In the final moments, I was thoroughly convinced it was going to be Manila. I'd previously been convinced it was going to be Raja, until Slog cast doubt into my mind two weeks ago. But apparently Raja's general manliness whenever she opened her mouth worked for her instead of against her. Him?

I was a bit disappointed by the episode itself though. Compared to some of the past challenges, this one felt almost like a free pass. It didn't really show us anything from the final three that we hadn't seen from them before, and it didn't show any of them at their best. The whole thing felt superfluous to the final decision.

But I'm pleased with the result. All three were fabulous--the strongest final three the show has seen. Raja is sexy as both a man and a woman, and I look forward to her reign.

I agree, totally. All three were fantastic fucking queens in their own right, but Raja DESERVED to win.

In spite of her occasional bitchy-ness, she's an interesting, creative queen with balls, spunk, and intelligence. And I liked her final word, about how even the oddballs/freaks can aspire to something great.

Bitch is fucking fierce, and she got herses. Long live Raja!

I am so proud that I called the winner from episode 1 and argued with my partner about it for 14 long weeks. She was rooting for Alexis at the end, but the true diva won. This is the first season that the queen with the most talent, skill, and savvy got the crown. Congrats, Raja.
I would love to see more Ru-as-mentor for these queens after the competition.

Gosh, I just respectfully do not see this as the strongest final three at all. The whole finale felt kind of tired to me; I at least had the feeling in the last two finales that anyone could have won, but this one felt like going through the motions.

Once you eliminate Alexis-- and Alexis clearly wasn't going to win, because it's pretty obvious she's been right about the judges-- Michelle Visage practically did everything but wear a "Yes, Alexis, I've Been Biased Against You All Season" T-Shirt on the finale despite the sudden outbreak of kissy, kissy insincerity that everybody was suddenly professing here at the end--

It just leaves Raja vs. Manila. And Manila just never put out that winning vibe to me-- I think if she'd been competing last season, for instance, she would have been swallowed up against the much stronger star quality of Pandora, Raven, JuJu, etc..

So even if weeks ago I hadn't accidentally read one of the eighteen million spoilers that have been all over the web this year (and Ru really needs to try and run a tighter ship next season, with better confidentiality and maybe putting out some deliberate misinformation like the big shows do), it was an easy bet from minute one who would be tonight's winner.

That wouldn't have mattered so much if the finale had been fun, crazy, or wild. But it was a re-tread of pretty much exactly the same contest, the same tic-tac dinner jokes, etc. as every other finale, and it's starting to feel stale. Ru's video was a snooze and so were everyone's outfits tonight (including Raja's; the bowler hat was cute, but girl is supposed to be the second-coming of "edgy," so Liza from Cabaret isn't exactly a season ending showstopper). Out of those left, Raja likely did deserve the win, but this just felt like a weak end to Ru's weakest season to me. I think Raja would have had much tougher competition had she competed in Seasons 1 or 2.

I was so crushed by Jada's elimination that I didn't even watch this episode before finding out who won. Probably watch it tomorrow.

Please, Raja, is not all of that. It is clear that RuPaul has in her head a certain idea of what the winner should look like (as close to how Ru pictures herself), and the one that is closest to that picture is the one that wins. Ru isn't looking for a Drag Queen, she is looking for a Drag Queen that can be a model.

reality shows make me hate people & this one is no exception. Its sad how quickly people will surrender their humanity for a few minutes of face time on cable TV.

Do we really need a show to prove that queens can be as big an asshole as any breeder?

@7, but some people will actually argue that this proves us queers can be just a petty, selfish and assholey as any breeder out there.

And THAT'S a step toward equality!! I suppose....

Loved Manilla.
Loved Raja.

Either would have been good. I like how they can be bitchy for show but really care about each other. It is obvious that they are just trying to be quippy for the camera and don't take these things to heart. Except Shangella. She was just nasty.

The final looks were a little weak though. Raja and Manilla had much better outfits this season.

@6 I would agree with you on the results of Season 1 and ESPECIALLY season 2. Tyra was at the BOTTOM of my list of people who deserved to win. She was lovely and, for the most part, had good style- but Her personality was barren, her voice was horrible, and her attitude was absolutely viscous. She was manipulative, two-faced, and obnoxious. Frankly all three of Season 2's top contestants were the most reprehensible on the show. And it was PAINFULLY obvious how Ru chose Tyra for the similarity in aesthetic to herself. Same with Bebe from Season 1. It was obvious that Bebe was chosen because she was the closest thing to a Ru clone- when Nina was the obvious winner in most everyone's eyes.

