#'how is Archie being haunted by Hiram about power??'

[sumquiasum]

what are your thoughts on hirarchie dynamics? does the pairing work without a sizeable gap in power?

I think hirarchie is interesting, in part, because of the power imbalance, how they perceive it and how it impacts their relationship. It might be possible to remove it, but only if you go with an AU such as "What if Hiram only came to Riverdale in s5 when Archie was already in his 20s?", because even in canon they might be on a more level playing field in s5 but that doesn't and cannot erase the past. On top of that, Hiram shows multiple times that he still has some kind of power over Archie (by setting Archie's house on fire, blowing up the mine and eventually Archie's house). And Archie shows that he is still haunted by Hiram (his 5x03 nightmare sequence, "who put you up to this, Hiram Lodge??"). In canon, there will always be an imbalance between them but that's what makes them compelling to me.

[andsmile]

Thoughts on Betty these last few episodes? Not trying to hate on her but girl is a mess and is never held accountable for her actions

oh, god. betty.

i feel a little bad getting into any discourse about betty lately cause i’m afraid my takes on what’s going on aren’t so good, so i’ll say: she is deeply traumatized. she should not have stopped going to therapy. but she was possibly just lying to her therapist too, so i don’t know. somehow, i think what happened to her was really dark, which is why i don’t want to be the person that says “she needs to be held accountable for her actions.”

like, for starters, she cheats on jughead and lies about it. okay. but then the show kinda goes out of its way to show she really was “punished” by life when she spent a portion of her time kidnapped and mentally, if not physically, tortured by a serial killer, which is always going to connect to her father. she couldn’t save someone who got killed in a horrible way and she holds herself accountable for that. her sister goes missing and it’s possibly dead right after she says some stuff to her. she’s having night terrors. like, it’s a very dark place, where they’ve put betty right now, and they do it on purpose.

and let’s face it - as the show’s final girl, she’s been through so much and is never allowed to stop going through it. so i kinda don’t know how to feel about all that. her almost murdering that man was a powerful image. reminded me a lot of archie almost killing hiram.

i’m glad jug called her, but i also felt weird about it. it’s not archie or jughead who should pull her out the darkness and “save her”. i am happy that she managed to talk to jughead about it - that he cared, at least, and not to say archie didn’t, but archie didn’t, and she didn’t want his help anyway.

h o w e v e r 

i do have a lot of problems with two things: how she’s abusing of power because of that stupid FBI thing, which is just not it. like, you take a character and turn her into a cop who clearly isn’t stable enough to deal with any of it. help. i don’t think she’s a “badass” because of that. i’d rather have her working as a mechanic, tbh, or as something that would make her happier, like a private investigator or something.

and i also have a huge problem with how riverdale is taking inspiration for the lonely highway story on a real life story about racism and misogyny and making it about white girls and a white protagonist who’s also a cop.

so it’s all very problematic imo. that being said, i hope betty can leave the FBI behind for once and for all, and i don’t know what else i hope for. that she can deal with what’s haunting her, probably.

this post was written without any hate, i swear.

[riverdale-retread]

Riverdale S5 E7 Fire in The Sky - 5 things I loved/ 3 things to consider

I loved this:

1. Cheryl’s slowmo superhero entrance and the  Cheryl Hair Whip Sound Effect. There are various ways to armor yourself if you’re fragile, wounded and/or trying to protect yourself.  One way is to dematerialize or be invisible (such as, Jughead saying there were three in the booth, exempting himself). The other, rarer way, is Cheryl’s, which is to project as big and forceful a presence as possible.  I find this so moving about her.  I also just love it when Cheryl swirls her hair around, which she always does in dance numbers, and the power of her hair is such that the world slows down and her hair gets its own sound effect.  I love that a big competitive cardio workout brings out the Red Lipstick Cheryl again.

 2.  Tabitha and her lively reading of the alien sighting articles that Jughead has found from the library was such a tonic.  She manages a kind sarcasm, which seems like a contradiction in terms.  What a fabulous character she is!  Enlivening, warm, funny,  smart, and just spectacularly gorgeous.   Along with Veronica, she is a do-er, a person who moves a project or idea forward, and with gusto.  She can see that Jughead needs help, and doesn’t pussyfoot around it either. She asks directly, Were you drinking? which I think takes a lot of courage.  Oh, and did I say I liked her face? I mean,  What. A. Face.

3.  The sad scene of four women - victim’s mother (this actress was so great at conveying a heavy, crushing sadness), Toni in social worker mode and the two Cooper ladies - openly discussing the pain of being women in a world where women are so routinely victimized and harmed, and promising each other that even if nobody else cared, we care, was very affecting and real.  I’m haunted by Betty’s worried eyes.

4.  The clothing was really fun this episode.  The men who are ‘not good’ all favor the same kind of tie - bold diagonal stripes (from last episode, Glen and Chad, and in this episode Hiram) and seeing it on Hiram is what made it click for me.  When Veronica does what she loved doing even as a kid - launch several huge projects simultaneously - she goes from dressing in the Fantasy Hot Teacher way at the start of her teaching career (shoulders exposed, skirts tight at the waist) to navy presidential-candidate pantsuits and pinstripe blazers.  When united in their (fraught, but still genuine) love for Polly, the Cooper women dress in uniform (navy sweaters, jeans).  Jughead is starting to figure how to personalize that waiter uniform, which is to add a lot of slouch and attitude, and he’s going in the opposite direction from FP, who tried to wear it perfectly as a costume (apparently, Jughead does not do bowties, no matter what).  

5. I loved the small moment memorializing that Fred Andrews did the small essential basics, the unglamorous bits nobody praises you for, really well. Like having fire extinguishers in easy-to-find places.  The care that competent people take does have a long lasting impact. 

3 Things to Consider

 a.  What am I supposed to make of the fact that the alien lights are bright orange and warm and sort of sunshiny?  Usually alien badness tends to be shown in genre fare in unnerving greens, but because they’re in Riverdale, everyone in this community finds the alien lights really enticing.  They walk towards it, out of the safety of shelter, and feel sad when it’s gone.  The old solitary man Jughead interviewed last episode wanted to go with them, and even Pop Tate wishes they’d come back. 

b. The Straight Marriage is Bad For Your Health thesis is very funny the more it goes on.  Like, why would Chad being a husband allow him to exert this much power over Veronica, where she would have to subsume her Alpha-ness and her desire to create endeavors where she’s the boss and guide? She can only be herself when she’s apart from him.   Is the point that the institution of marriage obliterates women’s true personalities?  Dude that is harsh.

c.  Reggie Mantle with a shotgun is so unhappy about being this kind of man that he confesses something important to Betty, directly against Hiram’s wishes, and Eric with a shotgun about to go murder Hiram is what gets Archie to blurt out his truth (he’s in pain, he feels himself in a new identity - miliitary - that his civilian friends can’t cope with, and he feels frantic).  These guns make me nervous, because of Chekhov.

[malereader-inserts]

The Poem of a Dead Man

Fandom: Riverdale Pairing: Riverdale & Male!Reader Summary: A psychopath, a dead man, they’re all the same to you because they only way you’re being stopped is a bullet through your head. Word Count: 2,391 Warning: Major death, multiple deaths, blood, gore. A/n: Part two of “The Art of a Psychopath”

Flyers of you roamed around Riverdale. 

Due to the corrupted system of the police of FP Jones had lead you to flee Riverdale. WIthout a trace, without a trial. You laugh in mockery.

Flyers of you roamed beyond the little town called Riverdale.

Riverdale. The town with pep.

The town was recovering after the three-month period of mass murders, and there was no trace of you, no whereabouts of you. Almost as if you hadn’t existed, your name was no longer branded in the school register or in the list that was proudly presented around the school as one of the top achievers.

When your parents been asked, they would look confused and claimed that they never had a son called (Y/n), and when told that you were a psychopath they would be offended because they wouldn’t raise a child to be a killer. But, there were pieces of evidence of scarring around their head.

Your younger siblings? Afraid to talk about you, claiming they never had a sibling. You were virtually no one. No medical records to obtain from the hospital, your record of any crimes were gone. 

Now, the band of very close friends ever wondered if they just imagine it. 

But, they couldn’t because eight of them and their parents couldn’t have imagined the same thing. 

The town was quiet, the farm had disbanded and Alice was recovering from the farm, gaining a lot of support from Betty and FP. Kevin was quick to reunite with Betty, often going out to Pop’s whilst Kevin and her gush about old things. Jughead was still plotting against his mother but this time having the support of his dad.

Hiram and Hermione had fully split, but Veronica has quickly adapted to the new custom - though disliking it. Tom and Sierra were happily in love whilst surprisingly Penelope and Cheryl are trying to mend their relationship.

Archie was thriving with his music and sports, Josie being his number one fan whilst Reggie and Veronica are figuring things out. Life at Riverdale, the town of pep, seemed too good. 

“I need some kind of miracle to run my mom out of Riverdale,” Jughead sighs, as Betty rubbing his arm as Veronica looked sympathetic.

“I know, we’ll find a way,” Betty comforted.

“We always do,” Archie confirmed, offering his best bud a smile.

But, you know what they say?

Be careful what you wish for.

“Jughead?”

He stands there frozen, the house that once belonged to his girlfriend now his family has been trashed. Specifically warned, marked. Archie had driven the four of them back to Jughead’s house. The four of them had been joking around until they had got out of the car.

It was Jughead who noticed first, his eyes widen as his blood run cold. His whole world was collapsing, his head was spinning.

He wanted his mother gone, but not dead.

“I called the police,” Veronica shakily spoke behind Jughead.

He couldn’t move even if he could feel Betty grip his arm even harder. The core four stared at the house, not moving, too shocked and well aware not to tamper with evidence. Sirens could be heard in the far distance, coming closer and closers.

“I have to check on my dad!” Archie suddenly exclaimed, remembering how he lived next to Jughead, but before he could Fred had already seen his son standing outside.

Fred was quick to exit his home in confusion until he saw red liquid drop from the second floor. He makes his way to Archie, who wore a relieved expression, gripping his dad into a tight hug. 

“Did you see anything, dad?”

“No, I didn’t hear anything of the sorts, didn’t see anything either,” Fred explains as two police cars pulled up.

FP exiting his car as his eyes are drawn to the graffiti art on his home. His next attention was his beanie wearing son, safe. Having a hard grip on his boy’s shoulder, he draws him for a hug, before looking to his home. 

His heart is crushed, he is disgusted. 

Gladys Jones dead body was hanging out a smashed window, her throat slit.

Jellybean Jones strung up with a noose around her neck, swinging to the direction of the wind.

The red liquid was Gladys’ blood and was used for writing. Sending chills down everyone’s spine as the press was quick to report the new murder, capturing the new message that would send Riverdale into a state of panic.

“I’m back!”

“How do we know that is (Y/n)?” Betty asked, “Hard to recognise his writing since I haven’t seen it for almost four months.”

Betty had looked at Jughead, who was still processing that his little sister had been killed, with you being one of the possible suspects. You’ve been gone for four months, four months since they last saw you in the school gym playing a dangerous game.

And when the last of your memory started to fade away, you came back to haunt the town. 

“No one has seen him in town,” Jughead mentions.”

“Could be possible that someone else is doing it for him,” Veronica proposed as she sipped her drink, timidly, “He doesn’t want himself to get caught.”

It was a smart idea, which is why you like Veronica and Jughead a lot, most of the time they were leaders of schemes. You liked using their own plan against themselves. 

But, you always liked getting your hands dirty, you had power in the town, a power that Hiram longed for, a power that FP tried to obtain, a power that Sierra hoped for. A young teenage boy capable of doing the dirtiest of filth. You were insane, and you got away with a lot of things.

“Look, we better get to class soon,” Archie spoke before there was static from the school’s tv. Almost simultaneously, all the TV’s switched on, every single person in Riverdale was witnessing the same thing.

FP watched with his men at the police station. 

Hermione in the mayor office.

Fred in his construction works.

They saw you, smiling at the camera, waving a knife and it was bloody. Your eyes scream insane. Your smile suddenly wiped away and your lips thinned.

“Riverdale,” Your tone was cold, sent shivers down anyone spine, “Did you miss me because I certainly missed you.”

You started to chuckle then it became hysterical laughter, everyone jumped out of their skins when you slammed your fist against the desk. Veronica could tell the settings, that was Hiram's art portrait behind you.

“That’s right, Veronica,” You seemingly knew her thoughts, “How’s daddykins? Don’t you worry yourself, he’s fine...for now,” Your voice lowers near the end, before smugly smirking towards the camera, licking your lips, “You know what want? It’s time to give this town of pep the boost it needs. Time to stop taking ourselves so seriously. I mean, come on, Riverdale. What do you have to lose? Except your sanity.”

You chuckled, you stuck the knife down at the desk as you abruptly stood up. Your dead cold eyes burned through the television as everyone seems to be frozen in their spot, afraid to move.

“You know what they say, we all could go insane with just one bad day,” You continued, “You know what happened on my bad day?” You leaned over the desk with every word you spoke after, “People just kept... pushing.”

You turn on your heels as whipped out a red spray paint, shaking it vigorously and standing on the seat you once occupied and spray paint over painted Hiram. 

Deadman

You threw the can to the side as you stepped onto the desk and jumped down, facing the camera. 

“I’m more than a man, I’m an idea; a philosophy, and I will live on in the shadows within Riverdale’s discontent. You’ll be seeing me soon. Au revoir!”

And so the screen turned black.

