#thoughts on varchi well he was gay. as is varchie

[veginald]

thoughts on varchie? :)

[volfoss]

ummm okay. gay kevin. idk shit abt persona so ur fave and least fave (maybe a side from creep weirdo adults actually I know Enough abt persona. least favorite Normalish character) feel free to elaborate on any of these and umm ummm cheryl also mwah mwah <33

HI. I'm putting this under a cut bc um. <- guy who will ramble rly rly long. Or smth

Every single day I shake my head thinking about the potential Kevin could have if yk. RAC didn't go cop mode and his god. His shit w Percival and also every other relationship it's rly :////. I don't know how unpopular my opinions r bc outside of my like 5 Riverdale mutuals I do NOT touch the main tags. I do NOT need the horrible barchie and varchie takes so. But it is very frustrating to me how he's treated and I rly think if I rewatched I could get more insane about him and use my epic ok let's give him more character abilities BUT I am holsing back from a rewatch so.

^ the dislike is well. For the current season shit and the stuff he did 2 Toni and fangs.... Bc like :/

Getting the Riverdale ones done before um I hit u w the persona essay. But Cheryl my literal best friend forever???

^ she needs to be on screen like. All the time forever and ever. If Cheryl is not on screen I think we all should die. She's literally the best part ever and my beloved friend Nico is so right about her and will hit me w the hi. Did u see Cheryl this episode and I will clap and cheer. She's literally the best and so funny and epic and has literally been since s1ep1. Any crimes that are adjacent to murder or well. Anything else. It's forgiven bc she's epic and funny and swag so. Like I'm not umm?? Super picky on any Cheryl ship BUT I think Cheryl and Veronica could be so fucking funny. Like the dynamic could go so hard etc. I love her a lot like in my top 5 rvd characters

Umm persona time and also like I'm gonna spoil a BIG twist about 4 for you so like. Heads up for that. It's not worth playing tho (I say so affectionately but it's also a hard twist to avoid bc everyone knows it and it's like a 10+ year old game)

My least fave (affectionate. Kind of. I also want him dead) character is adachi from 4. I want him dead like for REALSIES but also he's done nothing wrong but he's ALSO literally killed 3 people.

^ every fan sucks about him and I want literally every adachi fan minus my friend to die bc they suck but like he's ultimately just a silly little guy (again. Excusing the murders and also the well. General cringefail of him). Unfortunately I understand him and I think that like he has issues (in a good and bad way.) But he's also like rly???? Idk man he's kinda got issues and problems but he's also rly sillay and goofy and I think he's allowed to kill because he's sillay. He also sucks so bad and I need to kill him. Like a lot of the fans suck so so so bad and I think that he's a very interesting character if you actually understand him. I think he's a little loser ultimately and ummm I don't rly have coherent thoughts but I am microwaving him

Ok as for faves ummm I have a lot HOWEVER I'm gonna go a bit crazy insane about a little dude from persona 2. So like his name is Michel (or like that's his nickname ig?) And so like here's rapidfire facts about him before I hit u w the bingo. So like his weapon when fighting is a guitar case turned into a machine gun. I'm not joking it's very epic. He's also like?? His introduction in the game is LITERALLY basically a hey quit your job join my emo band. He says carpe diem like "crap a dime". He's a singer and like he comes up w insanely stupid song lyrics. He's also like full of issues and problems on many levels. And he literally has blue hair and pronouns

^ him btw. I just need u to understand the character a bit before I go insane in the bingo board

^ he doesn't get enough screen time bc he's not on my screen constantly but like I do not interact w any p2 fans minus my friend Chris and my lovely mutual toni who are both epic and understand it. However I do think some people probably suck about him and he's my bestie so I understand him on a fundamental level. He's rly epic and niceys and minus well a couple issues he does nothing wrong ever and ever. He's my best friend bc like. In persona 2 when u meet demons u can communicate w them and one of his options is to like talk to them and be like HEY you suck your life sucks etc. It's very epic and funny and he will also sing to them sometimes. Also just this gif.

[staliasjeronica]

Riverdale S5 Ep1 Thoughts *Spoilers*

AHHH MY INFAMOUS LIVE THOUGHTS POST IS BACK I’M SO ASDFGHJKL; Under the cut are my thoughts <3

- Charles be like “my crazy brother wrote a murder……?”

- “BV as in Betty… Veronica?” Lol Beronica crumbs <3

- Veronica’s so beautiful ughhhh. She’s such a great girlfriend too like she does so much and knowing she’s gonna be hurting makes me so sad…. but I can blame BH’s ugly boring fanservice for keeping them from exploring Barchie a while ago and not needing a cheating plot. But whatever, I’m manifesting Jeronica helping each other <3

- Veronica asking Archie to play Betty’s song lmao but it’s so sweet of her to be so excited for him to get back into music. But music is associated with Betty bc she’s his muse

- Forgetting all of what Hiram’s done this scene was kinda sweet.

- So he beats the fuck out of people lol okay… also NOW Veronica makes sure her dad’s not lying??

- Betty’s voice automatically set me on edge it’s so annoying…

- Oh this scene… I don’t like Cheryl being so rude to Kevin/Fangs it’s so rude for NO REASON.

- DID TONI JUST SAY “AGAIN”? When tf was she Serpent Queen??? And why didn’t she STAY that way?

- KO looks like he’s gonna fuck Archie up lol

- who is war baby again…? Also I can’t stop thinking about how Sean Depner admitted that he thought of his scenes with Jughead as romantic

- I can’t wait for this boxing shit to be over with… but low-key I’m kinda into it rn????

- “heavyweight heartbreaker”

- BH once again bringing Cheryl in to do their dirty work and giving her more trauma

- Why did it not occur to me that this was why they were dressed like this… but it’s better than what I thought so

- OH THIS IS WHHEN SHE SINGS CARRY THE TORCH AHHH THE EMBARRASSMENT AND ANGST

- Jughead being enraptured by Veronica <3

- Betty looking over at Archie YESSSS “that’s MY song!!”

- “when my boyfriend beats up your boyfriend.” VERONICA. “I love you!” STOPPPPPPPP I’M SO 🥺🥺🥺

- THE CHONI TALK </3

- Ahhhhhh the “I love Ronnie but I’m not IN LOVE with Ronnie” vibe from Archie :((( It’s weird that they’re making VA the only one who’s sad and angsty like… why does Archie always have to take tether fall

- “You had me at snuff film” I’m sorry what??

- Oh I thought Betty was gonna bring out the Jason video she shouldn’t have. Okay Betty gained a few points for being brave enough to bring that wow… II wasn’t expecting that.

- Yay… boxing…

- I still hate that everyone is always split up but Betty looks so good rn with that jacket ugghhhh probably bc it’s not a serpent jacket <3

- You’d think Betty’d be able to notice the guy in the mask that she waked past if she’s such a “great detective” asdfgjkl;

- The sound effects PLSSS hadjshkfsafj

- lmao what- how convenient that people crowd in tether hallway the second they’re tryring to get to the guy

- JELLYBEAN??!??! She’s not dumb why would she ever be here.

