EPISODE GUIDE

Episode 2.01 “Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying”

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Original air date: October 11, 2017 | Directed by Rob Seidenglanz | Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

After being shot, Fred is rushed to the hospital by Archie, who is soon joined by his friends. Sheriff Keller gains a description of the shooter from Archie and calls him in for a lineup, but none of the men in the lineup are the shooter. When Veronica searches Fred’s belongings, Archie sees that his wallet is missing. Betty and Jughead visit Pop’s to look for the wallet but find nothing; instead, they learn from Pop that the shooter did not take any money from the register, meaning that it was actually a hit against Fred. Jughead asks the Southside Serpents to investigate the shooting, but to no avail. Veronica accuses Hermione of hiring a hitman to kill Fred, but she vehemently denies this and tensions develop between them when Veronica is not sure her mother is telling the truth. Meanwhile, Cheryl intimidates Penelope—who suffered severe burns due to the fire at their mansion and is hospitalized—into lying that it was an accident. Fred survives his shooting. Hiram returns to Riverdale, further escalating the tensions in the Lodge family. In the nearby town of Greendale, Ms. Grundy is strangled to death by Fred’s shooter.

Episode 2.02 “Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks”

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Original air date: October 18, 2017 | Directed by Allison Anders | Written by Michael Grassi

After learning of Ms. Grundy’s murder, an increasingly anxious Archie suspects that her death is connected with Fred’s shooting, which pushes him to get a gun from Dilton Doiley. Following the shooting, business at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe has declined, leading Pop to consider selling the diner, but Betty convinces Pop to let her throw a retro fun night to drum up business. Jughead learns that F. P. is facing 20 years in prison and seeks help from Penny Peabody, a Serpent lawyer, who advises Jughead to ask the Blossoms to testify on F. P.’s behalf. Cheryl initially refuses, but relents when Betty extorts her with the video of Jason’s murder. With Cheryl’s testimony, the judge decides to revisit F. P.’s sentence. Hiram quietly buys the diner from Pop, but tells Veronica he made a “charitable donation”. In the woods, Moose Mason and Midge Klump take some jingle jangle (a new drug to Riverdale), and as they do so, they are shot by Fred’s shooter.

Episode 2.03 “Chapter Sixteen: The Watcher in the Woods”

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Original air date: October 25, 2017 | Directed by Kevin Sullivan | Written by Ross Maxwell

Kevin, who was in the forest, hears the gunshots and rushes to find Midge crying. Moose, who shielded Midge from the gunfire, is hospitalized and survives. Following the incident, Archie founds a vigilante group called the Red Circle, to protect Riverdale High students. The Coopers receive a letter from “the Black Hood”, taking responsibility for the shootings and the murder of Ms. Grundy, and detailing his intentions to target sinners. Polly leaves town, fearing for her babies. Meanwhile, Jughead begins his tenure at Southside High, befriends Toni Topaz, a Serpent, and refounds the school newspaper, the Red and Black, under the advisory of English teacher Robert Philips. Kevin keeps going out late at night, which concerns Betty. Betty follows him on one of his runs, which leads to him lashing out at her. Hiram tells Archie that he should utilize the Black Hood’s main weapons for the Red Circle. Inspired by this, the Red Circle makes a video calling out the Black Hood.

Episode 2.04 “Chapter Seventeen: The Town That Dreaded Sundown”

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Original air date: November 1, 2017 | Directed by Jason Stone | Written by Amanda Lasher

Archie’s viral video results in negative repercussions, as Principal Waldo Weatherbee demands he disband the Red Circle. Though Archie refuses, the Red Circle disbands regardless due to the football team being suspended but later reassembles with Veronica’s help. Archie runs into trouble when he vandalizes the Serpent’s territory with Red Circle graffiti.Veronica finds out that Archie intends to murder the Black Hood and convinces him to discard his gun. Betty receives a letter from the Black Hood, revealing that her speech from the jubilee ball inspired his actions and gives her a cipher that only she could solve. Mayor Sierra McCoy (Josie’s mother) hosts a town meeting to discuss action against the Black Hood, in which Alice blames the Serpents, but Fred argues against letting fear rule them. Betty and Jughead figure out that the Black Hood intends to attack town hall and have the meeting evacuated, before showing the letter to her parents, Sheriff Keller and Mayor McCoy. Later, Betty receives a call from the Black Hood.

