Riverdale Season 4 Episode 7 Review: The Ice Storm
Justin Carreiro
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It's Thanksgiving on Riverdale Season 4 Episode 7.
There is a lot to be thankful for, including uninvited guests for dinner, investigative games of "Never Have I Ever," and deceptive plots to blackmail family members. You know, all the Thanksgiving drama with none of the awkward family chats.
The celebration will be one for the record books of Riverdale's craziest holiday celebrations yet.
If you guessed that there was a secret society at Stonewall Prep claps and cookies for you! (The Baxter Brothers tip their hats in congratulations too.)
Something shady had to have been going on at the school. What happened to Jughead's grandfather, the theft of the book series, and Mr.Chipping's strange death were all glaring red flags to something greater. It's no coincidence that two Baxter Brothers writers (Mr. Chipping and Mr. Dupont) were part of the secret society.
Riverdale must be teasing the introduction of that group for the big "ah-ha!" moment.
It's still too early to tell if all the members of the Literary Salon are in Quill & Skull, but they most likely are. You don't look unfazed as a man hurled himself out of a gorgeous stained glass window on Riverdale Season 4 Episode 6 if you didn't know of something.
Brett and Donna are majorly obsessed with Jughead.
A literal ice storm hits the community, and you want to stay behind to play a prank? That's a mix of boredom and insanity right there. Though, I'll give it to them: those bunny masks looked creepy as hell.
Jughead and Betty's reaction to the impromptu prank was a great sign of growth. They've learned from their mistakes against The Gargoyle King and made moves that took charge of the situation.
Jughead: That’s strike three, nowhere is going to be delivering through this ice storm. How about I just raid the vending machine?
Betty: Yes, I can finally live out my Charlie Brown fantasy of having junk food for Thanksgiving dinner. Yes! [Smacks bed!] Okay, I will have Stonewall’s finest chocolate chip cookies, chips, soda, and candies, please.
[Jughead slides off the bed]
Betty: Get yourself something too!
The game of "Never Have I Ever," the search through Donna's room, and the interrogations brought them closer toward piecing together some type of narrative in the investigation. The truth might have more layers to it, but at least they weren't sitting around until something developed.
They took back their power and approached it head-on.
Case in point: the best moment from "Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm" alone was Betty whacking Brett with a golf club! She can't shake her Final Girl persona, even at unsuspecting times.
We must stan. (Point. Blank. Period.)
Was Donna telling the truth? That's the big question surrounding Mr. Chipping's abrupt and mysterious suicide.
I'm leaning toward Betty's assessment of the situation. The story was true, but it was used and shaped in a way that helped the narrative protect Quill & Skull. Now, no one is questioning why Mr. Chipping killed himself.
Maybe that's how the secret society controls its members and the people at Stonewall Prep? The group gets secrets on specific individuals and then holds it over them as blackmail.
The video recording in Jughead's room could be the leverage that the group plans to use against him. Quill & Skull's next appearance might be sooner than we realize.
Archie's heart was in the right place.
He and his loved ones wanted to do good for the community and provide food for the kids. Even during Thanksgiving, he dealt with the craziness of Riverdale's drama yet again.
With all things considered, Archie approached the stand-off with a good head on his shoulders, which was a great surprise for the character.
He recognized the threat level of the Dickinson Crime Family and didn't react in a way that put everyone else at risk. Archie isn't one of caution and reason, so the change showcased the side of Archie that could be achieved if he stayed consistent. He has the leadership quality within him; he only needs to stop acting recklessly.
And with everything that could've sent him off, like Hiram trying to shut down the dinner or Darla holding the gun to his head, he kept it together smoothly.
Good job, Archie!
Let's take a moment to recognize Mary's first Thanksgiving in Riverdale. She was not prepared for the sheer drama that happens during celebrations in the dark, gritty town.
Mary: Archie, yesterday was without a doubt the strangest Thanksgiving I have ever had. I mean, I pointed a gun at a woman!
Archie: Welcome to Riverdale, Mom.
As she pointed out, flashing a gun was something she never thought she would ever do. But, here she was coming face-to-face with the reality of her new Riverdale life.
We've now reached the point where the holidays are anything but serene.
If there's one rule that comes to mind involving Cheryl, it's that you never mess with a Blossom. Ever! A Blossom will one-up any situation, and you will be left shaken.
Only Cheryl could make a (fake) cannibalism plot seem like the right calculated move to control a situation. And her victory speech alone had all the fire, confidence, and ruthlessness that could destroy all of her weaker enemies. Just imagine if she used that energy to take down Hiram.
Cheryl: We Blossoms have always been highly carnivorous. I mean, I ate my brother Julian in the womb. And, you’re eating those meat pies we prepared especially for you.
