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lostinafictionaluniverse · 7 years

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Riverdale 1x10 thoughts

Under the cut, bcos as usual it’s long and boring - lol

Jughead’s narrative talked about order and chaos and also control and we saw elements of all these in the episode. It was kind of jarring that there was hardly any advancement as far as the murder plot was concerned, and it derailed things for me a bit, but then the episode had a lot of Jughead and Bughead, so I’m not complaining.

Archie telling Betty about Jughead’s birthday was sweet, but was that him taking the initiative and being supportive or was it clouded in something else Archie-like? I was having a discussion with @blueandgoldd and going by what was mentioned in the synopsis about Archie trying to make amends with Val and Betty hijacking his plans, I wonder if Archie’s insistence on Betty going to the movies didn’t have something to do with the fact that he was going to use that time to reconcile with Val? Was that his plan since Fred wasn’t going to be around and Juggie would be away with Betty? If that was the case, I’m sure he could’ve told Jug and he would’ve understood and supported him. Or maybe it’s the classic Archie conflict between being selfish and doing the right thing.

Betty called FP ---eeep. OMG! She’s adorable!

Jordan said that Chuck was truly apologizing to Ethel. Does that mean Betty coming at him triggered him to turn nasty? He flips so much – he was like Relax Betty, till she doubted him and then he went – oh are you going to go dark Betty on me? It’s like she provoked him and he provoked her. Even at the party he started out saying that what Betty and Ronnie did totally ruined his chances and then when Betty was unapologetic, he turned lechery and nasty. But no one can convince me he went to party with no bad intentions, he was smirking when Cheryl asked him to join her in destroying their arch-nemesi! Yeah sorry, Jordan, Chuck is evil!

The gang discuss the party, and Archie takes a look at Val at the next table and changes his mind about it. What in her look made him do that when he was against it moments before? He had judged correctly that Juggie wouldn’t enjoy it. Is this classic Archie side-stepping– deflect aka ignore what’s going on by pretending everything’s ok & having a good time. He forgot all about Juggie in that moment and decided he wanted to have fun.

Then Betty deflects – this is classic Betty, she wants an outlet to pour all her energy into. And now Juggie’s party has become her latest project and she will leave no stone unturned to make sure it’s a success, right from the shape of the cake to the list of party supplies to the invitees and the crown T- shirt that she wears. “There’s a lot I can’t do, a lot I can’t control but I can make sure my boyfriend has the best birthday party ever.” Oh Betty! That “control” word!

She’s back at it again convincing FP to come over and she’s so earnest and persuasive that he cannot say no. She rarely, if ever, gives up. But how cute and how naïve Betty is for thinking that FP being there would be special for Juggie? Maybe she’s right in a way, Juggie’s always yearned for “normal” things, like a happy, united family because it’s something he could never have. His pushing FP to get a job and clean up his act is mainly because he wants to see his family together (even if said family wasn’t the happiest from his talk with Archie). Which means all of his family’s troubles were because of FP’s alcoholism. If Juggie believes that one act of FP quitting his drink can bring his family back, then it certainly must be the single-most driving force behind his mom leaving and also all those fights that he said happened all the time.

This episode showed the actual side-stepping behaviour of the core four. Betty does it by engaging in something else and making it her project, and Archie turns to something that distracts him or makes him happy – some frivolous pursuit. And Juggie does it by short circuiting, by lashing out, and by his sardonic humor. He was pretty non-confrontational till the last episode but this episode clearly triggered him – the party and everything else associated with it and brought to the fore his real fears.

Ronnie, by far, I think has the healthiest side-stepping behaviour, she actually talked to Archie about her fears, but I feel maybe that make-out was partly a diversionary tactic? I mean, she does like Archie romantically, we’ve seen that, but she’s never been compelled to do anything. Plus she’s never been jealous of him and Val or him and Cheryl which makes me wonder if she really thought about being with him or it was just the spur of the moment thing to start with but later snowballed into actual feelings?

Alice is great about Betty falling for this “Jones boy” but her advice to Betty not to share everything with him kinda sucked. Which led me to wonder what she told Hal that he used against her? Things about herself that she struggled with? Like her identity as a serpent? Did Hal believe that Alice killed Jason? Is that why he stole the evidence from Keller? Because he was worried Alice’s background and her hatred for the Blossoms could make her the prime suspect? If he did that, I think that works in nicely with Lochlyn saying Hal has good reason to be over-protective.