14 was your current death count, as much as you would like to claim the Black Hood’s killings, you couldn’t. You often visited Hal in prison, all in his glory, you were curious you see. You couldn’t take credit for the gargoyle king’s kills either, though you found those a little distasteful. 

Murdering irrelevant people? It bores you.

Pop’s for example, was exciting, a kind man who wouldn’t hurt a fly just murdered in cold heart. 

Hal gave you excellent ideas, what to do, but some of them burnt you out. So, the last time you exited his visiting hold, the police hadn’t realised a gun in Hal’s hand and your order to shoot himself.

Your reason?

His ideas can’t be spread around, and so the floor stained red, his glass protection splatter with his blood.

You left chuckling, you left with a vision. 

You wanted to release the prisoners, but then you thought too much about how they either worked for Hiram or in cahoots with the Serpents, finding followers to do you mad scheming was harder than you expected and yet you did everything alone.

“They call me a dead man, you know why?” Your tone was like a snake, slither, a hiss in Jughead ear as you sat in the booth behind him a knife pressed against his neck.

“Because-”

“Because they’re watching me! I could be killed at any moment and yet I see no bullets in me,” you interrupted, “I do enjoy an audience, but never witnesses. Shame I liked Pop’s.”

You clicked your tongue as Jughead registered what you have spoken, whipping a revolver from your tucked shirt and shooting Pop. Jughead watched in horror, unable to move as your left hand was still occupied with the knife against his neck.

“What did they use to call this place?” You hummed, before a eureka moment came to your head, “Ah! Yes! Death Diner,” you looked at the people sitting there watching your movements.

Jughead watched you grin, as you allowed your bullets to do the talking. Left satisfied as you remove the knife away from Jughead. Tucking the gun away back into your pants, as you jumped into the aisle. Jumping onto the counters as you pointed to Jughead.

“I do love a good show,” You announced, “20 people, Jughead, and they just keep going up n up n up.”

“You vile bastard-”

“I know!” You jumped down, “Who should I target next? Unfortunately, there is nothing else I can take away from you to torture you even further. Do, you think Veronica would appreciate her mom’s head in a gift box?”

Jughead watch you stride towards the door, before changing your mind.

“I am truly spoilt for choice, and like I said, I hate witnesses.”

Jughead was met with your knife, a stab to his gut as you could hear him choking into your ear.

“I do hope you survive Jughead, I couldn’t imagine what your dad would do after losing his little girl.”

Merrily escaping your way to never be found again. Jughead recovering in the hospital, FP was stress to the max. Teaming up with Tom and Hiram in any attempts to stop you.

It seems almost impossible to find a seventeen, near eighteen, year old boy terrorising a while town.

They couldn’t believe their ears to the next murder after Pop’s Diner. Cheryl’s beloved. A gift box painted red, with a small printed card on top:

“A heart for a cold-hearted bitch.”

A heart was presented in the red gift box as Cheryl screamed, oh and did she scream, she screamed for the death of a lover.

Toni Topaz was no longer around.

And on her trailer marked 21.

“Can you hear that?”

Josie gulped in fear as she sat in her kitchen dining table across Kevin. They were both terrified as you sat in between, your eyes flickering between the two. 

“That’s the screams of anguish,” You muttered, “Joyful, isn’t it?”

“Why are you doing this?” Kevin asked as you shrugged your shoulder, you were free of weapons as you lean your wrist back, opening.

“Boredom? I mean feel free to walk out, I’m not holding you captive.” 

“If one of us move, you’ll kill us,” Josie spoke afterwards, her hands gripping the table as you turn your head slowly to face her, your eyes narrowing.

“If you attack me, yes, now go get me coffee. Black, two sugars.” You waved her off as she scrapes her chair back.

You turned to look at Kevin, leaning your elbows on the table as you rest your chin on your hands. A pretty little smile on your face as you flutter your eyes towards him.

“So, boys,” You teases, “You seemed cursed, anyone you get with either gets killed or runs out of your life - tragic.”

Kevin glares at you as his eyes flicker up to Josie, his eyes widen to find her with a switch knife in her hand and scalding hot coffee in the other. Feeling another presence behind you, you smile as you straighten your back.

“Thank you, darlin- argh!” You turned around as you were faced with the hot liquid to your eyes.

You fall back off your chair, as you could hear the scraping of movements, you opened your eyes. Anger had taken over you, grabbing a nearby chair you threw it to Josie, as you stood up, landing a right hook to Kevin.

Next thing you’re fighting with Kevin and Josie, two weakest people. And yet you seemed to be overpowered by the two of them. You had managed to roughen the two of them a big deal, but whilst you were preoccupied with smashing Kevin’s face in, his pretty face was no longer but mushed with blood.

You hadn’t heard the flicker of the switchblade opening behind you as Josie stuck in in the side of your neck.

“Argh!”

You stumble yourself off, Kevin, your back colliding to the wall as your hand flew to the stab wound. The blood was flowing out as you could feel it trickle down your neck, down your collar, down your sleeves. 

You started to cough out blood, and yet the coughing became chuckles. As you slide down the wall, staining it in the process. These chuckles became hysterical laughter, spitting blood as your eyes widen in insanity.

“Oh, you should have put a bullet through my head.”

[likeiwishiknew]

Riverdale Fanfic - Archie on Trial

Once upon a time, if someone had told me Archie Andrews would be arrested on charges of murder I would’ve scoffed in disbelief. But that was a different time, a different Riverdale. One of comfort and predictability. Nowadays, the only thing you can count on in this town is that no one and nothing is as it seems. And that things could always, always get worse.

Jughead had just arrived at the police station with a distraught Betty. As soon as he’d shut off his bike Betty had jumped off the seat and practically run to the doors. Once he’d secured this bike hurried after her.

The police station looked as it always did. A hub of chaos with people just short of colliding into each other. When they’d arrived at the visitation counter they were informed Veronica had gone in to see Archie so they would have to wait until she came out.

While he reluctantly sat down, Betty began to pace. He knew she must be on edge, feeling helpless, if there was one thing Betty Cooper hated it was problems she could not solve.

Just as he was about to encourage Betty to sit and rest, Fred Andrews came hurrying down the hall.

Betty had called him earlier on phone, while Jughead had been driving them here. He gave them as much detail as he could on the charges and the supposed evidence stacked against Archie. But Mr. Andrews also made it abundantly clear that he did not believe any of it and that he was going to do whatever he could in his power to get Archie’s named cleared.

Betty rushed over at the sight of him.

“Mr. Andrews, I’m so sorry.”

He shakes it off, as he tends to do with most things.

“Don’t be Betty, it’s not your fault. We all know who’s to blame for this.”

Betty shrinks back at the mention.

“Hiram Lodge,” Jughead says, getting up from his seat.

“Exactly,” Fred answers, turning to look at him. Anguish clear on his face.

“But even though we know Archie isn’t guilty of this, I think we all know Archie isn’t completely innocent either,” he sighs.

Without thinking, Jughead looks away, somehow ashamed of this unspoken truth.

“He chose to get mixed up with Hiram and he got himself in way over his head.”

Jughead nodded, while Betty casts her eyes down.

“But my son is not a killer.”

“Of course not Mr. Andrews,” Betty manages to say.

“Anyways, I need to head out to make some calls. Hire a lawyer. Try to get ahead of this, if I can at this point.”

He and Betty nodded in understanding.

Betty gave Fred a reassuring hug and promised to call him if anything happened while he was gone. Fred thanked her and then headed off.

He and Betty took a seat again, though he could tell she hated sitting here waiting. Jughead, on the other hand, was too busy trying to get haunted look in Fred’s eyes out of his head. He knew what Fred must be going through. After all, he’d witnessed his own father’s arrest and sentencing. Hell, he’d been arrested himself. He could see Archie’s situation from both points of view. So he knew both were terrible places to be.

Jughead wasn’t sure if it was his anxiousness or Betty’s that got to him, but time seemed to slow more and more as he sat in that cold waiting room. Neither of them had said much of anything on the way here. Both of them were still too in shock to process everything that was happening.

Just as he turned to stay something to her, a door swung open and Veronica came rushing out. Even from where he sat he could see something was wrong. Whatever she and Archie had talked about in that room had devastated her.

Her eyes were on the verge of tears. Betty jumped to her feet first, hurrying to her friend’s side.

“Veronica, what’s wrong?” she said, voice riddled with concern.

“You’ll have to ask Archie yourself,” she returns, refusing to look up. Her voice is filled with a mix of horror and disgust.

Certainly, not what he was expecting.

Jughead looks to his side and sees Betty taken aback by Veronica’s tone.

“Veronica, please just tell me, what’s going on?”

Veronica looked up at Betty, her horror transforming into anger and disappointment. Her eyes slowly filling with grief.

“Let’s let Archie tell you himself exactly what he did,” she returned sharply.

He and Betty glance at each other briefly before turning back to Veronica, but before they can get in another word she rushes off.

Betty starts after her, “V, wait.”

Without thinking Jughead reaches out and stops Betty, he sees the confusion on her face as she gazes back at him.

“You said you needed to see Archie. Go. I’ll handle this.”

“Are you sure Jug?”

“Of course.”

Sure he wanted to see Archie, but he knew Betty needed to see him more.

And from the look on her face he can tell she’s relieved by his offer to chase after the fleeing brunette, Betty smiles and thanks him before heading in to see Archie.

Jughead takes a deep breath and then hurries after Veronica.

He catches her outside pacing. Just another thing she and Betty have in common. When she catches sight of him, she starts hurrying off again. But he’s faster than she is, so he catches her by the arm. She gives him a look of utter contempt, so he lets go.

“Come on Veronica, just tell me what’s bothering you?”

But all she does is take up pacing again and chewing on her nails. He pulls her hand away from her mouth and takes her by the wrists gently.

“Veronica, stop pacing and just tell me what is going on. Please.”

She turns her gaze up to him then, and when her eyes meet his he feels himself freeze in place.

Her voice comes out weak, vulnerable, two things he has never associated with Veronica Lodge.

“He knew.”

“What?”

“He knew this whole time and he lied about it.”

He? Who was she talking about? Her father?

“Veronica, who are you talking about?”

She takes a slight step closer to him.

“Archie. Archie knew my father was responsible for all those deaths. The same deaths Archie is now being blamed for.”

Jughead felt his stomach drop.

Her eyes began to glisten, “He knew about my dad calling a hit on Papa Poutine. He knew about Andre killing Cassidy in the woods. Archie knew. And he said nothing.”

Jughead could feel his throat start to close in on him. And for the first time in a long time, he could not find any proper words to say.

She shakes her head, looking down at her feet, “No, worst, he didn’t just say nothing” she starts before looking back up at him, “He did nothing.”  

Jughead felt chest tighten, each word stealing his breath. It was a lot to take in. A part of him could not believe it. Did not want to believe. He knew Archie was in deep. But it never occurred to him just how far his friend had gone. The lengths he had gone in his desperate attempt to earn some sort of approval from Hiram Lodge.

He grabbed Veronica’s hand then and pulled her toward where his bike was parked in front of the station. He swung his leg over the bike, taking a seat. Then he reached back and handed Veronica a helmet. She stared at him in confusion.

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere quiet where you can sit, calm down and think.”

Despite his attempt to sound reassuring, Veronica made no move to take the helmet. He sees the hesitation in her eyes. She wants to leave, but she’s afraid to go.

“Just trust me,” he says to her. Her eyes widen ever so slightly at the familiar words. But it works. She takes the helmet and hops onto the bike behind him.

“What about Betty?” she asks, lips inches away from his ear. He turns back slowly, so give her time to sit back before he speaks. But Veronica bears no mind to their closeness.

“She’s in visiting Archie,” he states matter-of-factly.

“Well, we can’t just leave her.”

“She has my number. If she needs me, she’ll call.”

Veronica just nods putting the helmet over her head, adjusting the strap and then wraps her arms loosely around his waist.

“Hold on tight,” he says before taking off.

-

They sit near the banks of Sweet Water river, backs against a tree, staring out at the rush of water.

Veronica leans forward, face to her knees. She hasn’t said a word since they arrived, and he is starting to worry this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

Jughead reaches over toward her hesitantly. But a split second decides that there is nothing to lose here, so he lightly strokes her back in what he hopes is a comforting matter.

“I know I am not your first choice of confidante, but I’m here Veronica. Anytime. If you need to talk.”

She continues to say nothing for a long time. Not one to be idle, Jughead begins skipping stones to break some of the silence. Just as he is about to throw another stone Veronica reaches on and grabs his hand to stop him.

Looking him dead in the eye, she asks, “Why are you here?”

“What you mean?”

“I mean why you here, with me, and not with Betty and Archie.”

He has to think about it for a moment, look for some reason that doesn’t sound like a total cop out. But as he thinks he realizes the truth is plenty reason.  

“Because I didn’t want you to be alone.”

She lets go of his hand and looks away.

“I don’t get why you’re being so nice to me. We’re not even really friends.”

“Veronica, come on, that’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” she says to his face.

“If it weren’t for Archie and Betty we probably wouldn’t even be in each other’s orbits.”

“Of course we would.”

She waits for him to continue.  

“Riverdale is a very small town. Even if we never spoke to each other, we’d probably run into each other at some point. Whether we wanted to or not.”

She laughs slightly at that.  

“I guess that’s true.”

She pulls a dandelion from the ground and twirls it between her fingers.

“I don’t know what to do Jughead. Archie is in this situation because of me.”

He leans down slightly to look her in eyes.