- Veronica being such a great girlfriend that she’s willing to skip PROM she deserves so much better pls

- CHERYL LOOKS SO GOOD PLSSSSS. TONI 🥺🥺 these pictures are so cute pls

- Hiram leave Archie alone challenge!!

- Veronica 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞 imagine cheating on her couldn’t ever be me

- “Smile and say endgame” MARY……….

- Betty eating Jughead up in that dress she’s so beautiful and has to be next to Jughead who can’t even put a beanie away for a night…

- THE VARCHIE BETTY PICTUERE JFASKDHALFSLS

- Not Reggie spiking the punch…

- JUGHEAD’S HANDS AROUND VERONICA’S WAIST YES BITCH

- Veronica staying behind from college for Archie…. girl??? OH MY GOD HE TOLD HER STRAIGHT UP FDSIAFHSAKFLD VERONICA’S FACE NO NO SHE’S SO BABIE AND SAD I’M SO-

- But it’s good that he told her…. but at prom :(

- Choni prom queens as they deserve  it makes no sense for anyone else to be royal

- FIRST OPENLY GAY PROM QUEENS. Now why she add Varchie BH into it…?

- Toni’s crown fell off in the background

- Well this is totally not creepy….

- OMG PEACHES?? hey girl!

- Not Choni breaking up over some random quickly put together “angst” but BH is gonna be fine for at least until the time jump smh

- V you know B doesn’t tell anyone anything unless she’s forced to.

- NO NEED TO BLOW THEM UP TOO?? V BH SHOULD HAVE BROKEN UP AFTER S1. Poor Veronica my baby girl.

- Why can’t Veronica ever have an angry moment like she always has to be the civil adult it’s t fair :(

- PARALLEL TO WHEN VERONICA CRIED IN HER MOM’S LAP IN S1!!

- HIRAM WAS LITERALLY NOT THERE A SECOND AGO.

- Cheryl sobbing to Nana Rose I HATE THIS SHOW. Everyone but who actually should be breaking up is breaking up UGHH

- literally stop giving Archie so much trauma!!!

- ARCHIE ANGST NEXT WEEK!? AN EP JUST ABOUT HIM!??! YESS FINALLY!  but again Hiram stop trying to kill Archie Jesus imagine how tired we are smh

[that-quiet-girl-who-writes]

Alone Here (CB.)

A/N: HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!! I am ashamed that this is my first gay fic, like really? It’s been a year. Annnnnndd I changed a bit of the plot, don’t hate me.

Summary: You suggest that you and Cheryl go on the couples lakeside cottage weekend to keep each other company as the only two single people there (spoiler, you’re not single by the end of the trip)

Pairing: Cheryl Blossom x Bi!Pan!Lesbian!reader whatever you want

Word Count: 3710

Warnings: Swearing, implied b*ghead and Varchie sex (it’s during the “lodge lodge” episode, you know the one with the robbery? and the murder? oh, riverdale), coming out, crying, angst, fluff, Cheryl being Cheryl, annnngst, more crying, hot tuuuuuuub, and another dash of angst

Masterlist

It didn’t matter who you asked, every single resident of the town of Riverdale would say that these last few weeks had been stressful. Actually the last few months had been pretty bad. It had been this constant on-edge feeling that you couldn’t shake. There was constantly some sort of threat in this strange place and it was so hard to forget about it. So it was no surprise that once the black hood was caught, Veronica Lodge was ready for a relaxing week end away.

“It sounds heavenly, V.” Betty said in way that made it obvious she needed some time out of this crazy town and away from her creepy brother. I understood how she felt, I had had my fair share of run-ins with the mysterious Chick Cooper when I was over studying at Betty’s house.

Veronica had just finished describing her family’s cottage (if you could call it that, it was probably the size of mine, Betty’s and Archie’s houses combined). She had invited Betty and Jughead to come with her and Archie for a weekend in the woods, away from parents, school and anything else that could possibly cause chaos. While Betty asked Jug if he wanted to go, Veronica turned to me. I was sitting alone on one of the couches, totally fifth wheeling in this room full of sappy couples.

“Y/N, I would totally invite you, but this gonna be a big romantic getaway and I know how much you hate our lovey dovey PDA, so I just figured you be better off with a weekend away from us.” She said.

“Definitely. However much I want to spend time at the lake, my room and my laptop beat sitting in a room of lovesick couples anyday.” I responded. A lakeside vacation would be amazing, but I wouldn’t be able to enjoy any of that if I felt alone the whole time.

“It’ll be a good chance for me to work on my novel.” Said Jughead.

“Excellent!” Veronica exclaimed. “But remember, the point of this luxury weekend is to relax and unplug.”

“Luxury and weekend.” Said a new voice. We all turned our heads to see Cheryl strut into the room, stopping between Betty and Jughead and clasping her hands together. “Two of my favourite words. So, where are going and how extravagant of a wardrobe should I pack?” She asked, putting emphasis on “where”.

“Sorry, Cheryl, it’s kind of a… romantic couples only weekend.” Veronica said.

“I see, of course, my mistake. Well, have fun with your romances.” Cheryl said, clearly embarrassed and ready to leave the room. There was this look on her face that I’d never seen her with before, like her stone cold facade had been broken down for a few seconds. It hurt my heart to see her like that. Maybe that not-so little crush I’d had in freshman year hadn’t entirely disappeared or I wouldn’t feel so bad about the tone of her voice at the moment. Honestly, I was standing on the edge of a cliff ready to tumble down into the dark depths of the horribly exhausting thing we call love. So I did what anyone who felt this way would do.

“Cheryl, wait!” I called for her to turn around. I sat up and looked at Veronica, who was confused. “V, how many rooms does your place have?”

“Um, I don’t know, five or six?” She told me.

“How about Cheryl and I come, but we keep to ourselves? You guys get your romantic getaway and Cheryl and I get to at least getaway without feeling like totally losers.”

“Yeah, I guess that would work, I mean if you want to, you’re welcome.”

“Perfect.” I looked over at Cheryl. “What do you say Bombshell? You and I spend a lakeside weekend chilling in the hottub and making fun of these four and their heart shaped eyes?”

“Not idle, but okay. I’ll pack my swimsuit.” She said with the signature Blossom smirk.

During the hour long drive that it took to get to “Lodge lodge”, I could practically feel my tensions being left behind in that batshit crazy town. Even with the queen of evil sitting in the seat next to me, I felt relaxed. I call Cheryl terrible things in my head (it’s just pent up frustration) and I’ve always feel a little bad about it until she goes and does something evil. Like this morning, for example. Right before we got in the car, Archie said something that Cheryl didn’t like, so she went straight up to Jughead and told him about Archie and Betty sharing a kiss in front of her house. It made the car ride incredibly awkward because Betty didn’t want to sort this out in front of us and Jughead didn’t seem to want to talk about it all. At least it was quiet.

Once we got there, I grabbed my bag off my lap which I had just held onto since it was so light (because all I had packed was a swimsuit, pajamas and a change of clothes). Veronica had Archie bring the rest of the bags in. He looked like a donkey carrying it’s owners luggage through the desert with the amount of bags hanging off both of his arms.

Cheryl looked stunning, but she wasn’t really dressed for the cottage. In fact, when I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cheryl without heels (not the that I minded).

Veronica welcomed us and brought us each to our respective rooms. The couples were on the east side of the cottage and the loners were in the two rooms on the west side. Each couple went to their room right away and closed the door. I started to wonder what would happen if Betty and Jughead broke up. Would we all just pack up and go home to avoid the tension? Were we really going to miss the chance at relaxation because those two couldn’t sort out their problems? Was I really gonna miss the chance to Cheryl in a bikini?

I walked out of room when I was done unpacking my stuff. It literally took one minute considering I brought three outfits and nothing else. The Lodges were rich, I figured if I needed something, they’d have it stored somewhere. Looking down the hall it felt haunted. It was too quiet and empty and that made me feel lonely because I knew that the happy couples were perfectly content to be in their rooms with each other. Me? My room felt as empty as the hallway did. So I ventured down the hall to find the only other person who could possibly feel this way at the moment. I could see Cheryl’s door open, so I walked and leaned against the frame. She was also unpacking, but she had a lot more than I did.

“Hey.” I said.

“Hello, outcast.” She said looking up at me for a brief second.

“Why did you tell Jughead about that kiss? Did one of them do something or…?”

“Oh, Y/N/N. I thought you would know by now that it’s my duty as queen bae of Riverdale High to let a student now when they are being lied to.” She smiled.

“Right… you sure you don’t just adore the chaos?” I ask, “Don’t get me wrong Cheryl, I love it too, but these guys are friends and I’m supposed to watch out for them.”

“Well, fear not. Between you and me, Jughead and Betty are a strong couple, they’ll get through it.”

I just watched her for a second. She was really pretty, I mean evil, but gorgeous.

“Why did you come?” I asked. For the first time since I had known her, Cheryl didn’t have some sort of witty comment or sharp answer ready for me. She nearly stumbled over her words.

“I… whatever do you mean?”

“When I said ‘Come with me as my friend to this romantic couples retreat’, why did you say yes? I mean, I don’t know about you, but in the short amount of time that we’ve been here, those four have managed to make me feel more alone then usual and they’re not even talking to each other.”

“You feel alone?”

“Well, yeah. It’s like when we’re at school and I’m hanging out with them, at least they’re are other single people around me. Out here it feels like I’m the only loser for miles.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, I’m alone here too.”

“Yeah, but you’re Cheryl fucking Blossom. You could have any guy you want.” She looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn’t.

“You never answered my question, bombshell.” I said, trying to change the subject. “Why did you come?”

Before she even answer, the silence of the cabin was broken by the squeak of mattress springs. Over and over and over and over.

“Oh my god.” I groaned. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. This is exactly what I wanted to get away from.”

Cheryl rolled her eyes as the noise didn’t stop. “Let’s go.” She said. I followed her down the stairs and outside onto the massive deck, complete with the fanciest outdoor cottage furniture I had ever seen. From outside, the only thing we could hear was the chirp of birds flying across the lake. It was a nice, peaceful contrast to the multiple kinds of tension that surrounded the inside of “Lodge lodge”.

Cheryl and I didn’t talk a whole lot. When it started to get dark, we decided we should go inside and get some sort of dinner. As it turns out, Betty and Jughead had made up, Archie and Veronica had gotten out of bed and they were all sitting around the living room. There was still tension though, and part of me was willing to sleep outside if it meant getting away from it.

“Fear you not though, I have just the antidote. Step one: Clothes off, swimsuits on.” Veronica said. “That means you two as well.” She clarified as Cheryl and I walked in. The next thing I knew I was gawking at Cheryl who was looking flawless in a red bikini. I had thought that I looked decent, but I was really questioning if I even looked okay as the HBIC slipped into the hot tub right next to me.

The next half hour was weird. That’s the only way I can describe it. Weird. Veronica was convinced that to get rid of the tension, she and Jughead should kiss. I have no idea where the logic in that was and apparently neither did Cheryl because I kept unintentionally looking at her and the expression on her face told me she was very pleased with the mess she had made.

After the “Vughead” kiss, the couples immediately left the hot tub, Betty and Archie on edge, Jughead and Veronica smug. Cheryl and I, we were holding in laughter. The second the sliding glass door closed and we were out of sight, we stopped trying to hold it in.

“What just happened?” I laughed.

“I have no fucking clue.” Cheryl responded. “But like you said earlier, I adore the chaos.”

“Oh god, this is gonna be a mess. What was Ronnie thinking? What was Jughead thinking? Why are straight people crazy?” I said, still laughing a bit.

“It’s in their DNA, not ours, thank god.” Said Cheryl. Wait. Was Cheryl not…? Was it possible that after all these years that I had thought she and I couldn’t possibly together, I was wrong? I didn’t care if I was overstepping boundaries, I had to know.

“Cheryl?” She didn’t respond. I looked into her eyes and realized that she knew she had slipped up. She hadn’t meant to say that, she had been laughing and not thought about it.

“Cheryl are you hiding something?” I asked.

“I think I should go back to my room, we’ve probably been in here too long.” She rushed to get out of the tub, but I grabbed her arm.

“Cheryl, you can talk to-“

“Get your filthy outcast hands off me!” She nearly screamed. It was so quiet out hear that I heard it echo over the lake, but I didn’t let go. She tried to jerk away from me, but being a loser in high school means you know how to fight, so she wasn’t getting away from me any time soon.

“I said let go!”

“Not until you talk to me!” I yelled back.

She leaned down and lowered her voice, “There is nothing to talk about. And if you ever even insinuate that there is, I will have you ruined, shunned by the entire school for the disgusting little snitch that I know you are, so let go and leave me alone.”

“No.” I said firmly. I stood up out of the water a bit so that I was eye level with her. “You need to talk. I know you do. Don’t tell me I’m wrong because I can see right through it.” I let my voice become a bit more comforting, “Cheryl, I have been exactly where you are right now. You can’t stand in front of me wearing the same mask that I had to rip off.  I know what that mask feels like, ok? It’s too small and after a while it starts to suffocate you. You’ve got it take it off and the only way you can do that is by talking to someone. So talk to me.”

Cheryl’s stone cold expression had subconsciously softened into a sad, scared one. “I can’t.” She said.

“Then let’s start with the little things.” I gently pulled her back to sit down in the hot tub. She didn’t fight it.

