Riverdale Season 2 was much anticipated after a fantastic and action packed First Season. As a new series, following closely on the heels of “Vampire Diaries”, and with lots of new show competition, Riverdale definitely had something to prove this season. They needed to pull out all of the stops to keep their viewers watching, and they did. For much of this season I have to admit that I was very irritated with Riverdale’s golden boy, Archie Andrews. After Archie’s father was shot, Mr. Lodge, Veronica’s father, spent a great deal of effort trying to use Archie. Sadly, all season Archie has let Mr. Lodge use him and manipulate him in an effort to get in his good graces for Veronica’s sake as well as hoping to protect his father. The normal moral, upstanding and all-around good guy Archie Andrews has been is completely absent this season. Instead he has appeared cowardly, sold out his friends, and made many immoral decisions that have been completely out of character. Betty has also had a crisis of faith and morality this season. With the introduction of her brother Chic, as well as a realization that maybe the Black Hood that they captured last season, was not the real Black hood there have been threats on all sides. The Lodges present an ever-present threat as their agenda remains secret and criminal, the elusive Black Hood is still out there lurking and killing off “sinners”, and the mysterious and creepy Chic’s agenda is unknown. So with threats all around Archie and Betty take on alternate personalities this season letting their darker sides reign in hopes that they can out smart the imminent threats.
There were many memorable moments and episodes this season. One of the most shocking episodes was the musical episode in which Riverdale chose to do a re-making of the movie “Carrie” but as a musical, starring of course the psychotic yet vulnerable Cheryl Blossom.
At the end of the musical episode there is a very gruesome and unexpected murder of Midge by The Black Hood. As the clues begin to unravel, Betty starts to suspect that her father is the Black Hood. She also realizes that Chic is not actually her brother, but rather her brother’s roommate that murdered him and then pretended to be him to infiltrate her home. Betty has covered up a murder for this guy and put her whole family’s safety at stake, and she realizes that she has to get rid of him once and for all. After a confrontation, she sneaks Chic out of the house and contacts the Black Hood. In one of her darker moments she delivers Chic to the Black Hood and tells him to run. Veronica and Jughead have their dark moments as well this season. JugHead is deeply imbedded with the Serpents–who now attend Riverdale high school, and Veronica is now aware of her parents business and instead of being abhorred, simply wants a larger role. There are so many twists and turns and dramatic moments this season, and I don’t want to ruin them for you!! Many events were easy to see coming, and others were a complete surprise. There are multiple deaths, back-stabbing, and even the foundational four are put at odds time and time again. And it isn’t until the final two episodes that things start to right themselves.
The main thing to focus on this season, is with all of these dangerous enemies, who is the ultimate bad guy? As sinister as the Black Hood is, and even Chic, it is Mr. Lodge who is the real villain of Riverdale. The season finale finally has Archie standing up to Mr. Lodge! About freaking time!! All season, I have really disliked Archie and is wussy ways when it comes to being Mr. Lodge’s servant. Only towards of the season do Veronica and Archie realize that Jughead and Betty have been right this whole time and that they need to stand up to Mr. Lodge.
Everything seems to be headed in a better direction after the Black Hood is captured, there is peace made between the Serpents and our faithful four are all friends again. But in the background Mr. Lodge is still gathering his minions who rule the city in darkness, and plotting and planning. The final moments of Riverdale Season two see one of the main characters taken away in handcuffs and accused of murder, you will have to watch it to find out which one!!!