“No, Veronica. He’s not. He is in this situation because of himself. He got in over his head. He thought he could win against Hiram Lodge. But he made the mistake of showing all his cards before the final hand.”

“Daddy isn’t one to fold easily.”

“Oh, trust me, I know.”

She looks at him differently for a moment, recalling just how well Jughead knew the lengths her father would go, a sad smile on her face, “I suppose you do.”

She looks away again.

While some of what she was feeling might be guilt, a part of him was certain that deep down that wasn’t what was truly eating at her. Perhaps, he should’ve left it alone. But then again, he never did things the way other people expected him to.

“That’s not what’s bothering you the most though, is it?”

Veronica turns back to him again, eyes watchful. He didn’t look away, didn’t flinch.

Finally, she shakes her head.

“People are dead Jughead. They were murdered and Archie did nothing. How do I make sense of that?”

Jughead did not know the answer. And for once, he could not even pretend he did. So he stayed silent, willing her to go on.

“How to make sense of the fact that the boy I love just sat by while people died. Or I guess more accurately, while my father had people killed.”

“You wanna know the truth?”

She nods.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how you make sense of something like that. How you reconcile who someone really is with who you thought they were. How you are suppose come to terms with the fact that someone you love is capable of terrible things. I don’t think there’s a right way. I don’t think there’s a correct answer. In the end, it all comes down to a choice. And only you can make that choice.”

Once he finishes giving what he is sure was unless advice. The silence returns and spans a long time. But that doesn’t bother him. But something she said. Something that not too long ago he might have agreed with. But he was a different person now, and so was she. And he wanted her to know that.

“By the way Veronica,” he starts, as she turns to him, “We are friends.”

Then, finally, she smiles. A true genuine smile, that actually reaches her eyes, he can’t help but feel relieved at the sight.

“Thank you for being here with me Jughead Jones.”

He smiles.

“You’re welcome, Veronica Lodge.”

_ _ _ _

Related Posts: 

Part 1: http://likeiwishiknew.tumblr.com/post/174031892575/riverdale-fanfic-archie-on-trial-is-it-true

[random-imagines-blog]

Someone Dangerous: A Toni Topaz Story [Chapter Four]

Wordcount: 3093 Summary: The Devil’s Advocates execute an escape plan for Toni, Jughead and SweetPea from the Ghoulies. Warning: Contains violence. Other Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Five, Final Chapter

An emergency meeting had been called in the bowling alley. It had been ‘closed for a personal event’ for the night, that way civilians wouldn’t come in and catch any of the conversation, but it would also explain the amount of cars that were parked in the lot. The lights were out except for the ones near the entrance, since no one was actually playing the game. It was much too serious a meeting to be distracted by balls rolling and pins clanking down. Lyn was sitting on top of one of the racks of bowling balls, picking at her bottom lip and fiddling with her wrist band at the same time, trying to come up with a way to get the rest of the Devil’s Advocates to help her get Toni back, without manipulating them into doing something dangerous.

“The Ghoulies deserve all the pain that they can get, but I don’t understand why we gotta break into their headquarters and get the Serpents outta there.” One of the women said, chewing on gum. She blew a bubble obnoxiously and as it popped, Lyn winced. “We ain’t against them but that doesn’t mean we’re with them.”

“Three people, yes Serpents,” Lyn spoke up, getting the attention of the chattering crowd. “Have been kidnapped because they were suspected of doing what we had done.”

“So?” The woman said.

“So?” Lyn said back, turning her head to look at the woman straight on. “Are we just going to let three innocent people go through torture because of what we did? Even if they know that we’re a rival gang, those three people are going to be questioned, put through tests, who knows what else the Ghoulies have in store for them? Whatever it is - they don’t deserve it. Just like our loved ones didn’t deserve what those bastards put them through. If you don’t feel comfortable with a rescue mission, I’m not going to force you. But when you joined in The Devil’s Advocates, you swore to take them down. This is a good enough start to that, now isn’t it? Take what they have. Release their prisoners. They won’t have any power over any gang after that. Maybe we can do it without their knowing, make them suspect one of their own, I don’t know. But I’m saying, as your leader, that this is the beginning of their end. This is our chance. I’m taking it. Who is with me?”

The difference between the other two gangs and the Devil’s Advocates was one thing: The type of people that had joined. Not everyone in this bowling alley was tough, covered in tattoos, looked intimidating at all or decked out in leather. It was made of people who would do anything that was necessary to return Riverdale and the surrounding area to the way that it had been before the Ghoulies had come around and fucked it up. Parents, cousins, all sorts of relatives of people who had been killed or hurt or affected by the spooky gang gathered here. Lyn had looked them all up. There were a couple of married couples, construction workers, business owners, janitors, nurses, just about every profession in Riverdale had some representation here, and all were determined to end this evil. But still - they were reluctant.

“The main reason for a devil’s advocate-” Lyn went on, picking up one of the smooth, heavy bowling balls and held it in her hands, squeezing it to feel the resistance in her arms. “- is to take all sides. All arguments into consideration. Why should we save these three serpents? They’re part of a rival gang, they could be dangerous, they could expose us, this could just be a rouse. But there’s also the other two sides of it.” She spun the ball so the three holes were revealed to the people in front of her. She tapped one of them, then another. “If we let the Serpents go in, it’ll get messy. They have their reasons to hate the Ghoulies, the bunch of traitors. Some of them will likely be killed by being reckless and going in guns blazing, not thinking the way that we would. They might get their three back, they might not. They might lose a large number of their gang and that’s more lives given to the Ghoulies. But if we do our research, and we go? They know nothing about us, our techniques, our resources, they’re sure to underestimate us. We could get in, get out, learn, experience, and save three people. We may even get the respect of the Serpents, have another force on our side.” She put the bowling ball back on the rack. “Consider every possibility, but I have a mission for a few of you if you take my perspective. I’ll know by tomorrow afternoon who is in and who isn’t, and no blame or shame from me to those who stay out of it. You’d feel it for yourselves eventually.”

When Lyn arrived home from a lonely day at Riverdale High, there were two envelopes slipped beneath her door, waiting for her to open. They were delivered by Alec, the only member that she trusted with her home address. She opened up the one which had what appeared to be a sign up sheet. That was a good sign. There were many names. Her speech got through to many of her people, and they had taken up the cause. She believed that they did so because she had given them the choice. She was not a demanding gang leader, like those she had encountered in the past. She was inexperienced and young, but she was firm. She always thought through what she was doing.

The second envelope was thicker and contained printouts from a real estate agency that one of her members worked for - an unassuming man to say the least but one of the most helpful. It was a list of properties that seemed to fit where the Ghoulies may be. She put aside any that were on the South Side, the Serpents would have come across them and done something about it. Nor would they be in central Riverdale or the suburbs because the well-to-do citizens wouldn’t stand for anything like that.

Which left one option. A Lodge Industries property, interestingly enough. Lyn thought of Veronica Lodge, the luxuriously dressed girl who had been kind to her, but seemed distracted by assuring Betty and Archie that wherever Jughead was, he would be alright. The DA  had to get on this before the foolish redhead and the snooping blonde went and got themselves killed trying to take care of it themselves.

The property had attempted to be a lodge, funny, Lyn thought, by Sweetwater River. A place for hunters to relax and rent out and talk about their kills. It had only been open for a month before a forest fire in the surrounding area had taken it out. And due to Hiram Lodge’s imprisonment, and Hermione Lodge’s affair, not much had been done to the property except it becoming condemned by Mayor McCoy and a few signs put up. Seemed like just the place the Ghoulies would live - a haunted-looking, gritty, black house that was little more than ash and some timber.

She memorized the information, went into her bedroom and got on her knees on the second-hand red rug beside her bed. Reaching under, she pulled out a luggage case that she had used to bring her clothes in, unzipped it, then took out a shoebox. In the shoebox was a hairdryer with the electrical cord tied tight around it. Fetching the screwdriver that was in the pocket of the luggage case, she wedged the two sides open and revealed the pistol that was inside. It may just come in handy tonight, though she would pray that she would not have to use it.

But to get Toni back, she intended to use any means necessary.

Fourteen people on a rescue mission for three teenagers against who knows how many gang members wielding weapons, the least of which was a baseball bat or a taser. One of Lyn’s members had ordered devil’s masks from a Halloween Store, and they had been delivered right on time. Most of the gang wanted their identities hidden from the masses, preferring to stay behind the scenes rather than in the forefront.

Four cars took them to the woods, parked in a popular camping area, and then started the trek to the old lodge. Lyn was walking the fastest, the gun secured in a holster around her thigh, and a large gavel-looking hammer in her hands, ready to beat down on some ghoulie head.

The night was quiet. Snow was threatening to fall soon, which made the air feel chilly beneath the dark and cloudy night. The leaves were dead on the ground and caused quite a bit of rustling, especially as the gang members stepped on them. But they were unafraid, all fourteen of them. They were going to secure the innocent,  bring them back to their friends and families and then make sure that this never happens again.

There was a large fire and some whooping noises. The Ghoulies were having themselves a damn party outside of their ‘home’. The flashing flames brought out the shadows in the red masks that the Devil’s Advocates were wearing, and Lyn had never felt more secure in her role as a leader than she did now. They stopped by the trees, crouched low and watched, waiting for their moment.

Jughead, Sweet Pea, and Toni were handcuffed and tied up - The Ghoulies were being precautious - and were forced to sit on a log dangerously close to the fire. Two of the Ghoulies seemed to be questioning them, while the rest danced around in a frenzy which was more intimidating than the interrogation. Lyn couldn’t hear what was being said, but could hear Sweet Pea give a sarcastic answer. In retaliation of that, the two inquisitors kicked the log closer to the fire so they could feel the flames licking at their trapped hands.

“What are we doing, boss?” Alec asked.

“Making a dramatic entrance. They’ll expect something sneaky is going on if we do that, and some of their numbers might leave to look for our reinforcements. Makes smaller groups out of them all. I’ll untie the Serpents. We’ll blindfold them, bring them to the city, let them loose there so they can find their own way home. I don’t want any of you getting exposed for this.”

As Alec had said, Lyn was the boss, so the others followed suit and went with your plan.

To the Ghoulies, it must have looked like an odd Halloween prank. From the shadows emerged fifteen figures, all wearing black except for the blood-red Devil masks that were adorning their faces. Some of the Ghoulies did a double take, which let the group move in further before any action was taken.

They eventually did spring into action, gathering around their three hostages. Malachai, their leader with his wanna-be KISS paint on his face, had a taser in his hand, which he held up menacingly, the electricity flowing enough to show as a wavering blue line. “Not the right time of year for Halloween.” He laughed, menacingly.

“Could say the same thing about you,” Lyn said, taking another step closer. She disguised her voice, making it deeper than it usually was, in as much a Batman-style as she could muster. “Or is there a metal show going on nearby that I don’t know about?”

“Devil’s go jokes now?” Malachai asked, matching Lyn’s stride. “Let’s see how much you’ll be laughing when I send electricity through your body.” He lunged forward with the taser, nearly striking Lyn who had been prepared for it. She ducked out of the way, held tight to the hammer in her hand and hit Malachai square in the ribs. His growl was enough to send the rest of the Ghoulies into the fight.

Alec came up behind Lyn and took over the fight against the leader of the Ghoulies while she adjusted her mask so the eye-holes were realigned. She kept her sights on Toni, and headed in her direction. She was almost stopped by one of the Ghoulies, but another well-placed hit sent them away from her path.

She was by the flames now, and using their light to undo some of the bindings keeping them onto the logs. But the handcuffs would have to stay until they got into the city and found a way to cut them off. She didn’t have anything sharp enough to take care of that, though they seemed more like adult-store handcuffs than police handcuffs.

Sweet Pea was the first to get unbinded, and though his wrists were stuck together, he helped out with the others. “Go down through the woods in the direction of the moon.” Lyn muttered so they could hear. “We’ll meet you there and bring you back to town, drop you off at a secure location.”

“So you’re the Devil’s Advocates?” Jughead asked, always questioning things. Lyn’s eyes shone through the eyeholes of the mask as they linked their gazes together. Lyn was the first to turn away, then she said nothing. She was more careful to avoid Toni’s eye. That would get her caught for sure.

“Yes,” Lyn said in the same voice as before. “Now go on while we settle things here. Go.”

Toni was the only one who was hesitant to go. She watched as Lyn left the log and went back to Malachai. It was only through the urging of Jughead that she finally walked towards the trees and slipped off to the highway.

One of the Devil’s had brought a handgun. On Lyn’s signal, she pulled it out, pointed it towards the sky, and fired a single shot which made the action stop. Eyes were turned towards the woman, who then pointed silently towards her leader. Lyn stood across from Malachai.

“We got what we came for, and no one else needs to get hurt tonight.” She said, her voice strong enough to carry throughout the Ghoulie’s camping area. “This isn’t the scene of our battle, Malachai, but that is coming up soon. The gunshot is likely to bring the police up in a couple of minutes so I suggest you run along and hide until they pass over. We’ll be in touch.”

Sure enough, the flashing lights were seen through the woods just as the sirens could be heard, but by that time, Lyn and the rest of her Advocates were safely in their cars. The three Serpents were in with Alec and Lyn, who had pulled up their hoods to hide their identity better. Alec would be identifiable by his ponytail alone.

“Pull over here.” Lyn said, once they got close to the Whyte Wyrm. It could be seen at the end of the street, but no one from inside of the bar peering out the windows would be able to read the license plate. Alec pulled over, Lyn got out of the car and helped the three handcuffed Serpents out of the backseat.