“I asked earlier why you came with me, you didn’t get the chance to answer.”

She looked hesitant, but she breathed in deeply and let the answer out. “I wanted to get out of the house. My mother has invited these lowly men from around town inside so that she can… comfort them. In exchange for money.”

I was shocked. Cheryl had not once mentioned her home life to me or anyone else as far as I knew. “That’s horrible. No mother should be doing something that disgusting, especially with their child in the house.”

“There’s no stopping it, she thinks it’s the best way to make money and we need it.”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“I know.” She sighed.

“I understand why you came with us now. Staying in the woods with a group of losers is better than that.”

“I don’t think your losers.”

That came as a surprise to me. “Really?”

She shook her head. “Also, my mother is not the only reason I sprung at the opportunity to come with you.”

“What’s the other reason?”

“I wanted to spend time with you.”

My heart rate sped up instantly. “Why?”

She stared into the water with a slight smile on her face. It was a sad one, but it was there. I could practically see it in her eyes, she was screaming for me to ask her the right question. I knew because that had been exactly the way I was when I was in the closet. I would answer the question without hesitation, but only if somebody asked it.

“Cheryl, do you like girls?”

“Yes.” She answered simply.

“Does anyone know?”

“My mother does. She thinks it’s unnatural.”

“Do you think she’s right?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes I think that it’s in my head and that I need help, but other times, I know she’s wrong. I know that this is me and she just can’t see it.” Tears started to pour down the redhead’s cheeks. I wanted to reach out and wipe them away. I wanted to kiss the places where they had been and tell her that she never had to be this sad again, but I wasn’t exactly sure where I stood with her right now. I mean we weren’t friends exactly, sort of just classmates. But after this, could ever just go back to the way it was? She was upset and I didn’t want to make it worse, so I opted for something a little less intimate then practically confessing my love. I grabbed one of her hands in both of mine as she rested the other one of hers against her forehead and cried.

“I wish your mother could see you. I wish that she was better to you, Cheryl because you deserve so much better. The fact she doesn’t understand, that she’s not willing to try, that just shows that she doesn’t deserve you. You will be so much better off without trying to live up to her standards, you’ll be better off once you know that you’re already above them, so high above that she can't even see you anymore.”

Her tears didn’t stop, but they slowed as she looked up at me. Even upset, I was sure I had never seen anyone as beautiful in my life. My heart just kept getting faster as this look of pure adoration and thankfulness reached Cheryl's eyes.

“I… there’s still one more thing I need to tell you.”

“What?” Just as I asked the question, the bubbles in the hot tub ceased and water became still. We had been in here an hour. “Do you want to get out and get dressed and then we can talk?” I suggested.

“Sure.” Cheryl said and I got up and grabbed two fancy towels off a stack that Veronica had brought out earlier. I tossed one to Cheryl and we went inside. We heard the bed springs the second we opened the door, making us both groan in frustration.

“Again? For fuck’s sake.” I pulled the towel over my ears.

“Those two need to learn to keep it in their pants when they’re in a house full of people.”

“Damn it, you can still hear them from the living room.” Veronica said, walking down the stairs with Archie right behind her.

“Wait a smoking hot second.” Said Cheryl, who apparently had a hidden talent for being able to hide how she was actually feeling like she was up for an Oscar. “That’s the mystery detective duo up there? And here I thought they skipped sex ed. class.”

“Don’t be nasty, Cheryl, what they do or don’t do in the bedroom is none of our business.” Ronnie said.

“Yeah, until we’re the audience to the audio.” I added. “By the way, the walls in your room are just as thin, so think about it before history repeats itself.”

Cheryl and I left the wide eyed couple at bottom of the stairs as we went to change and dry off. I sat in my pajamas on the edge of my bed, not really sure what to do. I could hear Betty and Jughead, now downstairs, talking and laughing with Archie and Veronica. I couldn’t hear Cheryl. At the moment, she was the only one I cared about, so I went to her room where I found her doing exactly what I had been; sitting on the edge of her bed, not sure what to do.

I knocked on the door frame, “Wanna talk?” I asked.

“Not particularly, but I’m sure you won’t let it go.” She didn’t say it in the usual sassy, stone cold Blossom tone, but in a sad, broken down one.

“If you really don’t want to, I’m not gonna make you.” I told her.

She took a deep breath. “No. I need to talk to somebody and I’m pretty sure that if I don’t do it now, I never will.”

“Okay.” I walked over to the bed and sat down. I instinctively grabbed her hand before I remembered that Cheryl Blossom hates it when people try to comfort her or show sympathy. But she didn’t tell me off or rip her hand away, so I let mine stay there. “So what did you want to tell me? Before we got out of the hottub?”

She wouldn’t look at me and I saw a couple of silent tears roll down her cheeks. I stayed silent as well, giving her as much time as she needed.

“I realized that I was bi about six months ago because I started to have feelings… for…”

“For another girl.” I finished her sentence so that she didn’t have to. She nodded her head.

“...for you.” She added. Okay, my heart actually stopped this time. It had been beating so fast that it actually just stopped for a second. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, it was too much.

“I’m sorry.” Cheryl said. No, no, no, this was not a mistake, I needed to tell her that. I told myself to breath again.

“Cheryl, you have nothing to be sorry for. You have no idea how much you mean to me, how much it means to me that you just said all of that, that you’ve told me everything that you have tonight.” I reached up to brush some loose strands of hair out of her eyes. I wanted to be able to see them when I talked.

I didn’t get the chance to though, because Cheryl leaned in and kissed me before I could tell how embarrassingly long I had had a crush on her. That was probably a good thing. She tasted like cherry chapstick, which I would’ve been expecting had I not made a point to not think about kissing her this past year. I guess there wouldn’t have been any point to imagining it considering it would never have ever even compared to Cheryl actually kissing me.

The hand I had been pushing her hair back with ended up on the side of face, the other still holding onto one of hers. She used her free hand to pull me closer to her and we only stopped kissing for a second before I pulled her back to me, both of us laughing a bit at just how much we wanted to be here, holding each other. That’s how I knew.

I wasn’t alone here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taglist (All stories): @nerdyandexhausted @runs-with-sciss0rs @kapolisradomthoughts

[jeudi-riverdale]

riverdale ships

since riverdale season 2 is just about over (only 1 more episode !!), I thought that I’d discuss some ships that I’ve seen in both season 1 and 2 that I like/dislike:

ships I like :

1. barchie - betty x archie

obviously I’m a fan of barchie...I’m running a barchie account so it’s self-explanatory. these two have the history, the feelings, and the connection. even though betty is with jughead now and archie is with veronica, there are still lingering feelings or feelings buried deep down. and barchie is endgame, what can I say. I shipped these two in the comic books and I ship them now. there’s nothing like childhood novels coming to life in the form of a movie (or in this case, a tv show).