It’s quite interesting that they made Ethel to be a polar opposite of what she is in the comics physically. Which means that her character might be a polar opposite of Big Ethel too – like clearly she’s not interested in Jughead. She may not be interested in boys at all. But we’ll see. Didn’t they say we’ll see Ethel with someone quite different?

Which brings me to who told Cheryl about the shindig at that chowderhead Archie’s house??? I made a post about this earlier. Cheryl’s lackeys weren’t around in the lunch room when the four of them were talking (anyway she’d dismissed them but didn’t they show up at the party? At least I definitely saw Tina) and only Ethel was invited outside of their inner circle. Also, Joaquin but does Joaquin even know Cheryl? Only Val was close, she could’ve heard. Is she close to Cheryl as an extension of Josie being her friend? Why would she agree to gatecrash the party anyway? She wasn’t friends with Jughead and she’d just broken up with Archie. And from what we saw of Val in the last episode, she seems like a girl of integrity. So her being at the party was just plot driven?

Juggie actually sees Archie telling Betty about his birthday as primal betrayal! Which makes that PTSD all the more believable. Poor kid must’ve had it so bad. Juggie must’ve had a really high EQ even when he was younger, if he could feel this way. He was always so attuned to his emotions and what he felt, he couldn’t ignore them. So he deflected in other ways. By not making a big deal, by hiding stuff and keeping secrets, by pretending everything was normal – which we’ve seen him do too when he lost his home. So him saying that his birthday was the family pretending to be normal and him feeling lonely is actually quite ironic since he does it too now. But at least he acknowledges that it sucked and made him feel lonely which is admitting to feelings instead of brushing them the under the carpet.

Ronnie found out that the Blossoms made large payments to the Lodges starting 75 years ago and it only stopped when Hiram was sent to jail. This must have something to do with the Maple syrup feud with the Coopers and great- Grandpa Blossom murdering G-Grandpa Coop. Maybe Grandpa Lodge uncovered some truths, that proved the Blossoms weren’t the rightful claimants to the land, and he was paid to keep his mouth shut. He may have negotiated a perpetuity for his family that continued for 3 generations.

Hermione (and the lawyer) thinking it’s a good idea to keep the info from the lawyers bcos her husband might become a murder suspect when he’s already languishing in jail for a crime he did actually commit – ummm? Really??

The dance-off? I think Ronnie’s open belligerence to Cheryl after having shown her willingness to be friendly after Cheryl was repeatedly mean to her because she saw in her a mirror of her own self, had to do with her finding out that info about the Blossoms. They’ve becomes shady suspects again, implicating her dad and Cheryl is part of that scam too.

Archie taking to drink the minute something unpleasant happens – classic Archie side-stepping move. And I think this is what prompted him to invite the gang over with the kegs so he would have the opportunity to drown his sorrows some more. Poor, misguided sap! He drunk dialled his dad too when Val threw her drink at him. He’s just so needy, he doesn’t know how to deal with stuff on his own and that shows his emotional immaturity. I hope he doesn’t end up just using Ronnie as an emotional crutch.

Where is Fred BTW? Did he drive to Chicago? Is that a rented car?

Hiram Lodge’s letter to Ronnie – omg. He has no scruples – I’m loving it. I want him on the show now!

Bughead at the movies! Juggie being the caring and concerned BF wondering why his GF was so upset at the cafeteria and wanting to know more! Betty deflecting (Alice’s advice is working now)

“I didn’t think you were an American Werewolf kinda girl”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m all about the beast within”

That smile! I’m dead!

They left early because Betty pretended to be scared. How adorable!

Juggie is clearly uncomfortable from the get-go. And drunk!Archie hugging him must’ve been such a trigger! “Oh its Kevin”, Yes we know Juggie – we also know you feel like disappearing in a hole under the ground. And you immediately started to look for your wife. He seeks her out the minute he feels discomfort because she’s the only sanity in all the madness! I cry!

The cake! Her singing! That cheek kiss! “I wish it were only the two of us right now” I know that line wasn’t romantic, but it felt like it.

Poor Ronnie, she realized her dad had threatened her and her mom could be complicit too! Jughead came in realizing he was interrupting a moment.