This season though? If Ru was doing as you say Mariah, Carmen, or Manilla would have won this. Raja- while definitely a "fierce" runway strutter- has a completely different aesthetic, personality, and drag philosophy than Ru. And in my eyes it was that uniqueness coupled with obvious intelligence and talent that gave her that itty-bitty boost over the wonderful queen that is Manilla.

This is the very first season where not only did I not care who won (all three of the top were fantastic in their own ways- though frankly, to me, Alexis wasn't on the same level as Manilla or Raja)- the girl I was rooting for actually took the crown. Last season was such a horrible disappointment that I was extremely close to giving up on Drag Race. I'm just SO happy that this season re-energized my love for the series.

And to those who are saying this final episode was a lot more flat and boring than previous seasons- I have my own theory on that. Like I said earlier this was the first season where any of the top three could have won and I would have been fine. I definitely was rooting for Manilla or Raja over Alexis- but if Alexis had managed to pull it off I wouldn't have thought the entire process was a ruse. Because of this a lot of the tension from previous seasons wasn't there. In my eyes who cares who won? All three of the top were winners and they all deserved it. Unlike Season 1 where Nina was by FAR the obvious winner and Glasscock was a joke, or Season 2 where every single one of the top three was a loser in my eyes (and the tension was strong because I was hoping without hope that Tyra would get the boot). This season the "need" for one to win out over another wasn't there- and so the tension was a lot less overwhelming.

Regardless it was a great finale. The results are definitely, for the first time, one I can get behind and I look forward to seeing what MANY of these queens do in the future.

Congratulations Queen Raja!

Dan - I don't have cable or satellite, so I'm coming over to your house to watch this next week. I'll bring the weed.

I know she never had a shot, but I LOVED Alexis. I want to go have drinks with her.

@10 My first expectation when getting introduced to the dragtestants this season was that Mariah would when, until Raja dropped the fact that she had connections ANTM and the fashion industry in general. At that point, I knew Raja was going to win. Heck, I was surprised that Raja was ever in the bottom two at all, but by that point Carmen had proven she didn't have enough of a clue to step it up to prove out Ru's bias.

Let me ask you one simple question, what did Raja bring to this competition other than her runway skills? She wasn't that funny. She couldn't sing or dance. Heck, she couldn't even really move well in any way other than a runway strut. She only had her runway walk and ability to put together the kind of fashion outfits that designers like Santino gravitate towards. I actually think that Bebe did it all better than Raja did.

As for Manila and Carmen, seriously, I never thought they had a chance with Ru. Carmen, as much as I liked her, was simply too trashy and Jersey for Ru to pick. Manila, on the other hand, was too funny, Ru seems to despite being fairly funny herself, to think that the funny queens aren't worthy of her title.

That Ru has a predetermined "type" doesn't really bother me. It is that they cast people that at the very least Ru knows she is never going to pick. In season's one and two, where the contestants may not have realized it, it is grossly mean.

Now, that Ru's preferences are hard to ignore, I have to consider the contestants fairly warned. Of course, once I figure it out, I want them to cast all queens who are that type, so there is a little real drama for me in the contest. As it is, I'll still watch just to see how the interesting dragtestants meet the challenges until Ru tells them to sashay away.

@13 I just have to fundamentally disagree with you on your assessment of Raja. She was one of the funnier contestants on this show. Her Carrie stand-up, while not the best of the episode, made me genuinely laugh and she just went with the persona even during her walk. It was polished and surprisingly good. Her workout video segment also made me laugh out loud. Her cracked-out Whitney look mixed with a hyper-butch voice was a great combination. And I'm sorry- but her Tyra Banks impersonation- while not the most innovative- was hilarious as well. When it came to singing? She outsang Carmen and did just as well as any of the other Drag Queens. NONE of them were singers- so I'm not sure why you are bothering to bring that up. She did a great job lip-synching and that's really all a Drag Queen needs. Her ideas and costumes were fresh and fun and she was never a massive cunt. If she talked trash she also made sure to point out good aspects to her competitors as well- it just had this down-to-earth kind of feel to me.