“Why did you help us?” Jughead asked, and Toni looked at her imploringly, waiting for answers.

“The Serpents aren’t our enemies.” Lyn told them. “Especially you two. It’s the Ghoulies that we hate, and we have our own reasons for that. We don’t want them to hurt any more people.”

“Who are you?” Toni asked. Sweet Pea had already started walking towards the bar, angry that he was still in the handcuffs. He didn’t need to do all the questioning, he was more of a hands on sort of guy, or so Lyn had noticed.

The leader of the Devil’s Advocates stopped cold, wondering whether she should go with her brain or her instincts on this one. Should she reveal herself and lose the trust of the only friend that she had in this town? Would it be putting the others at risk? Or should she keep hiding herself, remaining in the shadows.

She decided.

She undid the straps on the back of her head, releasing the mask from her face. Her hair fell down from the confines that it had been in so that it wouldn’t be seen by anyone who may identify her. She shook it out, then brushed it out of her face with her fingers and looked at Toni straight on.

“Don’t tell anyone, and don’t ask me any questions right now. We just put ourselves in danger to get the three of you out and ... and we need to come up with our next steps, okay?” She pleaded with Jughead and Toni. Jughead was surprised, but he adjusted to it well.

“No questions now, but there will be later.” He said. “And - thanks.” He seemed reluctant to give the last word. It was clear he didn’t trust you now, but that was fine. He didn’t have to. He only had to keep his mouth shut.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Toni asked, once Jughead had started to walk away. The fact that she was still in handcuffs didn’t bother her anymore. She took a step forward towards Lyn, so much so that Lynn could smell the fire’s smoke on her clothing.

“No questions, please.” Lyn frowned. “I can answer anything tomorrow, but just not -”

“I trusted you, I thought you were my friend.”

“I just risked my life and those of my gang to save yours, you think I’m not your friend?” Lyn asked.

“Bring me with you.” Toni said, after a minute of silence. “To your house. Get these cuffs off me and we’ll talk there. Either that or I’m following your car because - because I need answers from you. Tonight.”

Lyn looked to the car where Alec was waiting. He was still wearing his mask. His eyes peering through the holes were dark, and lifeless. He was exhausted.

“Okay, get in the back.” Lyn sighed.

[theheavycrown]

S02 E12 · Chapter Twenty-Five: The Wicked and the Divine

Holy cow did this episode have a lot to unpack. This episode was the episode of the season, in my opinion. This recap ended up being a vast undertaking but I think it’s worth it. I hope you guys agree. (I definitely did not have a power outage and lose a bunch of work at one point, nope. I almost shanked someone.) There was so much amazing content, ship development, and heavy character arc storytelling that I was overwhelmed. I noticed so much more writing and then reading this recap. It was a hell of an episode.

My Rating: 10/10 - I am in love with this episode. If I could marry it, I would. I could write word fountains to it. I did write word fountains to it. Riverdales hottest episode is SQUISH SQUISH. It has everything you would want in an episode. Gophers, vans down by the river, mobsters who don’t know what cheese is, men made of literal shit, and a live game of Clue where you actually die. [x]

Recap, random screencaps, video clip scene links, emoji abuse, my crack!edits, fangirling, snark, hearteyes, facepalms, and reactions (& spoilers obviously) under the cut!

Jughead Jones on his laptop with a cup of coffee? Sounds like my kind of start! It’s time to word fountain the hell out of this. (Seriously though, it’s more like a word lake this time.)

Jughead sitting at the counter at pop's shaking his head at Archie who is being the gopher for Hiram, they might not have had a conversation in who knows how long, but that won’t stop Jug from lightly mocking him from afar as he types away. 😈

This music could be for the mob gopher, could be a for a porno. 🎶💋 Who knows really? 

Go, Gopher, Go!

Imagery of Archie riding around with laundry on his bicycle. *dingding* 🚴🏻

Slow-mo turn for Veronica and that glance!!! The heavens part! Am I the only one hearing this? 👼

Hiram may be a shithead, but I'll give him that he loves his daughter. That’s only like… 60 strikes in the con column, 1 in pros, sounds balanced. 🤷

Keller seems to have his favorite haunt be the Jones home.

Jughead leaning casually, hand in pocket, as he mouths off to Keller is my favorite aesthetic. 😍

FP in his Pop's uniform!!

[Keller] "Well, you did write a rather scathing article about the General's legacy, which prompted the Southside Serpents to stop by at Pickens' Day with an ax to grind." [Jughead] "I'm actually writing a new article about how you seem to care more about catching a vandal than the Black Hood. Can I get a quote?"

I am living for this Jughead, smart as a whip, sharp tongued, no fear, snarky Jughead. 🙌

FP chuckling at Jughead's smart mouth. 😂

[Guy] "Do I look good?" [Betty] "Mmm-hmm." [Guy] "Can I undress for you?" [Betty] "Yeah." [Guy] "I love talking to you." [Betty] "I like talking to you too." [Guy] "Can we meet sometime?" [Betty] "Maybe."

OKAY, so. Theory time. It's my theory that Betty wasn't the one on the cam. The person she was talking to was  and she was watching. I've looked up info on this whole cam guy/girl thing and here's what we know.

Betty isn't caming to a chat room like Chic had done, this interaction would be a private chat room with her and one other person - so it's unlikely something like this is getting out.

The private rooms CAN have two way camera's, but that doesn't mean that there is in this scenario. The dialogue doesn't indicate he can see her, only that she can see him. He asks if he looks good and if he can undress, if they were both on cam, it seems incredibly weird that none of the dialogue even mentions seeing her.

Betty makes poor choices, but she isn't stupid. I know, I know, she's in the Dark!Betty outfit. That doesn't necessarily mean she's doing the caming, it means she wanted to put herself in that head space and persona.

There is a camera on the desk, it's not plugged in but I'm sure it could be wireless. If it is, it's set to the side of the desk, is quite close to her, and is pointed at chest height, where she has her arms up and over.  If that cam IS on it would be showing MAYBE her chin to her chest, mostly arms from how she is sitting. Her face wouldn't be showing up in the video.

SO, this whole cam thing irritates the shit out of me, it doesn't feel appropriate, and her choices didn't make sense to me given her character arc. I find it hard to believe she would just start gallivanting on the internet and showing her face as a Cam girl, especially when it's something she just only discovered. I hate this shit, but the least I can hope for is that she isn't being a complete dolt about it and is smart enough to keep her anonymity.

My initial reaction to this was definitely only WTF. 😨 And WHO THE EF WAS THAT. 😰 This all was post unpacking. Parts of these recaps are initial reaction, parts are definitely  in post.

[Alice]  "You know how I feel about locked doors." [Betty] "Yeah, you're the one who likes to do the locking." 

Betty and Jughead, both pulling out the snark and tea this episode. ☕️

Cour four + Kevin, reuinited!  🙌

“Catholic chic, veils optional” - Ronnie is so extra. Who says shit like this? 

"Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper, please report to the principal's office," how bad is it I'm excited about their names just being said together.

I love that Betty is painted as somewhat of a goody two shoes, but her response to being called to the principal's is shrugging. 🤷

Mr.Sourberry? Are you..... sour? 🍋😂

Defamation of character? What about freedom of speech? Go get lost in the woods, WB. 🌲🌲🤸🏿‍♂️🌲

Jughead handling Weatherbee, Betty serving looks of "You shitting me, WB?"

Extra screencaps of the principal’s office scene HERE.

Blue and Gold Scene! I live for this!

[Jughead] "I'm so sorry, Betty." MY FEELINGS. 😍

[Jughead] "He has no proof, but he suspects one or more of the Serpents, probably me, decapitated the statue of General Pickens." [Betty] (With amusement in her voice and a smile) "And did you?" [Jughead] "Betty, how-(chuckle) Why would I decapitate a bronze statue?"

Betty's smile and tone is adorable, I want to put her in my pocket.

How he would even decapitate that bronze statue is a good question. His chuckle followed by why. He has jackets to worry about.

[Betty] "To avenge... (softer, changed voice) Toni's grandfather..." Jealous Betty rises. 👿

Who labels their friendship with someone as pals? Jughead, you are an odd duck. I love you, duck. 👁❤️👑🦆

....Pal.

He completely dismisses that he would consider Toni anything more than a friend. 👏 You lay that to rest, Juggy!

I am so proud of Betty for bringing up that she saw Toni and Jug at the diner seeming like more than pals. That took guts, pal. 💪

I can't let the pal thing go. Sorry not sorry.

Is this the conversation?! This is the conversation. Feelings imminent.

They are talking about the kiss! Jughead is admitting everything! 🤩

The Bughead song™ is playing!!!!!

[Jughead] "She gave me a..... tattoo." (Look of relief on Betty's face) THAT PAUSE BETWEEN GAVE ME A AND TATTOO LEFT ROOM FOR A LOT OF STRESS, JUGHEAD. You know Betty was thinking SHE GAVE YOU A WHAT? 🤬

[Jughead] "And we did some stuff, but not everything."  -- I am living for his honesty right now. It’s obvious he felt that it was Betty's place to ask and that he owed her the complete truth. 😍

"Betty, I still have my V-Card!!!!" Good job, honey. We would be having words otherwise.

Mila and I unpacked this along with the scene in 2x06. The consensus between us came to be making out, coping a feel, over clothing of some kind, kind of business to classify for "some stuff" but also a "PG-13 grope session." I'm very detail oriented okay. Answering the important questions. 👌

[Jughead] "But since you brought it up, have you done anything with anyone since we broke up?" [Betty] "No, no. Of course not."

Dammit, Betty. 🤦

Betty lied pretty damn smoothly, although you could tell she was a little too vehement in her denial. She quickly turned away and messed with her ponytail. Betty Cooper, you have a tell. I'm surprised it's one Jughead doesn't know. 👀

Extra screencaps of the Bughead B&G scene HERE!

Pop told Archie that Hiram was the ‘boss’ and Archie got distracted and completely forgot. Ohhh, Archie. You big sweet oblivious lug. 🙄

🎶SECRET AGENT MAN.🎶 🕴 Seriously his voice sounds like a villain out of a 1970's Bond film. I can take nothing he says seriously. Do you have metal teeth, SAM? Are you Agent Smith? 🕵 Is this all a glitch in the Matrix?

[Jughead] "Sheriff Keller, we have to stop meeting like this." No shit.

EVICTION NOTICE. SERIOUSLY. CAN WE NOT TAKE EVERY HOME JUGHEAD HAS EVER HAD?

The theory has been circulating that the damn Lodge's would be going after Sunnyside next, due to its proximity to the Drive-In and Southside High. That it would be next as part of the SoDale project. Hiram, you are on my shit list. 💩

14 days to vacate? In what city. If you get evicted they would give at least 30 days.

If Hiram is on my shitlist, so is Keller. Keller may, in fact, be a man made of literal feces. The world may never know. Talking poo. The magic of Riverdale.

Keller is a real asshat, “Hey kid I know you're just a teenager and my son's friend, but I'm going to leave this paper here that makes you homeless and then follow it up by with a smart comment to you about finding a stupid statues head while you're packing up to live in a van down by the river. HAVE A GREAT DAY.”

Sheriff Keller is going to the bad place. 👿

Jughead Jones is triggered. I'm also triggered.

This meeting between the Hermione, Veronica, Sierra, and Josie is frenimes to the 10th degree. Mean Girls, Riverdale edition. 🤣

[Veronica] "Mom, I was gonna sing." Extra.

Bittersweet Symphony is a fantastic song! I can't wait!

Jughead really likes leaning on that spot against the pool table. Don’t step to the Jughead spot. 🎱

Tall Boy you are a shit head little bitch. [Jughead] "What is your problem with me, Tall Boy." Big macho man triggered by a teenager.

Did he just call Archie Jughead's boyfriend? 😂

Who the heck is the guy on the right? And how did he get into the posse? Shouldn’t that be Fangs? 🤷

I know I shouldn't, but I enjoy angry, finger pointing, in your face, don't fuck with me, fearless, 👈 "HEY" Jughead. Just sometimes. ...especially when it's directed at this tool.

[Jughead] "Hell, Tall Boy, you're the tallest guy in this room. You wouldn't even need a ladder." FORESHADOWINGGGGGG. 👀

Jordan Connor is 6'3", I wrote more or less a dissertation on it. and Scott McNeil is listed at 6'4"... so he is the tallest guy. JS. 🤷

Actors height aside, if we break this down in canon, Tall Boy is still the taller guy in the canon narrative.

Jughead Jones is smart as a whip. He deals in facts, and he doesn’t mess around. There is no way that he would say something, in a room full of people, that would be widely known as untrue.

Tall Boy and Sweetpea definitely compared heights one evening at the Wyrm. They stood back to back, Toni got out a step stool and called the verdict, everyone stood around and watched, it was a whole thing. Tall Boy was the tallest guy, it’s a widely known fact at the WW.

Jug might not always tell the truth, but he’s definitely not dumb, he wouldn’t tell a blatant lie that everyone would know is untrue in a room full of people. He’s smarter than that, with how calculated he is, that would make no sense.

Therefore, if Jug says he’s the tallest guy in the room? He’s the tallest guy. 👌

Jughead is RAGE. He is triggered. “I’M THE JUGHEAD, BITCH.”

[Hiram] "I'M DOT DOT DOT IMPRESSED." Is Hiram turning into Dr. Evil? ONE MILLION DOLLARS DOT DOT DOT ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS. 🤣

Ben, are you not the same kid who was shacking up with Ms. Grundy in Greenville?  You are making some poor choices lately, son. Ben is up to.... ben-ness. Get it? Like business? 😂 Yeah, okay moving on.

