Tag: Riverdale

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 8: “It’s a Mad World”

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

My top 5 questions from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 7. Theories and spoilers ahead. Bobby pins required.

Greetings TV Fans!  I have to say I am absolutely thrilled to have a new episode of the CW’s Riverdale back after the break from last week.  After last night’s episode, so many new questions and mysteries have emerged.  Secrets and lies are creeping to the surface, Archie is at a crossroads…literally, and Betty might be pushing things out into the open too far.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  The episode is split into three parts from the perspectives of Archie & Jughead, Josie, and Betty & Veronica.  All three parts are occurring at the same time and intertwine along the way.  My biggest takeaway is to always have a bobby pin handy!  You never know what locked doors need opening, but will you like what you discover?  My top 5 questions from Riverdale season 2 episode 7 are:

5) Has Chuck truly turned over a new leaf?  When we get to Josie’s storyline, we find out that she has a secret admirer, which sounds harmless enough, but starts escalating into stalker territory.  Chuck is introduced back into the mix and Josie questions whether or not he has changed.  He offers to give her a ride home and they grab a quick bite at Pop’s diner.  Not only does Chuck reveal that he goes to church, but he is not a bad dancer either.  Just as we are starting to think that perhaps he really has changed, Josie’s mother bursts in and Josie receives a threatening note the next day.  She accuses Chuck of being her stalker, but this seems farfetched.  Is Chuck a good guy now?  I’m not sure I am buying the charming act either especially because we know the black hood targets sinners.  Is his new found religion a clue that he could be the black hood?  You never know but I’ve got my eye on Chuck for now.

4) Is Sheriff Keller off the hook?  When we get to Betty and Veronica’s storyline, both girls are anxious to get to the truth about Sheriff Keller.  Betty is convinced that he is the black hood and Veronica thinks that he is having an affair.  Veronica strategically plans a sleep over at Kevin’s but only ends up discovering Sheriff Keller’s secret of working out in the basement.  Betty has a little more luck when she breaks into his office, but he catches her in the act.  All of the information he has on the black hood relates to the case, which makes sense, but perhaps that is so he could easily be ruled out.  Betty is not buying it and spies on him with Veronica outside a motel.  They discover that he is in fact having an affair with…Josie’s mom!  It seems that we have discovered his scandalous secret, but is he hiding anything else?

3) Is the black hood connected to the Riverdale reaper?  When we are involved in Archie & Jughead’s story, Jughead leaves his better judgment behind and takes a ride from a stranger so he can move his illegal crate to his destination in time.  The stranger is certainly mysterious and has a creepy vibe going for him with his hidden dead animals in his truck, but does reveal some important information.  He informs Jughead that Riverdale once saw a killer like the black hood before and talks about what happened with the Riverdale reaper.  However, how has no one in the town heard about this before?  What are they covering up?  What else does this stranger know?  The questions are endless, but it looks like the boys will need to get caught up their town’s history pretty fast if they want to stop the black hood.

2) Is Cheryl Josie’s stalker?  When the stalker threatens Josie and sends her a portrait, we can quickly rule Chuck out.  It just seems too easy that it is him so who else could it be?  Cheryl has been clinging to Josie lately and is clearly very thankful that she helped stop her attacker, but has this gratitude gone too far?  Cheryl is shown drawing a very similar sketch of her and Josie, which seems like all signs are pointing to yes that she is the one threatening Josie.  Has Cheryl hit a breaking point?  Is there any chance it’s not her?  Just as Cheryl has been starting to display some redeeming qualities, she is being dragged back down by obsession.

1) What are the consequences of failing the black hood’s test?  At the end of the episode, all of the intertwining stories have caught up to one another and all parties are present at Pop’s diner.  Pop receives a phone call and reveals that it is the black hood and he said that they all failed his test and that the day of reckoning is upon them.  What exactly was the test and what is going to happen now as a result?  We know that the black hood is capable of murder, but does he or she have something else in mind?  We will have to stay tuned for more answers, but it doesn’t look like the black hood is finished with Riverdale just yet.

