Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 18 last night, I find myself wondering how much are we really like the characters we play?  Perhaps more than we realize which seems to be the case for our favorite characters from Riverdale.  While it’s important to have a connection with the character we play, I think some people may have taken this embodiment a little too far, but the show must go on all the same.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Chapter Thirty-One:  A Night to Remember,” it seems like everyone is focused on the school musical, “Carrie.”  Even the parents are heavily involved, as Alice stars in the show and Fred Andrews helps build the set.  Meanwhile, an old threat has returned, which seems like a prank at first but quickly escalates into something deadly, leaving everyone in shock and terror. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 18 are:

5

Betty vs Veronica.

Betty is clearly still holding on to her feelings of anger and betrayal when she practices for the show and this seeps out into the open when she tells Veronica that she is a lot more like her character than she realizes.  Tension has quickly filled the room, but Betty continues to let it all out and tell Veronica how she feels.  Archie later approaches her and tries to get Betty to see it from Veronica’s point of view and she ultimately has a change of heart.  Betty and Veronica share a touching duet and sing, “I see you shine and the dark disappears.”  Perhaps bursting into the song is just what these two needed to make up.  Either way, it’s great to see Betty and Veronica on speaking…or singing terms again.

4

Archie stands up to Mr. Lodge.

Mr. Lodge continues his plot and tries to make Fred feel insignificant as Archie’s father when he tells him about the car he bought his son.  Fred is clearly hurt and disappointed and this finally resonates enough with Archie for him to stand up to Mr. Lodge.  He returns the car and warns Mr. Lodge not to get between him and his father again.  I have to say it’s about time.  While Archie has clearly been conflicted over this for a while, it’s great to see him finally make the right decision.  However, we know that Mr. Lodge doesn’t have the tendency to go away quietly, so what will be his next move?

3

Alice makes a choice…but is it the right one?

In the beginning of the episode, Alice waltzes into Pop’s Diner and asks, “What’s up handsome?” to FP.  However, FP appears to be blowing her off and keeps her at a distance.  Alice is more than disappointed and is starting to feel the loneliness around her creeping in despite her best attempts to keep it away.  Alice calls Chic over and over but doesn’t hear back from him and then has a breaking point when she is practicing her solo, singing to Betty, begging her not to leave her.  Betty sees how much her mother is hurting and calls her father, Hal who comes back with flowers and an apology.  Alice forgives him and seems content, but FP shows up at the show and is clearly hurt to see her back together with her husband.  Will FP give up or will he let Alice know how he truly feels?

2

“I will not succumb to thespian terrorism.  The world needs to see me up on that stage.”

Cheryl has fully embodied her role as Carrie and is not about to step down from the lead just because a threat was made, demanding that her role be recast.  This threat is not the only obstacle in Cheryl’s way, however.  It seems like Mrs. Blossom is going for the worst mother of the year award, when she walks in and tells Cheryl that she has not given her parental consent for her to be in the play.  Cheryl feels defeated and Toni goes to console her.  Toni tells her that she needs to show her mother who is in charge and Cheryl takes her advice.  Even though Cheryl may not be playing the lead in the school play, she goes full Carrie White on her mother.  Cheryl appears before her mother covered in blood and tells her that it’s Jason’s blood.  Cheryl threatens her mother and demands to be emancipated so that she and Nana Rose can live in peace.  Cheryl tells her mother, “I’ll end you,” and it’s clear that she means business.  After all, she’s burned one house to the ground and she’s not afraid to rise from the ashes again.

1

The Black Hood is back.

Kevin begins getting threatening letters demanding that the role of Carrie be recast.  At first it seems like a prank, but when a sandbag almost crushes Cheryl on stage, Kevin begins to take the threats very seriously and gets Jughead and Betty involved.  At first it seems like it could be Ethel since she is jealous about not being cast in the lead role, but this is quickly ruled out as too obvious.  Chic’s name comes to mind again, especially since he decides to show up at the play after refusing to return Alice’s calls.  The threats become all too real when the curtains open to reveal the understudy, Mitch Clem brutally stabbed.  The crowd and cast are in shock and panic begins to spread, as everyone realizes that the real Black Hood has re-surfaced.  Will our favorite characters be able to unmask the real Black Hood before it’s too late?  What does he or she have in store for everyone next?  Stay tuned!

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

@TV_Fanatic_Girl