Chic in a bathrobe and a jar of milk, really? 🥛 What are you, Riverdale Hugh Hefner... with milk? I can't take you seriously. Are you talking? "Milk, does the body good," that's what he's saying right?

Hold on did he just say boundaries are key? Don't tell them where  you live? Foreshadowing? 👀

Real talk though, Mila wrote up a great post on the symbolism and use of milk in film in relation to this scene and Chic Cooper. Thank you for that @stark !

Jughead confronting Mayor McCoy, um... yes? My live note, "Jughead is up in McCoy's shit."

[Jughead] "You are supposed to be an ally Mayor McCoy," TEA. ☕️

JUGHEAD DUN DUN DUNNNNNN... *sound effects, music change* HAS HAD A... 👏 REVELATION.

McCoy's expression of "I ain't no bitch." should be a gif. Who is making this gif?

I just got really distracted by Jughead's freckles. I'm sorry.

And his twitching brow.

And his expressive eyes.

And his trembling, chapped, bottom lip.

Jughead has figured out it was Hiram Lodge and he looks determined AF. Jughead 'I don't back down' Jones. Look at that face, he ain't backing off shit. 👊

Honestly, this whole scene was Jughead expression gold. I desperately need a gifset of every expression he makes in the entire scene. Please!

Everyone in this soup kitchen scene, including the women, have these McDonald's hats on and their hair back, except Ronnie.  Veronica Lodge does not wear hats. 🧢

[Jughead] "You're the only person in this town that I can talk to about something like this." [Betty] "Before you do, can I just point out one thing?" [Jughead] "I know what you're going to say. Last time the Serpents and I were in trouble, I pushed you away." [Betty] "What do you need, Jug?"

I love the body language and tone here in this scene. The layers that are on this dialogue are plentiful. I am here for it. I love Bughead scene's at Pop's.

"I know what you're gonna say, wife. I messed up, I love you forever. I'm in the dog house, forgive me. I accept your tea." "My tea was delicious. I can't stay mad at that face, husband. I love you too."

I am sorry but I can't stop fixating on Jug and Betty's eyes in this scene, this lighting is on point.

Betty's indignation at the wrong that is being committed against Jughead and the southside community for the trailer park eviction. 👏 We had been wondering who's side Betty would take in this war against the Southside. WHELP. 🙌

Sleuthing Bughead!!!!!

[Betty] "If the statue's what's fueling her fire, then let's take away the gas. 'The Case of the Decapitated Statue.' Let's treat it like a missing persons case. Someone, somewhere, must've seen something. So, we'll canvas the town with reward flyers for anyone who has information." [Jughead] "Finding that head and who did it would really take the wind out of Mayor McCoy's sails."[Betty] "So..." [Jughead] "Find the head, save the trailer park."

OMG. THEY ARE INVESTIGATING. 😍

I am HERE FOR THIS. "The Case of the Decapitated Statue"? Could I be any more excited with this Nancy Drew like team up of the Bughead Investigation Team? BIT is on the case. I AM HERE FOR THIS. 🙌

First they investigated a head, then they investigated each other.

Extra screencaps of the Bughead Pop’s scene HERE!

Veronica being protective of Archie, slay girl. ✌️

I get real caught up in Jughead's references. I looked up Order of the Orphidians. Orphidia are a subgroup of reptilian creatures including modern serpents. But the Orphidians are from Ultima Online, an MMORPG. The Orphidians had a culture based on the Principles of Balance; the forces of Order, forces of Chaos, and the followers of Balance. Very Jughead Jones.Very Star Wars. 🐍💫

DAMMIT PENNY, Jughead's face was so full of hope and determination before she showed up.

Is FP.... smelling his fingers?

The Serpents have a cool T-Shirt?

Is anyone else surprised whenever Jughead calls FP 'Dad'? Especially in front of the entirety of the Serpent's AND Penny? ….or ever really? It feels off.

With Tall Boy's long, flowing, voluptuous locks and his nose piercing, he could give any college girl a run for her money in a beauty contest, amiright? 😂❤️🌸😘🌺😉😨😍😋💖💕🎀

Did everyone notice the Girls, Girls, Girls sign with the hearts above the door? Is this where "Girls, Girls, Girls in Neon Lights” by @myrmidonofmelodrama title came from? Am I super late to this party?

When canon and fandom come together by coincidence? My favorite song!

How about the “Talk to da toilet” sign?

Things you need to know about the White Wyrm.. I aim to provide.

Penny: check out this scar. 💁 FP: facepalm 🤦‍♂️

OF COURSE, Tallboy has teamed up with Penny, OF COURSE. Being bitches makes for strange bedfellows. 🤛

Why are they even considering meeting this viper woman's demands? I get it, they want to save Sunnyside, so do I, but there are other ways than THIS BITCH. 🤬

[Penny] "Blood for blood. An eye for an eye. I want back in with the Serpents and I want him kicked out. Oh, yeah, one last thing I want his tattoo carved off. And I want to do it myself. With a dirty knife."

Every sentence of this made me more and more angry. I had a series of "OH NO YOU DIDN'T"s and "THIS BITCH"s in escalating volume after every sentence she said. By the time she brought up the dirty knife I was ready to throw my remote at her smug face.. or maybe a dirty knife. 🔪

I have watched Jughead's face in detail during this scene. Penny says she wants him kicked out of the Serpents and he looks distraught, his eyes are glistening. Penny says she wants to cut off his tattoo with a dirty knife and he looks like I’M NOT THE ONE, TRY ME, I WILL END YOU BITCH. Moral of the story, losing the Serpents makes sadboy Jug, threats to his self makes Hulk Jug. No one likes Jughead when he's angry. 👿

FP gets home and Jughead's first and only priority is, "Well? What did they say? Are they kicking me out?" Jughead fears a lot of things… but they aren’t the things an every day Joe normally fears. He is a man of limited weaknesses.

[FP] "Penny's a cobra, but mutilating her? That's the kind of thing you don't come back from, Jug." [Jughead] "Yeah, like stuffing a teenager's body in a freezer?"

Jughead can come back from this, believe that, he weeble wobbles and doesn’t fall down, remember that.

There is so much to unpack in this scene. The tears in FP's eyes, the narrow eyed smart mouth comment in response from Jughead, FP lashing out. There are a lot of levels of understanding, empathy, and frustration I have with both of these characters.

I do not, at all, agree with FP putting his hands on his son in violence. However, I do appreciate the phenomenal acting and the extreme amount of dynamic layers that are added on to both FP and Jughead as characters here, good and bad.

Jughead shows no regret or repentance for what he did to Penny here, but I feel that's a defense, a wall. I don't think he wants to show that kind of vulnerability in front of his father.

Jughead pushed FP off of him. He is standing up for himself, no doubt about that. He seems to seek his father's approval while disregarding his authority all at the same time.

[FP] "Tall Boy was right. You brought the Northside down on us. Serpents are losing their dens because of what you wrote."

"That was way harsh, Tai."

Low. Blow. I can't believe FP just took Tall Boy's side here, that he is blaming Jughead for this. This civil war was brewing long before that article. Step off, FP. 😠

FP should be having his son's back, first and foremost, Serpents be damned. Blood before… reptiles. 🚫🐍

REALLY FP, AGAIN WITH THE DAMN SNAKE ANALOGIES? Can you not have a serious conversation without a DAMN CHEESY SNAKE REFERENCE? Serpents are losing their dens?!

Jughead dropping truths over here. Calling all of it like it is.TEA. ☕️

 [Jughead] "You're using my article. And they're using what happened to the statue of General Pickens as an excuse to justify something they've already been doing." [FP] "You think you're a hero, Jug? Cutting up women? Bringing the temple down right on our damn heads? You will be the death of us. Not the Northside, not Penny. You."

I am going to shake FP til his head pops off. 🛑

Wtf is bringing the temple down even supposed to mean? Words are hard, FP.

How dare he?

If anyone saves the Southside and the Serpents, it will be Jug. Just saying. ....bitch. 🤬

Jughead's look of pure fury, followed by him throwing his beanie down is a MOOD. Don't make Jughead angry!!! YOU WON’T LIKE HIM WHEN HE'S ANGRY! I'M TELLING YOU. Jughead is RAGE.

Of course SAM 🕴 drives a black Ford Tahoe. Typical.

Chic goes or Hal goes? Bye Felicia. Good riddance. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Alice's dismissal and 'so help me..' look is a mood.

Veronica slowly walking down the aisle in her stilettos is a beautiful visual.

That preachers advice was decidedly unhelpful. Hail Mary’s is NOT an answer, Monsignor. 🤦

These mob wives are giving Veronica some serious hesitation. They have to be. Does she really want that kind of life? Surely she is having a Come to Jesus moment. 🙏

Why are they having this meeting at Pop's instead of at Hiram's? Or his office.. Or the back room of a damn bar like any good mobster meeting? 🍻

Is the vest, collared shirt, and bowtie really necessary for Archie in this scene? Really? 🤵

Poppa Poutine? And he owns a chain of hot dog restaurants in Quebec? SERIOUSLY?

Poppa just took a bite of a quarter of an inch of a fry, spit it out, and said it wasn't cheese curds. No, dumbass, it's a french fry. Clearly you need a new nickname if you don't know the difference between cheese and potatoes. 🧀 ≠ 🥔

Snap, snap, snap, you do NOT insult Pop Tate! Catch me outside, how bout dat?  🙅

Ooooooo, Hiram just admitted to owning Pop's in front of Archie! I can't wait for the rest of the Core Four to find this out.

So I will give two things to Hiram, he loves his daughter and he sticks up for Pop. ✌️ Past that...? 💩

Archie can hear this mobster conversation crystal clear, however he still stands up on the toilet and looks out the window where he could easily be seen. CLEARLY he is the king of stealth and prime pick for this undercover job. 😑

They want to take out Hiram! What is Archie going to do with this information? The plot thickens. 😮

Josie singing Bittersweet Symphony with Veronica is beautiful! This might be my favorite cover on the show yet! ....the framing is completely unrealistic, but STILL. 🙋

Goofy Kevin, Proud Archie, Happy Betty, Beaniless Jug.. in a suit!!!

Very symbolic choice in song and lyrics for this moment by Veronica.

Veronica has her moment of doubt, sees Archie crystal clear, light rises and... "I do." GOOSEBUMPS. That is some damn good cinematography and acting right there. Beautiful Varchie moment. FEELINGS. 😍

How Veronica was in darkness looking at her parents, but then they fade out and Archie is in the light, very symbolic. I definitely feel that this may be the start of Ronnie choosing Archie, and a more righteous path, over that of her parents. 😇

I can't wait to see the shit storm that rains down when the rest of the Core Four find out that Hiram bought Southside High. 🤪

When Veronica came to get Archie from Betty and Betty said "I'm gonna go look for Jug, anyway" Total Archie dismissal. Sorry, not sorry.  Girl has her priorities. 

Betty does not seem to give even one shit about Archie as anything more than a friend, just saying, or vice versa. This photo. 😂 They couldn't care less. Betty is a Varchie shipper. Barchie is clearly not looking very end game, I’m sorry.  I’m not very sorry. #bugheadforever

Archie getting his cheek pinched, laughing, trying to back away and saying "Ow, ow, ow, thank you," and nodding to Ronnie's grandma. 🤗

I love how easily Betty can find Jughead. 😍

[Betty] "It's not like Jughead Jones to neglect a free buffet." BUGHEAD! BUGHEAAAAD! This is adorable. I am HERE FOR THIS. 🤩

Betty's genuine concern for Jughead possibly kicked out of the Serpent's is perfect. ...and she is beautiful. 😇

Just when I thought my hype couldn’t get any higher, Jughead opens up to Betty about what he has done. What is chill? 😭

[Jughead] "I broke a code, I messed up bad... Really bad. There's this person who suckered me into delivering drugs. And my dad, too, he got roped in. So, couple of Serpents and I, we Found her, grabbed her, and I cut her." [Betty] "Cut her?" [Jughead] "The worst part is, none of it even matters. 'Cause she's back."

Jughead barely even hesitates about opening up to Betty about everything that happened. He says he messed up, takes a deep breath, and just goes into it, come what may.

The emotion and levels of feeling that are packed into this speech Jughead gives is impressive.

Jughead’s shoulders are bouncing like he is tapping his leg, like he can't stay still, like he can't hold all of this in anymore.

He looks like he is going to cry. There is so much here when he tells Betty what he did!

Where Jughead did not appear at all repentant to his father earlier in the episode when confronted with what he did, he definitely does here.  Jughead wouldn't show this kind of vulnerability to FP, but to Betty, the pretense falls and he shows how he really feels, without the mask, the anger, and the bravado.

He looks so regretful he did this horrible thing and it was all for nothing, she still came back.

[Jughead] It's like every decision I've made since we broke up, including our break up, just makes things worse and worse.

He's admitting he was wrong! BUGHEAD!! MY EMOTIONS!!!! 😭 What is a steady heartbeat?! 😍

Betty reached for Jug! Her hand is on his arm. I am HERE FOR THIS.

What an inconvenient time for a phone call! DAMN THESE INTERRUPTIONS, THEY MIGHT AS WELL BE CALLED BUGTERRUPTIONS AT THIS POINT!! BUT THAT MEANS IT'S BIT TIME, Bughead Investigation Team! 🙌

More Bughead screencaps of this scene HERE.