I hope you enjoyed my top 5 questions and please feel free to post your own theories and questions from Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 TV female characters who give Nancy Drew a run for her money: Solving one mystery at a time

Happy Saturday TV Fans!  I hope you are having a fabulous weekend full of shopping and binge-watching.  For today’s topic, I am going to be ranking the top 5 TV female characters who give Nancy Drew a run for her money.  Do you ever wonder how some of these characters solve the mystery in the nick of time while maintaining their grades, high school drama, and keeping up with the latest fashion trends?

For today’s ranking, I am only looking at female amateur sleuths.  If they work for any type of federal/government agency, they are not included since they are considered professionals.

My top 5 TV female characters who give Nancy Drew a run for her money are:

5

Dr. Joan Watson from CBS’s Elementary. 

While the original Dr. Watson from the classic Sherlock Holmes series is male, Lucy Liu proves that gender need not apply in order to have the smarts and wit to keep up with Sherlock Holmes himself.

While Dr. Watson does eventually consult with the police, she started off her career as a doctor and then shifted to helping others through addiction.  Even before Sherlock mentored her and taught her the ways of being a detective, her compassion for others and attention to detail made her a force to be reckoned with.

Joan is even able to get through to Sherlock and break through his shield of bottled emotions to help him cope with his own issues.  Through every test and case, Dr. Joan Watson proves to be a worthy partner of Sherlock’s and is capable of solving the mysteries on her own if needed.  But we love to see these two working together for sure.

4

Nancy Wheeler from Netflix’s Stranger Things. 

While a lot of the series centers on Nancy’s younger brother and his friends dealing with the threat of the upside down world, Nancy steps into the lime light herself to reveal that she is more than a stereotypical teenage girl.  When her best friend, Barb, vanishes, she is devastated but refuses to just accept it.

Nancy will stop at nothing to find out the truth about what happened to her and to make things right.  She finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, dealing with conflicting feelings for both Steve and Jonathan, but puts that on the back burner initially so that she can focus on the mystery at hand.

3

Betty Cooper from the CW’s Riverdale. 

Betty is pure of heart and has enough bounce in her blonde ponytail to bring school spirit to anyone even remotely close to her.  But that’s not what makes her so intriguing on Riverdale.  While she is concerned with doing the right thing and her image is close to perfection, Betty has some serious skills as an amateur sleuth and other characters on the show have even referred to her as Nancy Drew jokingly.

Unfortunately for Nancy Drew, she didn’t live in a world filled with technology at one’s finger tips and Betty uses this to her advantage.  She puts her family and friends above everything else and is great at analyzing the missing pieces of the puzzle to bring the truth to light.

2

Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily from Pretty Little Liars. 

While “A” has been revealed and the show is over, we can’t forget about the constant twists and turns these girls had to face.  The beginning of the series opens with their friend Alison’s supposed death and the girls are left to pick up the pieces and figure out what happened to her.

The fun doesn’t stop here; however, as someone going by the name “A” is after them and putting them through hell.  The girls don’t give in so easily, as they work together as a team to bring down “A” and figure out the mystery at hand.  Individually, each character has their own strengths, but together they are an unstoppable force and their bond and friendship keeps them from breaking along the way.

1

Veronica Mars from Veronica Mars. 

Following in the shadow of her father who is a private detective, Veronica is a high-school student who works closely with him and shows that she has just as much talent and a real knack for the business.  Her best friend was murdered and the series begins with her trying to figure out who did it by piecing together the evidence.

During this, she also takes on cases at school on behalf of her friends and classmates.  What’s so great about Veronica is that you almost forget she is a teenage girl.  Her wit and humor is hilarious and you find yourself rooting for her with each new case coming her way.

Veronica was once popular, but is now considered an outsider at school, but this doesn’t stop her from helping others and making a statement against bullies and other threats along the way.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of your own favorites below.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Riverdale” Season 2 Episode 6 Ranking the top 5 moments: Betty vs the Black Hood

Greetings TV fans!  For today, I am going to be counting down my top five moments from CW’s Riverdale season 2, episode 6.  The introduction of a new target on the Black Hood’s radar called the “Sugar Man” had everyone on edge.  Jughead and Archie took a page out of Dominic Toretto’s book from The Fast and the Furious, and Cheryl Blossom…well blossomed into a likable character.  Please note that spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale, season 2 episode 6 are:

5) Archie makes the right call.  Archie and Jughead are about to participate in a drag race, winner takes all.  Jughead is out to win at any cost and Archie makes the right call by notifying the authorities ahead of time.  Since drag racing is illegal, the Ghoulies involved are arrested and off the streets for now.  While this may temporarily solve the Jingle Jangle problem, Riverdale’s new favorite drug, Jughead points out that the Ghoulies are going to be after Archie when they get out of jail and that the plan will back-fire.  Jughead has not been seeing so clearly since Betty broke up with him and he needed Archie to knock some sense into him before he spirals out of control.

