If there was ever a series that could do a musical episode to the songs from the hit Broadway musical (and the cult classic film) Hedwig and the Angry Inch, it would be Riverdale. And indeed, The CW series found a way to integrate every song into its mysterious and utterly weird storylines about the goings-on in their fictional town.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is about an East German genderqueer singer in a fictional rock and roll band who tours around, following the much more successful Rockstar, Tommy Gnosis.
The episode, the 17th in season four, starts with Kevin getting upset because he is not allowed to sing a song from the musical at the school variety show because it is deemed inappropriate. He, along with many other students, revolt, get fully costumed up, and perform nine songs, each fitting a specific scenario or moment they are going through. And here's how those performances rank.
Exquisite Corpse
Jughead and Betty have a seemingly forced fight, solely for the purposes of singing this song. An angry Jughead throws things around the underground bunker while Betty frustratingly sings back as they try to figure out their future together, or if they'll even have one, after graduation.
It cuts to Archie and Veronica arguing as well, with Archie also throwing and kicking things in his uncharacteristic fight with Veronica. While the song had passion and emotion, it really made no sense in the context of the show.
Wig in a Box
Betty and the girls sang this tune to Kevin, and, like in the musical, it was a turning point for the main character who, in the case of this episode, was Kevin. While the performance was cutesy, it helped Kevin build the confidence he needed to transform into Hedwig and stand his ground against Mr. Honey and his strict rules about the variety show.
Near the end, Kevin is wearing make-up and a wig and so his transformation begins. Fittingly, the stereotypical girls sleepover episode ends with a pillow fight.
The Origin of Love
Ranking high on the weird scale, lifelong neighbors and friends Archie and Betty are alone singing to one another about love. But remember, they are both in serious relationships with each other's respective best friends.
It was a pivotal point in the constant will-they-won't-they romance between these two who are seemingly meant for one another. Meanwhile, sad and lonely after their big fights, Veronica and Jughead are singing from afar to their mates, who end the serenade session by sealing their situation with a kiss, adding a new layer of complexity to the show.
Wicked Little Town (Reprise)
The episode plays the tune again, this time as Archie and Betty look longingly at one another as they ponder their forbidden romance. It seems Archie is finally realizing that he has feelings for his long-time childhood friend who had once upon a time expressed her unrequited love to him.
In their daydreams, the two are singing and dancing passionately together, dressed as they were at the school dance that occurred in the very first episode of the show, when Archie told Betty he just wanted to be friends. They were much more innocent in those days versus the hardened people they have both become. Now, it's as though they are longing to return to those two people and ready to leave everything behind and escape the "wicked little town" together.
Midnight Radio
Performed at Le Bonne Nuit in their own makeshift variety show, this tune sung by Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead ended the episode. It was sweet and emotional, a perfect way to mark a group of friends who were about to graduate and go their own ways in life.
They added their own spin, calling out each of their friends with the song to acknowledge one another as a nice, final send-off.
Wicked Little Town
The song that introduced the musical episode, it makes total sense since Riverdale really has become a wicked little town, full of mystery and murder. And that is what the people of Riverdale were now facing – again.
It was sung by Jughead, Archie, Veronica, Toni, Cheryl, Betty, and Kevin, with harmonizing from many others, showing each of the families watching the sinister tape that was left at their doorstep. It was a great jumping off point, but it was dark and morbid, and certainly not the most exciting performance of the show.
Random Number Generation
Kevin gets angry after talking with Principal Honey in his office and getting nowhere and the rest of the students stand up in his defense and to express their own anger at being treated like random, faceless kids. It was a fun performance, but it was juvenile compared to many of the others.
There was nothing that really stood out from the Glee-esque performance. That said, it was more exciting than a lot of the other angry and dark numbers.
Sugar Daddy
One of the more upbeat tunes of the lot, this one, headed up by Cheryl and Toni, showcases the cheerleading girls of Riverdale dancing and singing totally inappropriately (and suggestively) to Principal Honey, expressing their anger about not being able to perform in the school variety show.
Just as the song was performed in a diner in the movie version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, it's performed in Pop's by the girls who are shaking their butts and moving their hips as a seemingly unwavering Principal Honey looks on, unphased.
Tear Me Down
Kevin was angry – really angry. And in this tune, the opening number from the musical, Kevin gets dressed up like Hedwig, steals the P.A. mic from the school secretary, and proceeds to perform his song in the middle of a school day. Why wait for the variety show?
He walks down the hallway and into the music room, rocking out as everyone dances along, much to Principal Honey's anger. It's Kevin's proverbial "I'll show you" and literal mic drop moment as he walks out of the room when he's done, having succeeded in getting his wish to perform at the school, despite Principal Honey banning him from the variety show.