Canada's Drag Race

Bad judging, production and writing and overal a boring watch

CDR's smaller production budget would have been a great chance to adapt and deviate from the current US RPDR format. Instead, we got this...

All of the judges look and sound uncomfortable. Some episodes, best in challenge + OK/bad runway = no win. Other episodes, worst in challenge + great runway = win. Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman is particularly rude to queens. Brooke Lynn conveys little emotion. Stacey McKenzie is the only judge who consistently gives constructive criticism. The guest judges have been great, however.

Terrible production - bad lighting that does nothing for the queens, strange editing with over-use of sound effects and haphazard cuts and corny/unfunny writing.

I'm giving this 3 stars solely for the queens. They are all talented in their own ways and deserve better. They also certainly don't deserve to be body shamed in front of an international audience the way they were.

(Edited after 4 more episodes)

Canada's Drag Race proofs content is the King of any TV Show! Funny and talented Queens, different from each other, with bubbly personalities and great confessionals makes the Canadian instalment of the franchise a worthy version on its own.

On the other hand, the judges might be the downfall on Canada's Drag Race. As fans have been pointed, the trio constantly tries to mimic Mama Ru's mannerisms and distinctive way to speak, especially Bowyer-Chapman.

RPDR Season 11 runner-up and lip-sync assassin, Brooke Lynn Hytes, does a decent job as the drag host even when she still needs to loosen up a little bit.

While model and former ANTM runway coach Stacey McKenzie has been serving looks week after week, sometimes even overshadowing Hytes' fashions.

Queens are fun, but the fakeness and lack of likeability of the judges sinks this ship.

RuPaul, Toronto is not far for you. It would have been MUCH MUCH BETTER to have you launch and host Drag Race Canada!!

It's a little surprising and disappointing RuPaul has not made an appearance on this English-language show, since it needs an injection of fun and entertainment to have a break from the often boring host (although I think he might be getting slightly better). Too scripted, and not enough spontaneity and fun. They almost need a good Canadian comedy host to do the job. If not Ru, maybe Michelle would be a better choice?

So much potential, so much room for improvement!

That said, thank you Ru for bringing a Canadian version to TV!

The production value is predictably poor and the judging pannel isn't exactly star-studded. Hey, it's Canadian Reality TV. And yet somehow it all works in its favour. Many fans are nostalgic for the early seasons of drag race, a show that was less polished and more camp... and maybe this satisfies that craving. While it's too early to tell, I'm more intrigued than I thought I'd be. The cast is giving charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, and the judges aren't repeating the mistake of being too nice, unlike other Canadian iterations of state side shows.

Look, it's not changing the game. The franchise itself has grown mildly stale, so any deviation is refreshing at this point. But I laughed, which is more than I can say for All Stars 5. So, I'll be watching and I recommend you give it a go.