A glimmer of the fight that will happen later can be seen in this argument. I have never seen Juggie this uncomfortable. He went to the baby shower and that wasn’t his scene either, but he was okay and here he isn’t? Clearly because here HE is the centre of attention, there he could just blend into the background. That’s why this party is so not him. His -I’m not wired to be normal- made my heart shatter!

The gang arrives and everything goes to hell. Archie’s drink-addled brain affected his decision making abilities which weren’t great to start with. How in the hell do you agree to let Chuck and Cheryl into your house Archie?

Ronnie and Betty were never dancing at the party – only Archie was. Is it because Juggie is the narrator and he was hiding out in the garage, which makes him an unreliable narrator? Or were the scenes in the beginning exaggerated to depict the chaos Jughead was talking about? And there was no recreational drug that Cheryl brought in like they said in the synopsis. Wtf?

“Valerie just got here, you think she wants me back” – See, Archie was still entertaining hopes of reconciling with Val and yet he makes out with Ronnie a few hours later. This is why I find it hard to take Archie-Ronnie seriously. And why was Val even there in the first place?

“As my blood brother” – was that line necessary? He could’ve just said brother? Are more secrets going to come tumbling out?

Archie trying to pin it all on Betty and trying to make it sound like Jughead will have to go along with whatever Betty dictates because he was her boyfriend? Sure you’re not salty Archie? But idk, I didn’t really get jealous Archie vibes in the sense of him wanting Betty, but maybe salty Archie bcos his two BFFs are together and he’s alone? Maybe subconsciously he was trying to wreck them by creating trouble. Like he knew Jughead would be upset at the party and he was being unfair making it all Betty’s idea, but maybe he wanted them to be in trouble? Idk

“Whether you want one or not”

“She knows what she wants that one”

Yeah I can understand Juggie’s head getting twisted with all that Betty wanting things and getting them, when he doesn’t want them, that makes him even more upset.

Ronnie finds out about FP being Jughead’s dad. “The plot thickens”. They inserted a Joavin kiss - yayy! Kevin who have you been down to Sweetwater River with besides Moose?? I’m dying to know!

Betty confronting Chuck and reminding him of the consequences was great, I did think she went a tad overboard when she tried to drown him but that’s the point isn’t it? Dark Betty would do something twisted and intense, what’s what makes her dark. Betty doesn’t understand it even, it’s something overwhelming that takes over her and makes her do crazy things.

Hiram and FP had business, yes Hiram hired FP to trash the drive-in land so he could buy it and he did. That’s over. Do they still have something going? Hiram being suspected in Jason’s murder affects FP how?

Now the Big fight!

“You and Archie are my friends, everyone else, including Kevin and Ronnie I would’ve actually shunned”. Okay, Ronnie- I understand. I don’t see why Juggie has to even consider her a friend, they’ve literally had no interaction with each other one-on-one. They don’t talk except in a group and this is the first time they had a one-on-one interaction. Yet Juggie would’ve been okay with the four of them at Pop’s. He’s accepted Betty’s friend, Veronica as part of their gang. He’s okay with it. But Kevin? He’s known Kevin for probably as long as Archie and Betty have known him, but he has obviously not connected with him. It broke my heart that he had no friends outside of Archie and Betty and when Betty was away and he’s had a fight with Archie he had no one! My poor baby!

Everything about this fight was so honest and real. Like, it hurt my heart, but it was so needed. They had to have this talk about their insecurities. Clearly Jughead feels insecure about why Betty is with him, he’s weird and he doesn’t fit in, he’s a loner, an outsider from the wrong side of the tracks, they’re different on a cellular, DNA level (or so he thinks), she’s a cheerleader, a straight A student, the perfect girl next door (I loved Betty’s “I hate that word” here). She’s seen as perfect because that’s what she strives to be and that’s what she shows to the world. Her best friend thought she was perfect. And now her boyfriend thinks she’s perfect too. But she’s just battling her own darkness within while projecting this image of her to the world possibly because of pressure from her mom. Her mom has to have drilled it into her to look a certain way and act a certain way and Betty does follow that, at time she rebels too – the incident with Chuck is one where she did, but Juggie doesn’t know any of it. This reminded me what Lili said about Betty being attracted to Juggie because his darkness is on the outside and Betty’s isn’t.

