Previews for tonight’s Riverdale mentions that there are two witch hunts.  No, they’re not looking for Cheryl as a witch.  The Riverdale adults are going after two different types of people.  Clifford has gotten wind of the LBGT situation and the powers that be (principal and counsellor) are seeking the communist.  Riverdale again is aiming to see who are willing to bend forward or make accusations of people for being different.  Clifford already seems to be against change as he promises to take the Vixens away from Cheryl if she doesn’t give him the names of the LGBT students.  The other situation appears to be more visible – communist as teachers.  The Crucible was a play by Arthur Miller written in 1953 and used the Salem Witch Trial to make their point.  Riverdale is going to use a English teacher for their point in the communism story with the English teacher who allowed Toni to read her poem and praised the basketball player poet.  On another note, I have to wonder if the Lodge parents fall into the suspicious characters angle?  The McCarthy (Joseph, not present day Kevin) of that period blacklisted some very good actors and even went after Lucille Ball!

Let’s look at those who have not so far shown a tendency to bend toward justice.  While the school is multi-racial, we see a reluctance on some of the administation’s part to recognize it.  Then there is the comic book issue with the principal and guidance councilor not understanding the creativity and new ideas.  To them, the comics are violent and infringe on people’s thoughts.  Then you have Clifford (who I like to call Clyde) who wants to control the thoughts of all the town.  I still say there is something in the milk (compare it to the drugs in Sweetwater River) and is a type of mild control.  Alice, as usual, and Sheriff Tom Keller have bought into it.

On the side of good, you have Mary.  I’m seeing Mary as more accepting and an angel to move Riverdale toward acceptance of all (justice).  Along with Mary, Frank is moving in that direction.  And this is strange because while Frank was the brother of Mary’s husband Fred, he was also willing to accept the words of Percival as law.  How did this happen?  Could the spirit of Fred be guiding Frank?  We need our Tabitha (guardian angel of Pop’s) back.

And We Have Action

Of course, we don’t get the stories separate (or at least not yet). During the English Class, Mrs. Thornton has had the students do plays.  After a scene from Cat on the Hot Tin Roof, Clifford Blossom, Sheriff Keller and the principal enter and escort their beloved teacher out.  She’s been teaching subversive information to the students and is a communist or so they say.  Penelope Blossom will be taking her place until a replacement is hired.  (Don’t scream but it is Ms. Grundy).  Meanwhile Clifford is going to straighten the students out.  Later in the lounge, Cheryl doesn’t believe her dad’s part, but Veronica knows of the McCarthy blacklisting.  During that investigation for Senator Joseph McCarthy, people were blacklisted because they thought differently and spoke out in television, movies, and print.  Ethel and Jughead are affected.  Parents have complained and their comics which have been pulled from the news stand.  So we have the setup where people can move toward justice.  Will they?  The adults seem too closed minded to do this. 

Interestingly, there are some funny things happening which will play a role in the students’ decisions.  .  Betty has lost her typewriter and telephone.  Archie has been called to the principal’s office so they can find out if he has been turned to communism.  He later has to answer Fred’s questions about whether Archie wants to write. 

Cheryl and Veronica have the biggest problems.  Cheryl has been ratted out because of Halloween night and holding hands with Toni.  Her parents want her to confirm a list of “different” students.  If she doesn’t tell who have “relationships,” she will lose her reputation and the Vixens.  She and Toni figure out that it was Evelyn Everheart who did it because Evelyn feels she would make a more moral leader of the Vixens.  (Evelyn shouldn’t talk morals. She led a cult that took body organs.)  Meanwhile Hiram arrives for a visit and favor from Veronica.  He will be seeing what her life is like but really wants her to sign an affidavit that she was with him in Cuba.  He is being pursued by the FBI and could lose everything because of his contract’s morality rule.  Interestingly, he starts the gang thinking.  Hiram tells Julian that he needs to put more thought into his Hamlet and think seriously about the words.  Emotion needs to play into the performance.  After seeing pictures that the FBI have, Veronica has a hard decision to make.  Both Cheryl and Veronica need to take stands for good.  Will they do so and how will it affect their future as the season plays out? 

So what happens?  Betty steals the typewriter from the former “Blue and Gold” newspaper office (which has been closed because the principal doesn’t want ideas out) and starts an “advice” column.  She picks up a sack full of mail so questions are there.  Jughead and Ethel take returned comics to sale (more on this in a few).  Archie finds Mrs. Thornton and they talk.  He calls the world crazy and she gives him a copy of The Crucible to read.  It opens Archie’s eyes to what is going on around him.  She’s moving to Greendale where people are open minded. 

In class, Archie gives a speech made by Mr. Proctor in The Crucible which starts all his friends thinking.  Archie is very dramatic (and good) and tells Betty (who is helping) to say his name (Mr. Proctor).  He is a person.  The character is nothing without his name.  Archie inspires Cheryl who goes to see the principal, the evil guidance counselor, and her father.  They give her the list and Cheryl takes a stand.  She refuses to give them names of the LGBT students in class.  She gives up the Vixens (but Evelyn will not win).    When Cheryl tells Toni, Clay and Kevin, Clay states the obvious.  It’s wrong.  Movement there, folks.  Jughead and Ethel get squealed on at Pop’s by a Boy Scout who is working undercover (evil Sheriff Keller).  They are forced to give the comics back.  Isn’t Sheriff Keller guilty of using a student to do his work?

Meanwhile Veronica is facing a more complicated problem.  She performs a piece from King Lear where the beloved daughter promises to love her father but can’t give him what Lear wants.  In the play that starts a series of misadventures that cost Lear his kingdom and sanity.  She does give Hiram the affidavit he wants but not without requirements from him.  Hiram must tell Hermione about the affair and sign Pembroke over to Veronica so she will always have a home. 

In the last few minutes, some new developments show up.  Miss Grundy becomes the English teacher and will help Archie secretly with his poems (well, at least it is not music).  Hermione shows up at The Pembroke and tells Veronica that she and Hiram are divorcing.  She wants the two of them to move to New York.  The principal, guidance counselor and Sheriff Keller are going drastic and going to buy the comics from the students.  And what do we get there.  They burn the books in front of all the students.  I had wondered if this would happen.

Future Forebodings

Tonight’s theme can be summed up this way:  our world Is a crazy place and words have power.  Isn’t it strange that we are seeing this today (even more that there was a McCarthy in the story).  The guidance counselor (more than the principal) wants everyone to think alike and live alike.  Sheriff Keller is more than willing to do his biding.  While we didn’t see Alice, we know she took the telephone and typewriter.  They think they are controlling the teens mind but instead they are giving them the chance to grow and make their own decisions.  Are they growing toward justice.  Cheryl’s stand against her father shows that she’s seeing the world in a new way.  Veronica, while taking care of herself, may have lied for her father but she’s also protecting her mother in the only way she can.  Archie has seen that things are always disguised and show this to others.  Betty has decided to help by giving advice.  Ethel and Jughead must devise a way so censorship does change.  All of the gang know what must be done.  It’s making others see and movie the arrow toward recognizing and helping.

Tonight saw huge growth for Cheryl, Archie, Betty and Veronica.  We knew that Jughead and Ethel had a hint of what the world (or Riverdale) was becoming.  Now they must make others realize and also make the changes that will help and (hopefully) restore the old Riverdale wiped from their memories.  Do I think that will happen.  I have a theory but not ready to share yet.

Next week:  The musical:  Archie.  I’ll have a piece about not fearing original music next week.