Riverdale Season 3 Episode 21 Review: The Dark Secret of Harvest House
Justin Carreiro
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If one thing was made perfectly clear after Riverdale Season 3 Episode 21, it's that most people don't leave The Farm in one piece. Enlightenment from this cult doesn't come without a price.
We always figured that The Farm was up to no good with their chants about togetherness and their brainwashing. What Betty discovered, on the other hand, was new levels of deception that made Edgar Evernever look like a deranged serial killer.
Anyone could be at risk heading into Riverdale Season 3's finale next week.
The secrets of The Farm were more serious than any one of us could've imagined.
Throughout all the possibilities that ran through our minds (from a financial con to a supernatural servitude for The Gargoyle King), organ harvesting hadn't been a top contender. This reveal took the cake with Riverdale's trend of twisting real-life issues with a dark, 50s-style charm.
When you look back at The Farm's past actions, the reality of their deception has a terrifying effect on it. In particular, their ongoing motto of "being one with the many" has a creepy connection to the organs given to unknown people.
(Of course, they'd be one with the many ... their body parts were placed in other people!)
And let's not forget all the people who willingly went to The Farm and didn't know. Did the former patients of the Sisters of Quiet Mercy get sliced and diced too? What did they take from Fangs and Kevin?
This twist was an interesting revelation that exposed a deeper layer of The Farm's activities. It provided a satisfactory beginning to the wave of truths that will no doubt come from Edgar Evernever.
Though, WHY Edgar is stealing the organs will impact the power of this twist.
Simply taking the organs isn't enough to justify the actions of The Farm. We need backstories, receipts, and the ultimate master plan that Edgar and Evelyn had in mind when they started the cult.
I'm hoping the Riverdale Season 3 finale will offer an exciting resolution.
My money is on Edgar stealing these organs to save Evelyn's life, and also him selling them on the black market to make money. Evelyn revealing her past sickness teased an ongoing issue that had been happening long before the cult came to Riverdale.
To save her life, Edgar would need viable organs to keep her going.
He could also be offering the same service to people around the world for the right price. With a loyal following of people needing to be free of their evil, he would have the stock to fulfill his orders.
The best way to discover the truth was living within The Farm, and Betty's resolve to do it helped exposed a few long overdue answers.
Firstly, Edgar's control got done mainly through hypnosis. WIth a few calming words, he placed many people under his spell.
I am not a part of you. You are a part of me. I am the real Elizabeth Cooper. You are the illusion.
Dark Betty
In hindsight, it wasn't surprising that this was his first mode of mind control. After he brought someone to the realm of calm, he could easily manipulate their minds and drag them further down the path of obedience. Sleep and food deprivation, emotional manipulation, and dugs would be easy to administer at that point.
His therapy session had a creepy "Get Out" vibe to it. I was waiting for him to bring out the teacup.
(Side-note: If you haven't watched Get Out, please do. You're missing out!)
Secondly, the interactions with the dead loved ones weren't supernatural at all! If you correctly guessed this, you deserve a cookie and applause.
At first, the appearance of Dark Betty had all the potential to break down Betty's barriers. The evil inner-self said every dark and twisted thought that Betty internalized out of fear; she knew exactly how to manipulate her. But when Polly emerged from the darkness in Betty's clothes, I shouted, "That monster!"
It doesn't matter that Polly is Betty's sister and brainwashed, she is positively the worst. Even after Betty apologized to her and Polly "forgave" her, she would still do this to her little sister.
Related: Riverdale Season 3 Episode 20 Review: Prom Night
Looking back at Cheryl's and Alice's assertions, they didn't see Jason or Charles. Someone most likely pretended to be them in the darkness and fed off their insecurities.
If Polly willingly did it for Betty, it could've been anyone portraying the dead.
Our Riverdale Round Table had predicted that drugs were the reason how Edgar performed this miracle. To some extent, there might be drugs involved in this entire cult control. But, this miracle turned out to be more smoke and mirrors than an all-powerful leader.