Episode 2.05 “Chapter Eighteen: When a Stranger Calls”

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Original air date: November 8, 2017 | Directed by Ellen Pressman | Written by Aaron Allen

The Black Hood reveals to Betty that he knows where Polly is and threatens to kill her unless she publishes a mugshot of Alice, which she does. Hiram invites the St. Clair’s, friends of the Lodges from New York. On the Southside, Jughead attempts to stop Sweet Pea and the Serpents from blowing up the Riverdale Register office and joins the gang to prevent this from happening. The Black Hood forces Betty to cut ties with Veronica and Jughead and later gives her a hood. At the Lodge’s open house event, Nick St. Clair drugs Cheryl and takes her back to his hotel room to rape her, but is stopped and beaten by Veronica and the Pussycats. Jughead and Toni sit in his trailer, where he tells her his relationship with Betty is over; they kiss. Back at Betty’s house, the Black Hood tells her she has broken the rules and he will now kill Polly unless she gives him the name of a “sinner” to kill, to which Betty names Nick St. Clair.

Episode 2.06 “Chapter Nineteen: Death Proof”

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Original air date: November 15, 2017 | Directed by Maggie Kiley | Written by Tessa Leigh Williams & Arabella Anderson

The Black Hood challenges Betty to find the identity of The Sugarman, who has been supplying the jingle jangle to Riverdale. Cheryl wants to press charges against Nick, whom the Black Hood did not attack, but Penelope agrees not to in exchange for money from the St. Clair’s. Archie goes to Southside High, where he saves Jughead from a raid organized by McCoy and Sheriff Keller. Tall Boy, F. P.’s right hand man, reaches an agreement with the Ghoulies, the dealers of jingle jangle. Jughead and Archie visit F. P., who tells Jughead to challenge the Ghoulies to a race. During the race, Archie pulls the brake on Jughead’s car, and reveals he called Sheriff Keller, who arrests the Ghoulies leader. Veronica convinces Hiram and Hermione to stop investing with the St. Clair’s, while Cheryl does the same with Penelope. Later, the Lodges receive a call that the St. Clair’s have been run off the road, but will recover in months. Penelope reveals to Cheryl that the Sugarman is Robert Philips; Cheryl later tells Betty, who exposes him in the Blue and Gold. Philips is subsequently arrested, and then was shot by the Black Hood while in jail.

Episode 2.07 “Chapter Twenty: Tales from the Darkside”

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Original air date: November 29, 2017 | Directed by Dawn Wilkinson | Written by James DeWille

After killing Phillips, the Black Hood leaves a letter at Pop’s challenging Riverdale to go 48 hours without sinning or he will kill again. Jughead is enlisted by Penny Peabody to deliver a crate of drugs to repay her for her earlier help, which he does with Archie. She says this is a one-time thing, but Jughead later finds she was lying. Josie begins to receive weird messages from a secret admirer, implied to be Cheryl, including a box with a pig’s heart. Mayor McCoy reprimands her for coming home late, revealing she has received death threats. Betty, realizing that Phillips was killed in the sheriff’s office, believes Sheriff Keller might be the Black Hood. She investigates, but Keller is able to provide proof that he is not the Black Hood. However, Betty and Veronica discover that he is having an affair with Mayor McCoy. Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Josie, and Cheryl all gather at Pop’s. After Jughead leaves to visit F. P., the Black Hood calls Pop to inform him Riverdale failed his challenge and Pop grimly announces that “The reckoning is upon us.”

Episode 2.08 “Chapter Twenty-One: House of the Devil”

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Original air date: December 6, 2017 | Directed by Kevin Sullivan | Written by Yolonda Lawrence

F. P. is released from jail and begins working at Pop’s, intending to quit the Serpents. Jughead and Betty decide to throw F. P. a “retirement” party at the Whyte Worm, so they enlist Archie and Veronica to do the detective work. While Jughead reconnects with his dad, Betty goes to the Whyte Worm to organize the party. There, she meets Toni and tells her she wants to keep watch over Jughead. Archie and Veronica follow a lead on a past serial killer called the Riverdale Reaper, who murdered a family of four before being killed himself by a lynch mob. Their investigation leads them to discover there was a fifth member of the family, the school’s janitor Joseph Svenson. Archie and Veronica confront Svenson, but decide he is not the Black Hood. At the party, F. P., who is upset that Jughead helped Peabody, decides to stay with the Serpents. Outside, Veronica breaks up with Archie following a discussion about love. Jughead, not wanting to bring Betty into the Serpents’ business, also ends their relationship.

