[SPOILERS for those not caught up on Riverdale ahead.]
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The CW's Riverdale has managed to subvert viewer expectations at practically every opportunity up until this point. Bringing a dark, Twin Peaks-esque spin on the traditionally wholesome Archie comic books, Riverdale has been met with practically universal praise from both critics and fans alike. Only four episodes in and it's already being hailed as one of the best new shows of 2017, and to its credit, Riverdale hasn't done much to warrant a decrease in excitement either. With a cast of instantly likable actors and an aesthetic that works perfectly with the show's central murder mystery, it's the kind of Archie adaptation fans have been waiting their whole lives for, whether they knew it or not.
Last night's episode finally brought an end(?) to the Archie (K.J. Apa) and Miss Grundy (Sarah Habel) relationship that's plagued a majority of the previous episodes, while continuing to reveal unexpected secrets about Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Veronica's (Camila Mendes) parents. Next week's episode only promises to bring even more secrets to light as well.
Titled "Heart of Darkness", the next episode of Riverdale is set to focus almost exclusively on the funeral for Jason Blossom, as Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and her parents say goodbye to their brother/son once again. It's being set up as one of the more tension-filled episodes of the season so far, and by bringing all of the main and supporting characters together under one roof, it seems fair to say that "Heart of Darkness" will likely live up to that hype. You can check out of the official teaser for the episode in the video above, and read its synopsis down below:
“With Jason’s funeral around the corner, the Blossom family moves forward with last minute preparations — and a secret agenda. Meanwhile, Archie’s (KJ Apa) attempt to refocus his energy on football comes to a halt when an opportunity to work with a new music mentor presents itself. Betty (Lili Reinhart) dives deeper into her investigation of Jason’s death and unearths some dark revelations about her family. Elsewhere, after uncovering secrets about her own family, Veronica (Camila Mendes) forms an unlikely friendship with Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch), who is having a tougher time with Jason’s impending funeral than she lets on. Finally, Hermoine (Marisol Nichols) turns to Fred (Luke Perry) for help after receiving a cryptic message from the Southside Serpents. Cole Sprouse and Madchen Amick also star.”
While most of last night's episode was dedicated to the conclusion of Archie and Ms. Grundy's relationship - with the latter opting to skip town rather than be arrested and outed - there were more than a few other exciting plot developments made. The most interesting being the mysterious relationship between Hermione Lodge (Marisol Nichols) and the Southside Serpents, led by Skeet Ulrich's character, who also happens to be none other than Jughead's father.
Jughead has remained possibly the most mysterious character in Riverdale, which might be surprising considering how quickly of a fan favorite he's become. But not much is known about his past, his family, or his friendship with Archie prior to the events of the show. So for the series to then reveal that his father is the leader of the town's most fearsome gang, and that Jughead is living on his own only makes his non-school life seem that much more compelling. For a character who spends more time than anyone talking about the secrets and lies in Riverdale, he seems to have quite a few of his one. Whether or not "Heart of Darkness" will then answer some of them, will have to wait to be seen.
Riverdale will return with "Heart of Darkness" next Thursday at 9/8c on The CW.
Source: The CW