Bette Davis Eyes is going to forever give me Riverdale feels at this point.

[Junkyard Steve] "You the kids looking for a head?" [Jughead] "If only we lived in a town where the answer could be no."

YEAH THEY ARE. 😎🍆

Junkyard Steve is legit his listed name. Classy. 👌

Jug and Betty, both asking questions, Jughead stepping back to happily let her take part in the questioning, shoulder to shoulder, partners.

[Jughead] "By any chance, was this gentleman tall?"

We might as well have had Jughead just pull off some sunglasses and turn into Horatio Cane with that one-liner, the close up, the expression.

Archie just ratted out Poppa ‘I don't know cheese’!!! 🧀🐀

Opera music as Hiram picks up the phone? Don Hiram Lodge.

THE JONESES STORM THE CASTLE! HOLY SHIT I HAVE GOOSEBUMPS!

THIS SONG

Jughead may be in front with that head, but I can't take my eyes off Betty! That STRUT. HER HAIR IS FLOWING. SHE IS FIERCE. 🔥🔥🔥

Jughead ‘That is my wife’ Joneses glance back to Betty (not to FP, even once) and that small smile they share is going to SLAY US ALL.

Jughead, Betty, and FP standing united as they confront Tall Boy.

Betty in all pink, surrounded by the black and leather of the Wyrm, perfectly at ease, is a damn aesthetic. 🖤💗🖤

FP was wearing a bandana around his throat. So pretty, much accessories. I like how he ties it around his hand but then doesn’t do any punching. Where is the punching? 👊

FP calling Tall Boy 'Dumbass.' That was delivery epic.

I really appreciate that FP is sitting down and letting Jughead interrogate Tall Boy, it's like he's letting him take back the respect that was taken from him. Acknowledging that Jughead was the one who did this work, solved this problem and is also a leader of this gang. TOO BAD FP WAS A DICK EARLIER. 🤦

[Jughead] "Why'd you do it? Someone put you up to this?" [Tall Boy] "What's the Northsider doing here? This is Serpent business, it's on Serpent land." [Jughead] "She's here because she's one of us."

FUCK YEAH SHE IS!! *fist pump into the air* 🙋

Toni standing next to Betty!

Sweetpea standing right  behind Betty, the way he cocks his chin up like he is ready to throw down when Tall Boy questions why she is there. Pea has her back!!! 👏

Jughead's NO HESITATION answer of "She's one of us." 😍 GOOSEBUMPS. I HAVE GOOSEBUMPS. AND NO CHILL. This is the sort of perfect moment we get in fanfic!!! It's what we dream of!

The way Jughead looks over to her as he says it and they meet eyes as if he said "THAT'S MY DAMN WIFE."

FP is up in Tall Boy's business and I'm pretty sure he's saying "THAT'S MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, TALLBITCH, STEP OFF." 👏

Hiram Lodge was behind this? HIRAM LODGE WAS BEHIND THIS.

Hiram is never getting off my shit list. 💩

Jughead meeting Betty's eye's regularly through this! Ohhh shit, when Veronica finds all this out, shit is going to get real in the Lodge family.

Did Tall Boy just call Jughead Sunshine?

Jug: "Nobody calls me, Sunshine.. Except my wife.” Betty: “I love you, baby!" 😍

[Jughead] "You're a Judas, Tall Boy, and an idiot." -- WRECKED.

BETTY JUST VOTED! HELL YEAH, SHE DID! 🙌

Betty may be the last one to vote, but the expression of “You’re done done, bitch,” when she puts her hand up is priceless. ☕️

[Veronica] "I love you, Archie. But we can't keep dating unless you understand something about my family. About my father. Look, I wanted to protect you from this, but every day, you're getting in deeper and deeper and The truth is, Archie My dad He's - He's a -" [Archie] "A mobster. I know, Ronnie. I've seen all those movies. And the poker game last night.” [Veronica] "Well, I mean, I wouldn't put it so baldly. But, Archie, it's not just what he is, it's what he's planning to do. In Riverdale. SoDale is just the beginning, it's actually -" [Archie] "Stop." [Veronica] "No, Archie. You need to know this." [Archie] "No, I don't want to know." [Veronica] "Archie, he's going to -" [Archie] "Veronica, I can't know. I (sighs) I don't need to know.  Veronica, I love you.  And there's nothing you could ever say that would change that. Or make me regret being with you. Or scare me away. You don't have to protect me from this, any of it. I love you, Ronnie. I'm with you."

This was Varchie's moment. 💕

I have always shipped Varchie, not in an OTP kind of way, but I certainly support it. This scene, and others in this episode, really made me love Varchie a little more.

Archie, normally the big lug, isn't so naive and oblivious as he looks.

UGH, ARCHIE, I GET IT. SAM has you on lock, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HIRAM IS GOING TO DO, SON! Let the woman speak! 🤐

Hold up, what is Hiram planning to do in Riverdale that SoDale is just the beginning of? This sounds shady AF and Veronica knows? Does she know about Sunnyside? About Jughead and so many others losing their homes? How is she supporting this? This whole episode I've definitely been of the "Ohhhh snap, when Ronnie finds out, shit is going down," mode but... shit. I feel a lot disappointed. I really like Ronnie, I don't want her to be complicit and accepting of these things. 😢

I like the "I can't know" correction into "I don't want to know." He almost told her everything. With how they are playing this, even though he is in SAM's pocket kind of, I really don't think Ronnie would be upset with him at this point. He is playing SAM but actually helping Hiram. He did just warn him about that murder plot afterall. He's drawn his lines in the sand.

The love is real though, and that's beautiful. Varchie. 😍

BUGHEAD IS ON THE COUCH. THEY ARE... ON THE COUCH.

Jughead picked up his beanie, seemed to think about it for a moment, and then set it back down. I did not notice this on first viewing, I was too busy forgetting how to breathe. 😍

Our OTP is so beautiful! That dress! Her hair down! Those suspenders! No beanie! Communicating! 💛💙

So the tv was on and they were staring at it before this... so after all this that has happened they went back to the trailer to... watch television? 📺

My man! Mad props to Jug for initiating conversation!

Excuse me while I lose my mind and quote the crap out of this conversation right now!!

[Jughead] "Good ol' Hiram Lodge. I wonder what he's planning for us. And the Southside?" [Betty] "Maybe we can ask Veronica on Monday." [Jughead] "Yeah. Maybe we should just investigate quietly until we know more."

Oh nooooooo. Betty and Jug are here considering Ronnie their source and confidant, and she actually has been in on all this apparently... oh nooooooooooo... 😥

Jughead ‘rage, rage against the dying of the light’ Jones suggesting subtlety? That’s a change.

Jughead's legs look so long, sprawled out in front of him. In those suspenders. Biting his lip. With his dexterous hands on his thighs. 😲

[Jughead] "We haven't saved the trailer park yet. And I'm on probation from the Serpents, whatever that means. Because of what I did to Penny. ... But we stopped her from coming back. (slight smile) And we got rid of Tall Boy."

He is so proud of them! They did this together! Bughead forever! 🙌

[Betty] "We. (chuckles, sweet smile) It's nice to hear that again."

ADORABLE. I AM SLAIN. THAT SMILE. We! WE!! 😍😍

[Jughead] "Look, I'll be apologizing for it for the rest of my life, but I'm sorry. I am."

HE JUST SAID FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. OBSERVE MY NEGATIVE CHILL. 😱

[Jughead] "For feeling like I needed to shield you from what I was going through with the Serpents or my darkness." (scoffs)

I can't help it. Darkness, that scoff. I'm scoffing too. Jug's tone, he's over it too.

Is anyone else  hearing, "Darkness everybody, dark- everybody, darkness is spreading!!" "I'm Jughead Jones, BITCH." 🤣

[Betty] "I can handle it." [Jughead] "(softly) I know... I know you can."

It looked like Betty's lips moved to say something else when he looked at her before he said “I know!” Did they cut something?! I need every precious moment of this. 😭

That look they share is so tender, her mouth in a soft smile, the corner of his turned up, sweetness in both of their eyes. This is what I live for. 😍

How softly he said that, it aches.

Jughead looks like he is trying to get up his courage to say something more!

[Betty] "I should probably start heading home."

BETTY DON'T GO.

[Jughead] "Or you could stay. ... Stay."

MY HEART IS EXPLODING. WHAT IS LIFE? I AM PURE EMOTION.

The way he says stay. *Chokes, fans face* I’m not crying, you’re crying!!! 😢😭

The way his hand falls to the folds of her dress, his fingertips just barely grazing the side of her thigh through the fabric. 😐💓

More screencaps of this scene up to this point HERE.

As soon as she gets that opening she moves toward him!

The way he begins to reach for her, begins to hold her, before she is even in his lap, both hands at her sides. 💞😍

OMG. JUGHEAD'S HAND ON HER  BACK. I AM NOT EQUIPPED FOR THIS.

A slow-mo kiss? A SLOW-MO KISS. Do they WANT to stop all of our Bughead hearts?! 💀😍

The way they are sharing breaths, eyes closed, intense.

HE JUST UNZIPPED BETTY'S DRESS. LIKE A PRO. Jughead Suave!

I have since found out this dress has two small buttons up at the top above that gap. No one can tell me he didn't just pop those buttons. I need this, guys. 🤩

Their kisses are FIRE. 🔥🔥🔥 He is worshiping her.

Pizza. Socks. 🍕

His ankles are crossed and his feet are moving like he is strumming with energy here. He can't stop moving. The way his feet are pressing into the floor definitely means he's lightly pressing his hips into her and rocking with her. I have goosebumps.

If something interrupts...

BETTY WHY DID YOU JUST INTERRUPT THIS. 🤦

I thought we agreed NO MORE Bugterruptions!!!!!

Her hands are still in his hair, holding him to her. I love that he is so caught up in kissing her everywhere he can reach. 💋

Dammit, Betty, why did you pull his head back. She totally pulled his head back to look into his eyes though. 😍

Oh, that expression on Jug's face. He looks so concerned, like he's afraid she might take it all back. Vulnerable Juggy. 😭

Betty intends to tell Jug about the Archie kiss. Then when she meets his eyes, something switches in her. She smiles with this look of wonder. Like she realizes that right then, nothing is more important than them, than him, than being with him, like he is some kind of miracle. Dead. 💀

[Betty] "I just want you. I want all of you. Tonight."

The breath that Jug lets out after she says "I just want you," is like he has been holding his breath and waiting for the other shoe to drop. After she says "tonight," he breathes a long sigh of relief, of desire, of emotion. Brilliant. 🤗

I don't believe that Betty withheld telling him about the kiss out of malice or guilt, I think it's because of exactly what she said. She wanted Jughead, nothing else mattered, all the rest of it, the mistakes, the other people, the space, it was just white noise.

Jughead's hands on Betty's ass, her ribs, her back, her neck, her cheek. DAMN. This scene was worth waiting for. 😳

It’s over?! It’s over! THE SCENE™ I won’t be rewinding and watching this 652 times. Nope. That is someone else. 😅

More screencaps of THE SCENE™ HERE.

Alice 'I'm not at all concerned about having no idea where my daughter is, she's fiiiiiine, she does this all the time' Cooper. 🙃

Chic just asked about Hal, does he not know about the share BnB?

Why in the world would Alice think that is Hal at the door? He said he was outtie. And why would Hal knock? This is turning into a bad horror movie.

Hi, I have slicked back bleach blonde hair, a skeezy outfit, and a neck chain. I am a stereotype. 🤮

What happened to not telling anyone where you lived, Chic? You haven't even been at the Cooper's more than a week, Chic! 🙅

SAM 🕴 is being real laissez-faire about this stealth op.

OH SNAP, Archie just lied and covered up for Hiram. He has picked his side!

There's a box! VERONICA.

“What was in the box? What's in the box?! WHAT'S IN THE FUCKING BOX?!” 

IT'S GWYNETH PALTROW’S HEAD!! 😂😂

Just kidding, it's General Pickens head. 🤣🤣

That smile of Betty's is so precious!! She is a happy muffin!!

🎶 I JUST HAD SEEEEX, and it felt so good!!!! 🎶

Oh wait, this is Riverdale. 😡 WE CAN’T HAVE ANY DAMN MUFFINS.

Alice Cooper wearing dishwashing gloves with pink flowers 🌸 on them, cleaning up a giant pool of blood, with kitchen towels, around a dead body. Are you SHITTING me right now?

Alice 'Never mind this giant pool of blood, nbd, Elizabeth, but did you lock the front door' Cooper

There is blood all over Alice's knees. Head wounds bleed a lot. That man got bludgeoned with a lamp.... in the kitchen... by a Cooper. 💡🍽

Chic is just sitting on the floor by the back door, rocking. Clean up your GD mess, Chic. ⚰️

WHO KILLED UPGRAYEDD?! With two D's for a double dose of pimpin. Also known as 'Shady Man' officially.

RIP Poppa Poutine. 💀 RIP Shady Man. 💀 Long live Bughead. 😘

If you’ve made it to the end, I applaud you! I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. I’m going to put this episode in my memory box and love it forever, even the dead bodies, but especially the bughead sex. Please feel free to message me to talk about this, or any, episode! I am a word fountain at all times of enthusiasm for this show. Check back after episode 2x13 for my next recap, which hopefully won’t be the holy grail of details to unpack like 2x12. I can’t wait to talk Riverdale, or anything, with you guys!!

[aion-rsa]

Riverdale’s Mothmen Saga Reveals the True Monsters Among Us

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This Riverdale review contains spoilers.

