S01.E09: Chapter Nine: La Grande Illusion

[The Crazed Spruce]

Quote

Archie gets an offer from the Blossoms, which could help his future; Veronica befriends a classmate who was hurt by her father's illegal actions; Hermione is conflicted about telling Fred the truth; Alice seeks revenge on the Blossoms.

[Advance35]

Ok who can I speak to about getting a Kevin and Veronica spin-off.  I did NOT expect but I am absolutely in love with this pairing.  When Veronica was about to launch into her backstory and Kevin said "Uh oh, do we need to sit down." I swear it cracked me up.  He in no way seemed horrified by Veronica's bad behavior.   And the look they gave each other when they disagreed on Archie's involvement with the Blossoms. LMAO.  I like the Veronica and Betty friendship ok but my Friendship OTP is definitely KellerLodge.

Was nice of her to reach out to Ethel (even if it was out of guilt) and the show has done a decent job of building Mr. Lodge up to be a suitable Town Villain.  And I liked the insight we got in terms of Veronica's relationship with her father.   Even if the denouement (in terms of her outlook with regards to her Father) wasn't a "Happy Ending."  And totally in mourning about Ronnie's pearls.  Those could have been as iconic as Blair Waldorf's headbands.

Also really liked the additional time we spent with the Blossoms this week.  Mr. Mrs. & Cheryl is each so menacing in their own way.  Mrs. Blossom in particular, radiates loathing toward just about everyone.  Cheryl has got to be the most damaged character on Riverdale.  Her eroding friendship with Archie from the top of the hour down was sad to see.

The Coopers?  Meh.

[dippydee]

Aww Archie, exactly as dumb as I've come to expect. I know he lives in his own world but the Blossoms are always the wrong choice dude.

I hope Cheryl goes full dark on the Blossoms. She might be volatile but it's a miracle she isn't more messed up than she  is already.

Not going to lie, I totally laughed when Alice threw the rock through the window. Poor Betty, her parents are terrible. Not quite Blossom level but awful nonetheless. Did Hal even acknowledge Betty at all?

I'm glad Ronnie got a story even if I didn't love the story itself so much.

[dirtypop90]

A twisted part of me digs Cheryl and Archie.

[WhosThatGirl]

I'm sorry but every episode makes me like Archie less and less each week. Should the main character -because Even of this show wants to be an ensemble, I think originally and maybe even still Archie was meant to be our main focus-be such a dud? The only time I remember this being a problem for me was Dawson Creek. And Archie shares so many terrible traits Dawson Lerry had. 

[Dee]

"It was a joke hobo"

Cheryl is the best.

[jay741982]

I don't know Alice got me mad when she said Polly betrayed them! Um didn't you and your hubby put her in a loony bin?  I was getting mad at Polly for not responding to Betty but was glad to hear she was spying on the Blossoms. Though she's in Cheryls crosshairs. Poor Betty watching her nutty parents. Onto the Bighead part. They are so Damn adorable loved Jughead being so supportive and comforting Betty. What he said to her after she witnessed her mother smash that window was really sweet 

[Chaos Theory]

14 minutes ago, dirtypop90 said:

A twisted part of me digs Cheryl and Archie.

If Archie and Cheryl had a baby is there a red red enough for the color of the babies hair?  

Also the jacket the Blossoms had Archie in,

Honestly this was the first episode I found Archie truly entertaining which means I now ship him with Cheryl.  Sorry bro.  

[surfer]

"Mr. Andrews! Nice haircut. Looking extremely DILFy today." Cheryl really does get the best lines.

Archie's not a biological Blossom is he? Maybe just a ginger, excuse me, red herring.

So Betty, Veronica, Val, Grundy and now Cheryl. I suppose Ethel and Mrs. Cooper are next to board the Archiekins Express?

[TobinAlbers]

19 minutes ago, Chaos Theory said:

If Archie and Cheryl had a baby is there a red red enough for the color of the babies hair?  

Also the jacket the Blossoms had Archie in,

Honestly this was the first episode I found Archie truly entertaining which means I now ship him with Cheryl.  Sorry bro.  