He thinks they’re on borrowed time and he doesn’t want to be one of her projects. Betty is immediately contrite, and she wants to reassure him, she reaches for him to cup his face and he pushes her hands away angrily. God Juggie! And then came the lowest blow – oh god Juggie – can’t you see how much this girl adores you, she’s wearing a fucking crown sweater! She’s wearing a part of you! And you think she still has feelings for Archie? But I know Juggie isn’t thinking rationally at that point. He immediately realizes he’s gone too far, but he cannot undo it. And her walking away, means she’s ending it. That’s what he thinks till FP forces him to go back to her. He thinks they have irreconcilable differences and he’s crossed a line and that they can never go back from here. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for her too, she just walked away because it hurt too much that he would say that. Yet he did. Because it’s something that has always been on the back of his mind. They may have evolved to being a couple after he took initiative and kissed her, but he still has doubts as to why she’s with him. Low self-esteem? Never been in a relationship before? And the fact that he feels inadequate compared to Archie – the popular football and music god who has no trouble finding girls to like him? And the fact that Betty was crushing on Archie was well known to Juggie. Of course he was insecure. Which takes me back to when he first kissed her. At that point I don’t think Jughead thought beyond that moment, he didn’t even plan on it when he first got there. It was just pure instinct. He knew Betty was moving on from Archie, she’d dated Trevor. He was possibly feeling these feelings for a while and he just acted upon them without thinking about the consequences. He didn’t think that far ahead on what Betty would think or feel or do. If she had chastised him, he would’ve accepted that, but she didn’t. She went along and in the next episode she kissed him. Even then he wasn’t sure what he was to her. He didn’t say anything to Archie and only upon him asking did he reveal they’d shared a moment and he didn’t say anything at all to his dad. He wasn’t ready to label it yet because he was unsure. Only when Ronnie officially calls him her boyfriend and she beams approvingly at him does he allow himself to think of him as her boyfriend. Still unsure of how she’d feel at the reveal that his father is a Serpent. I think only when she shows that she’s fully invested in the relationship and wants to be with him and know him does he let her in. But there must have been a semblance of some doubt still lingering. Else he wouldn’t have exploded the way he did.

Do they really play games like secrets and sins at high school parties?

Anyway, Archie getting exposed for the Grundy thing was cringe-worthy and I felt sorry for him. I was actually applauding Ronnie for calling Cheryl out on her twincest but seeing the real tears Cheryl shed, I’m thinking maybe it was a bit much. Anyway it was all speculation whereas everyone else’s secrets were actual facts.

Juggie now knows that Ronnie’s dad is the one responsible for the drive-in, but he holds no grudge against Ronnie for it. That moment when Jughead’s face was changing from shock to disbelief to realization to anger was so well-played by Cole. That simmering rage in his eyes and then when Chuck turned to address him , he couldn’t take it anymore. That punch he got was well-deserved but Juggie barely managed to make a dent, in fact, he ended up getting it worse than he gave. But it was great to see the anger boiling inside Juggie and all that pent-up rage finally finding an outlet. He still had that rage when he got out after the party broke out and FP accosted him. “What? You want to give me some advice on my right hook?” FP finally showed his worth by being the dad Juggie really needed by giving him some sound advice.

“You have something really good here” and “Man up, she needs you”. Juggie’s face here was yet another revelation, because earlier when he said “It’s not gonna work out, irreconcilable differences”, he really believed he and Betty had broken up. His voice cracked, almost as if he was gonna cry when he said that. What wouldn’t I give to hear that conversation he has with her before they make their way to Pop’s, when he goes inside and finds her!

