- Source: Moulin Ru: The Rusical
"Moulin Ru: The Rusical" is the twelfth episode of the fourteenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on March 25, 2022.
Episode
The episode has contestants perform a Rusical parody-tribute to the film Moulin Rouge! for the main challenge. Andra Day served as guest judge, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Ross Mathews.
During the challenge, contestants were required to dance and lip-sync on the main stage as they portrayed various characters and other aspects of the burlesque. Leland assisted with the vocal recording process; choreography was supervised by Leslie Jordan. Both would appear in the performance portraying Christian and the Duke of Dickington, respectively. Gabe Lopez produced the music.
The runway theme was "Mirror, Mirror". RuPaul named Lady Camden the winner, while Bosco and Jorgeous placed in the bottom two. After lip-syncing to "Heartbreak Hotel (Hex Hector Remix)" by Whitney Houston, Jorgeous was declared a winner but Bosco was saved from elimination due to "Golden Candy Bar" twist introduced early in the season.
Cast
Angeria Paris VanMicheals as Charisma
Bosco as Saltine
Daya Betty as Uniqueness
DeJa Skye as Nerve
Jorgeous as Talent
Lady Camden as Mama Z
Willow Pill as Green Fairy
Results
= Lip sync
=The contestant lost the lipsync but was revealed to possess the golden chocolate bar and was saved from elimination.
Reception
Stephen Daw of Billboard wrote, "Season 14's installment of the annual Rusical challenge was, to borrow a phrase, spectacular-spectacular. With a clear-cut concept, some entertaining takes on RuPaul originals and a series of show-stopping performances, Moulin Ru will go down as one of the best Rusicals in the show’s herstory, come what may." Nola Ojomu of PinkNews said "the Rusical "was hailed one of the best ever". Xtra Magazine's Kevin O’Keeffe called "Moulin Ru" "an absolute blast, and one of my favourite Rusicals ever". He wrote, "Yes, it’s another instance of Ru songs being remixed. But unlike in other cases, it makes sense here: Moulin Rouge! is all about mashing up and covering classic pop songs. Of course the Rusical version would have to feature Ru songs."
Soundtrack album
Alongside the airing of the episode, a 12-track soundtrack album was released with the music from the Rusical on 26 March.
See also
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program