I wish instead of Polly it had been Archie to go to the dark side and play the long con for a few episodes by canoodling with Cheryl and playing into the Blossom's obvious desire to make him an adopted son/Jason replacement. At least for two or three episodes. He learned a lot in the short time he was with them, imagine all the other dirt he'd have overheard.

So it's okay for Archie to get close to Cheryl and infiltrate the Blossoms when it benefits Betty but when he's getting something out of the deal, he's pimping himself? Whatevs, Jughead. I get you wanna support your girl but support your friend too instead of piling on.

Admirable thought, Ronnie, but time and place, girl! 

Fred/Luke Perry was channeling Dylan McKay tonight with the whole 'I need to take a walk' huffing before stalking off and a few other times. Kinda love that he had no idea how to respond to Cheryl showing up at his front door.

Edited April 7, 2017 by TobinAlbers

[Free]

1 hour ago, WhosThatGirl said:

I'm sorry but every episode makes me like Archie less and less each week. Should the main character -because Even of this show wants to be an ensemble, I think originally and maybe even still Archie was meant to be our main focus-be such a dud? The only time I remember this being a problem for me was Dawson Creek. And Archie shares so many terrible traits Dawson Lerry had. 

It's because he is the new Dawson.  Even minor characters have been more interesting than Archie whose contrived 'problems' are so easily resolved with ease.  It took him conveniently overhearing the Blossoms plan just to figure out what literally everyone else already knew about them.

Edited April 7, 2017 by Free

[memememe76]

I am loving this show so much. I was disappointed that we did not see Veronica, Ethel and Kevin get soap treatments. 

[ban1o]

I feel when this show focuses too much on the parents it gets more boring 

[HunterHunted]

Normally Alice Cooper joining Betty and Jughead on the school paper to uncover who killed Jason would be bullshit, but then this happened:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/06/us/student-newspaper-principal-fired-booster-redux-trnd/

[Dee]

I had to laugh at Valerie being angry about Archie ditching her for Team Blossom.

Archie & Val haven't had any kind of romantic interaction since they kissed back in Faster Pussycats Kill Kill, or any interaction in general, other than an extremely fleeting scene in The Outsiders.

Valerie, girl? You can do better.

Edited April 7, 2017 by Dee

[SyracuseMug]

In my market, the show is being pre-empted by an infomercial. Anyone else having this problem?

[dirtypop90]

2 hours ago, Chaos Theory said:

If Archie and Cheryl had a baby is there a red red enough for the color of the babies hair?  

Also the jacket the Blossoms had Archie in,

Honestly this was the first episode I found Archie truly entertaining which means I now ship him with Cheryl.  Sorry bro.  

 

1 hour ago, Free said:

It's because he is the new Dawson.  Even minor characters have been more interesting than Archie whose contrived 'problems' are so easily resolved with ease.  It took him conveniently overhearing the Blossoms plan just to figure out what literally everyone else already knew about them.

Probably why I dig him with Cheryl (and the pure shallow fact that they look great together). Archie in some sort of twisted relationship with Cheryl and the Blossoms is the only thing that has worked for him so far. He's just soooo dull. And no combination of archie/betty/val/jughead/ronnie will make him interesting.

[VCRTracking]

Veronica looks naked without her pearl necklace.

[ThePandaEmily]

I am loving Alice. I'm still utterly bored by Fred's company. And I am not here for Cheryl and Archie, but I loved Cheryl this episode. Her and Jughead made me laugh so much.

Archie: "I already talked to Valerie and she's cool with it."

Jughead: "Cool with you being a gigolo now?"

Cheryl has the best lines, though. "That was a joke, you hobo." She is slowly becoming my favorite. Something about all of her funny lines along with her messed up life makes her really interesting.

Is it just me or does Veronica still feel like such a supporting character even though this episode actually featured a storyline for her? I dunno, maybe it's because I am ready for some spotlight on her. Again I am at a loss with all of the storylines they mash into on episode.  I really wish they would take a moment to develop all the character's relationships. My favorite scene was the one with everybody talking in the student lounge even though it was something that probably could've been left out. With such a large cast involving a group of friends as the mains, it seems especially important to develop all of their relationships. I really wish Archie was more important in the group.Maybe I would dislike him and his story less if it actually felt like he was friends with the rest of them. If anyone has watched The Fosters Archie reminds me of Jesus. They are both so caught up in their girlfriend drama that they don't feel like they are actually a part of the "family." (I haven't watched any recent episodes of The Fosters so I don't know if this comparison still holds true)

[ybrik]

Way to go Archie, you are part of the origin story of the world's next supervillain, Cheryl Blossom. I can only imagine the carnage that she is about to unleash.

