Drag Race Belgien

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 !

This spinoff is litterally the worst so far. Season 2 being the worst drag race season of all time in my opinion.

1- The challenges: The queens aren't able to shine because the challenges aren't adapted to the queens' talents, which makes the challenges uninteresting, it all feels very amateurish. Maybe the queens' talent this season is also lacking, i don't know.

2- The budget is really disappointing. But i guess we can't hold that against them.

3- The judging is HORRIBLE, the judges seem mean and unlikeable. Most of the time the negative critiques just seem unwarranted and personnal.

Just sad. Please cancel it. We're done.

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.

This first season of Drag Race Belgique, for me, is hands down the most boring season of all the Drag Race franchise. There is very little real banter or wit from the judges, especially during the catwalks (where most of the other franchises have great and hilarious catwalk banter and comments from the judges). It lacks chemistry and pizzazz. I don't understand why the entire Pit Crew all look undernourished and underweight, and in serious need of Vitamin D. I found it difficult to be drawn in or invest myself emotionally with the candidates. The whole competition felt rather cold and stilted. I really hope that they will do better for season 2. Fingers crossed.

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.