Post — Aaron Ngo

Hey Riverdale fans! I have returned to give my review on another random episode. I heard Cheryl stood out with a bow and arrow, and I needed to see this for myself. Although my watching of the show is sporadic (season two premiere, musical episode, and this episode), my love for this one character keeps bringing me back.

I'm not equipped for this, but let's get into the episode review.

Maybe spoilers a head. Help fill in blanks if I get something wrong, or I'm missing something.

The episode looks like it picked up from last week. The Black Hood is after Cheryl. She runs, screams, and jumps out the window. He is gonna kill her once he gets her outside. I don't know why the Black Hood is after Cheryl, but what happens next puts a smile on my face.

She suited up! She took advice from Arrow and shot arrows into her attacker. Cheryl slays! She took the time to put on that outfit and prepared to hunt the Black Hood like the wounded animal he is.

We need a new Red Arrow/Speedy. Care to crossover, Cheryl? Arrow needs a fresh archer.

She calls Betty and tells her that Black Hood escaped her clutches. Betty knows its her father and is conflicted when she is informed Black Hood is alive. Then Betty calls her home and leaves to meet her.

JugHead is taking his friend Fangs to the hospital. Some dumb nurse tells him to wait when he makes it clear that his friend is shot. All the Serpents think Reggie did it and go looking for him out of vengeance. I think JugHead is the leader, but everyone else is questioning his leadership capabilities.

The shooting and riot leads to Veronica's mother talking to the press. Hermione offers a bounty of $1 million to whoever turns in the Black Hood alive, preferably dead. Betty spoke for all of us when she asked if that was even legal. My guess is no, but this Riverdale. Laws apparently don't matter.

Archie convinces JugHead that Reggie did not the pull the trigger. Veronica backs him up when she spots Midge's mother holding a gun. This is nice. But the Serpents want blood regardless.

Veronica thinks her father is involved and storms his office, finding the "October Surprise". It had a prewritten article and photos of Fred and Hermione's affair from the first season. Yes, context I can understand. How wonderful!

She confronts her mother and hates that she is willing to go along with this. If they leaked this, Fred Andrews' credit ability as a family man would be destroyed. He would lose the mayoral race, but Hermione would bounce back!

Bullshit is what Veronica tells her mother. I think it would hurt her more, but I guess not. But I'll get back to that later.

Archie finds Reggie at Pop's. I think this is a stupid hideout because everyone goes here, but whatever I'm rolling with it because I'm open-minded. Then they're attacked outside by a different gang not the Serpents. It's the Ghoulies!

I think they're the rivals to the Serpents based on interactions and tension.

Archie gets on the roof and starts throwing flaming bottles at them. Wow that's crazy. Why are these kids so involved in this nonsense again?

The dads roll in before the Ghoulies can do any more damage. Kevin loves their rescue and photographs them together, promising to put them on Instagram. Hiram is not pleased about this for some reason, I'm missing something here about Veronica's father.

Then some big guy is asking about Hiram around town. He wants revenge for his father's death and attacks Veronica and Hermione in their home. They kill him and his associate. Hiram comes home to find the dead bodies, only for the women to tell Hiram to clean up the mess. This is pretty badass. I love it.

Betty comes home for the exposition dump Hal dishes out in the form of a home film about being the Black Hood. He has a darkness inside him, passed down from his father and grandfather. He claims it is also inside his daughter too.

At this point, I would expect some supernatural element to factor in, but oh well. Riverdale is trying too hard with the realistic expectations.

Let's recap Black Hood's actions: shot Fred, made the janitor take the blame for being Black Hood, killed Midge, but didn't cause some shooting at a debate. I think this will get addressed later.

Alice verbally attacks her husband to cause a distraction, and Hal easily falls for it. This lets Berry grab something to hit Hal with. They call the police, and the Black Hood is finally put behind us.

OR IS HE?

Another Black Hood attacks Fred and Archie. He shots Fred, but this time he has a bulletproof vest. The same question from season two is fired back at us: Who shot Fred Andrews this time?! Seriously. We're back at square one.

Because Hal is arrested, and Betty tells Archie that her father couldn't have shot Fred this time around. Thanks for the confirmation.

I think there is way too much going on this episode, but that might be because I haven't watched this show in order. Because there's more I haven't covered yet.

Penny took Toni hostage and wants Jughead to come alone to save her. This is a stupid plan because he does go alone. But Penny has the Ghoulies backing her up. Of course, Jughead brought backup as well.

HE BROUGHT CHERYL WITH HER BOW AND ARROW!

They rescue Toni. My three favorite characters in one scene. How blessed! I lucked out.

But Penny warns them to give up the Southside or they go to war.

Fangs dies in the hospital. Poor character I never got the chance to know.

This prompts the Serpents to go to war despite their odds of winning! Jughead does not want anyone else to die and calls Hiram to make him a deal. He knows Veronica's father is paying Penny and the Ghoulies, I don't know how, but he figured it out.

Jughead decides to sacrifice himself to the Ghoulies and says his goodbyes to Betty over the phone. He is promised that everyone else will be spared, but as he is getting beaten up, Penny declares his sacrifice is for nothing because they will still attack.

That's low! They made a deal and Penny decides to break it immediately. If Jughead dies, I demand Riverdale start another riot on his behalf.

His father FP finds his son, but it's too late. He is beaten and maybe died in his arms. His arm is covered in blood. This show is too dark.

I went into this episode for Cheryl and when that scene happened in the first five minutes. I had no idea what to do with myself. I continued anyway because I committed, but I felt incredibly lost and overwhelmed. Like a lot happened in this episode right before the season finale.

They are setting up a lot. I might watch the season finale, but most likely not.

Comment and let's discuss on what I messed up, what I missed, etc. Cheryl is the MVP of the episode and Toni is too cute! I love her character and her pairing with both JugHead and Cheryl is wonderful.

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