‘RuPaul's Drag Race 2’ Recap: Gone with the Window

The twelve contestants meet and acclimate themselves with each other. Some contestants have had years of experience, while others have only performed for a few months. Several contestants know each other from performing together previously. RuPaul greets the contestants via mail and warns the contestants that this season will have more twists and turns than the previous season.

RuPaul enters the door and shakes each of the contestants' hands. She then announces this season's prizes: a lifetime supply of Nyx cosmetics, a year's contract with Project Publicity, an advertisement with LA Eyeworks, a headlining spot on the LoGo Tour sponsored by Absolut and $25,000. Mike Ruiz, photographer, arrives and with RuPaul announces the first theme of the photoshoot: Gone with the Wind.

Jujubee is first to go and she complains that she didn't get any practice. The gust of wind is too much for her: her wig starts to fall off, but she manages to keep it on only by holding it with one hand. While Mike and RuPaul provide some comments to each of the girls, they try to gauge each of the ladies' potential. As each contestant goes, they all learn in their own way how to deal with the wind. Morgan's wig flew off and she never recovered. Sahara had trouble with her face, but knew how to pose well. After the photos, the competition ended, each contestant started to transform back into men. All the contestants stared at each other becoming surprised about how different the contestants looked. RuPaul and Mike return and announce that the winner of the first photo shoot is Raven.

The next morning, RuPaul introduces the next challenge: a Scarlett O'Hara inspired dress made from window curtain panels and some home furnishings. Since Raven won, she got to choose her fabric first. She picks the zebra print. The rest of the contestants have to run for their fabric and some pushing is involved. Tatiana and Morgan get into a fight and while Morgan was first, she gives up the curtain and picks another. There's chaos with furnishing and Shangela tries to find a contestant that knows how to sew. Pandora has to help the contestants that don't know how to sew. Mystique struggled with her plus size nature with both the dress form and trying to make a dress. Some sewing machines break and the stress factor rises.

RuPaul comes in to talk to the contestants and see their progress. Mystique needs to overcome some adversity. Shangela quit her job to do the contestants; she even decides to use corn. Tyra has a son, Jeremiah, and misses him. RuPaul tells the contestants that the big runway will be the next day. The guest judge will be Kathy Griffin. She reminds the contestants that this will be their first impression.

The contestants arrive the day of the big show and start to transform into drag queens. Along with Santino Rice and Merle Ginsberg, Mike Ruiz and Kathy Griffin are helping judge. Tyra begins and opens the show well. Raven creates a short zebra dress that creates a waist where there is no real waist. Sonique uses an African-inspired dress. Tatiana makes a plain dress. Jessica Wild creates a dress with large flowers. Desperate to stay, Monique unleashes her split and lands on her knee.

Raven, Jujubee, Jessica, Nicole, Sonique, and Tatianna are safe. The rest stay under the spotlight for some criticism from the judges. Tyra wasn't original; Kathy's criticism was that her face wasn't fun. In the photo, she should have fallen to create drama. Shangela's bust line and waist need help as does her photo. Morgan's costume reads Cher for the song, "Half-Breed." Pandora gets compliments from Kathy because Kathy compares her to looking into a mirror; the photo had a lot of energy. Mystique's first impression is questionable but her personality was strong. Her breast was questionable in her photo. Sahara tried going for Asian inspired, but it wasn't as good. They just wished that it was more drag.

The judges deliberate. Shangela, Mystique, and Sahara struggled, while Tyra, Morgan, and Pandora did a good job. Some needed personality help. After the commercial break, Morgan is the winner of the challenge immunity and was rewarded an Interior Illusions photo shoot. Tyra, Pandora, and Mystique are safe. Shangela and Sahara are up for elimination. They are disappointed because they are college friends. RuPaul announces that the two have to lip-sync for their life. Their song is RuPaul's "Cover Girl." The judges are impressed by the first challenge. Shangela rips her skirt off, while Sahara starts to do some contemporary steps. A wig goes flying in the air but Sahara continues to give it her all. RuPaul makes her decision: Sahara is safe and Shangela is going home.

Next Week: Burlesque dancing, sleeping contestants and special guest judges.