It’s Halloween And There’s A Murderous Milkman On Next Week’s ‘Riverdale’

Ethel (Shannon Purser) tried to warn Riverdale. She told them her parents were killed by the Milkman (Matty Finochio), but did anyone listen? I don’t think they’ve so much as given Ethel a second thought these last few episodes, but maybe that’ll change when Riverdale opts to celebrate Halloween, rather than admit that June might be a little early for the Great Pumpkin this year:

I guess those are the choices you have to make, when you’re working on the final season of a series — let your idea for a Halloween episode go or force it to air in the summertime. Admittedly, Riverdale‘s schedule got changed around by the pandemic, so instead of starting in the fall and taking a break mid-season we’ve been getting a straight run of new episodes so far, but maybe that could’ve been an opportunity to touch on some other holidays or occasions that get ignored because of how network TV’s usually programmed.

In any case, if Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) were bored by Reggie (Charles Melton) and Archie (KJ Apa) constantly talking cars this episode, they weren’t the only ones. The bromance and Archie adopting the persona of a ’50s father when Reggie was late with his hot rod was all well and good but, then again, Archie shouldn’t have reacted so badly, and he shouldn’t have agreed to let Reggie drive the car in the first place. Uncle Frank (Ryan Robbins) tried to make it about Reggie (and what was it with Frank trying to act like the voice of reason and tolerance this episode?) but it wasn’t about him (unless it was, and I’m wrong). It was about the fact that the car is irreplaceable. Archie built it with his dad (Luke Perry).

Some other thoughts on this week’s episode:

• While it was nice to learn more about Brad Rayberry (Christopher Shyer) this week, it would’ve been nicer if we had learned this information when he was alive, instead of retroactively trying to turn him into a character fans care about.
• No one can find fault with the reason Tabitha (Erinn Westbrook) is going on the road again but it seems a shame to lose her so soon when she just came back (unless this is all secret, guardian angel stuff).
• Granted, it doesn’t sound like his set was very different from the one he put on at the sock hop, so a repeat performance might have been unnecessary, but for all the hype around Fangs (Drew Ray Tanner) and his gig, it seemed lame that the concert took place off-screen.
• At least Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and Toni (Vanessa Morgan) had some good scenes this week, showing that they’re prepared to put in the work to make their relationship last.
• Reggie thinking Archie and Jughead (Cole Sprouse) were best friends must be a joke (or the show forgetting that this Reggie is different from 21st century Reggie) because there have been no scenes to indicate that in 50’s Riverdale.

Riverdale airs Wednesdays on The CW.