To one of the above posters, I am not sure where we ever saw Jughead okay with what Archie was doing even if it was getting info for Betty. Sure he used the information that Archie was giving him but he never approved of what Archie was doing no matter the reason.

This show is not doing a good job of disputing South Park's premise that gingers have no soul and are creepy. Seriously that whole scene with the Blossom clan going to tap the maple tree was very creepy.

Oh Polly you dead. You are dead. Seriously do you think that you are getting out of the house alive and with those kids? But you are a Cooper all emotions very little common sense.

Liked the continual layer peeling of Hiram Lodge. I am really anticipating when he comes to town.

Fred not sure you going in for yourself is admirable or the beginning of a downfall for you. I understand wanting to stand up for yourself but standing in between the Blossoms and Lodges is not really a good place.

Liked that we are seeing Veronica in the midst of her trying to be a better person and seeing the struggle. However, agree that we really need an episode with her being the main focus.

The scene with Betty and Jughead in the blue and gold was probably the best scene of why they work as a couple right now. Betty is able to vent and share her fears with Jughead able to calm her down and support her.

[UsernameFatigue]

1 hour ago, Dee said:

I had to laugh at Valerie being angry about Archie ditching her for Team Blossom.

Archie & Val haven't had any kind of romantic interaction since they kissed back in Faster Pussycats Kill Kill, or any interaction in general, other than an extremely fleeting scene in The Outsiders.

Valerie, girl? You can do better.

I was trying to figure out when Archie told Cheryl that he had a girlfriend, who it was. Lol. 

Does anyone know the significance of everyone wearing some piece of red clothing at the syrup running ceremony? Not only red, but a specific shade of red. (Close to the colour of Cheryl's lipstick, and also the colour of Archie's jacket for the dinner). Every single person as far as I could tell had on a piece of clothing in that colour - shirt, jacket, scarf....whatever. Seemed too planned to be random, but it did look cool. 

I am also wondering why Fred Andrews is still wearing a wedding ring? 

[loki567]

I love this stupid, goofy show so much. 

[WhosThatGirl]

8 minutes ago, UsernameFatigue said:

I was trying to figure out when Archie told Cheryl that he had a girlfriend, who it was. Lol. 

Does anyone know the significance of everyone wearing some piece of red clothing at the syrup running ceremony? Not only red, but a specific shade of red. (Close to the colour of Cheryl's lipstick, and also the colour of Archie's jacket for the dinner). Every single person as far as I could tell had on a piece of clothing in that colour - shirt, jacket, scarf....whatever. Seemed too planned to be random, but it did look cool. 

I am also wondering why Fred Andrews is still wearing a wedding ring? 

The husbands and wives are so confusing on this show. I don't think they ever really clarified if Fred and Mary officially filed for divorce? Or maybe they did and I missed it. This however seems to be the case with most of the parent relantionships. 

[UsernameFatigue]

8 minutes ago, WhosThatGirl said:

The husbands and wives are so confusing on this show. I don't think they ever really clarified if Fred and Mary officially filed for divorce? Or maybe they did and I missed it. This however seems to be the case with most of the parent relantionships. 

I don't think they clarified it either, but obviously he was ready to move on with Veronica's mom (in some form or another) so it seems odd to me that he would still be wearing a wedding ring. A wedding ring to me signifies a commitment, even if one is separated, to work on the marriage. Which doesn't seem to be the case here. 

[dwmckim]

No one's commented on the best part of this episode yet...

MADCHEN AMICK WITH CHERRY PIE!

[absnow54]

MADCHEN AMICK WITH CHERRY PIE!

I was too distracted by the huge knife she was using to aggressively slice into it to notice the Twin Peaks reference.