2. falice - fp x alice

boy oh boy I shipped these guys from the beginning. these two are one of the main reasons why I think betty and jughead shouldn’t be together. I mean, their freaking parents are in love... fp cares so much about alice, even after all this time. and it’s canon now because they were lovers in high school, alice got pregnant, and then had fb’s baby without telling him. I never though hal and alice were good for each other. and now that I’ve seen the most recent episodes of season 2, I KNOW hal and alice are wrong for each other and fp is the one for alice.

3. choni - cheryl x toni

before toni’s character even showed up on riverdale, there were rumors about this ship going canon. and, what do you know, this ship is sailing. one thing I love about riverdale is its inclusion of equality and representation, not only for the lgbtq community, but for racial minorities as well. well done, riverdale, well done. cheryl and toni are adorable and the scene at the sisters of quiet mercy was so powerful. these two are gifted actors and they portrayed the emotions of toni and cheryl so well.

4. moovin (??) - kevin x moose

these two need a better ship name because ‘moovin’ is just a little too weird. but, regardless, these guys were cute in the first few episodes and the aftermath of the prom scenes were what I stuck around for. it’s clear that moose may be bi or gay, but he’s so far back in the closet that it would take over a week to find him. not to mention he’s technically dating midge (who by the way, knew about moose and kevin hooking up and was cool with it ?? maybe that’s because she was also cheating on moose with fangs fogarty.) I still think these guys would be cute together because moose obviously has feelings for kevin. just look back at their scenes together...you can cut the sexual tension with a knife.

5. joavin - joaquin x kevin

I guess this is kind of conflicting with the previous ship I just mentioned (though I didn’t think it would be until I saw the most recent episodes - I think joaquin was in episode 20). I loved loved LOVED these two together. honestly, it’s one of the main reasons why I watched riverdale in the first season... joaquin and kevin were adorable in season 1, but after joaquin left, I shifted back over to shipping kevin and moose together. but NOW joaquin may be back for season 3 so I’m all kinds of conflicted rn.

6. jeronica - jughead x veronica

now I wouldn’t say I’m a full-fledged fan of these two together. there hasn’t really been enough buildup for that. HOWEVER I don’t think that I would mind if they were to get together in a future season of riverdale. that hot tub scene was just a mild taste of what could become...

7. chosie (is it ‘chosie’?? idk) - chuck x josie

I didn’t actually mind when chuck and josie went on a ‘date.’ hopefully chuck is actually going to keep improving his image instead of demeaning women. this relationship can just remain that one cute date and I would be totally okay with it. I think it shows how much chuck is trying to be a better person. I also think that chuck brings out a different side of josie because she was so much more playful and lighthearted with chuck than she was with anyone else in the show.

8. fremione - fred x hermione

even after all the shit that hermione pulled after hiram came home, I am certainly not opposed to these two eventually being together. I mean, it seems like mary and fred were separated for a reason and fred was planning on divorcing mary anyway so idk. fred still has lingering feelings for hermione (though I’m not sure if that’s changed since they’re opposing mayoral campaigns) and there was also that pesky kiss between the two in the andrews construction trailer...who knows what will happen in season 3.

ships I don’t like :

1. bughead - betty x jughead

I’ll admit. this ship was cute in the beginning when it was just jughead crushing on betty and they were a mystery-solving duo. but, the relationship became too rocky too quick and the crazy bughead fans just ruined the ship for me...and not to mention I always shipped archie and betty together in the comic books because jughead was a canon asexual...

2. varchie - veronica x archie

this was another couple that was cute at first, but then they became ‘that couple’ (you know, the one that lacked substance and all they do is have sex). and they also broke up for a reason...not to mention archie has feelings for betty buried deep down and the fact that veronica was a bit of a bitch for a while when she was using archie for her own personal gain. I feel like this is one of those couples that is passionate for a while (hello, lust) but ends up breaking up because feelings lie elsewhere (hello, love for betty).

3. the lodge duo - hiram x hermione

where to start...ah yes, how about with how hiram mentally abuses hermione ? how about when hiram forcefully persuades her to go along with his immoral plans ? how about when he is willing to put hermione’s life on the line after the black hood ‘plays target practice’ at the mayoral debate ? hiram is a terrible person and was certainly the wrong choice for hermione in high school. she should’ve chosen fred tbh. hiram has too many under-the-table plans and I honestly don’t think he cares about anything more than using people as a means-to-an-end.

4. cherosie - cheryl x josie

I was a fan of these two as friends, but when cheryl started creeping I just had to take a step back. season 1 cherosie was a cute best friend situation. however, cheryl’s mental demons came along and caused a rift in that friendship. I don’t think they would’ve worked out as a couple anyway. cheryl wasn’t really in a stable state-of-mind and I don’t think they’re that compatible tbh.

5. ms grundy x archie

this relationship gave me the creeps. I never liked this ship and thank god she’s dead. that’s all I have to say.

[nanyoky]

Someone’s stomach still hates her, so it’s BREAD NIGHT instead of sushi night but HERE WE GO

lol cheryl. for just one tiny moment, i bet a couple kids were ready for a columbus style defamation and dressing down, but not our cheryl. nope. she’s just taking another opportunity to be the live action pacifica northwest.

“the southside kids are fine, but their parents are FURIOUS.” i’m gunna need more than that mayor mac- why? are the southside kids studying too hard now that they have real books? does sweetpea’s mum have to drive him all the way across town to his new school every morning? if the city shut down the school and absorbed these kids into the other district, the district buses would have to come to them, yes? so why would Mama Sweets driving him??? I NEED MORE DETAILS MAYOR MAC.

a neighborhood party for both north and southside. but the serpents are hired as security. do you see the problem here folks???? i mean- obviously not every single southsider is in the gang, but they are a good chunk of the people you’re trying to integrate into the community. so..... what’s really happening.... is a party of northsiders........ with southsiders as The Help. ......great plan i can’t wait.

there’s something really hilarious about the marked height difference between archie and hiram and archie is enjoying every inch of it- deep, deep down inside while he tries to figure out what the fuck is happening in his dining room.

me @ Hal: you’ve got the personality of a brillo pad go out in the garage or something

chic is chillingly cavalier, which is just how i want him, but betty brining up  the “cresent moons” on her palms was ham handed and awkward come on we were doing so much better with dialogue recently

this guy can’t possibly be legit there’s no way a trained agent of anything would trust archie with a can of pringles

there is just so much in the gang checking out betty’s picture of chic. kevin thinks he looks hot and maybe familiar because kevin likes pretty, hooded eyed bad boys who probably have a switchblade in their back pocket ((me too bro it’s okay)). veronica calling him “the omen.” betty sort of expecting but not knowing how to react to her friends thinking her long lost brother is a babe. also summarizing her current home life perfectly in how alice is being awkwardly infantizing and how hal is being definitely not chic’s biological dad and pissy about it. excellent. all excellent.

betty’s “hanging out with toni? cool. that’s cool” face is just... so betty.