Episode 2.09 “Chapter Twenty-Two: Silent Night, Deadly Night”

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Original air date: December 13, 2017 | Directed by Rob Seidenglanz | Written by Shepard Boucher

Fred receives a hospital bill of $86,000. Failing to convince her parents to help Fred, Veronica sneaks into Hiram’s study and finds out that he bought Pop’s. She later convinces him and Hermione to stop keeping secrets from her and help Fred. Jughead rallies the younger Serpents, who kidnap Peabody and cut out her Serpent tattoo. Betty and Archie receive a box from the Black Hood, containing Svenson’s severed finger. They then receive a call from the Black Hood, who challenges them to find Svenson. They are able to find Svenson’s location, but instead find an empty coffin. The Black Hood then appears and tries to force Betty into burying Archie alive, but flees when the police arrive. After a chase, Keller shoots and kills the Black Hood before he can escape. The Black Hood is then revealed to be Svenson himself. Later, with the Black Hood dead, Veronica and Archie get back together, while Betty throws away all of her findings surrounding Svenson, but keeps the hood he gave her earlier.

Episode 2.10 “Chapter Twenty-Three: The Blackboard Jungle”

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Original air date: January 17, 2018 | Directed by Dawn Wilkinson | Written by Britta Lundin & Brian E. Paterson

The Lodges strike a land deal with Mayor McCoy which involves shutting down Southside High, causing Jughead, Toni, Sweet Pea, and the other Serpents to transfer to Riverdale High, putting them at odds with the other students. Archie is approached by FBI Agent Adams, who wants his help finding proof of Hiram’s criminal dealings. Archie agrees to help in exchange for immunity for Veronica and Fred. Archie investigates Nick, who implies that Hiram was behind his car crash, which broke both of his legs. Despite Hal’s objections, Betty and Alice track down Alice’s son Chic whom she gave up for adoption. Chic initially refuses to come with them, but Betty returns to his residence and saves him from an assault, bringing him to the Cooper household. Jughead, following advice from F.P., gets his fellow Serpents to lay low. Archie reveals to Adams that he secretly doubts Svenson was really the Black Hood. That night, Chic lurks in Betty’s room while she sleeps.

Episode 2.11 “Chapter Twenty-Four: The Wrestler”

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Original air date: January 24, 2018 | Directed by Gregg Araki | Written by Greg Murray & Devon Turner

Pickens’ Day, a day in remembrance of Riverdale’s founder, nears. Archie tries out for the wrestling team in order to impress Hiram, a former wrestler. Betty learns that Chic is a webcam model and attempts to reach out to him. Jughead interviews Toni’s grandfather for a school project, learning that he is a member of a Native American tribe that was slaughtered by Pickens. Jughead publishes the story, escalating tensions between the two sides. At the Pickens’ Day fest, the Serpents protest the event, but Hiram spins their words positively. That night, Archie meets with Hiram, who offers him his business tutelage, which Archie accepts. The next morning, Mayor McCoy, Sheriff Keller, and the Lodges meet at the statue of Pickens, which has been decapitated.

Episode 2.12 “Chapter Twenty-Five: The Wicked and the Divine”

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Original air date: January 31, 2018 | Directed by Rachel Talalay | Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Veronica’s confirmation nears, bringing many Lodge family members and business associates to Riverdale. While serving at a poker game with Hiram and his associates, Archie learns that Hiram is a mobster and his associates are planning his ‘removal’ after Veronica’s confirmation. Archie alerts Hiram to this and Hiram later arranges that mobster’s death. Meanwhile, Mayor McCoy orchestrates the eviction of all the Serpents from their trailer park. Jughead and Betty are alerted to the location of the Pickens head by a scrapyard owner who gives them evidence that Tall Boy decapitated the statue. Jughead and F. P. put Tall Boy on trial, where he reveals that Hiram assisted him in launching a mutiny so that Tall Boy could remove F. P. and Jughead from the Serpents. Betty and Jughead get back together. A strange man comes to the Cooper house asking for Chic. Later, Betty returns home to find Alice cleaning up the man’s blood.