My patience has officially run out with Kevin Keller. He needs to go, and Betty should never forgive him after this plot.
After Betty found proof (actual legitimate proof) about The Farm's human harvesting program, neither Kevin nor Fangs gave Betty's pleas the time of day. In addition to that, them taking her down and turning her over to security was a thoughtless and mind-boggling move.
And let's not forget Kevin SNAPPING at Betty for her caring about his injury! (She's supposed to be his "best friend," after all.)
Betty: Cheryl, The Farm is a front. Kevin ... Fangs ... Edgar took their kidneys. There’s a refrigerator filled to the brim with human organs. The Farm is an organ farm!
Cheryl: Are you trying to get shipped off to Shutter Island, you lunatic?
[Betty opens the cooler to reveal an organ]
Cheryl: Oh my God! Is that?
Betty: Yes! Cheryl, what if this is why he keeps adopting kids? For his human chop shop. Based on the price list in the infirmary, it’s lucrative as hell.
Even Cheryl, who had been the most vocal against Betty's arguments, turned over a new leaf once she got proof. Sure, Betty didn't bring the heart (or kidney?) to the boys, but all she wanted was for them to come with her to see the truth.
Kevin is proving time and time again how self-involved he is in his motivations. He only cares about achieving his fulfillment, regardless if it hurts anyone else.
After The Farm gets destroyed, Betty should dispel all the negative people from her life. She keeps risking her well-being for people who couldn't care less. Leave Polly, Alice, and Kevin to clean up their messy affairs.
Speaking of messy affairs, we might finally (FINALLY!) have a resolution to the Archie vs. Hiram feud. For what seemed like 84 years and a marathon of Celine Dion songs, Riverdale took down the big bad wolf that was Hiram Lodge.
His greed and ego did him in this time around.
If he hadn't fooled Veronica all this time about the deed to the diner or placed illegal bets on the boxing match, he could've easily avoided this latest arrest. The FBI wanted to pin something on him, and while it wasn't anything from the long list of deeds he had done these past two seasons, at least it was something.
Who knew the secret ingredient all this time to take down Hiram was Mary Andrews? She's the equivalent of Riverdale's socialite; she apparently knows EVERYONE.
Just like Archie's escape on Riverdale Season 3 Episode 5, everyone had a part to play to make this happen. The takedown was glorious.
As we previously discussed during last week's review, I still fully believe that Riverdale made this plot to find ways to show off Hiram's abs.
In addition to returning to the steam room, we now have the scene of shirtless and sweaty Archie and Hiram fighting it out in the ring; letting the result of their growing hatred manifest itself with escalating punches.
Seriously, the jokes write themselves at this point.
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The expression "Let them fight it out" summed up this entire confrontation. The back-and-forth of alliances and betrayals became too frustrating to watch; the bickering boys needed to get over themselves and solve their issues somehow.
And Hiram being his absolute horrible self wouldn't let it be a fair fight either. Of course, he had to sneakily throw in a motive to kill Archie in the ring to gain profit. The look on his face when FP arrested him made the scene even more satisfying.
Hiram got what was coming to him. Hopefully, this arrest will be the last we'll see of his character for a very long time.
Plus, Veronica's cold delivery of her victory moment added the perfect cherry to this scrumptious sundae!
She needed no yelling, tears or heat to deliver her words with conviction. Veronica outmaneuvered her father after two seasons of him taking control and destroying their family.
Hiram: My own daughter. Working with the Feds.
[Hiram stands up]
Hiram: And for what? An ex-boyfriend?
Veronica: No, I did this for me, Daddy. I found out you lied; that you still held the deeds to Pop’s and La Bonne Nuit, and it made me very, very angry.
Hiram: Consider it a lesson learned, Miha.
Veronica: Regardless, all of your assets are being seized by the government as we speak. Your precious empire will be put up for public auction. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this parting thought ... I won.
Veronica learned from the best and took down the biggest baddie in town. If only we didn't have her inconsistent character development weeks before muddy the waters, this scene would've had a greater climactic endpoint.
