Another mystery has come to an end in the town of Riverdale, and it has left our characters reeling at the edge of their seats.
Riverdale Season 2 followed the drama of The Black Hood; a serial killer out to cleanse the town of corruption, greed and sin. While the season started off strong with a griping mystery, it had a few missteps along the way that could’ve derailed the momentum. But did the first batch of episodes work overall?
We’re taking a look back and breaking down the first nine episodes of Riverdale Season 2. What worked, what didn’t work, and what absolutely needs to be fixed when Riverdale returns in 2018.
Check out the midseason report below! And don’t forget, you can watch Riverdale online via TV Fanatic to get caught up on all the past drama.
Best Twist: The Black Hood’s attacks
The mystery of The Black Hood started so strong in the early hours of Riverdale Season 2. Coming on the heels of Fred Andrews being shot, we were pulled into one attack after the next by this dangerous masked individual. Ms. Grundy was murdered, Moose and Midge were attacked in their car, and the Sugar Man was murdered in the safety of his prison cell. The Black Hood was getting away with his threats and it kept us hooked.
Biggest Letdown: The Black Hood Reveal
With all the momentum added to the mystery, it rested on the actual identity of the killer. Unfortunately, the reveal was…underwhelming. The killer turned out to be Mr. Svenson, a janitor introduced three episodes prior. Riverdale could not have picked a more dull, and obvious, suspect. It’s a shame that this mystery ended with a whimper instead of a bang.
Best New Character: Penny Peabody
This was a close race as both Penny Peabody and Toni Topaz roared into the scene. Though, we have to give a slight edge to the snake charmer in this battle. She’s devious, cunning and there are plenty of secrets hiding away in her past that we have yet to see. You have to adore a love-to-hate villain.
Worst New Character: Nick St. Clair
Ugh! What can we say about this party boy cliche? He tried to not only make his moves on Veronica, but he tried to rape Cheryl. He is the worst. Thankfully he’s gone from the town with no word of ever returning. Boy bye!
Best Episode: Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks
While “Chapter Twenty: Tales from the Darkside” experimented with a new concept that worked amazingly, the second episode of Riverdale Season 2 had all the fire. We got music, backstory, a shocking end twist, and a storyline that utilized all of the characters together in an episode that worked. We need more episodes like this in the future.
Worst Episode: Chapter Twenty-Two: Silent Night, Deadly Night
Riverdale Season 2 Episode 9 suffered under the weight of The Black Hood and its character relationships. A lot was being set up for what would happen AFTER the mystery was completed. Unfortunately, the killer’s climax felt rushed and the relationship drama that we all thought was finally over reared its ugly head yet again. “Chapter Twenty-Two: Silent Night, Deadly Night” was not a great midseason finale.
Most Improved Character: Hermione
I’ve been hard on Hermione in the past. During her transition from Riverdale Season 1 to Riverdale Season 2, the character’s development was inconsistent; she started as a caring mother and then became a manipulative ciminal socialite, sometimes even shifting back and forth. Thankfully, the character has stuck to the latter side more recently and has developed into a more well-rounded person.
Character That Needs To Be Fixed: Archie
It’s shocking to think that the star of the Archie Comics, and the Riverdale TV series, is the character that needs to be fixed. Archie went through a bit of an upheavel after his run in with The Black Hood. He made A LOT of reckless decisions, especially when it came to bringing the gun to school. Now that his on-again off-again relationship with Veronica is back on, and he might be starting something with Betty, Archie’s character development needs to be fixed before things get ugly.
Character That Needs More Screen Time: Josie
Whatever happened to Josie McCoy? Does she even go here? Beyond the random song or her short storyline in Riverdale Season 2 Episode 7, we didn’t see much of Josie. This has to change; Josie needs to be treated as a full-fledged series regular.
Most Heartfelt Moment: Kevin Scolding Betty
While Riverdale is a dramatic teen show, the series has approached some serious subjects. One of them in particular was when Kevin scolded Betty for following him into the woods with Cheryl. This was truly a heartfelt moment because we finally saw Kevin share his inner-most thoughts about the reality of being a gay man in a small town like Riverdale. Before “Chapter Sixteen: The Watcher in the Woods,” Kevin was used more so for quirky comebacks and being the best friend, but this scene gave him a spotlight to make us connect with his story and his reality.
Most Confusing Mystery: Polly’s Pregnancy
Did Polly have her baby? How long has Polly been pregnant? After Riverdale Season 2 Episode 3, she took off from town to hide from The Black Hood. We haven’t seen the mother since then and she once again became a mystery. This is something that needs to be solved in the new year.
Best Song: Mad World
Melodic, cool and creepy, “Mad World” heightens the mood of the characters for a perfect cover. Plus, it features the talents of K.J. Apa, Camila Mendes and Lili Reinhart!
Best Friendship: Betty and Veronica
These two continue to have the best friendship on Riverdale and their exploits on Riverdale Season 2 Episode 7 proved why they need more scenes together. Someone make this happen!
Best Couple: Hiram and Hermione
This choice will have a lot of debate to it, but Hiram and Hermione are the best couple. They’re manipulative, cold and there is more to them than meets the eye. Riverdale Season 2 brought them back together and their scenes have had such strong chemistry. Love may not be on the table, but their secret storyline has potential.
Worst Couple: Veronica and Archie
Did these two actually have a relationship? Most of their scenes together were simply sex and playful kisses. It’s no wonder that Veronica couldn’t utter saying “I love you” because it was hard to imagine it. These two are back together as of Riverdale Season 2 Episode 9, but it will no doubt cause trouble…again.
Continue It: Alice’s Serpent Past
Alice isn’t simply the investigative journalist and overprotective mother: she has a past in the Southside! We saw brief glimpses of her Serpent side, like in Riverdale Season 2 Episode 8, and it was amazing. There needs to be more time to explore this new side of Alice and what it means to her character/backstory.
Wait and See: Cheryl’s Obsession
Cheryl has been acting strange ever since Riverdale Season 2 Episode 7. Not much has been shown of her obsession with Josie, but it’s something that has developed all of a sudden. Will it turn deadly? Is this simply a crush? Will it be interesting to watch or dull? Let’s stay tuned for what’s to come.
Stop It: On-Again Off-Again Relationships
Archie, Veronica, Jughead and Betty have broken up and gotten back together many times now. Whether they hooked up, broke up, dated someone else or pined for each other, it’s been a roller coaster of teen angst. And now with the love triangle being teased, it looks like it could all be repeating again. This has become too much! Make a decision once and for all before we stop caring.
Grade It: B!
The first nine episodes of Riverdale Season 2 started off on a high note. The mystery of The Black Hood took us on an adventure with every attack, threat and story development. Plus, characters were explored further and Riverdale took a darker turn. However, the killer’s reveal ended on a sour note, and many of the characters focused mainly on teen drama/soap opera tropes. There’s a lot to love about Riverdale, but it didn’t need to follow the example of teen shows before it.
