This French iteration of the sprawling Drag Race franchise might actually be the strongest version of the format I've seen - the artistry is second to none, the judging panel are supportively diplomatic and there is a wildly strong camaraderie between the queens. In fact, everyone is so game, so supportive that going from this to any other version of Drag Race feels like jumping into cold water. There's a heart-stoppingly intense lip-synch in the first series that nearly broke my mind. It transcended the medium of television and for a moment everyone was weeping. Me, the judges, the queens. It was spellbinding. If you're even remotely invested in the format you owe yourself to check this one out. The second series is much stronger and builds to a spectacular grand live finale. The third is fascinating and features a genuinely great feature (the randomizer phone) that more of the wider franchise should look into. Magnifique!
