Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 8 last night, I am left with the haunting melody of “Mad World,” playing in my head, wondering if the passionate and intense feelings of Archie and Veronica are enough to overcome dodging those three powerful words that have now ripped through their bond. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, Betty lets her pony-tail down and embraces her naughty side to try and fit into Jughead’s world, Archie and Veronica take a turn at playing detective, and FP contemplates retirement from the Serpents. Seeing FP waiting on Cheryl Blossom at Pop’s diner puts things into perspective, however; as this is no place for a king. Meanwhile, Cheryl continues to cling to Josie’s shadow while Alice Cooper breaks out of her cardigans to bring on the leather, and Archie gazes out his window at an unsuspecting Betty to wonder what could have or might still be. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 8 are:
5
A connection is confirmed between the Riverdale Reaper and the Black Hood. In the beginning of the episode, Jughead sits down with Betty to discuss his research done at city hall. They learn about the “house of horrors” and the tragedy that happened to the Conway family, begging the question, how does this fit in with the Black hood now? Betty makes the connection that this house is the same one that the Black Hood lured her to, realizing that it is an important part of the equation. Research does pay off, but what’s the next step from here?
4
FP is released from jail. Jughead is ecstatic to learn that his father is finally free from this nightmare and anxiously awaits his release with supportive Betty and who else but the witty Alice Cooper. Alice is not about to let things slide, however; continuing to pass her judgment on FP. She asks him what his plans are now and FP jokingly calls her “Warden Cooper,” which doesn’t seem too far off for our tough cookie, Alice. Now that FP is out of jail, he is left with the important decision of what to do with his freedom. He decides retirement is the answer and even accepts a humble job waiting tables at Pop’s diner to prove to Jughead that he is serious about turning his life around. But how long will this last?
3
Archie and Veronica pick off where Betty left off. “So you want us to be you guys?” Veronica asks with skepticism. Veronica and Archie are already skating on thin ice as it is, when Archie tells her he loves her and she says nothing in return. This brings up Veronica’s own insecurities, but the two need this distraction to find out more about the Black Hood and the connection to the Conway murders. After some investigation of their own, they learn that the Conway family wasn’t of 4, but of 5 and that there is a third child who made it out alive. They later discover this is none other than school custodian, Mr. Svenson, but quickly rule him out once Archie looks into his eyes and realizes he is not staring back at the Black hood. More clues are falling right into their laps and they are hard to ignore. Did Mr. Svenson get his justice in the past, or is there something else he is not telling us?
2
FP is here to stay and he wants Jughead out. At the end of FP’s retirement party, he quickly announces that he is there to stay to Jughead’s dismay. He explains to Jughead that he did the one thing he asked him not to, which was to get stuck in the middle of a drug trafficking operation. When FP reveals that he now has to clean up this mess and that Jughead has broken his heart, it clearly destroys Jughead. Jughead realizes that his mistake has now cost his father a chance at having a clean slate, forcing him back into a world that he may never get out of now.
1
Betty and Alice Cooper’s entrance into the party. Both ladies have their hair down and prove they are a force to be reckoned with. Alice’s ensemble is wild and she even pokes fun at Betty’s outfit, not realizing that she is about to strip off almost every layer to perform the Serpent dance. Jughead is not pleased with this, begging her to stay away from him, as the mistakes he made with his father are now bleeding into his relationship with Betty. Although the dance doesn’t have the impact Betty was hoping for, it does allow her to free her inhibitions and step out of her cookie-cutter mold of perfection. Archie sees a new side of her when he gazes out the window and he’s not alone. We salute you Betty!
I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below. Happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl