Legendary has brought so many things into our lives: Leiomy's legendary finger clap, Dashaun Wesley's dashing good looks, and Law Roach "love to hate him" quotables. The show has been the latest iteration of the ballroom scene being ushered into the mainstream, finally putting ballroom competition at the forefront. And though the series clearly looks to include many of the scene's varied categories, the houses certainly live and die by vogue performance.
Two hallmarks of every episode of Legendary -- since season one, in fact -- are the all-house production, which features vogue performance, and head-to-head redemption battle. This starts in episode one where houses put on a Grand March, where they show who they are via an all-house performance. But it also ends this way given that the season one finale featured an all-house redemption battle where each member had to face off against a member from the opposing house in one voguing element. All of this boils down to one thing: what we see in terms of voguing on the show, is some of the best the contestants have.
Though the judges give their scores, we all have our own opinions of what was and was not a legendary performance on the show. Here, we wade through our absolute favorites of the series, that keep us wanting more.
Makayla Lanvin versus Shorty Ebony season 1 episode 5
Talk about leaving it all on the floor.
We aren't going to play games here: this was not the best voguing necessarily. Let's just call a spade a spade. That said, when you're trying to keep your house in the running for $100,000 sometimes you just have to put it all on the line, and you turn into a ball of unbridled energy. They gave you stunts, shows, and a bit of team assistance, all while defying gravity.
Sure, the five elements weren't their priority but the sixth -- the element of surprise -- certainly was.
House of Lanvin Intergalactic performance season 1 episode 6
Off the back of landing in the bottom, the House of Lanvin had something to prove, and prove it they did. The team pulled off a pitch-perfect performance with a clear storyline, looks, and utilizing Mikayla Lanvin in the best way possible.
"And on that note: we're baaaaack," the track said. Back indeed.
Note: this clip also includes the Gucci performance after Lanvin.
House of Miyake Mugler grand march season 2 episode 1
You want to talk about clean performance?
With an icon at the helm (Father Arturo Miyake-Mugler,) two legends (Prince Miyake-Mugler and Diego Miyake-Mugler,) and two statements (Tati Miyake-Mugler and Malik Miyake-Mugler,) the bar was absolutely high for the house. And with what was undoubtedly the most precisely executed performance of the night, that featured each member of the house in addition to featuring all of the five elements, they sailed past it.
House of Balenciaga Tinseltown season 2 episode 3
The thing about a performance that transcends is that there needs to be a level of theatricality to it. There needs to be highs and lows. Ideally, it should transport you somewhere and in the process move you. Balenciaga gave you all of that and more with their Tinseltown performance.
House of Tisci Tinseltown season 2 episode 3
While theatricality and levels are a hallmark of performance, so is narrative. In this performance, Tisci kept the audience smiling along while also leaving room for the ultimate reveal: Simone Tisci's perfect face. There's a reason it was the first perfect score of the season.
House of Tisci Pop Tart Ball season 2 episode 4
There is no reason for me to try to explain this one. Just watch it.
IT'S TISCI, DUH!
Malik Miyake-Mugler versus Jamil Icon season 2 episode 5
It's a true battle.
In the perfect mesh between voguing skill, percision, elements, as well as passion, Malik and Jamil battled in what is inarguably one of the best face-offs of the show so far. They may not have flipped off of walls or done handstands, but they both left it all on the floor while staying squarely within the essence of vogue. This was a battle.
