Veronica’s Having A Party On Next Week’s ‘Riverdale’
by Rachel Bellwoar
Forget that this week’s episode ended with Ethel (Shannon Purser) walking onto the dance floor covered in blood (and not because, like Carrie, she had pig’s blood dropped on her by her classmates but because, presumably, she had some altercation with her mom (Jenn MacLean-Angus) and dad (Adam Lolacher)). Next week’s trailer is all about Archie and his friends making out (because smooches come before answering cliffhangers every time):
Yeah, not one of Riverdale‘s better trailers, but this week’s episode was a true return to form. Starting with Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Ethel trying to work for Pep Comics, not only did Principal Featherhead (William MacDonald) overreacting to Ethel’s drawings feel believable but the stakes felt real, too.
Putting characters’ lives on the line is all well and good, but at this point Riverdale’s done it so many times that it no longer holds any meaning. However, Ethel’s parents threatening to send her to the Sisters of Quiet Mercy – a place that has a proven track record of causing trauma – feels like a threat that could actually be carried out, making it legitimately scary.
It also feels like a storyline that could’ve appeared in a melodrama or women’s picture from the 50’s (think something directed by Nicholas Ray or starring Lana Turner, like Peyton Place, the film adaptation of the book Veronica (Camila Mendes) is reading in this episode). Those films could be just as outrageous when it comes to plot developments, and it shows what a good match the 50’s and Riverdale are.
Other thoughts on this week’s episode:
- Veronica’s misguided attempt to audition her dates for the dance is a perfect example of a character-driven storyline that makes sense for the character. Only Veronica could’ve come up with such a scheme and thought it could work.
- Riverdale could’ve just brought back the Whyte Wyrm, but having the Serpent’s hangout be a beatnik coffee house in this era is just different enough from what the series has done before (also, I guess Jughead isn’t a serpent anymore?).
- Usually Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) is the one giving orders, but it’s been neat getting to see a new dynamic between her and Toni (Vanessa Morgan) this season, where Toni has gotten to be more assertive.
- Anyone else ready to call a moratorium on the angst-filled storylines for Kevin (Casey Cott)? Granted, the 50’s probably isn’t the best decade for that, but so far Betty (Lili Reinhart) has avoided another serial killer storyline, so surely Kevin can steal some happiness with new student, Clay (Karl Walcott)? He hasn’t always had the 50’s as an excuse.
- Kudos to Riverdale for still regularly paying homage to Archie’s dad (and, by proxy, later actor, Luke Perry). It would’ve been easy to never mention him again after season four’s tribute episode, but his presence is missed and deserves to be acknowledged.
- Welcome back, Smithers (Tom McBeath)! Veronica’s not alone after all.
Riverdale airs Wednesdays on The CW.
