5 Best RuPaul's Drag Race Seasons To Get Into The Show, According to Reddit

Since its debut in 2009, RuPaul's Drag Race has revolutionized reality TV and turned drag culture into a global phenomenon. The show has spawned countless international versions from Thailand to the UK. As of 2025, Drag Race is a whole universe and we know how overwhelming it can be for newcomers.

With so many seasons to choose from, where do you even begin looking? That's where we come in and tell you to sit back and relax because we have exactly what you're looking for.

Whether you're completely new to the show or trying to introduce a friend to the wonderful world of Drag Race, here's 5 best seasons to start with.

And if a friend of yours sent you this, take their advice. You won't be disappointed.

Season 6 (2014): Perfect Storm Meets Perfect Cast

Let's start with the season that many consider the perfect gateway drug into the world of Drag Race.

The season served looks, drama and enough quotable moments to fill a dictionary. As Thirdatarian on Reddit wrote:

“Season 6 gets the perfect balance of drag and reality TV for me. The arguments are heated, personal, and don't feel put on at all. Those girls said it cause they felt it with their whole chests and you have to love that. It's the only season where I actually care about the drama.”

Seriously, Season 6 is the Avengers of Drag. Every queen brought something unique to the table. We've got Bianca Del Rio's with her razor-sharp wit, Adore Delano's with her punk rock charm, and so many more other queens without whom we wouldn't have gotten such an iconic season.

If you're looking for the perfect mix of entertainment, authentic drama and pure talent, this is your starting point. You'll be screaming "Not today, Satan!" before you know it.

Season 12 (2020): The Pandemic's Silver Lining

When the world went dark in 2020, Season 12 came through to save the day (or days in quarantine). As Redditor thepictorwolf simply put it:

“My favourite one is season 12. A lot of [unique], loveable queens.”

Adding to this love fest, BlueCactusChili chimed in with:

“S12 is the runaway vote for “most wholesome” season. My [favorite] modern season.”

What makes Season 12 special is how it brought joy during one of the most challenging times in recent herstory. Despite the pandemic, this cast delivered performances of their lifetime. Queens proved that drag is really pandemic-proof.

So if you're seeking pure joy and escapism with a dash of fierce competition, Season 12 is your choice. It's also worth watching simply for lip-syncs that happened remotely thanks to COVID.

Season 7 (2015): Legends Were Born

The best things in life need time to be appreciated. Redditor dotdash59 said it perfectly:

“This season [Season 7] is such a treat, just fun. In regular seasons I sometimes get anxious about the eliminations or when I see some of the more fragile contestants getting stressed, so I'm just enjoying this as some fluffy entertainment.”

Initially dismissed as the “fashion season,” Season 7 aged into being one of fan favorites. It gave us some of the most successful queens in Drag Race herstory, including the iconic duo that would take over the world – Trixie and Katya.

The season's focus on fashion and beauty actually created a perfect backdrop for these personalities to shine.

Watch Season 7 to witness the birth of drag superstars and to understand why sometimes first impressions aren't everything in drag (and out of drag as well).

Season 5 (2013): Pure Gold Television

If Drag Race were a movie franchise, Season 5 would be The Empire Strikes Back. It's the season that proved drag could be high art and high drama simultaneously.

This season is the blueprint for what makes Drag Race great. The Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese rivalry, Jinkx Monsoon's underdog story and the iconic formation of Rolaskatox. This and more is a reality TV gold.

For those who want to understand why Drag Race became a cultural phenomenon, Season 5 is required viewing.

Here's what PrettyLittleLad on Reddit had to say:

“My favourite season was Season 5. The iconic mix of Rolaskatox, Jinkx, Coco and Alyssa, as well as the challenges, drama, storylines, rest of the cast, untucked, was just reality TV perfection. Season 5 was so good, they essentially did a reunion for AS2.”

All Stars 2: The Crown Jewel

Speaking of All Stars 2, this is where things get really interesting.

If you want to see what happens when you gather some of the most iconic queens from past seasons and put them in one room, All Stars 2 is your answer.

As Redditor Prancing_Monkey wrote:

“We all know AS2 is incredible. The talent, the drama, new format, etc. I don’t think it’s overrated at all. But I think Ru’s light and fun attitude is a huge contributor that I just noticed/ don’t hear people talking about. Because it’s the first time she’s not sending people home, I think she’s having so much fun!”

The twist of queens eliminating each other changed the game forever and created some of the most dramatic moments in reality TV herstory.

So if you want to see Drag Race operating at its highest level (both in terms of talent and drama), All Stars 2 is your destination.