RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 13 Recap: A Parental Visit and Makeover

Editor's note: Before you dive into episode 12, read our recap of last week's episode.

After a lackluster episode last week, RuPaul's Drag Race returned to top form with a classic challenge that tested essential drag skills and mixed chosen family with the contestants' given families. The top five — Suzie Toot, Sam Star, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, and Jewels Sparkles — entered the Werk Room for the first time. The competition is at a particularly precarious stage as seasons in the recent past have featured three, four, and even five queens in the finale. At this point in the competition, anything could happen.

While last week's monologue challenge felt like a muddled attempt to get acquainted with each queen through oration and a tacked-on interpretive dance, this week's Drag Race staple was used much more effectively. The Spill the Tea mini-challenge tested the queens' knowledge of themselves and each other.

RuPaul announced the makeover challenge — featured every year sans Season 14 — by waxing about motherhood. The queens often refer to RuPaul as "mother," and the season has featured discussion of drag families, but it came as a shock when RuPaul introduced the contestants' actual mothers and fathers as their makeover subjects. The Drag Race makeover challenge has featured social media influencers, gay veterans, little people, and superfans. But the challenge works best when it stays close to home with fellow contestants, Drag Race crew members, or the queens' families à la All Stars Season 2.

This week's reunions inspired tears of joy, followed by reminiscing, family therapy, and cathartic breakthroughs. RuPaul admitted, "we put [the contestants] through hell," and warned he'd do the same to the parents.

Each family dynamic was different and fascinating to see in action. Sam and her mother portrayed the classic trope of a mother and her gay son as best friends. Equally supportive, Jewels' father has already been in drag. They reveal a recent family trauma that they use to fuel their drive. Onya, who nearly collapsed at the arrival of her father, detailed growing up separated from him. Onya's father revealed he spent time in prison for robbing banks and followed that up with what was arguably the season's best joke: He suggested his drag name should be "Roberta Banks."

Unbelievably, Lexi and Suzie revealed even more fraught family relationships. Lexi had previously discussed being kicked out of her house as a teenager, so seeing her mom walk through the door was a surprise. Notably, Suzie's mother, who gave Suzie her drag name, registered a somewhat chilly restraint in the Werk Room.

Sam's mom immediately suggested Dolly Parton as inspiration and got to work despite concerns about modesty. Jewels, who had put her father in drag before, knew exactly what to do for the man whom she called her best friend. Lexi and her mother discussed their complex relationship, and it became clear this makeover was another test for it. It resulted, albeit with a minor slip-up, in a newfound acceptance when Lexi's mother referred to her by the correct pronouns in the Werk Room and on the main stage.

Suzie's main concern and obstacle was to make her spotlight-adverse mother comfortable. While the majority of the parents were amped to get started, Suzie's mother kept her foot on the brake with many restrictions.

The cathartic experience led to breakthroughs within families and among the queens. Sam, a constant Suzie critic, gained a new appreciation and understanding of her new drag sister. Likewise, Lexi, who has cast Suzie as her nemesis, had a moment of self-realization. Lexi concluded her self-imposed rivalry with Suzie stemmed not from their obvious differences, but from internal similarities. Lexi saw Suzie as her alternate self; the version she could have been if she hadn't left home and become addicted to drugs.

While the other queens have questioned Suzie's fashionability, the judges loved her makeover. She understood the assignment was to deliver her aesthetic unabashedly. Her graphic Max Fleischer-inspired looks were quintessentially House of Toot. Similarly, Sam's denim, diamonds, and gold expressed her country-glam perfectly.

The remaining queens faltered. Lexi's boudoir-themed roses and hearts harked back to her entrance look but lacked the same impact. While one might have thought Ony and Jewels were at a disadvantage dragging up their dads instead of moms, their dads were the stars of the episode. But Onya and Jewels still struggled with underwhelming looks. Neither felt true to the individual queens' brands.

With only five queens left, it was hard to imagine any of them going home this week. As Onya and Jewel performed "1 Thing" by Amerie — an excellent song selection — Onya infused her engaging personality into each beat. Jewels' double reveal might have saved her from lip-syncing altogether if she'd done it on the runway. Considering how much RuPaul enjoys both performers, it was a welcome double Shantay. The competition remained static, with five queens left. But the queens' personal revelations moved the season forward immensely.