Whether you liked the Black Hood reveal or not, “Riverdale” is ready to move on.
The CW series will enter the back half of Season 2 with “Blackboard Jungle,” an episode that will fan the flames of Riverdale’s regional conflict. Alice Cooper publicly called for the dissolution of Southside High. In their infinite wisdom, the government conceded. Now, as this completely impractical and unbelievable storyline plays out, Serpents, Ghoulies, and the children of suburban privilege will bring their grievances to bare in the halls of Riverdale High.
‘Riverdale’ Midseason Premiere Preview
Against the backdrop of societal woes, Archie’s (KJ Apa) teenage cohort will continue to entwine adolescent angst with their families’ dark secrets. For Archie and Veronica (Camila Mendes), this means getting their hands dirty.
“Veronica ensures Hiram (Mark Consuelos) and Hermoine (Marisol Nichols) that she’s still on board with their plans for SoDale,” The CW teased. “Archie is conflicted when he is asked to gather some information on Hiram’s suspicious business dealings.”
No one outside the Pembroke knows quite what the Lodges are up to, but Veronica, despite her misgivings, seems willing to scheme alongside her parents. Previously an ardent supporter of the ‘Hiram Lodge is a Scumbag’ fan club, Ronnie has apparently switched sides.
Is she merely playing the good little heiress in an effort to flip the tables on Lodge Industries? Or is she all in? Apparently, it will be up to Archie to uncover the truth.
Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead (Cole Sprouse), and Kevin (Casey Cott), meanwhile, have their own family issues to deal with. Although Kevin is still in the dark regarding his father’s philandering ways, Betty already knows her parents’ deepest secret, and it’s one that will send her on a quest to find her long-lost brother, Chic.
As for Jughead, he’ll presumably be busy trying to keep his foot in the door down at the Whyte Wyrm despite his father’s best efforts.
Is ‘Riverdale’s’ Black Hood Really Gone?
Now for the question of the hour - is Riverdale free of its masked avenger? Was Mr. Svenson really attempting to rectify his childhood transgressions via a nigh biblical purge of sinners?
His Scooby-Doo reveal (it was the janitor all along!) left a few loose ends - why did he steal Fred Andrews’ (Luke Perry) wallet? Who really killed his family? What sparked his urge to kill?
These are the queries series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has yet to answer. As of now, all the EP has teased is the writers’ “back to basics” approach for the spring run.
“The second half of season 2 gets back to a little bit of Riverdale basics, which is focused on stories at the school, kind of getting back in deep on the relationships and the friendships,” Aguirre-Sacasa told Entertainment Weekly.
Find out more when “Riverdale” returns to The CW on Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. ET. Click the video below to see a preview for “Blackboard Jungle.”
