Drag Race Belgique

So happy to see this version of Rupaul Drag Race with belgian's queens ! The werkroom is stunning and the show/queens are so caring and kind ! Looooove it ! The show is in french because apparently it is the french-speaking part of belgium that produces. I laughed a lot with these queens full of self-mockery, even if I didn't have certain very Belgian references (but there's a topic on reddit that gives you the cultural background for each épisode). And btw i love Rita and the jury and guests (but maybe not luffy tbh). I hope the franchise will continue to develop in Europe and give us great seasons like this one !

At first I think the Belgian iteration of the bloated drag franchise seemed both very cheap and quite redundant. It didn't have the bold creativity of France or Spain so I was quite sceptical and there were definitely issues with the judges and even the host (I love Rita Baga but she is quite understated here). However, watching it alongside the other newbie (the deeply uneven Sweden), there definitely seems to be a certain strength in Belgium's general safeness and it ended up looking quite comforting in comparison. It sticks to the formula and there's a nice solidarity between the queens which I always prefer. The second season was more of the same and appeared belatedly with a bit of a welcome judge shake-up. Sadly the only memorable element for series 2 is that the franchise-wide end theme was replaced by a new Ru single for Belgium which was as catchy as it was terrible. Going down town we know where we're going going down town we know where we're going etc etc etc.

I have no idea why this franchise is called drag race Belgium since most of the Belgian population speaks Dutch. But no the arrogant French speaking Belgians will only allow French to be spoken. Makes absolutely no sense.. Furthermore, why have a Canadian host that has nothing to do at all with the country? There's literally a Belgian WINNER (Vanessa van Cartier) in the franchises (Drag Race Holland S2) who speaks French ánd Dutch (plus Italian, English and Spanish). Weirdest choices made by production. The queens do seem fun but also very unpolished and just not on the same level as other franchises. It looks like the producers thought they would make a great show if they just throw a lot of money against it (because the budget is there). I really wish they'd renew Drag Race Holland or create a Drag Race Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands & Luxemburg).

I am a French speaking Belgian and don't understand why this Belgian edition is in French only. It's unfair on the Flemish participants who tempt the adventure. I agree there should be a Benelux version, and in English, so that better talent with more skills can be selected from Belgium. I don't like the fixed panel of judges, just not appealing nor charismatic and while I love DR Canada and liked Rita in it, her hosting is really monotonous and repetitive here, not her thing. Too bad. I have no problem that she Canadian. What I like is that candidates are genuine, have a sense of humour and also some gravitas. Having both French speaking and Flemish speaking in the same show could be creating very funny moments but that too is not in there. Sad!

The queens all look the same. It seems the aesthetic is Belgium is being skinny, no padding and wrapping yourself with some random fabric. You can tell they are not at the same level as the queens in the US. The first issue I have with this spin-off is the host. Rita is kinda boring, never liked her, not even in Drag Race Canada. However, what I found the most off putting is the bunch of tiny statues of infants at the entrance of the work room. The statues have no clothes and are urinating, I mean, that's weird and they love making close ups at them. I won't finish watching the his spinoff, hopefully they renew DR Holland And DR Sweden is better.