Episode 2.13 “Chapter Twenty-Six: The Tell-Tale Heart”

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Original air date: February 7, 2018 | Directed by Julie Plec | Written by Michael Grassi

Betty and Alice clean up the man’s body and dispose of it with help from F.P. and Jughead. Jughead sends the Pickens statue’s head to the Lodges, which Hiram believes may be a declaration of war. Mayor McCoy attempts to take control of her deal with the Lodges and the Lodges prepare to expose her affair with Sheriff Keller. Veronica, however, warns her of this and McCoy resigns from office. Agent Adams tries to strong-arm Archie into giving him information, including blackmailing Archie to plant a bug in Hiram’s office. Archie instead reveals this to Hiram. Hiram’s driver takes Archie to a private location to meet with “the boss,” revealed to be Hermione. Hermione tells Archie that Adams is actually one of the Lodges’ capos and it was a test, which Archie has passed. Hermione welcomes him to the family.

Episode 2.14 “Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Hills Have Eyes”

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Original air date: March 7, 2018 | Directed by David Katzenberg | Written by Ross Maxwell

Hiram suggests Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead go to the Lodges’ lake house for a romantic getaway. Cheryl, upset over not being invited, calls Jughead and informs him of Betty’s kiss with Archie, causing tension within the group. Veronica and Jughead kiss to “level the playing field.” Later, the girls go into town while the guys have a discussion over the close mutual bonds between the four. Back in Riverdale, Josie informs Kevin of their parents’ affair. Cheryl reveals to Toni that she had a friendship-turned-lesbian-relationship broken up by Penelope. At the lake house, tensions return when Jughead and Betty learn that Hiram bought the trailer park and the Riverdale Register. A group of men with whom Veronica interacted in town break into the house, but Veronica activates a silent alarm. One of Hiram’s men arrives and kills one of the intruders before the four return to Riverdale.

Episode 2.15 “Chapter Twenty-Eight: There Will Be Blood”

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Original air date: March 14, 2018 | Directed by Mark Piznarski | Written by Aaron Allen

Jughead keeps investigating the Lodges’ plans, but he cannot use what he finds. Hiram and Hermione want Fred to run for mayor and offer to finance his run. Hal asks Alice for a divorce and Polly comes back to Riverdale. Clifford’s secret will is read, which entitles money to anyone of Blossom blood. Clifford’s twin brother Claudius returns. When Chic refuses the DNA test, Betty steals his dental floss to do her own test and discovers that Chic is not who he says he is. After Smithers points Jughead to Shankshaw Prison, F. P.’s inside contact allows them to learn the truth about the Lodges’ plans: they want to turn Southside High into a private prison and the housing Fred is building will be for the employees of the prison. After the Lodges are forced to tell Fred, he refuses to run for Mayor, so Hermione announces her run instead. Archie undergoes a blood ritual with Hiram, pledging loyalty. Meanwhile, Claudius and Penelope plot to get their house “in order,” including Nana and Cheryl, who overhears the plan.

Episode 2.16 “Chapter Twenty-Nine: Primary Colors”

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Original air date: March 21, 2018 | Directed by Sherwin Shilati | Written by James DeWille

Jughead learns Southside High will be turned into a prison and goes on a hunger strike to protest. Hiram accelerates the timeline for demolition, but the high school Serpents chain themselves to the school. Fred attempts to end his contract with the Lodges, leading to a legal dispute. Hiram asks Archie to cut the Serpents’ chains, which Archie does in exchange for Fred being released from his contract. Betty learns Hal is not Chic’s father. Penelope and Claudius attempt to kill Nana Rose, but she survives. Veronica runs for student president, but everyone seems to be against her. Jughead also considers running with Betty. Betty moves in with Jughead to avoid Chic. Cheryl tells Penelope she knows what she did, leading Penelope to get Cheryl committed. Free of his contract with the Lodges, Fred announces he is running for mayor against Hermione.