[Fester crunches and hits something]
Cousin Fester: Oh, my tooth. What on earth?
[Fester pulls a ring from his mouth]
Aunt Cricket: What?
Cousin Fester: Is this Uncle Bedford’s ring?!
Aunt Cricket: What does this mean?
Cheryl: It means, Aunt Cricket, that you’re welcome to search the house. It means that Uncle Bedford will never be found. It means that any evidence of him ever being here is in the process of being … digested. In other words, I think you know what it means.
She IS Cheryl "Bombshell" Blossom, first of her name, leader of the River Vixens, queen of Riverdale High, ruler of all that is red!
Aunt Cricket and Cousin Fester will most likely never bother Cheryl or Toni about Uncle Bedford and the maple mill ever again. They would be foolish to try.
That move had all the makings of a brilliant mastermind.
Only in the town of Riverdale could a criminal kingpin like Hiram Lodge become mayor without any pushback. Seriously, not one single person campaigned against him?!
Even the mayoral campaign between Hermione and Fred during Riverdale Season 2 was a long and heated battle. Not a lot of mud-slinging, but there were bullets and debates involved. Hiram strutted into the mayor's house with ease.
Plot convenient? I think so.
You would assume that anyone, at this point, would stand up to him just to shut him down. Especially the core group who hates him and knows the trouble he's caused. But here we are, returning to another "Hiram's reign" plotline.
The storyline looks all too familiar.
If you had been counting too, it took two chapters before Hiram regressed into a cold-hearted, sociopathic megalomaniac.
The mayor's seat wasn't even warm before he acted in terrible ways. It's almost like a switch went off and deleted all the good change he promised to do.
Hiram is an evil character; that much we've always known. But, the downside of whenever Hiram assumes these positions of power is that he turns into a cartoonish villain twirling his mustache.
He does evil for the sake of evil. It's all unnecessary pettiness to hurt everyone around him, and it's tiring witnessing his character get away with no resistance from actual adults.
Shutting down the Thanksgiving dinner for the at-risk youth and homeless community is in the Top 10 of most despicable Riverdale actions. He didn't even bat an eyelash at the idea of making children starve.
I loved that Veronica fought back and ruined HIS Thanksgiving dinner. He deserved his comeuppance!
Veronica's strike continued her character's journey of rejecting her father toward having her independence. Her recent consistency has been a beautiful development that Riverdale should continue ongoingly. She wants to be free of his control, so keeping up momentum will help her achieve it.
Keep up that energy, Veronica!
Hopefully, FP's journey into becoming an anti-hero will be the spark that stops Hiram once-and-for-all.
Everything he spoke about Hiram to Alice was right on the money. Hiram got away with so much during Riverdale's run, and he never played by the rules. It's the curse of being the classic "good guy" that you can't match fire with fire.
FP: I can’t live my life doing Hiram’s bidding, Alice. I’m not cut out for it. There’s too much blood on the tracks.
Alice: I hear you.
FP: I am a Serpent, Alice. I am a Serpent! Every bone in my body is a Serpent.
Alice: Okay, is there a rule that says you can’t be both?
FP: That’s not bad. If Hiram can be mayor and a kingpin, who says that I can’t be sheriff and a gang leader?
[He kisses her]
I can't wait to see FP slip-on that Southside Serpent jacket and assume his former leadership position.
He'll realign and fix the gang storylines, which went off the rails during Riverdale Season 3 with the Serpents vs. Ghoulies vs. Pretty Poisons vs. Gargoyles drama. He'll bring legitimate opposition against the Lodges, and he'll wipe that smug smile off Hiram's face!
No one ruins Thanksgiving dinner, Hiram! Your days are numbered.
Last Thoughts From Sweetwater River:
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Did anyone recognize Dodger's mother as Darla, the girlfriend of the shady man Alice killed? Her reappearance cannot be a coincidence.
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Betty was so excited to have candy for Thanksgiving! That moment felt like the most teenage thing the cast has said in a while.
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Alice inviting Hiram and Hermione to join her and FP for dinner was a strange move. Sure, she likes Hermione again, but doesn't she hate Hiram?
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The gym's Fred tribute brought on all the emotions. I teared up when the characters paid their respects and honored Fred. Riverdale got me with the tears again!
- Brett should leave the deception to the other Salon members. Their "writing exercise" was to frame Mr. Chipping's murder, period. He got sloppy.
Now, over to you, Riverdale fans!
What did you think of "Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm"?
Will Dodger attack Archie now that he's awake? What other trouble has Quill & Skull caused at Stonewall Prep? Who is behind the secret video recording?
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.
