It's back! October 11th could not get here fast enough.

Riverdale Season 2 Episode 1 picked up right where last season's thrilling cliffhanger left off. We had a gunshot, an emergency and a whole lot of drama. And a new mystery for us to obsess over.

Christmas came early. There goes my social life...

Riverdale has always been a dark and mysterious show. It's no secret that it's one of the reasons why I'm hooked on this addictive story. As I once said, this is Archie with an edge.

But, from what we saw in "Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying," Archie and the other characters aren't playing around anymore.

The drama is heightened, the romance is steamier, and things are getting darker. We got blood, death, and deception within the hour.

If this is what's in store for Riverdale Season 2, I'm ready for more.

Archie saving his dad in time was a sure thing. There's no way he wouldn't be able to get Fred to the hospital. The character needed a chance at survival.

I felt so bad for Archie.

He looked traumatized through it all. He didn't know what to do or how to react for much of Riverdale Season 2 Episode 1. I mean, he was covered in his dad's blood for a lot of time. It took his friends to tell him to change clothing.

Archie needs to talk to someone, especially now that he's guarding the house with a bat at night. This could be a dangerous slippery slope.

Betty is lucky Alice didn't kill her.

Does she have a death wish? You don't tell your mother you almost lost your virginity the night before. Something like that isn't normal breakfast chitchat.

Obviously, Alice is going to stare Jughead down. Her barely 16-year-old daughter nearly had sex with her maybe gang member boyfriend. That isn't something you ignore.

Alice and Betty may be trying to repair their relationship, but Alice is known to send people away. She did it to Polly. Boarding school isn't out of the question.

Betty, Veronica, Jughead and their families rushing down to the hospital was heartwarming.

These friends are like a family. They care for each other. The same goes for all of the additional Riverdale High people who popped into the hospital.

Even though this is only the Riverdale Season 2 premiere, the writers still haven't given Josie her fair share.

She only had one line...and it wished Fred luck with a cat cliche. They're trying with Kevin, but they have more to do overall. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

And, if you all didn't notice, the new Reggie made his appearance in the hospital. He didn't say much, but he was there.

The suspect line-up: good idea or pointless?

Don't get me wrong, this needed to be done to find the gunman and Archie was the witness. However, this seemed pretty early. They had no facts other than he had green eyes.

Wearing a mask and jacket blocked a lot of features. Archie would have to be precise to spot the same color of eyes and build to find the gunman.

Also, there should've been an adult/guardian with Archie when he did the line-up and witness report.

Archie is barely 16.

He's still a sophomore as Riverdale Season 2 is set in winter; it continues right after Riverdale Season 1 Episode 13! And, as Jughead mentions, he doesn't have his license yet. Someone should've been with him until his mom arrived.

The hallucinations were a nice touch for Riverdale Season 2 Episode 1. I love these types of breaks. We got a closer, hazy look into Fred's mind.

Everything that we've learned about him from Riverdale Season 1, like wanting Archie to take over the family business or graduating, still holds true. But the big pain point is wanting to be there. He wasn't ready to go.

Just like what Alice said, Fred is a fighter. It was heartbreaking that he might miss those moments.

Let's mark it here, Riverdale fans. "Varchie" (that's Veronica and Archie, to the newbies) had the first hook-up of the season.

It wasn't a playful kiss. We're talking full-on steamy shower time.

I'm surprised at how quickly this couple is heating up, especially since they only got together on Riverdale Season 1 Episode 10. Only a short time has gone by in the Riverdale timeline.

It's great to see Veronica comfort him, like afterward when he was crying. (Mind out of the gutters, people.) She was being a good girlfriend and didn't want him to be alone. She really cares about him.

Betty: Well, if it was just some rando robbing Pop’s, then he probably took the money and then got rid of the wallet.
Jughead: Unless it wasn’t just some rando? Unless it was premeditated in some way?
Veronica: What? Is that an actual theory?
Jughead: According to Sheriff Keller, if you ask me. People have grudges, people have enemies. I mean, think of where we live. Fathers are killing their sons. It’s clearly conceivable this was a hit.
Betty: Okay, or the wallet is just at Pop’s? So, we’ll check it out, V.

• Permalink: What? Is that an actual theory?

Is Jughead onto something with the conspiracy theory?

His assumptions make a lot of sense with all the evidence gathered. The gunman didn't go for any of the money and only shot Fred. Plus, he only stole Fred's wallet.

It's suspicious, if you ask me.

Shooting Fred could've been a targeted attack. The gunman knew what he was doing and who he wanted to hurt,

Hermione: So, because you’re so determined to paint your father as a villain, you assume he must have put a hit on Fred Andrews? Do you?
Veronica: Not him. You. I don’t think you’re an innocent pawn, Mom. I think you’re Daddy’s eyes and ears on the ground calling the shots.
Hermione: You genuinely believe that?
Veronica: If the Manolo Blahnik fits.
[Hermione gets up]
Hermione: Miha, your disrespect will no longer be tolerated. Not by me and certainly not by her father when he comes home. So word of advice: get back in line with this family. Because you are a Lodge before anything else.
[She learns forward]
Hermione: I should slap you for what you’re insinuating, but I’m not a violent person.

