Riverdale tonight has the return of Josie McCoy.  I love how some of the favorite characters from the original Riverdale is coming back.  I will admit that I wish we had more of the guardian angel of Pop’s, Tabitha, back but I understand they are honoring their past history. From the previews, Josie of past Riverdale looks like a cabaret singer, and we know she’s up to the job.

But let’s address Riverdale’s “elephant in the room,” shall we.  The promos imply that Archie, Betty and Jughead must confront some demons from the old present-day version.  I don’t think Archie will become Captain Pureheart as we have not seen any superpowers.  If anything, I think he will become a voice for hope.  Betty is posted with “serial killer.”  Does this mean that Hal or Alice is a serial killer and Betty must accept and deal with it.  Let’s face it!  Her parents are abusive.  And Jughead was with “alien abduction.”  This could go in many different forms (from angels to aliens) and could mean that he moves on to be with Tabitha.  If this is the case, then why the leaked picture of him at Pep.  Well, we’ll know about that soon enough.  And the final episode, “Leaving Riverdale,” sounds too good to be true.  Is Lili going to play an 86 year old or will it be someone older.  Also how many of the key cast would have lived that long.  We get a hint their memory comes back, and they, as their old selves, celebrate one more night at graduation. I think we’re in for a wild ride.

Secrets Come to Life

Tonight, Betty narrates as she writes in her book.  She sees herself changing (justice?) and we’re reminded of the abuse/strange happenings to her this year.  They really play up the Alice/Betty situation where Alice says she’s no longer Betty’s mom then slaps her over the clothes comment.  Well, we’re already aware that there is no growth for Alice.  With what she plans for the book, she could become another Gloria Steinman (bending toward justice as women’s lib).

And school sees the arrival of Jughead and Veronica, a new power couple.  Well, Jughead is worried but Veronica in that sexy dress isn’t.  She reminds him of her sexy witch costume which gets Jughead thinking.  In class, he draws a sexy witch for a comic about Veronica, the Sexy Witch.  Of all the students, Betty seems the most surprised at this couple.

Betty is more surprised at hearing Reggie and Archie tell about their visit to Trula.  Both want more and plan to return.  In class, Ms. Grundy reads Archie’s poem and tells him that he grew up overnight.  She tells him to keep experiencing life and he says he plans a return visit which it is like he grew up over nigjt.  Well, it’s true he “did become a man (as they use to say.”  While some people would say this was “growing up,” it doesn’t bend toward justice so forget that!

And let’s not forget the photos of Cheryl and Toni which Penelope destroyed.  She may have got the photos but Cheryl quickly does a new batch.  The only problem is she drops said photos and Betty sees them.  Cheryl runs out with Betty following and a new collaboration starts.  Betty wants Cheryl to write a chapter for her book, including the photos of her and Toni.  This could be starting a bending toward justice for the LGBTQ+ community.

Josie McCoy Arrives

At the Babylonium, Veronica is showing A Star Is Born when Josie arrives.  Veronica is surprised to see Josie in Riverdale because Josie is a bona fide star and founded the Black Theater Organization.  Josie has come to Riverdale to shake the town up.  Josie has a movie she wants marketed and shows Veronica the film.  Veronica loves the movie.  She takes Josie on a tour of the town which include The Dark Room where Archie isn’t seen as a star but Fangs impresses.  Fangs performs “Great Balls of Fire.”  Josie loves Fangs but rock isn’t her bag, and she does a “beat” song about a cool cat that gets a standing ovation.  Afterwards, Josie talks to Fangs and the others.  She’s willing to help Fangs who later calls Midge about his good luck.  He’s going to New York, and she won’t be with the Sisters much longer. 

Josie isn’t finished with Riverdale High yet.  She meets with the African American students to inspire them.  She tells them that she has found that she must be herself.  That’s why she has worked so hard.  She asks about how the group formed and Toni admits that she started it.  Toni formed the group because she was tired of being labeled by the town’s gatekeepers in a negative way.  Toni feels that all can make a difference in the world and Josie agrees.