“oldest living serpent” SHUT UP i bet he’s adorable i can’t wait

“your dad doesn’t like me” “what? no!” veronica is suddenly a worse liar than betty and that is SAYING something

veronica references the movie “foxcatcher” which i both want to see and don’t want to see and have been waffling about for over a year. anyone care to swing me on it?

varchie is lying to one another and it is all going to blow up so terribly

hoooooolllllyyyyyyy shhhiiiiitttttt. i see. this is a topical episode. and tangentially personal. i went to school near the dakota borders. i have friends who spent weeks at the pipeline protests. but also um.... why do i get the sense that for some bizarre reason, this is going to be jughead’s narrative....... *SIGH*

i need about twelve drinks right now. but also did i nail it with that columbus reference or what?

((fun fact to lighten the mood: my city is working on getting a statue of christopher columbus replaced with one of prince because he was from here and he “represents us better”. bless this midwest))

*HEFTY SIGH* mayor mac. i genuinely want to see more of your adulterous but charming affair with papa keller but you keep fighting tooth and nail to stay on my shitlist

kevin’s porn watching has solved a mystery that shouldn’t really have been a mystery to anyone? i thought fantasy fulfillment was pretty fuckin clear. also, kev, WHY ARE YOU WATCHING PORN IN POP’S WHAT THE FUCK BRO WHO DOES THAT

Archie: *jake peralta voice* why does everyone keep touchin my butt?

IS THE SHERIFF THERE TO WATCH KEVIN’S TRYOUT HELP MY HEART DON’T YOU *DARE* BE SHADY PAPA KELLER DON’T YOU BETRAY MY BOY

KEVIN’S GOOD. KEVIN’S A GOOD WRESTLER. MY LITTLE HEART.

none of these boys better make ANY comments about kevin wrestling or i will come after them with A BAT

this is a much needed self esteem boost for kevin- being better at something traditionally masculine than archie, the all american boy and I SUPPORT HIS PRIDE I JUST WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY KEV EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT CAM BOYS AT A PUBLIC DINER YA WEIRDO

this is an A+ sweater from betty holy jeez contender #1 for outfit mvp

bets did you watch a bunch of your brother’s sexy vids? holy jeez i need to feel better so i can have a drink ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS ESSAY I KNOW YOU ARE

kevin’s writing a gossip column now? i both love and hate this. give me a sample of it and i will swing one way or the other

“this is a story we need to tell” close jughead. this is a story you need to help the right people tell. as support. not the main voice. please tell me that is on its way. (i doubt it)

also i feel like the writers came up with this history of the gang, shall we say, quite a ways after casting of the gang.... not that the gang has to be all direct descendants of the tribe but.... still. 

kevin’s going to help archie practice cuz he’s the best of all of us. also it’s going to make him feel good about himself and i don’t begrudge him that in the slightest.

“you don’t really think this could be long term, do you?” chic you were living in a hostel where people get stabbed/their stuff stolen- how is that long term?

it’s a repeat but i think this is the first time this season we’ve heard a character’s original song? i miss the pussycats. i miss “we tell our own story” divas of color. i honestly kinda miss “i wanna be a musician” archie tbh. the music in general has taken a definite turn this season and i like all the retro but god the s1 soundtrack was SO damn good and atmospheric

Hiram has mastered the painfully overt backhanded compliment in a way i would have scoffed at two years ago but honestly i know people liek this now and it’s a nightmare.

lol veronica and archie turn this into the cold war of in-law relations. “i’m glad you’re not man enough to wrestle archie makes me feel like my daughter’s virtue is safe with you” “oh yeah well i think archie is hot” “yeah and we are TOTES comfortable kissing in front of you because our relationship is TOO HOT TO CONTAIN SO THERE”

*long, loud groan* oh my gggaaaaawwwwddd hal

that being said i kinda feel the same way about the narrative doing this weird displacement where Chic replaces Polly as the Problem Cooper and Sweetpea and Fangs are splitting up the threads of Joaquin’s storyline like come on writers either get your actors back or write something new- don’t just rework existing threads of character and plot for new faces.

kevin stop looking so eager we know hiram is a babe okay but that’s your friend’s dad

kevin and chuck both know enough about wrestling to know hiram is being a dick and not demonstrating for the sake of demonstrating. i mean- i don’t know shit about wrestling and i could tell that- but i have the benefit of knowing the narrative

“Get the message?” no hiram i think you’re being a tad too subtle. try farting on him.

TONI. THAT’S MY GIRL. FINALLY. THANK GOD. i was so scared this storyline was going to let jughead be this painfully white without acknowledgement but here we go. thank god. jughead has been whiter than i am recently and that is SAYING something.

okay so josie’s mad at veronica now which means we don’t get a pussycat reunion? DID THEY LOSE MELODY AND VAL TO OTHER GIGS??? JESUS RIVERDALE HOLD ON TO YOUR CAST ((i’m just assuming. i don’t know if polly and joaquin and melody and val and smithers all have other acting jobs keeping them from doing riverdale- it’s just it doesn’t make sense narrative-wise so i assume it’s a scheduling thing))

“cameras aren’t here, jackie o” that’s my girl

“the old ways die hard it seems” SOCIAL COMMENTARY

i love this wrestling plotline for many kevin reasons, but one of them is it gives and opportunity to show kevin interacting with a male friend. they’re obviously making a better effort to make him more than the “sassy gay friend” but this is one i feel a lot of people would miss. we’re used to gay men befriending women and being romantically involved with or lusting after men exclusively. but kevin and archie are friends! and we love them both! kevin jokes around about archie being hot and neither of them are uncomfortable! archie goes to kevin for help with something kevin has more knowledge/skill at! if i remember right archie was the first one to call joaquin kevin’s boyfriend! they are bros! and this is just really nice!

also how did i not notice kevin is ridiculously buff before? did he beefcake up between seasons or did those sweaters just slim him down a lot somehow? woops better go back and rewatch season one again to check. god what a chore.

chic is AGGRESSIVELY questioning betty’s intentions because we aren’t aware enough that he has TRUST ISSUES

i still don’t know how i feel about any of this and i keep swinging back and forth on “dark betty” from episode to episode depending on what they’re doing with it

“i took care of her while you were in prison” “excuse me” OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT HERE LIES ARCHIE ANDREWS DUMB BOY GOOD BOY SWEET BOY

i really need to know what veronica knows about her parents and how she is biding her time and handling it because the writers are just not throwing her a goddamn bone lately other than to occasionally call out toxic masculinity

honestly i feel like i don’t understand hiram. maybe because i’m not a blindly competitive douchenozzle. but like- surely laying things out so bullheaded and aggressive can’t be a better strategy than lying in wait and learning what you can? he could pretty easily wreck their relationship- those two keep screwing things up between them anyway. it can’t be that hard to be subtle buddy ((hiram is a gryffindor. nell is a slytherpuff. nell does not understand lion people.))

we see more hints of veronica faking the koolaid drinking with her parents. but is that truly what hermione wants? who is real? season one or two hermione?! i must know!!!!

