A Familiar Face Returns to 'Riverdale'
This post contains spoilers for the Riverdale episode, “Chapter Thirty-Three: Shadow of a Doubt.”
If you’ve been counting, with Wednesday’s episode of Riverdale, there are only two episodes left in season two, which means the Black Hood’s real identity will soon be revealed. Or not. It’s Riverdale after all. First things first: who could’ve predicted the beautiful return of Joaquin DeSantos (Rob Raco), who showed up for a quick hello at FP’s trailer on “Chapter Thirty-Three: Shadow of a Doubt?” The last time we saw Joaquin on the show, he was boarding a bus bound for San Junipero just as the town was rounding up suspects for Jason Blossom’s murder. That was more than 20 episodes ago (specifically, “Chapter Twelve: Anatomy of a Murder”), so his return was a delightful surprise.
According to FP, Joaquin is in town to rescue Fangs, who, on this episode, went from regular teenage Serpent to Midge’s prime murder suspect and back in the span of about 30 minutes. (Yes, Fangs and Midge were hooking up just before she died, but that’s it!) “I can sneak him out to San Junipero,” Joaquin tells Jughead, who looked absolutely shocked to see him in the flesh. “I got a place there.” While I have so many questions about Joaquin’s life in San Junipero, and whether he’s still in touch with Kevin these days (probably not), there was a lot to unpack, especially in the department of the Black Hood.
The dead body at the morgue is not Chic! Betty appears to be relieved, but she’s not sorry about posing as “Mrs. Cooper,” her mom, who’s had a longstanding deal with the coroner to see fresh, dead bodies before anyone else does. Does this mean Chic is alive? Or maybe he’s been teaming up with the Black Hood all along?
Cheryl and cousin Betty sure make a great team. Betty, who lied to Jughead in the previous episode about her phone calls with the Black Hood, opens up to Cheryl about her latest suspicions about Hal. In return, Cheryl offers support and reminds Betty that she shouldn’t overreact and that she ultimately needs proof. She goes to the morgue with her and even joins Betty when she looks for Black Hood clues at Hal’s B&B, where they find a Nancy Drew cipher book. Aw, it’s nice to see Cheryl and cousin Betty solving mysteries together. Suddenly, that “stone cold bitch” moment in front of the lockers seems so far away.
Reggie is now under the tutelage and control of Hiram. I get it, Reggie. You’re always in the shadow of Archie, but did you really have to listen to Hiram and gather your “war dogs” to fuck shit up at the Whyte Wyrm? And did you really have to growl right before setting a dumpster on fire and slashing tires?
The Black Hood opens fire at the mayoral debate. This is a terrifying scene, especially with Fred being on stage, in clear view of the Black Hood. Within seconds, Archie and Fred are reunited and unharmed. The Lodges find each other, also unscathed. And Betty ducks down with Hal, which possibly disproves her theory that the Black Hood is her dad.
Betty asks Hal to meet her “where this all began.” She means the Town Hall, where she delivered that speech about the spirit of Riverdale for the 75th Anniversary Jubilee. She lays out her evidence, which includes photocopies of Hal’s planner (which lines up with the Black Hood activity) and the Nancy Drew book. She also has a gun. “I wanted it to be between you and me,” she tells Hal while making this appointment. “Just how you wanted it from the beginning. Just like it’s supposed to be.”
Fangs is shot. Seconds after being released from the Sheriff’s office, Fangs is surrounded by Jughead, Toni, and their fellow Serpents, but ultimately the protection is not enough from the mob of angry people who want justice for Midge. In the chaos of it all, Archie manages to stop Reggie and his gun. Fangs is shot anyway, but by someone else. Is it the Black Hood? A new killer? Will people blame Reggie?
The Black Hood shows up at Thistlehouse under a full moon. Rude of the Black Hood to interrupt Cheryl’s reading time. If you must know, she was reading The Books of Blood by Clive Barker, a six-part horror fiction series.
Some of the stories were later adapted into films, including 1992’s Candyman (based on “The Forbidden”). If you really want to go there, Candyman starred Tony Todd, who made a guest appearance back on “Chapter Twenty: Tales from the Darkside,” when he played Farmer McGinty, the scary guy who drove Jughead part of the way to Greendale.
Bonus: The show is still getting away with OTT lines. Examples from this week include:
“I need your Dark Circle to lay off my Serpents.” – Jughead to Archie
“Word on the street is Papa Poutine’s son Small Fries is looking for payback.” – Elio, son of an interested Lodge investor, to Archie
“We have to find him before the Dark Circle does.” – Jughead to Toni, re: Fangs (maybe anything with the words “Dark Circle” is funny at this point)
“In unity there is strength.” – Jughead and his fellow Serpents, just before walking out of the Sheriff’s office with Fangs
You Might Also Like