But, we can't dwell on the past; Veronica finally made it to this point and achieved what she should've done a long time ago.
The Riverdale writers need to ensure that she doesn't backslide again into being the victim. The character of Veronica isn't a victim.
Though, with the return of the Archie/Veronica/Reggie love triangle, life will no doubt become messy on its own.
Between the two options, I'm happy that Veronica and Reggie got back together. "Endgame" status is up in the air and seems like a non-possibility, but at least she's not back together with Archie. We all need a break from that toxic relationship.
Mary: So, you and Veronica are quite the dynamic duo. Are you?
Archie: I don’t know. Sometimes it feels like we’re going to get back together, but then...
Mary: Personally, I think you’re endgame.
Archie: Endgame?
Mary: Oh yeah, but it doesn’t really matter what I think. Maybe you should ask her what she thinks?
Right now, Archie and Veronica don't work.
They're destructive, enabling, and they don't tackle their issues like a normal couple. Plus, both Archie and Veronica had recently gotten out of rebound relationships, so they didn't need to reignite another failing relationship.
Who knows if they'll fix their issues and reach a point of maturity to restart their relationship. But, Riverdale would be smart to put this romance on the backburner and let their characters explore other paths before bringing up a potential romance.
Do you think Jason Blossom is The Gargoyle King?
Having the victim of Riverdale's first murder mystery be the puppet master would be a great connection to Riverdale Season 1. The first three seasons could then be considered a "trilogy" in the horror movie sense where all the main baddies would've had a hand in Jason's scheme.
Plus, if The Farm is involved with GK, the entire story would come full-circle. Think of the web that would be weaved from this reveal.
Related: Riverdale Season 3 Episode 19 Review: Fear the Reaper
On the other hand, I'm guessing this could be a red herring.
Kevin and Moose found a dead body on Riverdale Season 1 Episode 1. The Blossoms buried their son on Riverdale Season 1 Episode 5. There is video footage of Clifford killing Jason on Riverdale Season 1 Episode 12. All the receipts are ready and waiting to disprove this claim.
Someone must've dug him up to take the body to support the legacy. But who would have done that?
Or, could Jason Blossom actually be walking around Riverdale? Sabrina Spellman and team are only across the river in Greendale; it's not out of the question for something supernatural to happen.
Last Thoughts From Sweetwater River:
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I've missed Ethel. She is a messy frenemy that keeps getting herself into trouble, but I liked that she went out of her way to protect the scouts. Even with her back-and-forth allegiances, she still has a big heart.
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Whenever The Black Hood appears, he brings on all the horror movie vibes. His appearance in the junkyard and the battle on the bus could've been ripped from footage of any teen slasher flick. Riverdale does these scenes so well.
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How is the FBI not involved in the massacre at Riverdale High?! There's a serial killer on the loose and three dead bodies found during the junior prom. This kind of story would have attracted national news coverage.
- Cheryl sacrificing herself to make sure that Toni escaped is one of the most selfless things she's ever done. She truly loves her girlfriend!
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Archie is not going to give up on Veronica. You could feel the wistfulness of their goodbyes in the hallways; she would've gotten back together with him if he arrived first. (Which is not a good sign for her relationship with Reggie.)
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Why is Hiram so hung up over the actions of a teenage boy? Seriously, grow up! Archie is more than half his age, and Hiram needs to act like the adult in this matter.
- Hiram's nefarious aspirations to privatize the town would've never worked. He got away with a few choice buildings, but if he went after the entire town, the masses would've stopped him on a grand scale. His ego from winning too much got the better of him.
Now, over to you, Riverdale fans!
What did you think of "Chapter Fifty-Six: The Dark Secret of Harvest House"?
Is Jason Blossom truly The Gargoyle King? Will Betty be saved before her surgery? Why is Edgar harvesting the organs?
If you missed the latest episode of Riverdale, you can watch Riverdale online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and share your thoughts in the comments.
Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