I do wish we had seen more before the scene at Pop’s, they went from angry and hurt to benign and teasing and that was quite a jarring transition for me. That said, loved the heart to heart they had at Pop’s. Betty’s gentle teasing, and Juggie’s response about him having layers and then sobering up to open out about why he pushed her away for doing something nice for him because he was afraid of being rejected for being himself. I love that although Juggie thinks he’s weird and doesn’t fit in, he doesn’t want to (he’s truly a rebel without a cause) and he’s comfortable in his own skin and who he is, he’s so self-aware this boy and I’m so proud of him. He’s the right person to guide Betty through her shit bcos she does not understand what’s happening to her. She’s overwhelmed and scared by it. And he not only understands, he empathizes. It doesn’t freak him out or scare him, he just accepts it calmly as part of her. Him kissing her hands was a show of that acceptance. And it was just so beautiful! I wanted Alice to witness that moment and realize what a gem of a boyfriend her daughter has! (I think she already knows!) I wish they’d talked about his accusation that she was just slumming it with him till Archie changed his mind. I know her shocked (I’m totally done) reaction should have offered him (and us) assurance that it was ridiculous for him to feel that way, but sometimes talking it out in the open is so much more satisfying. Especially when they talked about literally everything else. I’m hoping that comes soon, I don’t want another scene where Juggie accuses Betty of having feelings for Archie. I hope this is done and will not be addressed again.

Coming to Alice and FP and I know a lot of people ship this couple already, but I kinda want the Coopers to be a strong family unit at least. All others have troubled families that are breaking apart, it would be nice if one family stayed together. Also, I admit it would be weird for me if Betty and Juggie are dating and their parents are too. Which is why I couldn’t get behind Varchie till Fred and Hermione were a thing. I can’t deny the chemistry bw Madchen and Skeet though. So Alice was a Serpent and I get the sneaky feeling we’re going to see a not so stick-in-the-mud Alice pretty soon! Besides, FP, you didn’t see that brick she hurled at her husband’s office or you wouldn’t be calling her that!

Archie and Ronnie- well, Idk how I feel about them hooking up honestly? They’re sweet and I think Ronnie’d be very good for Archie but is this truly the right time for them to be getting together? Clearly they like each other and are attracted to each other but not a few hours ago Archie was harbouring hope that he’d be getting back together with Val. Also I really need them to talk to Betty about what she feels for Archie because clearly it’s a point of concern for both Juggie and Ronnie. Why else would Ronnie be tiptoeing around Betty after spending the night at Archie’s (and lying to her mom about it!) Usually, if you lie to a parent about where you are, you also ensure that the friend who you’re supposed to be with is also in on the lie to back you up, which Ronnie obviously did not do and took a chance there!

Jughead’s approving of Ronnie with Archie struck me as odd because he’s this clear-thinking rational individual who’s not afraid to call people out on their shit especially Archie. Idk if it registered with him that Archie was looking to get back together with Val, but still thought it was ok for him to be with Ronnie so soon after breaking up with Val. One, it could mean he really likes Ronnie and thinks she’d be good for Archie and 2) It’s his insecurity raising its ugly head again and Archie being with Ronnie means he cannot pursue Betty. But I really wonder how it was so easy for him to agree to keep this a secret from Betty bcos that sucks. After she just told him her darkest secret, he’s once again accepting hiding things from her? I know it’s not his secret to tell, but Betty is their friend and she would be happy for them. Or maybe he thinks Ronnie would tell her? Idk. I hope this is resolved soon in the next episode cos I would hate to have them drag it out.

I just hate the trope where misunderstandings happen because of someone keeping something from the other person and unfortunately it’s the most visited trope in writing. Riverdale has been pleasantly surprising me there and I hope they continue to do that.

Next episode promo:

- FP gets arrested (probably) and the core four think he’s innocent, so work to free him

- Is Betty pissed with Varchie because they’re working with her mom without her, or is it something else? (Varchie being together, singing a duet) I hope to God it’s the former

- What did they lie to Juggie about? (I do not want more Bughead drama, donotwantdonotwantdonotwantdonotwant (sending out cookies and candy and sacrifices to the Riverdale Gods)

- Luke said all the secrets with the parents will come out in this episode and I’m really excited to know all about their past

- I think Cheryl threatened Polly because she thinks Polly killed Jason. I think we might see them getting on the same side and Cheryl actually becoming an ally when that revelation (whatever it maybe) comes to light.

- The wig room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Is Hal going to be reconciled with Alice?

- I’m so scared for my poor son Jughead, what makes him break down like that? I’m not ready!

- I think Hiram is going to make an appearance (they did tease that he &/or Gladys will be appearing, on much earlier than we’d expect, although it could happen that Gladys is the one to come, because of FP getting arrested)

#riverdale reviews #my riverdale reviews #riverdale 1x10 #riverdale thinky thoughts

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