Okay, so I really liked Barb on Stranger Things, but Shannon Purser is awful as Ethel. In her first appearance, she seemed really cagey, like she was hiding something, and I thought she was this evil mastermind who was manipulating all the girls into taking down the jocks, but then there was nothing. When she showed up again in this episode, again acting shifty, I thought she was drawing Veronica into a trap, but in the end she was in the dark on the whole thing. If she doesn't turn out to be evil in her next appearance, I'm blaming it on bad acting.

The only time I remember this being a problem for me was Dawson Creek. And Archie shares so many terrible traits Dawson Lerry had.

Aw, I wouldn't quite give him that title yet. He's certainly the least interesting character on the canvas, but he's not a sanctimonious dill weed, not yet anyway. Dawson was an entitled brat who everyone in town (especially his parents) tripped over themselves to appease, Archie is just dumb, and everyone seems to know it.

[NorthstarATL]

Alice Cooper has SOME arm on her! It amuses me that at some point in their past the Coopers were shipped as "Halice". Pregnant Polly is so looking for trouble trying unearth dirt on the Blossoms while under their roof! I just realized, though, that she has the same window shattering abilities as her mother, so perhaps things will work out.

  Camila Mendes is doing an amazing job as Veronica! I was in awe when she soliloquied about her name in a previous episode, and her bathroom break this ep was on par with that. I don't know if Hiram has been cast yet, but is James Spader available? Even if only for him to possibly have a scene with Archie's mother....

   So Archie was the Blossoms' sap for a moment. Can't feel too badly about he and Valerie. Perhaps it will inspire a breakup song that will also be disappointing.

[ThePandaEmily]

Also I like to imagine that Archie's real name is Archie and the Blossoms keep referring to him as Archibald just because his real name isn't fancy enough. 

[starri]

Oh, Archiekins, you're cute, but so phenomenally dumb.

For some reason, Supervillian Cheryl reminded me (probably intentionally) of her Afterlife With Archie incarnation, who most likely killed Jason and decided that her name was now Blaze.

I really liked hearing Betty call out the Gothic weirdness of the Blossoms, with the direct reference to Polly being Jane Eyre.  And the tree-tapping ceremony was just so ludicrous, it made me laugh so incredibly hard.  I think I kind of dig the strange melange of Teen Soap, Bram Stoker, and Twin Peaks.  If I were to step back and look at it objectively, I think I'd think "this is just ridiculous," but it's just so ridiculously fun.

Good for you, Valerie.

More Ethel please.

[Free]

8 hours ago, dirtypop90 said:

 

Probably why I dig him with Cheryl (and the pure shallow fact that they look great together). Archie in some sort of twisted relationship with Cheryl and the Blossoms is the only thing that has worked for him so far. He's just soooo dull. And no combination of archie/betty/val/jughead/ronnie will make him interesting.

Probably because it's because Cheryl's craziness is working off of someone else, Archie has more or less ignored the other girls except for fake Grundy.

1 hour ago, absnow54 said:

Aw, I wouldn't quite give him that title yet. He's certainly the least interesting character on the canvas, but he's not a sanctimonious dill weed, not yet anyway. Dawson was an entitled brat who everyone in town (especially his parents) tripped over themselves to appease, Archie is just dumb, and everyone seems to know it.

Archie is too bland and too irrelevant in his show to the point where he's upstaged by minor characters with significantly less screentime.

[maxineofarc]

9 hours ago, UsernameFatigue said:

Does anyone know the significance of everyone wearing some piece of red clothing at the syrup running ceremony? Not only red, but a specific shade of red. (Close to the colour of Cheryl's lipstick, and also the colour of Archie's jacket for the dinner). Every single person as far as I could tell had on a piece of clothing in that colour - shirt, jacket, scarf....whatever. Seemed too planned to be random, but it did look cool.

I think Cheryl said her lipstick was "Maple Red," which would make it a thing, I suppose. On the subject of maple: "Winter came early?" You tap syrup trees in EARLY SPRING, when it's above freezing during the day but below at night. And with global warming progressing, there's actually been much less of a syrup harvest in the last few years and it's liable to get worse. The Blossom fortune may not last forever.

I really do like Betty and Jughead (I refuse to call them "Bughead") but it seems to me like Jughead is always the one to initiate any kissing or physical affection. I'm still not convinced she's into him as more than a close friend.

