Achi news desk-
Jane the plane may not win the season – but she has won the race (World of Wonder)
Plane Jane has made it to the top three RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 by pure charisma, uniqueness, nerve, talent – and the embodiment of that acronym. And the show has been even better for her.
We freely admit that Sapphira Cristál or Nymphia Wind should probably take home the crown. Their stories have been compelling (drag juggernaut, and lovable talented weirdo), their looks have included two of the strongest runway packages in the show’s history and either would be worthy winners.
What then to make of the third final, Plane Jane?
The same Plane who went into the work room and told one other queen that she looked like a little pig, and branded another horrible, before spending the rest of the episode committing sabotage and foolery. The same Plane who never apologized for being, in the words of fellow competitor Xunami Muse, a “c**t” all season. The same Plane that came for Amanda Tori Meating again and again and for apparently no other reason that he didn’t like to drag her.
She may have already “won” the season by dragging it – out of her comfort – back to her reality TV roots. So, this seems like the right time to discuss the rise and fall of villains in Drag Race history.
Every good reality TV show needs a villain that fans love to hate. Queens filled that role forward Drag Race some of the early years include Phi Phi O’Hara, Roxxxy Andrews and Acid Betty.
What these queens had in common was that they were (relatively) old school, in that they all lived in the workroom before the Drag Race Fandom started sending death threats to queens who looked the wrong way at the week’s favorite.
They weren’t afraid of the reaction of the fans, they were very obnoxious at times and they were all very good at dragging. The seasons needed those queens to avoid a season-nine, happy-clappy, “everyone’s friend” situation.
Don’t get us wrong, season nine was good, but we crave more discord.
There has been a steady decline in villains since that fandom change. Yes, season 13 had Kandy Muse, but she was never really a villain. Daya Betty was in season 14, but she only clashed with Jasmine Kennedie, and the Mistress of season 15 could also be included, but in a way that was never mean, rather shady (though Loosey LaDuca might not agree ).
But then came Plane Jane.
From her first appearance, in episode two, she has been the talk of the season. Just a glimpse of every “first llewk” snippet on the Drag Race YouTube channel. If there’s one thing mama was going to do, it was in those thumbnails. like it or not every episode has something to do with Plane, even when she was safe.
There is something to be said for the “or not” crowd, and Plane’s treatment of Amanda. At times, it was uncomfortable to watch, but the latter called a meeting right on Plane’s a* and put it right back. It was glorious to see.
It was reminiscent of Roxxxy Andrews vs Jinkx Monsoon way back in season five, when fans of the show weren’t throwing their toys out of the pram when a queen wasn’t nice to the favorite of the week – and, by the way, who said drag queens had to be nice?
And that’s the point. Plane reminds us of season five, and is arguably the best slap-bang in the middle ever Drag Racegolden age Plane has taken up the mantle of the perfect reality TV villain: very good at what they do, and unapologetically b*tchy about it.
Although the feud was cut short when Amanda was sent home after the girl group challenge (though not the worst, and beating Q in their lip-sync), Plane found plenty to do in her absence.
There was the shouting match with Dawn where Plane called her “clown doo-doo mess.” It was the Untucked a moment when he decided, for no reason, to ditch all the safe girls for their Snatch Game performances. And for the final magical ingredient, there were the beats where she broke down in tears in the work room to show vulnerability, and when she gave Nymphia her immunity potion – which no one saw coming at all.
Airplane running on Drag Race has reminded viewers that the show is not a beauty pageant, where every character has to be likeable, but a reality television experience. She’s handled the judging to win (à la Nymphia in episode two in terms of rate-a-queen), she’s been rotten every time for the most part, she’s shown vulnerability where it matters, and she been very, very good for drag.
Simply put, season 16 wouldn’t have been the same – or nearly as good – without her.
Ladies, tray tables up and seat belts on: Plane Jane coming in for landing.
Nymphia, Sapphira and Plane will battle each other in the RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 finale on Friday (19 April) on MTV in the US and WOW Presents Plus internationally.
