Archie and Veronica Are in Trouble in 'Riverdale'
While the identity of Riverdale's Black Hood is still unknown, the entire gang continues its quest for answers in this week's episode. Its title, "House of the Devil," might make it seem like this week is all about the town's murderers, but it's actually about something way more devastating: breakups. Prepare yourself for misery, as every relationship on the show seems to fall apart in this week's episode.
1) Veronica and Archie are having a lot of sex.
As Jughead announces in his opening narration, "Varchie became the opposite of death." The couple are having sex every chance they get, even in Veronica's house while her parents are out of town, which is more than a little risky. However, their carnal pleasures don't make up for an underlying problem that's starting to bubble over...
2) Archie says "I love you," but Veronica can't say it back.
In a super awkward moment, Archie says that four letter word, but Veronica can't say it in return. As the episode goes on, it becomes clear that she doesn't even know how. But is that because she doesn't love Archie?
3) The Riverdale Reaper is real.
The story the truck driver told in last week's episode about the Riverdale Reaper is true. A family of four was murdered at the edge of town decades ago and the murder was never solved. Betty also learns she's actually been to the murder house; the Black Hood sent her to the abandoned building in a previous episode.
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4) FP gets out of jail.
Thanks to supposed overcrowding at the jail, FP gets an early release. Jughead is overjoyed, especially as FP seems to be turning his life around.
5) Cheryl's flirtation with Josie continues.
Cheryl gives Josie a massage in the locker room while they're both wearing towels. But the janitor walks in, disturbing their private moment. Ut's clear from Josie's expression that she's getting uncomfortable with Cheryl's extra attention.
6) The Lodges receive a letter from the Black Hood.
And so do dozens of other households. The letter tells the Lodges they're being "targeted and punished for [their] sinful ways."
7) The Lodges have warmed to Archie.
Because of the increased attention from the Black Hood, the Lodges decide Archie should be around Veronica as much as possible. "We wouldn't mind seeing more of Archie. He's brawny and devoted to you," Hermione says. Cue copious scenes involving a topless Archie and his rock-hard abs.
8) Betty asks her mom to be nice to FP and Jughead.
Betty begs Alice to put her differences with the Serpents aside and be nice to her boyfriend and his dad. Alice begrudgingly agrees, but it's clear that Alice's history with the Serpents, and FP, is complicated.
9) Jughead and Tall Boy disagree about the direction the Serpents are going in.
Jughead wants the Serpents to sit down with the Mayor of Riverdale and broker peace. Tall Boy doesn't want to comply. Luckily for Jughead, the Serpents side with him, and he tells Tall Boy that he's, "Acting like a little bitch," which is either brave or totally stupid.
10) Veronica and Archie confide in their respective parents about the "L" word.
Veronica and Archie each have discussions with their parents about Archie's use of the word "love." Veronica realizes she's never heard her parents tell each other that they love each other, which might be part of the reason she can't say it. Fred reassures Archie that he should just give Veronica some time.
11) FP has seemingly reformed in prison.
Alice and Betty take FP and Jughead to the diner following FP's release from prison. He tells them he's in Alcoholics Anonymous and he's decided he's no longer going to be a Serpent. He also got a job at Pop's. He's apparently committed to turning his life around.
Alice asks FP the incredibly suggestive question, "Is it true what they say about men who've just been released from prison? That they are incredibly sexually frustrated?" Wait, do these two love each other?!
12) Archie and Veronica investigate the Riverdale Reaper.
The previous homicide detective on the case passed away a few years ago, so Archie and Veronica call his daughter. She tells them her dad was obsessed with the murders, and called the house where the murders took place "the Devil's house."
We see flashbacks to the murders, which are reminiscent of Red Dragon. The family members were brutally picked off one by one. Archie and Veronica then discover the case notes, which reveal that the family had three children, but only two were reported as murdered. Where's the third kid?
13) Jughead asks for FP's blessing to stay in the Serpents.
Jughead has decided that he needs to stay in the Serpents to keep the peace. However, he lies about Penny Peabody, who has asked Jug to do more favors for her, and tells his dad she's not involved.
14) Betty tells Toni she wants to be "Serpent adjacent."
Betty confides in Toni that she wants to keep Jughead safe, even if that means becoming a Serpent, or at least "Serpent adjacent." Toni tells Betty she needs to do a special "dance" in front of the Serpents to be accepted by them. While Toni says the striptease is incredibly sexist, it's apparently a tradition. Also, Betty still doesn't know that Toni and Jughead kissed, which is surely going to cause a lot of problems at some point, especially if Toni and Betty are friends now.
15) Penny threatens Betty.
Penny tells Jug that if he stops helping her transport drugs, then she'll hurt Betty. Now, Jughead feels as though he has no choice but to continue doing favors for Penny.
16) Alice threatens FP, and it's revealed that they were once romantically involved.
Now this is a future Riverdale romance I can get behind. Alice tells FP, "I won't have our kids make the same mistakes we did," hinting that the pair have a complicated history together.
FP tells Alice about the retirement party that Betty's throwing in honor of him leaving the Serpents. He tells Alice to come, especially if she wants to keep an eye on her daughter. Alice declares, "Hal would never come," to which FP replies, "Well then leave him... at home." It definitely sounds as though FP has told Alice to leave Hal before.
17) Veronica and Archie discover the identity of the murdered family's surviving child.
The third child of the murdered family escaped out of the window when he heard gunshots. He changed his name and was adopted by another family in Riverdale. It turns out he's none other than the creepy school janitor, who just this episode walked in on Cheryl and Josie in the locker room. The janitor explains that the Riverdale Reaper is dead because he gave the identity of the murderer to a group of men in town, who then kidnapped and presumably killed him. But is the janitor telling the truth? It's very possible he's the Reaper and killed his own family, isn't it?
18) Betty lets her ponytail down, and Alice shows her true snake colors.
Betty shakes out her ponytail, ready to party with the Serpents at FP's retirement party. And her mom, Alice, gets her old leathers out, looking every bit the snake she used to be. She's right at home among the Serpents.
19) Veronica and Archie duet on "Mad World" together.
Archie tells Veronica he's signed them up to sing that Donnie Darko song she loves. But midway through the duet, Veronica runs off stage and Archie follows her.
20) Betty does her striptease for the Serpents.
On Toni's advice, Betty takes the stage after Veronica and Archie leave and finishes their duet, stripping to her underwear and taking the pole. Jughead is completely shocked, but the Serpents seem to enjoy it.
21) FP announces he's never leaving the Serpents.
At his very own retirement party, FP declares, "It'll be a cold day in hell before a pig tells a snake what to do."
22) FP tells Jughead he knows about Penny Peabody.
The reason FP's decided not to leave the Serpents is to protect Jughead. He tells him his heart has been broken by Jughead's lies about Penny, and that he will take over the debt and work with Penny. He then takes a shot, breaking his sobriety.
23) Veronica breaks up with Archie.
Veronica tells Archie that she can't go down this road with Archie anymore. She doesn't know why she can't say "I love you" to him, but she can't. Crying, she gets into her car. Surely this isn't the end for Varchie?!
24) Jughead pushes Betty away.
While it's unclear whether or not they've broken up, Jug tells Betty he won't let her be in the Serpents, and he wishes she hadn't done the striptease for them. He tells her to go home, and makes it sound as though they can't be together anymore. Is this the end of Bughead... again?!
25. Archie looks out of his window at the girl next door...
In a super suggestive end to the episode, Archie looks out his bedroom window and straight into Betty's. The pair stare at each other, and now that they're both potentially single, it's possible that a new Riverdale romance could be igniting...
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