4) Cheryl’s “moment” at the drag race.  Cheryl had me laughing out loud telling Toni to step aside and that she was born for this.  She was dressed perfectly for the occasion and dropped her red ribbon in perfect fashion, as the cars sped off in a fury.  I think you might have found your new calling Cheryl.  Keep the laughs coming.

3) Betty & Veronica team up to draw out the “Sugar Man.”  I have to admit when Veronica showed up on the corner to score some Jingle Jangle in her platform purple pumps; she took undercover to a new level.  The duo worked together in a failed attempt but it was nice to see them back on good terms again.

2) Cheryl’s mother proves she does have a heart.  I found it impossibly cold of Cheryl’s mother to make a deal with the Sinclair family, implying that Cheryl had something to do with her almost attack.  Cheryl has been looking for some sense of family since Jason has died.  At the end of the episode, Cheryl’s mother reveals to her the identity of the “Sugar Man” and throws the check into the fire that the Sinclair’s gave her.  This gesture provides Cheryl with a glimmer of hope that her mother does believe in her even if she doesn’t show it very often.

1) Betty turns the tables on the Black Hood.  Betty has been following orders and jeopardizing her relationships and friendships in the process.  After providing the Black Hood with the identity of the “Sugar Man,” who ends up being Jughead’s English teacher, she tells him that she is going to find out who he or she is next.  She’s coming for the Black Hood and I have to say it’s about time.  He or she is no match for Betty.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy Viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Riverdale” Review Season 2 Episode 5: Lollipop, lollipop…sweet or sour?

“Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolli lolli lolli, lollipop.”  Not sure about the rest of you, but I had this song stuck in my head after watching yesterday’s episode of the CW’s Riverdale (season 2, episode 5).  Betty’s ringtone played over and over with this song while the black hood toyed with her, threatening her image of kindness and perfection.  I’m not sure if I was left with a sweet or sour taste in my mouth at the conclusion, however.  I have become a fan of Riverdale after binge-watching the first season on Netflix and have been really excited to see where the show is going after solving the first major mystery from season one.  Growing up, I loved reading the Archie comics and I enjoy how Riverdale has transformed into a saucier, more mysterious version of the comic series.  It has just the right balance of bubble gum pop with a hint of Gossip Girl nostalgia along with a Nancy Drew like quality.

Episode 5 had a vortex of story-lines going on, however; which split my attention a little too much.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode.  We had the mysterious black hood calling Betty and testing her left and right, threatening her sister’s life is she would not comply.  Who is the mysterious villain on the other end?  So far he or she has been outsmarting Betty with every move, convincing her to bring her mother’s secrets to life, spoiling her friendship with Veronica, and destroying her relationship with Jughead.  As I started to think about who the black hood might be, their motives seem focused completely on shattering Betty’s world, unleashing her own darkness in the process.  The black hood even leads her on a wild goose chase only for her to end up looking at her own reflection so that she would understand that they are very much alike.

While this story-line has my full attention, episode 5 also sprinkled in Jughead’s tests to become part of the Serpent gang, leading him to kiss Toni in the very same day Betty sent Archie to break up with him, which begs the question:  is the love between Jughead and Betty really that epic?  Will Betty and Archie get together instead?  They have been growing closer and closer trying to decipher the black hood’s clues, while Veronica has been distracted by her old lifestyle, desperately trying to win the approval of her father.  Speaking of Veronica, her old friend visiting only to bring havoc onto the small town of Riverdale and ultimately trying to attack Cheryl seemed forced.  While my heart goes out to Cheryl, was this necessary for the episode?  Was this only to set up a convenient bad guy for Betty to target, rather than the black hood going after her family?  Either way, the secrets and lies beneath the surface of Riverdale have not all reached the surface, so I will continue to watch to see them unravel.  Will you?

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl