The show in itself is good, the queen's talented, the challenges fun and the drama (partly staged) fun to watch. The judges though, they seem to like or dislike something at random, if the queen they like exceeds at the main challenge it's one of the main judgement points, if she doesn't it's not. Would have loved to see a fair competition...
16 Reviews
The Dutch Franchise ,while having its pitfalls, shows promise
Falala-2786213 July 2021
The First Season of Drag Race Holland shows some promise. The cast is not only talented, but also diverse, showing not only Dutch queens but also a couple of South American queens. The production is certainly more modest given its infancy and filmed in a smaller country during the pandemic. While the show does stay true to the roots of the Drag Race franchise with snatch game, musical, acting and design challenges, there could be more room of originality, featuring more Dutch and Benelux culture in the mini and maxi challenges.
The weighting formula of the maxi challenge and runway is also different, with the latter outweighing the former. Therefore, at times, after watching the maxi challenge, one would have thought a specific queen deserved to win the episode based on her stellar performance but to be surprised a queen with a stunning runway look to snatch the win from the deserving queen.
The runway looks are really good for some queens like the incredibly polished Envy Peru, the crazily original queen, ChelseaBoy, and Sederginne, a comedy queen who proves that great comedic timing can go with great sense of style. I believe the show can benefit from better and more consistent judging where the maxi challenge weighs more than the runway look. I look forward to the coming seasons.
The weighting formula of the maxi challenge and runway is also different, with the latter outweighing the former. Therefore, at times, after watching the maxi challenge, one would have thought a specific queen deserved to win the episode based on her stellar performance but to be surprised a queen with a stunning runway look to snatch the win from the deserving queen.
The runway looks are really good for some queens like the incredibly polished Envy Peru, the crazily original queen, ChelseaBoy, and Sederginne, a comedy queen who proves that great comedic timing can go with great sense of style. I believe the show can benefit from better and more consistent judging where the maxi challenge weighs more than the runway look. I look forward to the coming seasons.
Worth watching because the queens are seriously talented
katsosevic-6158116 October 2020
This is the first time I have ever posted a review.The queens are amazing, their skills are extraordinary and I have seen some of the best outfits in first four episodes.
Maybe some of the humor gets lost in the translation but still, not unfunny. I gave the show a 9 only because the production needs to do a better job.
Edit: Judges are even worse than in Canada's Drag race. It's so sad because a lot of high quality queens are either gone or not winning the game and some of the borring queens with a lot of instagram followers (I guess f* the producers too) are getting ahead.
Edit: Judges are even worse than in Canada's Drag race. It's so sad because a lot of high quality queens are either gone or not winning the game and some of the borring queens with a lot of instagram followers (I guess f* the producers too) are getting ahead.
Meh
xtooshyx7 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Actually didn't mind it until the "split personality" runway where Ma'Ma was critiqued for not having a "male" side as this queen is non-binary. Was very shocked that this out dated way of thinking, especially in THIS show, had made an appearance. Episodes feel a little rushed and wasn't enough of the back and forth you normally see between the host and cast. Sound cues are a little off but it's a little comical.
Great but need more dutchness
thematvdk29 September 2021
Great winners but judges could be better.
Where's the K3 girl group challenge? Songs by dutch artists (esmee denters, elizee???) I also would like more Flemish input as we always have a Belgian queen.
Great winners though.
Where's the K3 girl group challenge? Songs by dutch artists (esmee denters, elizee???) I also would like more Flemish input as we always have a Belgian queen.
Great winners though.
Drag Race Holland, Sashay Away
gaytanrandy9 October 2020
The show proves that changing an already solid, well-rounded formula does more bad than good. Production should takes notes on film, comedic, and general hosting and challenge cues from the US edition. There's a disconnect between Drag Race US and Drag Race Holland that not even the 30 second RuMail segments narrated by the shows creator and Drag icon, RuPaul, can save it from a sinking ship. The show lacks comedic value, fails simple video editing that both fans and critics know and love, and sound editing that just seems out of place the majority of the time. Only time will tell whether or not production learns from their mistakes and stays truer with the flagship model for their future iterations come renewal.