Riverdale Season 5 Episode 17

“People believe what they want to believe.”

It’s no secret that Riverdale has trouble sticking the landing. With the notable exception of the debut season’s finale, each year has seen the resolution of its respective core mystery solved in an acceptable, yet not entirely satisfying manner. (Please don’t get me started on how things wrapped up with the Gargoyle King).

Alas, this trend has been broken by the latest episode “Dance of Death.” My initial impulse was to balk at how the series once again knocked on the door of allowing a supernatural denouement and ran away when it hit me, having the Truck Stop Killers be related to the Coopers/Blossoms — even tangentially — opens up creative possibilities for the show to try to tackle the impact of grief and generational trauma.

No, seriously.

This isn’t exactly new ground for the series, which has attempted in its own hamfisted way to comment on issues of loss and mourning since the very first episode. With the notable exception of its tribute to Fred Andrews (which tragically was written as a result of Luke Perry’s untimely passing), Riverdale often misses the mark when it tries to be profound.

The most recent example of this are the fifth season’s plotlines about Archie’s ongoing struggles with PTSD and, although it’s mainly danced around, human trafficking with the Truck Stop Killers. There is so much worthwhile to be said about these issues, and in the latter’s case Big Sky handles the subject with respect. But occurring on a series in which characters perform divinations that transform water into maple syrup diminishes the huge weight of these subjects.

Truth be told, this is a problem in which Riverdale faces every time it attempts to mirror real life problems. Think about it this way, what if the series intended for its Jingle Jangle plot to be a serious commentary on the opioid epidemic instead of lightweight entertainment? That would feel wrong, yes? The writers should stick to the glorious bullshit that is Riverdale‘s bread and butter (inexplicable dance numbers, palladium hunts, anachronistic gangs, glamorege eggs, etc) instead of brushing up against reality too much.

Or, better still, using said bullshit to strengthen the characters and storytelling.

Simply put, if Riverdale is going to have the cojones to try to tackle real life issues, it must do so in a way that enlightens and entertains while being true to the show’s own bonkers aesthetic.

Enter “Dance of Death.” A “Betty and Jughead solve a mystery” epic, this installment has the pair discovering that the Truck Stop Killers are actually an inbred offshoot of the Cooper/Blossom family. These murderous yokels embraced the Mothmen mythos to cover their tracks and scare off any potential investigators. And their plan worked, for a while. In the most Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? that this series has ever gotten, Jughead returns to talk to Old Man Dreyfus (John Prowse), in reality the ringleader of the murderous gang who just might have got away with it if it wasn’t for those meddling twentysomethings. It’s all so ridiculous that it takes your mind off of real-life horrors experienced by those society has thrown away that are handled with lip service here.

(A quick aside, the Starkweathers wearing Mothmen armor while attacking Jughead, Betty, Fangs, Tabitha and Toni was the coolest sequence this show has pulled off in ages).

As nice as it is to have stopped the Starkweathers, Betty still has no closure on her sister. So she asks Dreyfus about Polly’s fate. In a moment of humanity he draws her and map and as the episode closes, we see Betty and Alice in hysterics upon discovering Polly’s body in the trunk of a forgotten car in a junkyard. Their worst fears have come true.

With two episodes left this season, the core mystery has been resolved in a satisfying and (mostly) contrivance-free way. As much as I wish that bona fide alien Mothmen were flying around Riverdale, such flights of fantasy remain the domain of the Little Archie and Life with Archie comics — at least for now. With this show the future is anyone’s guess.

Next week’s episode includes performances of material from Next to Normal, the Tony-winning musical that deals with issues of mental health in a haunting way. Incorporating this material into the trauma currently being experienced by the Coopers is inspired. Whether or not it is a successful experiment remains to be seen, so join me back here next week when I’ll doubtlessly have more to say about Riverdale, the real world, and the tenuous storytelling that sometimes connects the two.

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Riverdale Rundown

FYI: If you or anyone you know needs help, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.

Tabitha’s friend and former Chok’lit Shoppe employee Lynette “Squeaky” Fields is an obvious reference to Manson Family associate Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme.

This episode was directed by Penelope Blossom herself, Nathalie Boltt.

R.I.P. Chad Gekko.

The contrivance of the week was how Archie was trapped in a mine fighting for his life and no one thought to call Betty or Jughead.

Veronica must have caught wind of Josie calling her dad a “little bitch” a few weeks back, as she does the same here.

Speaking of Hiram, it is clear that the writers have been making him into a “silly cartoon” of late. The reasoning? So he can come back more villainous than ever. (We see his transformation beginning when he torches the picture of his family). That combined with the fact that the October 6th finale is titled “Riverdale R.I.P.” indicates that his reign of evil might just be getting started. Sigh.

The Starkweather clan’s name is a reference to famed American serial killer Charles Starkweather. His actions were so appalling he was even name-checked in Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

Archie doing his best Captain America impersonation by launching a trash can lid at Chad was amazing.

Where was Reggie at this episode?

Given the variety of fake products that inhabit this show’s universe, it is always strange when a real product placement (in this case, Chime) is featured.

This episode’s use of Wagner’s Flight of the Valkyries during Veronica’s confrontation with Chad was inspired, if a tad cliched.

“Another brush with death to add to your ever-growing list” says Veronica to Archie, tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Any episode in which Dr. Curdle Jr. gets multiple scenes is a quality episode.

Britta Beach (Kyra Leroux) does not originate in the Archie comics, and I wish her coming out story had a bit more time to gestate, but its understandable why it didn’t. What with a million other plots serving main characters happening.

“This religion’s got a little too fringey, even for me,” declares ex-cult member Kevin Keller.

Fangs gets his leg caught in a bear trap and is home for supper. Sepsis must not exist in Riverdale.

This was a huge week for Riverdale shippers, with Varchie, Bughead, and Tangs (or is it Fhoni?) all getting some huge couples moments.

With Kevin leaving the Church of Jason, I again fear that his character will return to seedy hookups and/or being backburnered. Again, Casey Cott and the character both deserve better.

With Cheryl now able to harness the power of Mother Earth herself, will this series finally embrace supernatural happenings in an undeniable way? Archie’s ghost helpers in the mine can be written off as a manifestation of his PTSD. But isn’t it way more interesting if they were actual spirits? Gaia knows the neighboring Greendale is a haven for the otherworldly…

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[onceuponamirror]

riverdale 201 meta

no one asked me but i’ve got Thoughts so i’m making the post anyway, because it’s been a long time since i’ve done a chunky meta and this is what i’m really here for, SO

all the world’s a stage

first of all, acting was fairly strong all around, strong chemistry, and bughead was particularly excellent in terms of continuing their pattern of healthy communication, even when that leads to uncomfortable truths.

diving into it, i could see the effect of the step they took in their relationship and the change that admitting love had, particularly on jug, all grins and teasing and breathing some much needed light of love into the character

[x]

not just because it was such a spot of happiness amongst the heaviness of jug’s earlier arcs and this episode’s drama

but also because the bigger they are the harder they fall---

it made the hammer heavy when he realized his seemingly simple request for information was taken as a direct order essentially from his father, and the intense ramifications of such.

he admitted to betty that he was drawn to the motorcycle, the jacket, to stay closer to his father, a person he still idolizes despite having such a thick sense of disenfranchisement about him that he lived in a drive in for who knows how many months---and the gang delivering the “proof” of completing a job, and more so, realizing that his father would want to see that the job was done, sets the stage.

the civil war isn’t just a story of class warfare and suburban disillusionment. it isn’t just about bughead’s romeo and juliet™ storyline. it’s jughead. 

jughead is the civil war, all happening within himself. 

he’s still just a young boy craving a hero, and his father falling on his sword at the end of the first season earned him a lot of respect in his son’s eyes---his father’s biker iconography suddenly became a symbol of the under trod, proletariat revolutionary a jaded kid like jughead would be desperate for. 

and the americana open road biker imagery has been heavily rose-colored over the years, particularly in pop culture, and i think that’s what jughead bought into---the idea of rebels, not the gang behind it. 

and here he realizes that it’s not just symbolism. it’s not a game.

[x]

i mean, jughead was playing amateur p.i. all episode, clearly relishing in the role---and so when he came home to a bloodied message, it was def a successful emphasis of the fact that he was almost treating it like a game, which did establish him as a capable detective once more, but also highlighted how naive he can be. 

in an episode that was really all about fathers, an absentee FP managed to not just have a presence---but an impact.

it was an especially interesting parallel between the other fathers---fred was also heavily exploring symbolism within his fever death dream scape, witnessing passages of time, whereas hiram was introduced almost as the opposite anvil to FP, his entire presence ominously manifesting in a bottle of cristal. 

his absence was conspicuous, where FP’s was not initially, and by the end of the episode, their identities as major players within a larger scheme put them on opposite ends of the same road. 

and unlike jughead, who realized throughout the course of the episode that this wasn’t a game, that there are rules and they’re being applied to himself---veronica is hyperaware of this game, hyperaware of the manipulations at play, and is certainly adept at it.

but like jughead, she doesn’t seem to really have the scope of it yet. 

veronica is a character who only shows her age around the adults with whom she’s always had intense power imbalances. in a world of elite new york society and manipulative, abusive parents, she was forced to appear grown up, so much so that she tricked herself. 

[x]

through the poking and proding of her mother, leveraging timed accusations, and brattily doing the things she knows she’s not supposed to, veronica reveals herself as probably the most immature character on the show---but that’s a good thing, hear me out.

because she’s also the character who appeared the most put together. the most honest with herself, the most willing to look within and self-analyze. in the first season, she seemed unflappable, but it was also---well, there was no real tension in her character beyond a building fear that her parents were not who she thought they were. 

i thought veronica could’ve been more compelling than what we got in season one, so this opening with setting the stage of her as a child playing a game she doesn’t understand the stakes of sets her up for really excellent character growth and development---

and some fun structural parallels between jughead too, which will hopefully galvanize the layers of classism to be explored throughout the season. 

veronica and her father vs jughead and his, in the ways they navigate the societal games that feel so disparate from one another but will ultimately, i’m sure, meet in the mobs v. gangs mouth of cultural ouroboros. 

so i’m excited!! ok, now moving on to betty.

[x]

the acting was also very strong here. i think i read lili describe this season as “tortured” for her character, and that already came across. she too had the afterglow of i love you, but obviously haunted by what happened after that; her anxiety about the serpents was felt and perfectly sold.

but her ability to understand that from jughead’s perspective while maintaining her skepticism (rightly so, considering) showed maturity while also set the stage for the upcoming tension.

i wish i had more to talk about with her in this ep, but i think i will again soon.

also, that chemistry!!! again!!!

[x]

anyway.

cheryl was also crazy good tonight; she gave me chills!! madelaine petsch’s greatest skill is her intonation---she has an ability to keep a blank face that puts her entire delivery into her voice. 

she did this last season too, when speaking to her parents (and particularly her father), where she’d keep a doll-like composure that was manipulated by tone, and she did it again, with that soft voice and eyes that manage to be dull and blank and calculating and winking all at once. 

i don’t know how she does it but i’m friggin impressed!!!

[x]

however, the weight of this episode rode on archie overall, and there were some things i felt fall a little flat.

i know what they were going for was a slow build of impact, as they did with jughead, realizing the depth of what was going on, but the the whole first third of the episode just was slow and, at times, felt a bit insensitive to the topic of a man being shot.

(minus the scene where they all get the call---particularly sold by the perfect 80s synth-noir music of the chromatics [x])

when archie (and veronica too) did finally break down (though for him it was again) i think it was a strong moment, and very well acted---KJ does terror and latent anguish very well, two spectrum ends of the same emotion that is hard to balance. he was shaky with the gunman, and then when he really gave in to the trauma of that, it was well done. 

and right before he did give in was, i think, the best part of his performance. it’s easy to sell crying. it’s not easy to sell all the emotions that you cling to in order to keep yourself from doing that.

[x]

but. i wish there was a different tone set between the time he left the hospital and when it all hit him again. this is an issue with the episode direction, though.

still, a good episode for him, it was nice that archie had more to do than be the chess board plot plays out on top of, and moreover i think it really established the tone of the next arc, and the obsessive vigilance that’s taking over him.

so as a whole, a good development/establishment episode for these 5 main characters. 

lights, camera---

into the overall, the cinematography was excellent!!

[x]

however, i think this was an episode that particularly highlighted the difference between cinematography and direction---as in, the former was strong, the latter felt off. 

perhaps it’s the chronic effect of heavy promotion and hype, but i honestly felt like the episode was confusingly paced in terms of it’s timeline, and surprisingly goofy with the special effects (shaky zoom? really?).

and as i said above with archie’s point, the structure of the episode was rough and just wasn’t the best directed episode of television i’ve seen. i think there needed to be a lot more momentum coming out of the gate.

however, again, the cinematography, and the framing within those shots, was very strong. there was one shot that was just the word “hospital” but the H was a parking sign number and it was so simple but i am obsessed with it.