*jughead continues to make this about him* toni: “i thought you were apologizing.” thank god for tony. give her her own narrative and stop making her only scenes be about jughead one way or another. she’s got such potential

for all that i still think the narrative is still going to find a way to keep jughead’s feelings at the forefront of this plot thread, there was some good delivery on “i had no right.” a kid realizing for the first time that just because he feels really strongly about something, does not mean he’s universally in the right on the subject. i know so many grown ass adults who don’t know this. i’m just really hoping not just jughead as a character takes a step back for a bit, but the narrative lets him and uses the room he makes well.

of course hiram invites veronica thinking archie isn’t going to make the team

slap his butt ronnie

so which chuck are we getting today god only knows because his redemption never saw any continuation or closure beyond gettin flirty with josie so i have no idea if it was genuine

Me, who knows nothing about sports of any kind beyond that i like it when Klose does the flippy: Wrestling is an aesthetically stupid sport

we’re all acknowledging how very uncomfortable and surreal this is for veronica right? watching her boyfriend grapple with the guy who publicly humiliated and harassed her a few months back? but in like- a “sportsman behavior” setting? very weird.

was that archie realizing he was being tested? is dating a lodge like converting to judaism? gotta be denied three times and persist?

alice is being so painfully stepfordy and i’m frightened and intrigued by the moment when the other shoe will drop and chic sees the alice cooper we all know and love to hate and hate to love

again- i’m really shocked that like- no one read between the lines on what chic’s livelihood came from

“he has to go and you know damn well why” *clutches pearls* oh good heavens hal what reason could that possibly be??? i haven’t the foggiest

PENELOPE IS LIKE AN AMALGAMATION OF EVERY DISNEY VILLAIN EVER IN THIS SHOT I’M DYING

OH SHIT. OH SHIT. VERONICA AND THE PUSSYCATS.

like on the one hand, that was a fucking power move and i kind of just have to give props for the sheer audacity, but on the other hand PEOPLE NEED TO STOP CUTTING JOSIE OFF FROM ANY AND ALL SUPPORT SHE’S JUST BEING MANIPULATED AND ATTACKED ON ALL SIDES AND I NEED HER TO BE OKAY BECAUSE SHE HAS FAR TOO MANY FEELINGS IN HER BIG BROWN EYES

oh god oh god this is too fucking real i need a drink but i’m still sick fuck this is real. fuck. toni’s face. cuz honestly she’s tough but you can tell she’s not used to the spotlight and it took all her courage to get up and be the voice of the protest only to be derailed and minimalized fuck let this girl have more to do than occasionally be the voice of reason to jughead and the serpents. 

BAHAHAHA is hal going to sleep with penelope to get back at alice for having a kid with fp back in highschool jesus christ this show

i’m reserving judgement on the chic plotline until it progresses more but right now i’m just kinda “....huh.” about it

oh betty. oh honey. oh babe.

“That was the old me” archie has been through five “new me”s in the past month. i mean this is obviously to get on hiram’s good side, but still it’s hilarious.

oh of course. they couldn’t just let this fucking go could they. gotta frame the serpents for something else. or not! maybe it was the serpents! doesn’t actually matter. either way mayor mac, lodges and papa keller are going to be the absolute worst about it.

can we get back to being a gothic mystery show next ep? please?

Episode Scorecard:

Number of Sick Beatdrop editing sequences: none. it seems they’ve abandoned this, sadly, along with the rest of the season one soundtrack and editing style. which is a shame.

Do I Still Miss Joaquin: please just imagine wrestling matches with Joaquin dragging all the other teen serpents along with to be the loudest, rowdiest, Team Keller-est cheering section riverdale has ever seen. Kevin is equal parts pleased and mortified. cheryl and toni are dating by now, so cheryl makes them all tshirts. they all have no fucking clue how wrestling works. they love it.

Episode Hair MVP: jughead’s bangs were corkscrewing again- like mine do when my hair air dries just right. i live the curly/wavy combo life too juggie. i know it’s hard.

Episode Outfit MVP: betty’s felted floral sweater- tho i’m still perplexed by the collars on this show. someone in wardrobe has a signature and i don’t begrudge them- i’ve just never seen collars on any outfit anywhere like these ones

[edamamechips]

my live reactions while watching 5x01

“I stink and so do these lyrics.” well at least archie’s self aware.

“I make it through most nights without screaming” - riverdale high’s principal.

Hiram really said “my new workout regime seems to be working” but it’s actually him punching a bunch of guys with brass knuckles huh. He’s punching his disease out.

Bret “i thought i was your only friend in prison” Weston Wallis is back! And he still wants to fuck Jughead just as bad.

THE GAY SAUNA IS BACK! And Archie says “show you a good time”. ALL THE EYES EMOJIs.

You know what’s hotter than stilettos clicking on the marble floor? Nothing. But Jughead’s rings clicking on that chair was pretty close.

“Signature red mane” ha. In a town where every fourth person is a redhead, might wanna reconsider that Ms. Blossom. 

Wow Jughead “i am gonna film the hell out of it” Jones. Tone down that excitement buddy. It’s a snuff film.

Veronica singing that song is torture. They really decided to torment the varchies like that huh. Everyone just collectively decided to humiliate veronica today.

Betty already has a back up for a situation where she is selling a snuff film. My unhinged planning queen

Ok this voyeur storyline .is very..unsettling. 

The boxing sequences are usually boring as shit but i liked this one! Love the parallels between the two storylines. Also bughead are hot. And jughead will throw punches at anyone who even looks at betty the wrong way.

 Concerned parents bughead energy>>>>>

Lesbian ally nana rose! With her old ass camera! Love that

Yes Hiram. A teen boxer is THE perfect candidate for deputy mayor. Also wow another episode with an unironic use of the word “endgame”

Ahhh BUGHEAD AS CUTE AS SHIT AND I CRY.

CUTE PROM SHIT. AHHHHHHH STAPH THIS. also i see Reggie’s fizzle rocks business is still going strong

Yay jughead gets to drink atlast in peace after FP made him throw it away in the first episode.

Ooo did not know Cheryl was more of an ass over boobs woman but go you girl!

Wow. archie really does suck. Great timing my man. Public humiliation and infidelity. 

That turned dark real quick. Also bughead saves the day again.

When did toni start caring about her family so much?? And now choni breaks up over this??

Archie is going down next episode. Hiram, the immortal is out for his blood.

Okay, so I was too busy with the inauguration concert to do the X-Files thing. Anyone up for a hilarious and brief recap for me?

@melimelrockswell1204 @chaotic-biquarius

I know you wanna.

