sync Battle

Following the talent performances, Jules Sparkles and Susie Toot face off in a lip sync battle to Katy Perry's "Woman's World."

• Monét: Believes Susie's tap dancing was initially off-tempo but recognizes her persistence.
  • Quote: "I think Jules got excited too early, while Susie paced herself better."
• Bob: Prefers Jules' performance but ultimately concedes to Susie's enthusiasm and determination.
  • Quote: "I thought Jules won, but Susie was more persistent."

Outcome: Susie Toot wins the lip sync battle, securing $5,000 and establishing herself as a formidable contestant early in the season.

• Monét Reaction: "I think Susie won because she gave it her all."
• Bob Reaction: "Susie is a threat now."

Conclusions and Predictions

As the episode wraps up, Monét and Bob discuss the implications of the first challenge and speculate on future episodes and potential alliances.

• Allegiances: They observe that some queens are quickly forming alliances to bolster their chances.
• Predictions:
  • Monét's Top Three: Lana Jarret, Jules Sparkles, Lexi Love.
  • Bob’s Prediction: Predicts "Lingerie" to win the season, though he jokes extensively about his choice.

Notable Quotes:

• Monét ([05:21]): "You like her drag daughter? I mean, her grand. Her great great granddaughter."
• Bob ([13:27]): "I feel like this wig is just too low, in my opinion."
• Monét ([16:34]): "I love the maximalist aspect of this."
• Bob ([35:03]): "She busted out the new drag for Drag Race, honey."
• Monét ([51:35]): "She didn’t walk. She didn't even step."
• Bob ([76:22]): "I thought that Jules won. I thought Jules performance was better."

Final Thoughts

Throughout the episode, Monét X Change and Bob the Drag Queen balance their critiques with humor, providing listeners with both insightful analysis and entertaining banter. Their dynamic ensures that the review is both informative for those unfamiliar with the episode and engaging for seasoned fans eager to hear their perspectives.

The hosts conclude by inviting listeners to join their Patreon for exclusive content and teasing future discussions on upcoming episodes, maintaining their signature blend of humor, honesty, and camaraderie.