Riverdale Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Witness for the Prosecution
Justin Carreiro
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Veronica fought the law, and she won! Well, she won half the battles, but Hiram and Hermosa are itching to win the war.
The two criminal trials of the Lodge family ended in flames on Riverdale Season 4 Episode 5.
Neither Hiram nor Hermione will serve time in jail; they got away scot-free after a lot of blackmail and manipulation. However, there's no way Hiram will let Veronica or Hermione forget the pain they caused him.
At this point, was anyone surprised Hiram covered his tracks so well?
He worked every single angle to ensure that if he ever did get caught, someone else would go down for the crime. Placing Hermione's name on the cabin deed seemed exactly like something he would do.
Hiram has back-up plans upon back-up plans. As frustrating as it is, he's always two steps ahead.
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The only reason he got arrested in the first place was that Veronica and the prosecutor teamed up to pin crimes on him. If anyone started pulling on the loose threads of the truth, the entire web of lies would unravel. Which, unfortunately, this happened during his case.
Look, Hiram was guilty A LOT of things, but he covered his tracks well. If Veronica tries again, she needs concrete proof to take him down.
I'm glad Hermione avoided jail time for her part in the crime. Veronica's blackmail was well worth playing the only card she had available.
Governor Dooley looked relieved to know this would be the last time he'd get blackmailed by the Lodges.
Though, now they have to deal with the sheer lunacy of Hiram's plot to be mayor of Riverdale.
There's no way he'll win the election, right? He can't. He might've been excused of these crimes, but he has a reputation for being corrupt and power-hungry.
It would be a strange development for the Riverdale citizens to go in this direction, especially after Hiram's involvement in the quarantine and the Gargoyle King.
Betty's "serial killer gene" has returned to darken another day.
This time, the return had more to do with her fear of being a murderer with killer thoughts than her dark side. (So, unfortunately, no Dark Betty with a classic bob to command a scene like a queen.)
It's understandable why she's afraid to have this gene, especially after Hal murdered nearly a dozen people. And, her instincts at spotting serial killers were downright supernatural.
The last thing she'd want to hear was that there was no escaping her dark possibility.
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If one thing became clear during her FBI lessons, it's that she has the power to overcome her dark side. Betty is a very resourceful person with control over her senses; she's a paragon for good and won't let something like Dark Betty take control.
"Chapter Sixty-Two: Witness for the Prosecution" tried to connect the similarities between Betty and the serial killers, but she's so determined not to let it happen now, that she won't become her father. Betty will never let anyone manipulate her into killing anyone, let alone another cat.
After all the times during Riverdale Season 2 when The Black Hood failed to turn Betty to the dark side, we don't have anything to worry about.
Charles' explanation for also having the gene, on the other hand, was suspect. Like, "creepy ghosts haunting Nancy Drew" levels of suspect.
Betty got her gene from Hal, but Charles wasn't Hal's son. Did he get it from Alice or FP? It's odd that two half-siblings got the same rare gene from different parents.
Kevin: So, we’re not bailing on your hot brother’s FBI class? I thought based on what happened to Caramel…
Betty: That was before I got privileged information that made me realized we don’t actually know anything about Charles. Forget “Is Charles is gay or straight?” I’m interested in: “Is if he’s a serial killer or not?”
This reveal could all be a lie as part of Charles' master plan to lure Betty into ... something.
Based on Riverdale Season 4 Episode 4, we know he's spying on Betty's phone calls, so he's keeping close tabs on her. Hopefully, Betty's secret investigation exposes the truth about her brother. He's definitely hiding something!
Also, it's weird that Betty never visited Charles' place in Riverdale, right?
Archie didn't upgrade to a full leather-bound/spandex costume, but he's fallen deep into his new role as a vigilante. (The Green Arrow would be so proud.)
The Arrow influence was evident during Archie's storyline. Not just by the hoodie, mask, and crimefighting, but by the sharp shift in tone whenever he assumed the costume.
Archie: Consider this a declaration of war. Leave town or the next time we meet, you won’t be driving away, you won’t even be walking. That’s a promise.
[Dodger turns around to grab a gun and Archie disappears]
Dodger: I’m not going anywhere. You’re a dead man, you hear me? You’re a dead man!
