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Riverdale returns from a lengthy hiatus with more secrets, a lot of romance, and an unfortunate creepy long lost brother in “Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Hills Have Eyes”.
Riverdale Recap: “Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Hills Have Eyes”
Airdate: March 7, 2018
David Katzenberg directed the episode written by Ross Maxwell (#214).
Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW — é 2018 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
The core four head up to the Lodge’s lakeside cabin for a romantic retreat that is almost ruined immediately by Cheryl. Feeling left out, she calls Jughead and tells him about the Barchie kiss to which Jughead reacts well. He’s more upset Betty didn’t tell him about it than the action itself. He used to be self conscious about Archie, but he knows they’re really strong and it’s not a concern to him. I was glad this panned out the way it did, because after covering up a murder together, it would be completely ridiculous for Jughead to freak out over a kiss that happened when they were broken up.
Veronica mistakes Bughead discussing her father and his nefarious activities as them still having tension over the Barchie kiss. She suggests to level the playing field, she kiss Jughead. This scene was more humorous than anything, peppered with Jughead using the shipper terms for himself and Betty and himself and Veronica. What was heavily promoted as a “thing” is a mere 30 seconds of no big deal. Teenagers make out with each other all the time. Jughead is more intrigued to learn that the only member of the core 4 that haven’t kissed are him and Archie.
A major positive of this weekend getaway was these characters remembering they’re best friends. Much of the beginning of the season saw them all in stories that separated them and I think we can all agree, this show works much better when they’re together. Betty and Veronica had some much needed bestie time when Veronica got pissed at Archie for not telling her Andre was lurking in the woods behind the cabin to keep an eye on them. This also led to a nice Jughead and Archie bonding moment. One in which Jughead attempts to explain to dimwitted Archie the complexity of his two best friends dating each other. Unfortunately, the best friend bonding only lasts so long. Jughead finds out Hiram has bought Sunnyside Trailer Park and no one is getting evicted. While the Serpents are celebrating, Jughead is accusing Veronica’s father of buying his silence. Even Betty thinks he’s overreacting until she receives a call from her mother; Hiram bought the Riverdale Register too. This turns Bughead against Ronnie and sends Archie into protective mode. Not to worry, our friends don’t fight for long.
Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW — é 2018 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
You see, this whole weekend was a fun retreat from the usual danger and disaster that is always lurking in the corner… oh wait, no it wasn’t. Just when you thought we were getting an episode akin to Season 1, Chapter 10 “The Lost Weekend”, some masked robbers break in to the cabin with bats and axes and demand Veronica’s wallet. She stealthily hits the panic button and the alarm goes off. Archie, who spends most of the episode having his masculinity tested, races off after one of the robbers in usual dumb ass Archie fashion. Andre catches up to them and sends Archie back to the house.
As he’s walking back, he hears a gunshot go off and it is inferred Andre has shot the miscreant. Back in Riverdale, Hiram reassures Archie he did the right thing and asks if he’s ok with what Andre did. Archie admits he regrets not stopping the Black Hood when he had the chance. I don’t know where this is going and I’m not sure I like it.
While the core four are sipping margaritas and playing monopoly, Kevin, Josie, Cheryl, and Toni had some screen time. Josie catches her mother with Sheriff Keller and decides to tell Kevin about the affair. Sierra says she and Josie’s father are getting a divorce, but Sheriff Keller’s wife and Kevin are still oblivious. Kevin, understandably upset with his father, confronts him and the two argue. Agitated by his father’s affair, Kevin finds himself alone at Pop’s being invited into a booth with Midge and Moose. He realizes that, contrary to what Moose told him earlier, Midge does not know the exact nature of their relationship prior to Jason Blossom’s dead body washing ashore. All Kevin wants is someone to watch Love, Simon with him! He runs in to Josie at the theater and she apologizes for hurting him with the news of the affair. She was upset with her mother and she knows it wasn’t her place. I like this friendship and hope to see more of it. Together, they decide to sit down with their parents and discuss the situation.
Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW — é 2018 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved
Cheryl is having a hell of weekend too. Her decision to out the Barchie kiss is a direct result of her mother telling her she’s an “emotional anorexic” all because Cheryl drove off Hal Cooper. Cheryl and Toni have a run-in at school and when Toni finds Cheryl alone at the movies, she suggests they sit together. Cheryl ends up opening up to Toni after the movie at Pop’s, confessing she once had a best friend that she was in love with in Junior High and when her mother found out, she ended the friendship and called Cheryl a deviant. Toni assures Cheryl she is not a deviant, she’s sensational. I spy a new ship on the horizon.
There was some great product placement for Love, Simon (Directed by Riverdale EP Greg Berlanti) this week including a clip from the movie. If you weren’t excited for this movie before, you should be now. Maybe you too will find a new friend or love interest while attending.
Finally, can we talk about Chic? Jughead has the pleasure of meeting the creeper this week when he sneaks up on him like the stalker he is and warns Jughead if he says anything to anyone about “what happened here”, things will get back for Alice and Betty. Jughead warns Betty to watch out towards the end of the episode and let me say, I for one will be very happy when Chic Cooper finally sees himself out of that house.
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