[Dee]

Veronica and Ethel's relationship reminds me of Veronica Sawyer & Martha Dumptruck's from Heathers.

[truthaboutluv]

I really do like Betty and Jughead (I refuse to call them "Bughead") but it seems to me like Jughead is always the one to initiate any kissing or physical affection. I'm still not convinced she's into him as more than a close friend.

Thanks to Tumblr and a lot of gif happy shippers, I actually don't find this to be the case at all. Betty has initiated many of their kisses and she's the one who started the double cheek stroking when they're kissing. I agree that the writers moved quickly with the Betty/Jughead pairing, like they have with a lot of things but I haven't gotten any hesitation on Betty's end regarding her relationship with Jughead.

[ZoloftBlob]

Am I the only one questioning a sugar maple industry existing on what is clearly the Pacific Northwest Coast?

[HunterHunted]

12 minutes ago, ZoloftBlob said:

Am I the only one questioning a sugar maple industry existing on what is clearly the Pacific Northwest Coast?

Is the show set in the Pacific Northwest? I just figured they were someplace upstate in the northeast.

[TheLastKidPicked]

19 minutes ago, ZoloftBlob said:

one questioning a sugar maple industry existing on what is clearly the Pacific Northwest Coast?

 

6 minutes ago, HunterHunted said:

Is the show set in the Pacific Northwest? I just figured they were someplace upstate in the northeast.

You are both right.  Riverdale was based on a town in Massacusetts, but the series is filmed in Vancouver.

[Mabinogia]

So, my two main takeaways from this episode:

1) I want a Juggy. He is so wonderfully supportive. What a great boyfriend. He's also adorable.

2) Archie looks a whole lot more like Mr & Mrs Blossom than Jason does. He has the mothers broad nose then fathers long chin. Seeing him in scene's with each of the parents really made me wonder. Though they are different ages so I guess there wasn't a baby swap. haha

I love Veronica but her storyline this ep kind of bored me. I don't care about how evil Hiram is, I don't like her mother and while I loved Barb on Stranger Things, I do not care for Ethel at all. I wish Veronica would get a storyline about herself, not about how bad  her father is. I do like that she is trying to make up for being a mean girl though. That part of her story was good.

Also, I love Alice Cooper more than anyone else on this show. She is just a perfect loose cannon. I'm way more into the Cooper/Blossom feud than whatever it is going on with Lodge/Blossom or Lodge/Andrews (is that even a thing? the construction crap is confusing to me. Is Archie's dad working for Hiram but didn't know it? Or is he working for the Blossoms? Or are the Blossoms trying to stop his work for some reason? and what is he building on the old drive in site anyway? I have no clue!)

Cheryl is my second favorite. I love her and I could very easily ship her and Archie, though I think she could do better, he does help her and make her feel better and she needs that...and a hug.

[Bruinsfan]

12 hours ago, ThePandaEmily said:

Jughead: "Cool with you being a gigolo now?"

Go with what you're good at, I say. The show has told us that Archie is an amazing athlete and musician, but the only thing it's actually shown him being talented at is getting an impressive amount of action for a high school sophomore.

[Chick2Chic]

The pacing / editing for the show still seems off to me. Some twists & characters get too much focus and others are skipped over or barely given any investment by the show. I really enjoyed the first 6 eps of the series but since the hiatus, things have seemed askew.  I may have more specific thoughts on the episode but I need to rewatch it without the pressing feeling that something is off. 

[tennisgurl]

I swear, most of what I get about Archie lately is that he is ridiculously easy to manipulate. First with creepy child molester Miss Grundie, now with the Blossoms. They're literally the most obviously evil people on the entire planet, and Archie really thought they might be actually looking out for him out of altruism until the dinner? Come on, dude! If a guy came by, wearing a black and white striped shirt and a mask, and handed him a bag full of money with dollar signs on it and police sirens in the background, and asked him to hold onto it, promising that he didn't steal the money, Archie would probably be like "Sounds legit, no problem good sir!". I actually could get kind of into Cheryl and Archie as a weird couple, even though the fact that they look related is kind of creepy. She's so creepy and awesome, she could actually make him interesting by association!