The music deepened, and the lighting changed as he fought crime. First, when he stopped the mugger from stealing the purse, and then when he dealt with Dodger and his crew.
The added hilarious touch of Archie changing his voice felt very Oliver Queen.
Archie's storyline was out-of-place from the rest of the plot. While everyone dealt with family drama and murder mysteries, you had Archie competing to be the next Arsenal. When did a quarter of Riverdale become a superhero TV show?
On the other hand, Archie taking the neighborhood fight to the news stations was a smart move.
He had a great story on his hands, and he wasn't going to let the local businesses lie their way into getting the gym shut down. This move put them in their place and got him the attention he needed.
Plus, he's making a big difference for the kids with the new mentorship programs. It is the kind of Archie we need to see more often.
Related: Arrow Season 8 Episode 4 Review: Present Tense
All that's left is getting Dodger out of the way so that the kids and neighborhood can grow in peace.
Toby is going to regret siding with Dodger after he's been taken down too. Big mistake. Big! Huge! (Yes, that's a Pretty Woman reference, and I stand by it.)
Could Jughead's grandfather be a victim of the literary salon's evil past?
Riverdale Season 4 Episode 5 made the connection even stronger. Seriously, the odds of both Jughead and his grandfather being talented writers and in the same group are pretty slim. The past could ultimately be WHY Jughead was asked to join the group in the first place.
Mr. Dupont and Mr. Chipping were frothing at the mouths wanting to have Jughead prosper through the literary salon. They could be prepping him to be the heir apparent of the Baxter Brothers series.
Donna: Enjoying yourself, Jones?
Jughead: So, this is what one percenters do for fun? Play Murder. Oh, by the way…
[Jughead winks]
Donna: Wicked, Jones.
Jughead: I should…
Donna: Yea, go on then. Let me die in peace.
[Donna faints dramatically]
The game of Murder, the writing competitions, and now the challenge to be the ghostwriter might all be tests toward something greater. The reason why Jughead's grandfather cracked under pressure is an interesting mystery, especially when Mr. Dupont had only amazing things to say about him.
Weren't the mean rich kids the reason why he quit Stonewall Prep?
I liked the ties between Jughead's favorite book series and a treasured memory with FP and the grandfather.
The series helped inspire Jughead's investigative nature and his love of reading. We wouldn't have Jughead as he is if it weren't for this book series.
Mr. Dupont: Mr. Chipping and I have conferred and decided on the theme for the Baxter Brothers writing competition. Who’s interested?
[Everyone’s hands raise except Jughead]
Mr. Chipping: Jughead?
Jughead: Oh no, I’m in … and I’m winning. And please, Mr. Chipping, from here on out, you can call me Forsythe the 3rd. It’s after my grandfather.
Mr. Dupont: Wonderful, then you and your classmates will be challenged to devise the perfect murder. That’s your theme. Let the bloodbath begin.
So, for these books to be tied to a person he never knew, the revelation provided depth and some answers to the mystery of Forsythe the First. The grandfather may be out of the picture, but he did care about his family once upon a time.
The Baxter Brothers impacted the past (his grandfather probably competed to be the next ghostwriter), and strangely enough, they could be connected to current Jughead's death.
Everything seems to go full-circle in an eerie way.
Last Thoughts From Sweetwater River:
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Hermosa: future ally or a thriving villainess? It might be the latter. She looked ready to kill Veronica with her eyes to be the only Lodge daughter.
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Why is Kevin so boy crazy? Doesn't he supposedly love Fangs and Moose?
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Good on the mechanic for telling Archie the truth about Dodger. Someone needed to help make a change in the community.
- I'm slowly formulating a theory that Jughead's death might be a red-herring. The fact that his Baxter Brothers competition is about creating "the perfect murder" and then he dies in the flash-forward. It could all be a plot to lure someone into a trap. Think about it...
Now, over to you, Riverdale fans!
What did you think of "Chapter Sixty-Two: Witness for the Prosecution"?
Will Jughead win the prize to be the ghostwriter? What secrets could Charles have? How will Dodger get his revenge on the masked vigilante?
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.
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Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
