Plenty of reality shows reward people with talent, whether that’s cooking, sewing, singing or dancing. But there is only one show where the contestants are forced to create choreography, write original raps, act in bawdy Shakespearean revisions, turn bolts of fabric and mounds of glitter into amazing outfits, and, of course, lip-synch for their lives. The effort that it takes to stay on RuPaul’s Drag Race to the finish is herculean, and the drama and antics that go on before the finale are always entertaining.

Logo’s biggest show (let’s be honest, Logo’s only show) returns on Monday 7 March at 9pm ET for its second-to-last season, and to get everyone in the mood here are 10 of the best moments from the first seven seasons.

Willam’s big exit

In one of the craziest episodes of all time, Willam went from winning the challenge to barfing on camera to being mysteriously asked to leave the show for breaking the rules. This season four stunner was enough to make your head turn faster than RuPaul changes outfits. It was later revealed that Willam had been receiving conjugal visits from her husband, which was the violation that caused her early dismissal. Sort of a lame reason, but boy was that a hell of an episode.

Sharon Needles and Phi Phi O’Hara’s smackdown

It wouldn’t be a reality show if there weren’t some people who weren’t there to make friends getting all up in each other’s faces. It’s even better when those faces are only half covered in stage makeup. Here season four winner Sharon Needles, er, needles arch rival Phi Phi O’Hara even though she already won a challenge. The fight ends with what would become one of the show’s most quoted putdowns of all time: “Go back to Party City where you belong.”

Let’s get physical

The final portion of each episode, where the two performers in danger of being eliminated must “lip-synch for their lives” is always the most dramatic part. In season three, Mimi Imfurst tried to inject some comedy into the proceedings by picking up rival India Ferrah in a firefighter’s carry. Not only did India freak out, the judges were hardly amused. Mimi was one of the first to go.

Little Edie’s big moment

One of the most eagerly anticipated episodes each year is when contestants play the Snatch Game, a version of the 70s game show Match Game where each lady has to impersonate a celebrity. Eventual season five winner Jinkx Monsoon went out on a limb and decided to play Little Edie Beale, one of the subjects of the classic documentary Grey Gardens. Most of the other queens didn’t get the reference, but RuPaul and judges Julie Brown and Julie Brown (yes, there were two of them and, yes, they were both on MTV) understood and recognized that it was absolutely flawless – and staunch.

Wigs stacked

One of the most overused tactics to get attention during the final lip-synch challenge is for a queen to snatch off her wig. It never manages to impress in quite the way performers think it will. Unless that performer is Roxxxy Andrews who pulled off her wig to Willow Smith’s Whip My Hair and revealed another wig underneath her first. Even the judges had to freak out at that one and it was one of the highlights of season five. Both she and Alyssa Edwards both performed so well, RuPaul let them both stay for another week.

In the nut house

Season four’s Latrice Royale is one of the most beloved contestants of all time, even though she didn’t win. She openly discussed her previous stint in prison, and that was never more challenging than when she had to play a prison warden in one of the program’s comedy theatricals. Latrice pulled it together and delivered the scene’s killer punchline, “Get those nuts away from my face.” Prison became a place where Latrice could finally triumph.

The Cole enchilada

There are plenty of drag queens that lip-synch to their idols’ records, but it isn’t very often that a drag queen gets to lip-synch in front of her idol. DiDa Ritz got the chance to perform the late, great Natalie Cole’s song This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) when Cole was a guest judge on the show. DiDa delivered a mind-meltingly perfect performance. She was an otherwise forgettable contestant, but thanks to one unforgettable star, she’s earned her place in her-story.

Slapped senseless

RuPaul often makes the finalists of each season perform in some sort of silly skit with her in the last episode. For the show’s second season, RuPaul staged a scene where she got to slap each one of her girls. Once she crowned Tyra Sanchez the winner, there were plenty of viewers that wished they could turn around and slap RuPaul for poor judgment.

Splits screen

Laganja Estranga was perhaps the most annoying thing on television since that never-ending beep that announces a test of the emergency broadcast system. But when she and Joslyn Fox did unplanned simultaneous splits while performing Pink’s Stupid Girls during season six, it was the kind of moment that made everyone watching jump up off the couch and wag their fingers at the screen. Also, Laganja was sent packing after this number, so it is a twice blessed event.

A Big Ru-veal

The only thing Drag Race loves more than a fierce lip-synch and a sickening look is some raw emotion. We got it in spades when Ongina won a challenge related to HIV advocacy and divulged on national television that she is living with the virus. Her teary testimonial had mascara running all over the place. Really, this is the only thing worth remembering about Drag Race’s shaky first season.