I just cant with the adults in this town. What is their deal with them being super pissed off at teenagers for shit they had nothing to do with? I know Ethyl's mom was grieving, but yelling at poor Ronnie isn't exactly helpful. Ethyl managed to say it wasn't her fault, but I guess that level of perspective and maturity is too much to ask for in a Riverdale adult.  Poor Veronica. I really love her, and I would like to have her get more stories that had more to do with her, and not her romances or her parents being crappy. When she ripped her pearls off, I almost did a big NOOOOO! Those are iconic Ronnie!

BugHead are still cute. I'm not looking forward to the inevitable break up. I like them trying to actually get things done, while also being supportive of each other. Also, way to go Val! She can do a lot better then Archie, who seemingly has feelings for about five different girls at a time on a regular basis. I'm really trying to root for Archie, but he just cant find a good beat in this story. Shallowly, I also really loved Vals outfit in the last scene with Archie!

Edited April 7, 2017 by tennisgurl

[AdorkableSars]

17 hours ago, dippydee said:

Not going to lie, I totally laughed when Alice threw the rock through the window. Poor Betty, her parents are terrible. Not quite Blossom level but awful nonetheless. Did Hal even acknowledge Betty at all?

That would be a no. At this point, I can't decide which parent is the most awful: Hal Cooper, Clifford Blossom, or Penelope Blossom (not going to lie, I had to Google the Blossom parent's names.) Alice has redeemed herself the past couple of episodes. And even before that, the actress is so great, I still kind of enjoyed her character. I think Hal is the worst of them all. The Blossoms, while they suck, their creepiness and vibe is at least fun to watch. 

31 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

I just cant with the adults in this town. What is their deal with them being super pissed off at teenagers for shit they had nothing to do with? I know Ethyl's mom was grieving, but yelling at poor Ronnie isn't exactly helpful. Ethyl managed to say it wasn't her fault, but I guess that level of perspective and maturity is too much to ask for in a Riverdale adult.  Poor Veronica. I really love her, and I would like to have her get more stories that had more to do with her, and not her romances or her parents being crappy. When she ripped her pearls off, I almost did a big NOOOOO! Those are iconic Ronnie!

BugHead are still cute. I'm not looking forward to the inevitable break up. I like them trying to actually get things done, while also being supportive of each other. Also, way to go Val! She can do a lot better then Archie, who seemingly has feelings for about five different girls at a time on a regular basis. I'm really trying to root for Archie, but he just cant find a good beat in this story. Shallowly, I also really loved Vals outfit in the last scene with Archie!

This made me feel so bad for Veronica. Yes, it's obviously her fault that her dad is an evil tool. Camila Mendes was really great this episode. This, and the bathroom breakdown scene were great. I liked her final scene with Ethel too. 

Bughead are beyond cute. Jughead is an amazing boyfriend. The scene where he comforted Betty in the Blue and Gold office. Oy Vey. So wonderful. I'm going to have faith that even though they might break up, they would find their way back to each other. I mean, even Alice seems to approve of them. If that's not telling, then I don't know what is! 

I think one of the only redeeming qualities for Archie at this point is how much he cares about his dad and (to a lesser extent, mind you) his friends. Even when he defended Cheryl this episode, it seemed to come from a good place. And his scenes with Jughead last episode come to mind as well. 

This Canadian really appreciated all of the maple syrup content in this episode. Maple syrup really is so important. I'm glad Riverdale recognizes this. 

Edited April 7, 2017 by AdorkableSars

[UsernameFatigue]

6 hours ago, TheLastKidPicked said:

 

You are both right.  Riverdale was based on a town in Massacusetts, but the series is filmed in Vancouver.

That is one of my favourite things about this series. I love seeing the different areas where they film in Vancouver, as well as some neighbouring cities/towns. In fact the building they use as city hall is the community hall in the small town where my mother was born and raised. The hall opened in the early 30s, and its building was spearheaded by the town's Women's Institute of which my great grandmother was the president. My grandfather was the hall's first caretaker. 

I think they have done a great job with locations in this series. My only quibble would be Betty's house and Archie's house which I believe are supposed to be across from each other (I think they have shown scenes of them looking at each other from their respective bedrooms). It is obvious from the outside of the houses that that could not be possible as Betty's house is set quite aways back from the street. I figured they were in different parts of Vancouver, but as it turns out Archie's house is in Vancouver and Betty's is in another city outside of Vancouver. 