[x]

extra thoughts

hopefully the show actually consciously tackle the topic of abuse beyond the bare bones of an origin story (cheryl, calling it as it is), especially of it’s many forms that it’s already portrayed and frankly fumbled (i.e. grundy, even in the curtain of the premiere), but also with the upcoming lodge arc.

i mean, many of us were calling for grundy’s death, and i wasn’t one of those people because i wanted her to fucking go on TRIAL for her aggressive sexual predation of young boys and have an actual dialogue about male rape, so my main concern with her back for a ~twist that ended in her murder is that we’ll never get to have that conversation? and the impact that her abusive behavior had on archie, too? i mean???? ugh 

and i don’t really have much to say about cheryl and veronica’s abusive relationships with their parents as of now, because it’s late and i’m tired and i think i just wrote like 5k words, but just that i want them to handle this right, and i’m nervous but trying to be optimistic that with a longer season and more time, heavy topics will be handled with sensitivity and the respect they require. 

so cheers to a new season, i think this episode set the stage for a lot of meaty character growth, neon delirium aesthetics, and a plot that explores classism and family under a microscope. 

yay!

also---who else thinks the “green-eyed shooter” was chic cooper? i mean, come on

[miraclejin1204]

My theories for Riverdale Season 2

Jughead understands that something very powerful and sinister is behind all the crap that is going on in Riverdale and the Serpents are being made the scapegoats so he decides to become a part of the gang and work undercover to uncover the truth as he believes this is the only way to prove his father’s innocence and ensure his family’s protection and a secure future. 

He knows that this is a dangerous mission involving great personal risk and he’ll want to go at it alone as he doesn’t wish to put his friends’ lives in danger, so he will portray to the others that he is more than happy to be a part of the Serpents as he feels accepted here. It is also partly true because it is enticing to his inner darkness and it is also in his genes. I think Jughead swapping his beanie(his security blanket) for the Serpent jacket was symbolic. We might even see Jughead without his beanie on for a significantly large part of the next season.

I believe that the first episode of next season will begin with Betty and Jughead talking about what happened. I doubt they’ll return to having sexy times right after the Serpents leave because Betty will want answers.  He may or may not share his mission with Betty fearing that she might want to get involved and she’s already getting a lot of hate for her association with the Jones, he doesn’t want to put her life in danger. He might try to push her away which might cause some conflict and misunderstanding between them for a few episodes. However, Betty being Betty will see through the act and will be determined to not give up. She will do anything to prevent Jughead from slipping into the darkness. 

Eventually, Betty might want to be a part of the Serpents too. Her Mum was one and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree or rather “Snakes don’t shed their skin so soon”. At the Jubilee Betty implored everyone to not keep secrets anymore, taking that theme forward, I expect that Betty will discover that Alice is a former Serpent. I also have a suspicion that the Serpents might hold a key to the Chick Cooper mystery. Unbeknownst to everyone, Chick might be a Serpent. It is still debatable whether Chick is Hal’s or FP’s baby. Veronica’s description of Chick being a ‘Tall blonde and blue eyed Adonis’ might actually be a ‘Tall Dark and mysterious Adonis’. I don’t think Veronica’s comment was meant to be a casual and fleeting one in the context of the show. Therefore, that might be a motive behind Betty joining the Serpents. 

It has been said that the show will be exploring Dark Betty more in the second season. We’ve already seen what a rebel she is and is total done with Riverdale’s status quo bullshit and labelling people as black or white, good or bad. In a shocking turn of events, Betty might transfer to Southside High and be an active member of the Serpents, shattering the Mayor McCoy’s, the towns and everyone’s perception of her as the perfect role-model and representation of ‘Riverdale’ . We all know how much Betty hates being labelled as the ‘perfect girl next door’.She would want to become the ‘Bad bitch serpent slut’ and be proud about it. I think both Jughead and Betty need to face their inner darkness head on and deal with it and this would be the perfect opportunity for them to do so and discover themselves and each other in the process and learn that at their core, they are not very different from each other. Their passion for each other will further intensify and we will see them both mature at an exponential rate. 

We’ll get to see that Serpents are actually good folk with a rock solid integrity and loyalty for their kind. Apart from clearing FP’s name, Bughead will fight to clear the Serpent’s tarnished reputation of being criminals and outcasts and help them integrate with the Riverdale community.

Hermione Lodge is shadier than what she appears to be. I have a suspicion that she hired someone to shoot Fred Andrews, because he was involved too much and not selling his business to her. Nobody would suspect her because the entire town is on a Serpent witch-hunt. 

Fred Andrews will survive but the incident might make Archie turn against the Serpents. He might wrongly assume that the Serpents did it because they were fired from his Dad’s company and did it as payback. Jughead’s association with the Serpents might drive a wedge between Archie and Jughead, next season. They might become foes. The town already hails Archie as their ‘hero’, the symbol of righteousness and all that is good while Jughead is the pariah. They will represent the light Vs dark conflict. 

I think Archie and Veronica might be the one with the Romeo and Juliet storyline,next season because the Lodges and Andrews will not want to associate with each other. Hiram will further complicate things for the Andrews and make their survival in this town very difficult. I expect that Varchie will break up as a result. 

After Cheryl burned ‘Crimson Peak’ to the ground, the Blossoms will be reduced to being paupers because the entire Blossom empire has crumbled after the drug dealing reveal. The experience will have greatly humbled Cheryl and she’ll have a change of heart and see for herself who her true allies are in this nightmare town. There might be a brief dalliance between Archie and Cheryl, before Varchie comes together once again. A V/A/C triangle, if you will.  We will find out the Lodge-Blossom connection.

I expect Mayor McCoy will have her share of dirty and incriminating seekrits herself and might be revealed as one of the key players behind the shady occurrences in Riverdale. She seems to have her own neurotic agenda and isn’t beneath stooping to corruption as a means to an end and for fuelling her ambitions.  

I’m sure Joaquin will return to Riverdale. Kevin and Josie too will have to come to terms with some of the uncomfortable truths about the town and the role that their parents play in it and they cannot be simply watching everything from the fences anymore. Grundy might return too. I have a hunch that she has something to do with the drug trafficking network.

Basically, we will see plenty of shifting in allegiances, old alliances and friendships will be broken and new ones will be formed. Secrets will be revealed and the past will come to haunt the present, which will impact the future of Riverdale. 

And most importantly, there will be Hot Dog. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts. I’d love to hear them and engage in a discussion with you all. ^_^

[aion-rsa]

Riverdale Season 5 Episode 4 Review – Chapter 80: Purgatorio

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Riverdale reinvents itself as the fifth season properly gets underway.

This RIVERDALE review contains spoilers.

Riverdale Season 5 Episode 4

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“To be honest, it doesn’t even feel like Riverdale anymore.”

You can say that again Archie.

Following three episodes originally intended for last year and a seven-year time jump, Riverdale‘s fifth season gets well and truly underway with an installment designed not so much with shaking up the status quo but reinventing it completely. To borrow the name of a Flaming Lips song — you just know NYC writer’s block-stricken Jughead listens to lots of the band’s output — suddenly everything has changed.

In the near decade since he was last home, Archie has been through hell fighting in an unnamed conflict in which he feels responsible for one of his fellow soldiers losing a leg. He has dreams that mix battle imagery with the formally idyllic existence he had in high school. (At least that’s what I think we’re supposed to feel here, even though Archie’s teen years were fraught with bear attacks and attempted murders aplenty but I digress). The point being that Archie sees Riverdale, despite its obvious flaws, as a safe haven. Always one to embrace a cliche though, he quickly learns that you can’t go home again. Riverdale is now just as dangerous as his overseas battle. It wasn’t a nightmare he had, it was a premonition.

Ordered to run Riverdale High School’s ROTC program, Archie comes home is quickly brought up to speed by Toni — pregnant and running the reborn White Wyrm out of the former space of La Bonne Nuit. Lawlessness prevails throughout town, leaving Riverdale largely empty with the exception of those who are too poor or proud to try to restart elsewhere. The city is without hope. Mayhem reigns. Is Archie Batman now? God I hope so.

Responsible for the community’s downfall is, you guessed it, Hiram Lodge. Without the influence of Hermione or Veronica to keep his worst instincts in check, Hiram has become the villain he has always longed to be. (He’s enlisted Reggie to be his right hand man, making that character the closest to his pain-in-the-ass comic book counterpart to date). Some murky dialogue vaguely explains that Hiram’s wrongdoing is connected to his long-gestating SoDale real estate development, but the specifics don’t matter. What does is that Mr. Lodge is in power like never before, and all of Riverdale is suffering as a result.

Meanwhile at Quantico, FBI trainee Betty is also haunted by her recent past. While pursuing the hilariously named Trash Bag Killer, she didn’t wait for backup — becoming the killer’s captive before he escaped in the process. Her loving partner — let’s call him Molder for now, Mad magazine style — is worried that she isn’t dealing with the trauma of her experience, as is her therapist. But soon she too is called back home to deal with what we think is a crisis but is really just a very sweet thing. More on that in a few minutes.

We catch up with New Yorker Veronica, who is married to real estate tycoon Chadwick Gekko (Chris Mason, portraying a character from Katy Keene that Reid Prebenda originated). Apparently she used to be the “she wolf of Wall Street” until she lost her mojo after being involved in a near-fatal helicopter accident with Chad. Since then, she’s been secretly working in an upscale jewelry store that let’s her take advantage of the smart business acumen she frequently demonstrated during her high school years. But when she sells a Glamorege egg that Chadwick gave to her, it’s clear that their relationship is more than just a little fractured.

Also in the Big Apple is Jughead, and he’s just full on skeezy now. With dubious facial hair and a penchant for sleeping with fans, this version of Jughead is easily the most disturbing new version of one of the series’ core four. We learn that his first book, the S.E. Hinton meets Pop Tate’s Chok’lit Shoppe pastiche The Outcasts was a mega success that made him a fleeting media darling. But now Jughead has severe writer’s block…not to mention debt collectors literally pounding at his door and toxic boyfriend tendencies we see him display briefly. Basically he sucks. If anyone can use a priority realignment it’s him. Fortunately, he too gets a call beckoning him home.

Once the gang is back together in Riverdale, for Pop Tate’s retirement party!, awww, we get an update on Cheryl. She has successfully rebuilt Thornhill and rehabilitated the Blossom family name over the past seven years…with a cost. She still feels cursed by her family’s misdeeds and spurns Toni’s attempts to reconcile and instead chooses to live as a recluse. (I mean, for at least the remainder of this episode).

Finally reunited with all of friends, Archie is determined to enlist their help in saving the soul of Riverdale. Not that any of them seem too happy to join this crusade. But the episode doesn’t dwell on their responses as it is too busy establishing a new mystery — a murderous trucker is on the loose. And our heroes are the only one who can stop him. Obviously.

This episode is a very typical one in that it bombards the viewer with new information. True, it doesn’t feel like Riverdale as we know it, but that’s a good thing. After a previous season that was a bit middling, I am more than supportive of this quasi reboot happening here. The series has been renewed for a sixth season, so it’s likely that it will find it’s new rhythm over the course of the upcoming installments and a new normal will settle in. For now though, there’s a lot of possibility here. Riverdale‘s biggest mystery right now? Where it will go next.

Riverdale Roundup

• Along with Saving Private Ryan, the nightmare that starts this episode is also a reference to the excellent Archie 1941 miniseries — which explored how World War II impacted Riverdale and its characters.

• Since Archie and Betty are now both experiencing PTSD, will their shared trauma bond them together?

• I absolutely believe that each of these characters would return to Riverdale to bid farewell to Pop Tate, given how important his shop has been in each of their lives.

• Let’s hear it for more screen time for Vanessa Morgan’s Toni Topaz! Choni forever! (That baby bump was real by the way, she gave birth to her first child last week).

• Archie reads Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, in case any of you were worried that the series’ fondness for anachronisms would be lost during the seven year time jump. Also, Archie being able to read is canon!

• Even though Katy Keene is long-cancelled, it’s nice to see that show’s title character (and her employer, Lacy’s) get referenced here.

• As an Archie comics diehard fan, I am incensed that the show has ditched his iconic whoopee hat. Yet I have a feeling by the time this season ends we will witness him throwing it back on in an effort to reclaim the artistic power that his former self possessed.

• Kevin and Fangs are established as still being together, with the former working at Riverdale High. Alice’s current whereabouts are unknown. I hope Vegas has been rehomed.

• In case Betty’s Silence of the Lambs parallels were a tad too understated for your taste, her therapist’s name is Dr. Starling. And if someone doesn’t sing “Goodbye Horses” this season I will be very upset.

• The FBI waited seven years to dismantle the two-person (one of whom wasn’t even a real agent) Riverdale field office? Actually, given government inefficiency, this sounds just about right.

• Veronica and Chadwick’s helicopter accident happened while they were on their way to “Marsha’s Vineyard,” because apparently Riverdale 2.0 now does fake places as well as brands.

• That abandoned doll Archie found in Pickens Park is super creepy.

• Betty’s cat is named Coffee, and given her history as a pet owner, I fear for the feline.

• Towards the end of this episode, new character Tabitha Tate (Erinn Westbrook) bids farewell to drifter Lynette “Squeaky” Fields. Given that Fields’ nickname is a Manson Family reference, could Riverdale have a death cult on its hands?

• Other mysteries raised by this episode: Who is the father of Toni’s baby? How will Veronica feel about La Bonne Nuit becoming a Serpent hangout? How long have Betty and her partner been together? Will Jughead get a razor? Who is the Lonely Highway killer? How did Reggie get involved with working for Hiram? What exactly are Hiram’s SoDale plans? How long until someone punches Chadwick? Where’s Mary Andrews? How long have the Ghoulies been back in Riverdale…and Archie’s house for that matter? If Riverdale is such a cesspool, what exactly does Tom Keller do all day? I suppose we will just have to wait for answers to all of these questions and more. Until next week!

The post Riverdale Season 5 Episode 4 Review – Chapter 80: Purgatorio appeared first on Den of Geek.

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