Later, Josie approaches Veronica to do the premiere.  Josie has stipulations because Josie either must make it with the film or disappear.  Everything Josie has or owned has gone into Going Uptown.  It must be on a huge scale with spotlights and everything that goes with a big premiere.  Big time producers weren’t interested but Veronica has a plan.  She promises Josie that it will become big.  The night of the premiere, Josie does her hand prints.  Veronica used her father’s name and got studio types and film critics there.  They start the film, and it breaks.  While Veronica freaks out, Josie keeps her head and sings the title song while Kevin and Clay save the film.  Josie’s song impresses all (and Fangs is on the piano).

After the movie, Veronica tells her that the reporter is on his way back to the New York.  The headline is a “Star is Born” and the critic loved it.  They see Going Uptown as the winner of all major awards for the year.  Josie seems scared and embarrassed even though she has made herself a star.  The reviewer got one thing wrong Veronica says.  Josie was always a star.  Josie sees the two as a good team and they should do it together. Will Veronica use films to bend things toward justice. 

Jughead and Pep Comics

Jughead is worried that Pep Comics (well all comics) are going under.  He shares his feelings with Veronica and his illustration of Veronica, the sexy witch.  Veronica tells him to show it to his editor who likes it but is afraid it won’t be accepted the way the character is drawn.  The editor suggests make the witch half-human, girl next door, and blonde.  As Jughead learns, it still doesn’t go over well with the comic syndication.  So Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, will be saved for a few years (and the rest is history).  Oh, did I mention that Veronica finally gets Jughead out of the S jersey and into a tuxedo for the movie premiere.  I’ve always wondered what the “S” stood for (and the comics suggested Santa).  Could it have stood for Sabrina all along?  Does this give us hope that Sabrina shows up?

Archie’s Future Endeavors

Both Archie and Reggie were – well inspired – by Trula.  Archie has focused his poems on heartbreak and wrote a poem that used the illusion of Eve and the garden.  Archie returns to Trula who doesn’t do long-term but takes the flowers he brought.  Archie writes one inspired on Ms. Grundy.  He plans to read it at The Dark Room where he gets strange looks and Ms. Grundy leaves.  Archie asks her the next day if she liked the poem and she tells him she had to leave to “go home to her husband.”  Well, this isn’t the same as season one is it?  She tells Archie to turn away from teen angst and to write about what causes him pain. 

Archie thinks about the new topic and writes a poem about his father’s loss.  Reggie and he work the premiere as bell hops and prevents people from leaving  the event when the film breaks.  On returning home, Archie finds Frank in the bedroom reading the poem.  Frank isn’t happy and tells Archie he shouldn’t have written such a sad piece about his father’s death.  He also tells Archie that he should write poems and never about Fred.  Is Frank hiding something or just upset?  I thought he was accepting but evidently he’s not.

Cheryl and Betty

Betty has decided to pose in sexy lingerie for the cover of her book.  Cheryl and Toni help her with the concept..  Yet, after seeing the pictures, Betty is happy but feels like a fraud.  She’s never had sex.  Cheryl has a suggestion for her problem.  She hands Betty a magazine and tells her to take a bath and ‘satisfy herself.’  Really, Cheryl.  Betty IS the girl next door.  Cheryl gets to work on a new painting.  This one is one of Betty from the book cover shoot.  Betty loves the portrait for it is.  Cheryl tells Betty it’s because Betty is beautiful.  So Betty is getting her eyes open to feminism.  This could be seen as a bending toward justice depending on how she uses it.

Where We Stand?

So where does this leave the ‘bending toward justice’ theme.  I see growth in Veronica because she and Josie can be a force for change in movies.  Jughead has some new ideas that could change the way comics are conceived.  Is Archie comics next?  And Betty, well, she’s learning about sexuality.  No change really for her because she’s been experimenting and reading for a while.  The African American students are bending toward justice as they have had a lesson from Josie about becoming themselves.  Yet, Frank has stepped backward as he is unaccepting of Archie’s choice of feelings for Fred.  Is it because of jealousy or are they hiding something.  Or is it Frank returning to Pickens Frank?

Next week’s episode is in black and white.  And is it very strange in the short preview.  Do  aliens attack.  Why is Cheryl screaming?  Is there a killer involved?  And does an alien ship arrive or Bailey’s Comet?  Do the gang begin to remember or is it too soon!  We have a week to wait!