As a poster upthread mentioned, I wondered what the comment about winter coming early meant as yes, syrup is tapped in early spring. But  I also don't know why they had everyone wearing red at the ceremony but made no mention of it. It seems like sometimes things are edited out that might explain odd comments or scenes. 

Edited April 8, 2017 by UsernameFatigue

[ruby24]

39 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

 

BugHead are still cute. I'm not looking forward to the inevitable break up. I like them trying to actually get things done, while also being supportive of each other. Also, way to go Val! She can do a lot better then Archie, who seemingly has feelings for about five different girls at a time on a regular basis. I'm really trying to root for Archie, but he just cant find a good beat in this story. Shallowly, I also really loved Vals outfit in the last scene with Archie!

Funnily enough, that part actually matches comics Archie a lot, but I don't know if that's intentional.

[Mabinogia]

3 minutes ago, UsernameFatigue said:

As a poster upthread mentioned, I wondered what the comment about winter coming early meant as yes, syrup is tapped in early spring. But  I also don't know why they had everyone wearing red at the ceremony but made no mention of it. It seems like sometimes things are edited out that might explain odd comments or scenes. 

Winter came so early that spring was cut short and summer skipped entirely. lol

I could totally buy the Blossoms forcing everyone to wear "maple red" to the tapping ceremony. These are people who actually have a tapping ceremony. Is that a thing? What I found surprising is the high redhead count in Riverdale. I've never seen so many redheads in one place. Are members of the board actually Blossoms as well? Like Clifford Blossom's siblings or cousins? But then, he married a redhead so maybe they are her siblings? It just seems odd the board member they focused on was also a redhead as that hair color is not predominant. I don't think I've met as many redheads in my entire life as I've seen in one episode of this show. lol

[Primetimer]

The syrupy episode also finds Archie Andrews in a sticky situation with the Blossoms.

View the full article

[starri]

I'd really like to hear what the rest of Riverdale's 99% think about being beholden to the whims of Big Syrup.

[PeekaBoo]

OMG, did they add crazy in Riverdale's water source?!?!?! Just when you thought there weren't enough secrets, they just bring out new ones!!

I just love all the interactions, the dramas and scandals between the adults. I am very intrigued by the fact that the blossoms might be responsible for imprisoning Hiram Lodge, thus adding him as a murder suspect (how the hell did Reggie Mantle end up on the murder board?). The blossoms are just weird, creepy and I keep playing Dracula music whenever they are in their mansion. God knows what the hell they're up and that red decoration they have, just weird... Alice Cooper, what a lioness!!! The rock throwing, the cherry pie (OMG, didn't notice that!) and how she seems to be somewhat nice(well-Alice nice) to Archie and Jughead!! She's growing on me!!

Archie... (sighs) Oh Archie, trying hard to like him and he does have his positive sides but man is he so douchy!! I think he had his heart in the right place but his kindness is his undoing. On the other hand, I think Archie and Cheryl complemented one another.

Veronica was awesome this ep. Helping out Ethel (who until now, I thought she might have been like a sociopath or something like that from the vibes in e3) was I think a nice gesture. The whole pearl necklace thing was quite sad. Her dad wasn't this perfect picture person anymore...

And Bughead. You know, as much as I adore them together, I appreciated the fact that they got little air time this episode and the few times they were, it was so intense. The whole motivation speak from Juggie in the newspaper dpmt, omg, what a great gf!!! I don't understand how betty manages to remain insane with everything that's happening around her, same with juggie. They so need one another. That is one of my greatest fears, I mean, there they are, dealing with a murder and a crazy ass family, one louse/gangbanger of a dad, homelessness... I sorta feel like one more secret could just be the last drop before they just implode or come out stronger again...

I thought the episode was great as it showed more of the characters but as many have said already, its so rushed. I can't wait for the next season where they'll have the time to develop stories... I do hope they won't cut out the parents' stories in the upcoming seasons...

Another shout out from a fellow Canadian, always good to bring out maple syrup!!! Not from the west coast but a big shout out to FP for mentioning my home town in ep 8 lol!!! :)

[Snookums]

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So Betty, Veronica, Val, Grundy and now Cheryl

Don't forget Val! Ha ha, kidding! EVERYONE forgot Val, including the writers!

