A major new addition to the universe comes in the form of Maestro<\/a>, the captivating villain portrayed by Jinkx Monsoon in episode 2, The Devil\u2019s Chord<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n Monsoon is known to most as the winner of <\/span>RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race<\/span> season 5, later returning to <\/span>RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race: All Stars<\/span> season 7 (the first, and currently only, season of previous winners facing off) to snatch the crown yet again. <\/span><\/p>\n She\u2019s also performed extensively worldwide (solo and with drag sister and <\/span>Drag Race<\/span> alum BenDeLaCreme), worked as a voice-over artist and made her Broadway debut in <\/span>Chicago<\/span> early last year.<\/span><\/p>\n Maestro made a compelling villain for many reasons \u2013 the gauche outfit, the powers and motivations that were tricky to follow at best \u2013 but Monsoon is what made it. Monsoon\u2019s <\/span>Doctor Who<\/span> debut has been, rightfully, lauded by fans and critics alike<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thank god a drag queen was cast for an over-the-top, camp villain, who feeds on music and has the ability to sustain themselves from it. Somehow, in an episode featuring Gatwa leading a dance number and a cameo from Cilla Black (played by Josie Sedgwick-Davies), Monsoon\u2019s Maestro stood head and shoulders above as the campest performance of the night.<\/span><\/p>\n Monsoon\u2019s performance had her stealing the spotlight from an already large presence, Gatwa\u2019s Doctor, and a refreshingly real companion (Millie Gibson\u2019s Ruby Sunday<\/a>), maybe outshining Neil Patrick Harris\u2019s outrageously loud performance as their in-universe \u2018father\u2019, the Toymaker<\/a>, in last year\u2019s specials.<\/span><\/p>\n Maestro was as terrifying in their screams and shouts at the Doctor as they were in their teasing whispers, showing Monsoon\u2019s immense ability to command whichever room she\u2019s in. Maestro was enough to strike fear and admiration into adults, and probably cause a few younger viewers to err away from any of their piano lessons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We didn\u2019t really care what Maestro wanted, or wanted to do, we just needed them to be on screen and dominate \u2013 and not get defeated for good in only one episode. <\/span><\/p>\n To feature a performance that incredible and have them feature as a \u2018character of the day\u2019 would be a disservice to fans. But it\u2019s Doctor Who \u2013 whether they return next week or in 40 years, we\u2019ll probably be seeing Maestro again.<\/span><\/p>\n As incredible as Monsoon was in this episode, we have to ask, what does it take for drag artists to be recognised in the mainstream as the entertainment powerhouses they are?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Monsoon is the only person to win Drag Race twice, and in joining Chicago she <\/span>spiked ticket sales to over 100 per cent of the theatre\u2019s seated capacity<\/span>. She\u2019s a theatre legend, a drag powerhouse and a comedian with the chops to prove it. She could, and should, be a top-billing name in television.<\/span><\/p> Drag artists have always had to fight for their recognition, overcoming immense stigma and hatred, while being expected to invest huge amounts of money into their craft. <\/span><\/p>\n On a recent episode of <\/span>The Bald and the Beautiful<\/span> podcast, Trixie Mattel and Mon\u00e9t X Change (winners of <\/span>Drag Race All Stars<\/span> season 3 and 4 respectively, with X Change finishing as runner-up to Monsoon in <\/span>All Stars s<\/span>eason 7) discussed the barriers for drag artists in entertainment. <\/span><\/p>\n They joked that if they were to be cast on a major reality show,<\/span>\u00a0they\u2019d be \u2018the gay one\u2019 and facing off with people who lasted an episode in other reality series, despite being at the top of their field and internationally acclaimed stars. <\/span><\/p>\n Mattel further discussed the glass ceiling in the music industry as a drag artist, and that she feels her music will be foremost considered drag music, and so never given the recognition of other artists\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Jinkx](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Jinkx-Monsoon-Doctor-Who-s14-BBC-1-f7e7cc7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Jinkx-Monsoon-Doctor-Who-s14-BBC-1\\"\/")
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