Riverdale’s theme this year has been bending to justice.  Now a beauty contest in my mind brings up two things:  conceit and bullying.  I can see how they could need to bend a beauty pageant toward justice but let’s face it, a beautiful girl is in the eye of the judge (and whoever pays them to select the winner).  Did I really say that! Yes, I do because a spoiler has issued the verdict Alice doesn’t name the right girl.  We’ll wait and see. 

As I’ve said before, the “teens” of Riverdale see the corruptness more than the adults.  Will this hold true tonight.  Mary has always been a voice of reason and Frank is getting there.  Featherhead seems to realize that some of the things the students have said are true but he’s too scared to do anything.  The problem adults are:  the Blossoms, the Coopers, Sheriff Kline and the school guidance counselor.  Who is controlling the thoughts of Riverdale and why?  I’d place my bets of the guidance counselor.

The Set-Up

Riverdale Miss Teen Queen is being planned and girls are signing up.  It’s going to be broadcast live on national television (big whoop in my book).  Veronica, Toni, Cheryl, Midge, Evelyn and Ethel are writing letters to “The Girl Next Door” about their hopes and dreams. Let’s just go ahead and add Evelyn to the evil list, shall we.  She knows that Betty answers the letters.  The prize is a scholarship which Alice hold up under Betty’s nose like a carrot. Betty wants college, Alice wants finishing school (really Alice, is Betty a debutante)? 

The Goal

At the school, the girls talk about the pageant.  Each has their own reason for wanting to do it and basically it is a get even moment with each having their own goals.    It’s Toni who admits that she won’t win because of the racist attitude.  The Miss American Pageant has stipulations (in 1955) that the contestants must be “white” so Toni doesn’t stand a chance. (Note:  In 1970, the first African American, Cheryl Brown, would compete.) Later Betty and Veronica talk.  It will be a “gas” if they do this together.  Betty wouldn’t have to fight for college on her terms.  Alice will later tell Betty the pageant can’t be used to make one of Betty’s personal “feminist” statements.  Alice admits she wanted to be a stewardess but married Hal and became a wife and mother which was much more fulfilling (why do I sense Stepford Wives here).  So far, the view of Toni echoes the changes to come. 

Oh crap!  I remember the “poise lessons” with the book on heads that all little girls in my area suffered.  Every young lady I knew had grandmothers who made us do this.  We may not be a deb, but we must learn to act like one (and this was the 1960s before things changed in 1968).  Alice tells the girls they must be ready to be an ambassadress for the entire year, an example of all that is good in the little town of “pep,” Riverdale.  Ethel wants to participate and has a dream of what winning would be like.  Unfortunately, Alice only wants Ethel as her assistant.  Alice never learns does she.

At the dress fitting, I’m seeing the good (Mary) versus the evil (Alice).  Evidently they competed in high school.  Toni makes the comment during the preparations that she doesn’t like the swimsuit because she doesn’t want old men telling her how “beautiful” she is.  Toni knows she’s beautiful (and another bend to justice) because Toni realizes her own self-worth.  We learn that Mary thought being Teen Queen would help make her president.  All the other girls talk about change in society with Toni adding an African-American as president.  Evelyn is  the only one stuck in the 1955 ideas.  Mary mentions that Midge’s dress is too tight.  Alice realizes what it means and has a talk with Midge who is forced to withdraw from the pageant and school.  She’s sent to the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Again, Alice doesn’t understand but does what she sees is her duty.  A girl’s body must be treated as a temple and not soiled.  Evelyn agrees with basically calling Midge the town slut.  Well, now we know why Evelyn was at the body farm.

Betty sees Ethel crying at the fitting, and Ethel confesses she wants to participate.   When the girls meet, Midge is the subject and all but Evelyn seems to agree that it’s not fair that the ladies suffer the consequences while carrying the “burden.”  Veronica talks about the need for a pill they could take once a month to prevent pregnancy.  Evelyn is upset because the view is too radical.  Betty talks to Ethel about joining the competition as Midge’s spot is opened.  Meanwhile, Toni and Cheryl tell Fangs what happened, and Toni promises to help with Fang’s success while Cheryl sets up a phone call.  All but Evelyn show growth here.

When Alice sees Ethel in the yellow evening gown, she starts worrying and uses the assistant as the problem.  Betty has solved that by having Dilton help.  Later, Alice says that Ethel cannot represent the ideals of Riverdale because of all she’s been through.  Alice must protect the contest and orders Betty to tell Ethel she must withdraw.  Veronica isn’t having it.  Betty and Veronica talk to Hal.  Veronica points out that by not letting Ethel compete, the money made from ads would disappear.  All the girls (except Evelyn) will refuse to participate.  The studio, network, and town will be embarrassed.  The threat works, and while Alice isn’t happy, she has to let it happen.  It seems Hal has made many messes and Alice has had to clean it up.  Could it be the serial killer angle? 

The boys gather at Pop Tate’s and even Jughead is there.  The girls make their entrance in their evening gown with Kevin singing “One Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific.  For talent, Ethel sings “Who Will Love Me.”  Roberto, why did you let her leave when she did!  She could have added so much!  Anyway, Alice realizes that Ethel has talent.  The boys are surprised and the judges (the principal, guidance counselor, and Mr. Blossom) are shocked at the reaction Ethel gets.  When the winner of the pageant is announced, it is Ethel.  Alice lies because that’s not what was written on the card.  Fangs and Midge talk.  Fangs has plans and tells her not to give up hope.  They will be a family “come hell or high water.” 

Later, Alice reveals to Betty that Betty won.  Alice has lied on air and the judges and Hal were furious.  Alice hopes that Ethel’s winning will change lives.  Is Alice starting to bend?  Evidently, Betty sees a change as she tells Alice that she did the decent thing for once and that she loves Alice.  Betty goes upstairs and writes to all the girls telling them something very important.  The girls are not alone in the world.  They need to work toward a better tomorrow.

The bending toward justice is happening.  Even Alice moved forward.  Toni showed the most understanding with Betty close behind.  Let me add.  I’ve read many speculations about returning home to the present.  I realized last week that this couldn’t happen.  In Riverdale’s present timeline, that world no longer exists.  Maybe the goal of Tabitha was to make the world a better place so this wouldn’t happen again!

Next week:  The guys plan a stag party but the girls are planning their own stag show.