I haven't seen a WOC in a series treated with such whimsy and offhand dismissal since Abbie on Sleepy Hollow. It was ridiculous to hook her and Archie up in the first place (since she was his fourth romantic interest in six episodes) and the writers clearly realized they couldn't use them as a storyline since the show was overloaded already, so her role was hacked down to her literally appearing for fifteen seconds at a time to tell Archie he's being/doing something stupid and shallow, only for him to go ahead and do it anyway. They might as well have stapled MOVE PLOT FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY onto her forehead. I'm glad she broke up with him but please. Even Josie got some continuity from her horrible father story. 

So, is anybody else noticing the truly ludicrous even for a soap amount of pressure and burdens that are being laid upon a bunch of sixteen and seventeen year olds by their parents/adults in this town? 

Archie: At first is bribed with an opening in a music program, but later asks Mr. "My Glance Is Death" Blossom to quit ruining his dad's business/ability to make a living. Archie may be annoying but he shouldn't be expected to SAVE HIS FATHER'S LIVELIHOOD selling himself as some kind of replacement Jason. The fact that Blossom is "you bet and what a nice thing to see such negotiation skill in one so young" was the Creep Cherry on the Shudder Cake. And let's not forget Mrs. "Refugee From A V.C. Andrews" novel Blossom doing everything but chloroforming him and dressing him up in Jason's clothes.

Veronica: Both her parents are trying to use her directly to hide ill-gotten gains and land deals (and if she doesn't she and her mother are homeless; see Archie comment above), and if that's not bad enough, her dad's evil deeds apparently have resulted in one friend's father attempting suicide, which prompts Ethel's mom to yell at a sixteen year old who is trying to do something, anything, to apologize for her parent's crimes. I get Mrs. Muggs being upset but woman, what do you want here??? Your traumatized daughter is handling this with ten times more grace than you!

Betty: I know Juggie means well, but please: do not tell a teenage girl, with parents of whom you have close, personal knowledge as being absolutely crackers and nuts crazy, that she is responsible for holding her family together. NO, SHE IS NOT. Her damn PARENTS are responsible for their own marriage and Polly, while trapped in a nightmare of Anna Seton proportions, is participating fully in the lunacy. A teenager should not be the only person in her family unit saying hey maybe less bricks through windows, okay mom?

Cheryl: Why this young woman has not shaved her head and climbed a bell tower yet is the deepest mystery on this show. First she is told to her face that she can't inherit the company because she's just the family brat (with a VAGINA, so forget it!); then her father speculates to Archie that with him by Cheryl's side reining her in, she just might be controllable enough to save the family fortune after all! What the hell kind of idiot thinks that a sixteen year old should be taking over a corporation, but only if she marries a replacement for her brother??? It was bad enough when Jason was being groomed for this position and he was planning TO FAKE HIS OWN DEATH to get away from this insanity factory!  Whatever passes for a child welfare department in this Twilight Zone cornfield of a town should just move in and take over.

Edited April 8, 2017 by Snookums

[SeanC]

I don't think I want to live in a world where Veronica no longer wears pearls.
 

[ZoloftBlob]

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First she is told to her face that she can't inherit the company because she's just the family brat (with a VAGINA, so forget it!); then her father speculates to Archie that with him by Cheryl's side reining her in, she just might be controllable enough to save the family fortune after all! What the hell kind of idiot thinks that a sixteen year old should be taking over a corporation, but only if she marries a replacement for her brother??? 

Well, let me be clear - I am not endorsing the Blossom family cult of incest and red hair (I'm fairly certain all the red haired business partners are kin).

But... From the Blossom parents perspective... Is Cheryl really such a prize? She doesn't seem interested in the business and honestly, she lied to Mom and Dad about her brother *dying*. She let the entire town think her brother had drowned to death and made the family into laughingstocks with a) Jason turned up dead with a bullet through the skull and b) now all the townies know that Jason betrayed his parents and ran away rather than run the family business.

This is all very harebrained and destined to fail. Not sure I'd want her running a lemonade stand, let alone a business.