Riverdale Round Table: Family Warfare
Justin Carreiro
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Clifford Blossom interfered with Fred's construction business, Betty and Veronica threw Polly a surprise baby shower, and FP Jones hid a key piece of evidence in the Jason Blossom murder investigation on Riverdale Season 1 Episode 8.
Below, TV Fanatics Paul Dailly, Jack Ori, Mandy Treccia, and Justin Carreiro debate the shadiness of Mr. Cooper, Nana Blossom's ominous prediction, and Polly choosing to live with the Blossoms instead of her family.
1. Both Clifford Blossom and Hiram Lodge interfered with the construction. Do you think Fred's business will survive the war?
Paul: I hope so! It seems Fred has not always been the nice guy we get to see on a weekly basis, but it would suck if he lost his business because of a relationship.
Jack: I'm with Paul on this. Fred doesn't deserve to lose his business of whatever happened in the past or because of his relationship with Hermione. I think it's going to be rough going for a bit, because that'll be good drama and Archie seeing him struggle will help develop their relationship. Ultimately, he'll win out.
Mandy: I agree, too. Everyone deserves a chance to make something of their life. No matter what happened in the past, it's clear Fred's doing everything he can to create a stable life for himself and his son. He shouldn't be penalized for that because he didn't realize he was stepping into the middle of a war.
Justin: Unfortunately, I do think Fred's business will suffer because of this. He'll try and adapt to the battle happening with these evil men, but he's already struggling at the moment. It will be a twist that will unravel everything.
2. Is Nana Blossom psychic? Will her prediction come true?
Paul: Nana Blossom seriously gives me the creeps. She reminds me of the grandmother from Resident Evil 7. She's always lurking. I do think her prediction will come true and that she's psychic.
Jack: I'm not sure. Nana Blossom is super creepy. On the other hand, twins do run in families. I have this weird feeling I can't quite explain that this was somehow a clue to the murder.
Mandy: I like Jack's theory. I think we have to treat everything as a potential piece of the puzzle. Nana might know something. People are quick to dismiss old people as "not all there". But that doesn't mean she can't have moments of clarity.
Justin: She's definitely psychic and I think it will come true. Riverdale has been teasing a few supernatural tropes lately, like with the Jason zombie on Riverdale Season 1 Episode 5. I have a feeling her next prediction will be for the Jason Blossom murder investigation.
3. Do you think Joaquin actually likes Kevin or was it all a lie to get information?
Paul: He likes him. That scene with him explaining to FP that Kevin likes him seemed like his way of trying to get out of it, whatever the heck he was doing.
Jack: It may have started out as a lie, but as these things tend to go on TV, at this point he genuinely likes him. He seemed to be feeling really guilty about using Kevin or maybe concerned that this'll whatever they have.
Mandy: Again, I agree. It started out as ploy, but he's got feelings for him. Who wouldn't? Kevin is awesome. It's going to hurt him so much when he learns the truth.
Justin: It seems like it was a bit of both. He may have progressed it to get information, but he's starting to feel bad. However, I don't think this relationship will last.
4. Alice kicked her husband out of the house for wanting to get rid of Polly's baby. React!
Paul: I loved that development. Madchen Amick owned all of her scenes tonight. It was downright ludicrous that Mr. Cooper was only wanting to rid of the baby because it had Blossom blood. I'm excited to see how this split plays out because Riverdale is a small town.
Jack: Oh my God, this was my favorite scene this week! I was shocked that Alice legitimately didn't know what he'd done and that apparently her marriage has been in trouble for a while.
And I want to know what she meant by, "by now, you know exactly what I am capable of." Clue to the murder or a red herring? I can't wait to see what comes of this.
Mandy: Alice Cooper is stealing the show. I loved watching her Mama Bear instincts kick in. Her husband is awful. Alice might enjoy lording her superiority over people she doesn't like, but I do believe she genuinely loves her children. She was misguided in what she did to Polly, but she sees that now. Team Alice.
Justin: Mr. Cooper is a monster! He didn't care what Polly wanted; Alice was right to kick him out. Sure, the drama between the Coopers and the Blossom has gone back for generations, but at the end of the day, Alice is setting it aside to have her daughter back. Mr. Cooper is only selfish.
5. FP Jones is hiding Jason's jacket as an "insurance policy". What do you think this could be for?
Paul: I have a sneaking suspicion Jughead knows more than he's letting on about Jason's murder. What if Jughead is narrating the whole thing from prison?
Jack: Hmm...hadn't thought of that, Paul! I hope not; though, it would be a great twist. Since FP gave the jacket to Joaquin to hold onto, I suspect he'll want to use it to try to blackmail Sheriff Keller if Kevin gets too close to the truth about the murder, by threatening to frame Kevin if the sheriff doesn't back off.
I don't think FP is the murderer, but I think the Serpents are involved somehow. He wants to protect his gang.
Mandy: Ooh, that's an interesting theory, Paul. But I'm with Jack. I hope it doesn't pan out because I hate the idea of Jughead being involved. I think FP might know who the murderer is. Maybe that person's prints are on the jacket and he's holding onto it to blackmail her or her?
Justin: Similar to what Mandy said, there has to be some DNA on Jason's jacket. This could be the piece of evidence that links directly to the murderer. FP is probably holding onto it to share with the police if he's ever caught.
6. Polly chose to live at Thorn Hill with the Blossoms instead of returning home. Will she be safe there?
Paul: I reckon she'll be safe...until the baby arrives. Then, the Blossoms will disappear from Riverdale with the baby.
Jack: I don't trust the Blossoms. I agree they're all about the baby and could care less about Polly. I also think they may be using her in their war against her family, by trying to turn her against them and then controlling how she raises the baby. But for the moment, she's safe...physically, anyway.
Mandy: What a stupid decision. I wanted to throw something at the TV. I can't blame her for not trusting her mom yet, but why didn't she stay with the Lodges? The Blossoms are bad news. They want that baby. Polly is expendable to them.
Justin: The Blossoms are definitely hiding something. They want this baby; they want it more than they're letting on. I'm worried for Polly. I have this gut feeling that she won't survive this season. The Blossoms are going to take this baby...
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Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
