The fallout on the murder of Jason Blossom begins to spread throughout the community of Riverdale as we get to take a deeper look into the multitude of plots and relationships beginning to form. So let’s talk about it.
1. The Slow Burn
After finishing this episode, the biggest surprise for me was actually how little it moved forward. This episode deals with the fallout revelation that Jason Blossom had in fact been murdered and the emotional fallout of the variety of plots that weave into it. This series already has a lot of characters, but the relationships between them never get to the point of cluttering. Gotta give props to episode’s director Lee Toland Krieger for keeping everything very accessible while digging deeper.
2. Kevin
I actually screamed this on Twitter, and it really does a good job of summing up my thoughts: “CAN YOU TALK ABOUT ONE FUCKING TOPIC OTHER THAN THAT YOU’RE GAY, KEVIN?!” Listen, I get it. I do. As someone who is Bi, I want more queer characters in my media, but I also want them to… you know… be characters. In terms of adapting from the comics, Kevin feels like the one who got hit the worst because “being gay” feels like his only trait. And considering that it’s confirmed that they’re not going with Ace!Jughead (even if Sprouse wants to do it), having one character do all the heavy lifting. Is. Bull.
3. Betty and Veronica
What? Two weeks in a row?! Well, yeah. Considering they are the two best characters in the show, obviously I’d put a thought aside for them. It’s a very interesting dichotomy these two have, since the creative direction made the -very wise- choice of not making them rivals but to make them friends, even if the whole Archie thing is a point of contention. I find it interesting that Veronica is kind mid-way through what her comic counterpart would be in terms of character development. It’s implied that she used to be that kind of snobbish queen that is so stuck in the lexicon of pop culture and matured out of it, even if some traces bubble occasionally. It is something to look forward to, considering the continued foreshadowing of her dad.
4. Cheryl Blossom
Have to give another nod to Madelaine Petsch for her portrayal of Cheryl. Multiple times I get reminded that, yeah she is in severe grieving for her brother (and hopefully that’s it. Please writers, I have to deal with the ebophilla due to Ms. Grundy, please don’t make me squick more) while also making me wish at times for Veronica to chokeslam her through a table. It’s this ep where the facade really begins to crack with her and it is a bit sad to see.
5. No Guilt In This Pleasure
Listen. Is this show good? Not really. It is a combination of Twin Peaks and The O.C. and its flawed as hell. It is a bit overwrought (I’ve seen some complain that Jughead’s narration in particular is this, but honestly, teenager writers do overwrite, or at least I did) and there is the aforementioned “Ewwwww!” moments, but this show is kind of a comfort food for me and I am actually looking forward to where it goes. It knows that it’s not going to be a tour-de-force classic bringing television to new heights. And it’s okay with that. And so am I.