It's amazing
samuelbulters8 June 2022
English people do not have any right to say something because it's
Matters to Dutch people and maybe it's different but a lot of queens are talented our first winner got more wins than the most winning us and uk winners and envy Peru won 4 times in a really short time and other queens only got 3 in a long time. And one thing KETA MINAJ WAS ROBBED. But is was 2
Great seasons but only Dutch people will understand that
And i want a season 3 NOW!!!!!!!
Rigged
sbypw16 October 2021
Won't do any spoilers, but this season is rigged.
Despite the production improving from season 1, decisions to eliminate queens are completely random and incoherent. By the end of the season you realise they have been protecting one queen who's doing all badly, and they start contradicting their own arguments over and over to eliminate her competition so she can win the finale. RIGGED.
Despite the production improving from season 1, decisions to eliminate queens are completely random and incoherent. By the end of the season you realise they have been protecting one queen who's doing all badly, and they start contradicting their own arguments over and over to eliminate her competition so she can win the finale. RIGGED.
Sashay Fred stays!
80sHorror7 October 2021
I've seen every episode produced by Ru Paul's Drag Race. Given that this is the first and second season, these Queen's are far more talented to that of the U. S. and Britain. I know the U. S. version started a long time ago and drag culture has progressed, but this definitely tops the Dutch version. The second season is a lot better hell yes! The judges aren't great but they can become great. Fred was a fantastic option, I love him in the show. He is a great and loving host. The girls clearly have talent. They can embrace their drag better because they grew up in a country that was one of the first in the world to legalize gay marriage. The Holland Queen's have much more experience being in communities that are more accepting of drag. I'm sure they won't hold ANYTHING back!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall...
edwin-wks18 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Which has the most questionable judging of them all? Drag Race Holland. By a mile. Even though the theme song of Drag Race includes "May the best drag queen win", that rarely happens as a result of judging biases and narrative devices. It makes a mockery of fairness.
Nowhere is favoritism more blatant and shameless than Drag Race Holland Season 2. The Countess gets a pass despite the worst lip sync performance in Drag Race herstory. Vivaldi gets a little slap on the wrist for a transgression that warrants instant disqualification. Vanessa van Cartier is stupefyingly second to the winner, My Little Puny, in the semi-final episode thanks to her runway look, in spite of being the worst performer in the maxi-challenge. This leaves Vivaldi bottom again with Keta. 1 badge vs 3 badges. Keta is eliminated despite being the most consistent performer in the series. Ex-squeeze me?!
Something smells fishy and it is not the queens. I personally thought that Keta had the best runway of the four and was second only to My Little Puny in the maxi-challenge. She was criticized for her harsh runway look (Rembrandt and steel) yet the judges did not take into consideration that this was a look prepared in advance of the competition with the brief that every contestant was given. It is irrelevant that she was handicapped by her outfit during the lip sync because she should not have been in the bottom.
It is clear that they want either Vivaldi or Vanessa to win. Sorry, Drag Race Holland; Drag Race All Stars 6 has already crowned the first transgender winner of Drag Race ever. You are late to the party. Despite the overall talent of the contestants, Drag Race Holland remains the worst franchise. Even worse than Drag Race Down Under; it was their first season and the first international series to be filmed entirely during pandemic. For a community constantly harping about fairness, there is precious little of that in Drag Race judging. Ultimately, the outcome is manufactured.
Nowhere is favoritism more blatant and shameless than Drag Race Holland Season 2. The Countess gets a pass despite the worst lip sync performance in Drag Race herstory. Vivaldi gets a little slap on the wrist for a transgression that warrants instant disqualification. Vanessa van Cartier is stupefyingly second to the winner, My Little Puny, in the semi-final episode thanks to her runway look, in spite of being the worst performer in the maxi-challenge. This leaves Vivaldi bottom again with Keta. 1 badge vs 3 badges. Keta is eliminated despite being the most consistent performer in the series. Ex-squeeze me?!
Something smells fishy and it is not the queens. I personally thought that Keta had the best runway of the four and was second only to My Little Puny in the maxi-challenge. She was criticized for her harsh runway look (Rembrandt and steel) yet the judges did not take into consideration that this was a look prepared in advance of the competition with the brief that every contestant was given. It is irrelevant that she was handicapped by her outfit during the lip sync because she should not have been in the bottom.
It is clear that they want either Vivaldi or Vanessa to win. Sorry, Drag Race Holland; Drag Race All Stars 6 has already crowned the first transgender winner of Drag Race ever. You are late to the party. Despite the overall talent of the contestants, Drag Race Holland remains the worst franchise. Even worse than Drag Race Down Under; it was their first season and the first international series to be filmed entirely during pandemic. For a community constantly harping about fairness, there is precious little of that in Drag Race judging. Ultimately, the outcome is manufactured.
Amazing queens 😍
Kedm8914 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I think this franchise has some of the most amazing queens we've seen internationally. Unfortunately they do not get the credit they deserve :( It's sad to see the queens are the victim of the production and judging choices. Fred is an amazing host but it's clear he is biased. I really really hope we'll get more seasons because this franchise is super promising. It does need some replacements on production side.
Great queens, horrible judging
ommik30 July 2022
I really love the Dutch queens on both seasons, but the judging is just nuts and awful. It seems none of the judges have ever seen a drag show. Also, Nikkie Plessen was by far the worst permanent judge and Fred the most annoying host.
It seems they tried to make some improvements for season 2, but it still fell short. Too bad, this had promise but ended up a dumpster fire.
It seems they tried to make some improvements for season 2, but it still fell short. Too bad, this had promise but ended up a dumpster fire.
Basic
murkwildson7 January 2021
season 2 waste my time. i fast forward the finale.
keychain_n_bookmark24 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Season 2 was such a disappointment, and I still haven't got over the archaic comments they had in season 1. (Chelsea Boy should have won the snatch game but they hated her runway because it's not mainstream)
This season i was hoping for a redemption but no, they had to throw in even more ridiculous reason.
When The Countess won the lip sync over Ivy Elyss Monroe, I was in shock, especially after Fred commented both lip syncs sucked. I don't if it was a lost in translation but seriously shock.
Then during the "who dunnit" episode, gave My Little Puny the win coz acting > runway, but Vanessa was safe because her runway > acting. Keta was both equally good in both her runway and acting (even the judges said so, only critiquing her makeup), but made to LSFYL?
Drag Race Spain was so much more enjoyable.
This season i was hoping for a redemption but no, they had to throw in even more ridiculous reason.
When The Countess won the lip sync over Ivy Elyss Monroe, I was in shock, especially after Fred commented both lip syncs sucked. I don't if it was a lost in translation but seriously shock.
Then during the "who dunnit" episode, gave My Little Puny the win coz acting > runway, but Vanessa was safe because her runway > acting. Keta was both equally good in both her runway and acting (even the judges said so, only critiquing her makeup), but made to LSFYL?
Drag Race Spain was so much more enjoyable.
Horrible production, even worse host, " Daag schaat".
diego-de-coster6 February 2022
The production of this show is very bad. But what actually killed it for me are the judges, especially the host. They are so unlikable.
The host acts like RuPaul up to his catchphrases, which makes it so inauthentic. They even translate some parts to Dutch, literally, which makes no sense at all. The moment the host thought he was the big shot, I turned off the tv. He is so rude to the contestants and even insults them, like wth?
Cancelling the host might be this show's only salvation. Stopped watching after 5 episodes, couldn't stand it anymore. "Daaaag schaaaat". - Horrible, really!
The host acts like RuPaul up to his catchphrases, which makes it so inauthentic. They even translate some parts to Dutch, literally, which makes no sense at all. The moment the host thought he was the big shot, I turned off the tv. He is so rude to the contestants and even insults them, like wth?
Cancelling the host might be this show's only salvation. Stopped watching after 5 episodes, couldn't stand it anymore. "Daaaag schaaaat". - Horrible, really!
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