Was she better than Manilla? Nope. Different- but not better. Both were extremely polished, personable, interesting, gorgeous, and unique queens. I think it was a coin-toss in the end and either could have won. But I would strongly argue against your idea that this was a setup due to her background on ANTM. If she hadn't proven herself over and over again I would agree with you- but I feel your critiques of her are worlds off.

Carmen, on the other hand? What exactly- beyond her convincing body and impeccable tuck- made her winner-material? Her personality was as dead and wooden as Tyra's from last season, and her snotty bitch-face was really hard to get past. She was good, I suppose, but I would definitely have mentioned Yara, Delta, Alexis or Manilla LONG before bothering with Carmen. In my personal opinion she and Shangela were the two most over-rated queens of the season.

Do I think Ru has shown a preference in the past? Absolutely. I don't, however, think that Raja is a continuation of that. Mostly because I don't think it was the Runway Ready aspect that Ru showed bias towards. I think her TRUE bias in past seasons was going for the girls that LOOKED most like her. And Raja simply wasn't that.

Manilla is so much more entertaining as a performer. Raja is a stunning queen, the house down. But she is as exciting as a cardboard cut out of Barbara Walters. I really thought Manilla should have won.

PS. All that "Heather" bullshit annoyed the fuck out of me. It made me feel Shangela got labeled unfairly.

Manila lost it the minute she started doing the robot.

Dan,
Do you support marriage rights for polygamists?

@17- actually Manilla won me over the very second she started doing the robot. I fucking loved the silly. And then to wander directly into Cher? It was everything great with drag performance.

@16 I think we can both respectfully disagree here on the merits of Raja. I think she more than proved herself that she was far more than a simple runway walker. Most importantly she was a far more like-able and personable contestant than last year's "winner". Her speeches were spot on and I really felt sincerity there when she spoke of wanted to prove that you can be weird, outlandish and unconventional and still kick ass.

And- this is purely my perspective- I watched every week to see three people: Manilla, Raja, and Yara. All three bust it out and it was exciting to see what they came up with each episode. Raja personally excited me. I'm sorry she didn't for you- I respect your view though.

Fuck off #18.

I called it! Raja won!

There were a couple of time where she was pretty vicious, especially against Stacey. I don't know why, it was almost like she smelled blood or something. That little upstart bitch Shangela deserved every reading she got.

I think if she keeps her ego and bitchyness in check she will be a great Drag Superstar.

The only reason Raja won was because of his friendship with Ru for over 15 years. It seems only friends and the color of your skin will get you to the end on this show.

Nina should have won hand down on Season 1. Instead it was given to Bebe...
Pandora should have won Season 2, not Tyra.
Alexis should have won Season 3, not Raja.

These are just my opinions and I'm allowed to have them.

I am glad that Raja won, rather than the more traditional queens. Whenever there was a runway walk at the end, it was Raja who I looked forward to seeing - the other queens all had distinct styles, but Raja always seemed to be creating entirely new characters.

I expected Manilla to win, she seemed to be good at most of the challenges and would have been a very safe choice for the judges - so I 'm glad they went with the weirdo/freak.

I'm still not even sure how Alexis made it so far. Her drag is charmingly old fashioned - maybe Ru is sentimental.

@17 I totally agree. I was like, oh no Manilla, don't!! Step away from the robo... D'OH! Then she followed it up with her Cher routine I was like, well Raja just won. Old and broken dance moves and Cher moves have no place in a new RuPaul song, even if it were just to ham it up, especially when, "you are dancing for your (mofo) life!"

I picked that Raja would win the moment she walked in with that cyclops eye on her head. She was definitely a queen that didn't take herself too seriously and I loved it. Actually I also picked Manila would be runner up too. :D Yay me. :p

@17 I totally agree. I was like, oh no Manilla, don't!! Step away from the robo... D'OH! Then she followed it up with her Cher routine I was like, well Raja just won. Old and broken dance moves and Cher moves have no place in a new RuPaul song, even if it were just to ham it up, especially when, "you are dancing for your (mofo) life!"

I picked that Raja would win the moment she walked in with that cyclops eye on her head. She was definitely a queen that didn't take herself too seriously and I loved it. Actually I also picked Manila would be runner up too. :D Yay me. :p

Not a shock since RuPaul IS the "Supermodel of the World"...It's not about TALENT, it's about the LOOK.

I'm guessing Ru does judge her book selections by the cover...

Dan,
Do you support marriage rights for polygamists?

Dan,
Do you support ALL GLORY rights for THE HYPNOTOAD?

@28, I think I love you.