• Permalink: If the Manolo Blahnik fits.

It takes guts to accuse your mother of plotting Fred's death. Veronica had no concerns. She threw it all on the table.

I give credit where credit is due. That was a brave act, especially doing it in a chapel, and if the fact happened to be true.

Kudos to the set designers and editors for planning out this scene. It looked visually serene on screen, which was a total contrast to the mood. All the candles and the confined praying area heightened the drama between the characters.

Veronica seized the opportunity in a peaceful place to discuss something very troubling.

I've missed Cheryl. She is flawless and amazing. Her scenes on Riverdale Season 2 Episode 1 reminded me why I love this character.

From the vibe in the patient room, she's tired of letting her parents push her around. I'm glad she stood up to her mother. Penelope Blossom has been a monster to her.

Speaking of Penelope, who else was shocked to see Penelope horrifically burned?

She was fine the last time we saw her. There has to be something special about the family portrait for her to risk her life to go back into a burning house. The same goes with Clifford's death.

Cheryl called it out, but it looks like there's more to his barnyard suicide than what we thought. Could Penelope have been involved?

Cheryl: If you tell anyone the truth about what happened with the fire, I’ll tell everyone about what really happened in the barn with Daddy. You were cruel to me, Mother. It was abuse. Please, Mom.
[Cheryl starts squeezing Penelope’s breathing tube and she whispers]
Cheryl: So, hence forth: if you breathe, it’s because I give you air. If you drink, it’s because I’ve poured your cup myself. And, If you move, it is quietly and with my blessing.
[She releases the breathing tube]
Cheryl: Things are going to be different now, Mommy. Better...you’ll see.

• Permalink: You were cruel to me, Mother. It was abuse.

Why does Fred want to wear a kilt to Archie's wedding?

Out of everything that popped up in the hallucinations, this strangely made me question some things. He wants to be at the graduation, handing over the business, engagement, and wedding. But the kilt?

It is Fred's dream. Let him have what he wants. He has good legs, and he's awake from his coma now. To each their own.

Hopefully, one day he will live his dream to make it happen.

Jughead shouldn't be too surprised the Serpents attacked someone. He ordered the task. They finished the job. It seems pretty simple.

Their action answers the question if he's joining the Serpents or not. He seems to have no choice now. Regardless of wearing the jacket, he's a part of their crew.

Even though Betty says she'll support him in whatever he does, we should be worried.

Who knows what they might ask him to do? The others in the crew don't mind kidnapping someone and interrogating him. Jughead could be forced to do something similar.

Is anyone else hating Hermione Lodge right now? I can't even with this character.

As I've mentioned before, Hermione is inconsistent. She's nice one minute but then turns into a cold, manipulative villain the next. The transition hasn't been the smoothest ride.

I think it's been settled that she'll be a villain. She's become the Lady MacBeth of Riverdale and will stand by her criminal husband. Veronica and the rest of the town need to watch their backs.

I LOVED when Hiram Lodge was introduced. Sure, he's mysterious, but this was a prime "love-to-hate" Hermione moment. When she called out Veronica for drinking the Cristal, I could not side-eye strong enough.

Hermione is shady and petty.

Hermione: Veronica...come here, Miha.
Hiram: I came home early to surprise you. Imagine my surprise when you weren’t here to greet me.
Hermione: And she drank your Cristal....
Hiram: So disrespectful. Not like you at all, Miha.
Veronica: I’ve changed. You have no idea. Question is, have you?
Hiram: Not so much that I still don’t want a kiss from my daughter.
[She walks over and gives him a light kiss on the cheek]
Veronica: By the way, in case either of you were wondering, Mr. Andrews woke up. He’s going to make it. I know we’re all really happy about that.
[She turns around and leaves]

• Permalink: And she drank your Cristal....

Ugh! I can't believe we saw Ms. Grundy again. Her storyline was one that was thankfully cut out early in Riverdale Season 1.

In hindsight, her goodbye didn't seem final. There was always a chance she'd return, especially now since it seems like she is still up to her old tricks dating teen students.

With her death, we got another layer to this mystery: Why did the gunman kill Ms. Grundy?

The gunman shot Fred, but now he's killed Ms. Grundy. These two characters only have one connection, and it's our favorite redheaded boy-next-door. Archie needs to be careful.

Other people close to him could be in danger.

What did you think of "Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying"? Who do you think is the gunman? Is Hiram Lodge connected to the attack? Do Clifford and Jason Blossom appearing in Fred's hallucination mean there's more to the story?

If you missed the latest episode of Riverdale, you can watch Riverdale online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and let us know what you think.

Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.