[month9books]

Riverdale Recap and Review - Season 1 - Chapter 8 - The Outsiders by Andrew Buckley

There quite literally is not one happy marriage happening in Riverdale. Maybe it’s the water, maybe it’s the maple syrup, maybe it’s the disturbing amount of redheads . . . but relationships are not meant to survive in that town. Tensions ran high in this episode with double crosses and back alley deals happening all over the place. Riverdale is a dangerous place to live. But they do have Skeet Ulrich, so there’s that. Let’s get to it . . .

How many times can you reference abortion without actually saying the word ‘abortion’? I counted five times, but I may have missed one. I’m assuming it’s a CW censorship thing, but I was surprised they had to avoid the word as it’s absence made it all the more obvious, but I suppose that was the point. This week, Mr. Cooper became oh so much darker than just some guy who breaks into the Sheriff’s house to steal his murder wall. He’s harboring such a hatred for the Blossoms that he actually wanted his daughter to abort the baby. The guy is certainly carrying enough hate to push him over to the darkside, but his banishment from the Cooper household says a lot more about Alice Cooper (the blonde chick, not the guy who used to bite heads off chickens on stage) than it does about him. Mrs. Cooper has always seemed so controlled in her insanity, however we certainly saw some cracks as she tries to deal with the Blossom family now trying to steal her daughter, while also revealing her own shadowy past, also at the hands of her husband. There goes another Riverdale marriage.

Polly herself is still severely lacking as a character and I think it’s partly due to us not really knowing her. The reason we care so much about who killed Jason, and not about Jason himself is because we never got a chance to know him. All we really know is he had terribly fake-looking red hair and apparently he was a mute. The same almost goes for Polly. We met her at the mental asylum where she was hysterical and she hasn’t really calmed down since. Okay, so the father of her child was murdered, her dad tried to have her abort her baby, the father’s family want to keep the baby, her parents sent her to a mental asylum, and now she’s back, there’s a power struggle over this child who will undoubtedly have fake-looking red hair. Okay, fine. She has every right to be hysterical. Unfortunately, her lack of grounding as a character is making it really hard to sympathize with her. Maybe that’ll change now she’s a member of the Blossom household. By making the choice to join the Blossoms, she’s effectively shunning her own family. And who can blame her?

Speaking of the Blossoms, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how awesome Granny Blossom is. Come on, that crazy old lady is great. Part horror story cliche, part gypsy, part crypt keeper. She keeps getting better and better.

Fred Andrews and his business woes seeped throughout most of the story this episode. With the Blossoms wanting to buy the old movie theatre land, and Mr. Lodge being the secret buyer, and Hermione knowing this but not telling Fred, we can clearly see another relationship is about to go down the toilet. It all makes for interesting TV though, so who cares? Fred confronting Clifford Blossom was a nice scene but it felt a little empty with Fred not really having a good threat to come back with. Too bad he doesn’t have a biker gang working for him . . . oh wait.

It was a touching moment when Archie and his pals came out to work for his dad, even more so when Fred and Archie have their heart to heart in the kitchen later. While I didn’t love this episode as much as past ones, I did love this scene. And it wasn’t just Luke Perry’s sincere delivery, it was the balancing out of Fred and Archie’s relationship. While Archie’s legacy speech was a bit on the flawed side, the messaging was still solid and the Andrews boys still represent a united front that doesn’t appear to exist anywhere else in town. This is of course after Fred tries to solve the problems he’s experiencing himself, and Archie walks into a biker bar. We’ve yet to see Mary Andrews but we know she’s coming (bring it on Molly Ringwald), so we’ll likely see that balanced father/son relationship shaken again very soon.

Skeet freakin Ulrich as Jughead’s dad is fast becoming one of my favourite characters. After we saw all his misgivings in the last episode, it was nice to see him find a bit of redemption here. His volunteering information to Jughead and Betty regarding Jason and then rounding up a crew to help out Fred proves that Mr. Jones isn’t all that bad of a guy. Well, except for him having Jason’s jacket, and that he uses teenagers to sell drugs, oh and he’s the leader of a violent biker gang, and that he has Joaquin (who I’m still saying is Jason’s murderer) cozy up to the delightful Kevin . . . so yeah, never mind, he’s a bad guy.

STORY FLAW ALERT! - Mr. Jones tells Hermione that it was likely Mr. Lodge who had people disrupt the construction site and beat up Moose. He blames it on Hermione getting frisky with Fred and someone ratted her out (Veronica, clearly Veronica) and that the incident was part of a jealous attack? On property he owns? Disrupting the building of his weird hipster community housing? Where he stands to make a lot of money? And didn’t Clifford Blossom all but admit to being the culprit in order to bleed the owner of the land dry? Something isn’t adding up there but maybe it’s all a bunch of red herrings. Or trout. Or whatever fish happens to be native to Riverdale.

This was a setup episode, inserted so we can get from here to there. The Jason story got moved along with Mr. Jones and Joaquin (the murderer) hiding the jacket. Polly moving in with the Addams family effectively destroys the ‘Stepford Family’ archetype that the Coopers had been trying to project. Fred and Mr. Jones getting the band back together means it’s being setup to be broken apart again later. And the looming threat of Mr. Lodge stretched its shadowy tendrils a little bit further.

Next week sees the return of Ethel (finally!), though it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting an answer to the burning question on everyone’s mind: Where is Hotdog?

Until next week . . .

STRAY THOUGHTS OF AWESOMENESS . . .

- Valerie was there, but . . . not really there? True, there wasn’t much room for development of Varchie? Valerchie? Archerie? (we’ll need to work on that) Hopefully we’ll be able to see more of that relationship over the coming weeks.

- Same goes for Bughead. Not the best way to start a relationship, amid a murder investigation and a crazy pregnant sister, though we’d still like to see some development happening here. And more than just ‘yeah, my Dad’s a biker’.

- Sheriff Keller - Absolutely terrible at his job. Fortunately for him, he appears to be the only law enforcement agent in all of Riverdale so he’s got great job security.

- Was anyone else hoping that Moose would lay some smack down on those two guys? I mean, c’mon, he’s Moose!

- Archie and Jughead’s ‘bro moment’ was underwhelmed by the lack of conflict. Archie got a little angry, Jughead got a little sad, and then all was well again.

- I kinda love how much Kevin loves the Lodges. From his awe over Veronica’s party invites to complementing Hermione’s shoes. Yeah he’s a walking gay stereotype, but he’s adorable.

About Andrew: 

Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. After pitching and developing several screenplay projects for film and television, he worked in marketing and public relations, before becoming a professional copy and content writer. During this time Andrew began writing his first adult novel, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH, followed closely by his second novel, STILTSKIN. He works as an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.

Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on his next novel, and has a stunning amount of other ideas. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with three kids, one cat, one needy dog, one beautiful wife, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind.

Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group.

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