Episode 2.17 “Chapter Thirty: The Noose Tightens”

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Original air date: March 28, 2018 | Directed by Alexis Ostrander | Written by Britta Lundin & Brian E. Paterson

Hermione’s run for mayor is considered risky by fellow mobsters Kowalski and Martin, who believe it may lead to unwanted investigation. They demand a 25% cut of the prison’s profits, which Hiram refuses. Kowalski and Martin, however, convince Hiram’s capo Adams to hospitalize Andre, leaving the Lodges shorthanded on security. Archie scares the two into abandoning the deal with the help of Reggie and other Riverdale athletes. Meanwhile, the car belonging to the man Chic killed is found. The owner of the car demands $10,000 from the Coopers to prevent her from going to the police, but Jughead and the Serpents scare her away. Alice sends Chic away and apologizes to the Serpents for her years of badmouthing them. Toni and Veronica discover that Cheryl has been admitted into conversion therapy and, with help from Nana Rose, they find out that she is at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Toni, Veronica, and Kevin rescue Cheryl and Toni and Cheryl kiss. Cheryl soon returns to Riverdale High, which she declares ‘will burn.’

Episode 2.18 “Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember”

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Original air date: April 18, 2018 | Directed by Jason Stone | Written by Arabella Anderson & Tessa Leigh Williams

During a rehearsal of Riverdale High’s musical production of Carrie, Cheryl calls out those who question her ability to play the lead role of Carrie White by demonstrating her singing ability. After rehearsal, Kevin confides in Jughead that he received several threats demanding that the role of Carrie be recast, supposedly from the Black Hood. Kevin gives in and Midge replaces Cheryl as Carrie. Tensions arise between Archie and Fred after he finds out that Hiram bought Archie his first car, resulting in Archie warning Hiram not to get between him and his father. Cheryl, doused in blood, confronts her mother for her actions against the family and demands that she be emancipated. During the performance, a set wall is moved up to reveal Midge hung up to the wall with knives, murdered by the Black Hood with a warning of his return.

Episode 2.19 “Chapter Thirty-Two: Prisoners”

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Original air date: April 25, 2018 | Directed by Jennifer Phang | Written by Cristine Chambers

Following Midge’s funeral, her mother, Cheryl, and the River Vixens blame Sheriff Keller for her death, causing him to consider resigning. Archie is abducted by Nick St. Clair, who demands a ransom from the Lodges. With her parents unwilling to pay and lacking the money herself, Veronica pretends to surrender herself to Nick, but drugs him. Archie manages to escape and they hold Nick for ransom instead. Meanwhile, Betty and Jughead investigate Chic and learn from the Sisters of the Quiet Mercy that he is an impostor, resulting in his imprisonment. Betty is secretly contacted by the Black Hood, who offers to get rid of Chic. Betty gets Chic to confess that he murdered her real brother, Charles, by accident and then hands him over to the Black Hood, leaving him to die. Betty lies to Alice and says that Chic left town of his own accord, then learns that Hal was absent at the time of the exchange, leading her to suspect him of being the Black Hood.

Episode 2.20 “Chapter Thirty-Three: Shadow of a Doubt”

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Original air date: May 2, 2018 | Directed by Gregory Smith | Written by Yolanda E. Lawrence

Betty tells Cheryl that she believes Hal is the Black Hood. Hiram restarts The Red Circle in hopes of causing unrest and to help Hermione’s campaign. Moose reveals that Midge was having an affair with Fangs. A body, first thought to be Chic’s, is found and Betty reveals she feels guilty for his presumed death. Fangs is arrested at school. Members of The Red Circle damage The Whyte Worm and Reggie later reveals that Hiram is playing them against each other. Betty and Cheryl visit a room being paid for by Hal and find the same book used as a cipher previously. After the Black Hood attacks the Mayoral debate, Veronica wants her mother to stop running, but she insists on continuing. Betty confronts her father and arranges a meeting with him later. The Black Hood then appears at Cheryl’s door. Fangs is released from prison, but is shot amidst the protesters outside.

Episode 2.21 “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night”

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Original air date: May 9, 2018 | Directed by Cherie Nowlan | Written by Shepard Boucher

The Black Hood attacks Cheryl, but she wounds him with a bow and arrow. Reggie is accused of being Fangs’ shooter, but it is later revealed to be Midge’s mother. Veronica finds out that Hiram planned to reveal Hermione’s affair with Fred, but Hermione reveals her involvement, as it would destroy Fred’s campaign. The son of the mobster whose death Hiram arranged attacks the Lodges, killing Andre, but Hermione shoots him dead. The Ghoulies are released from prison and attack Pop’s. Meanwhile, Hal reveals himself as the Black Hood to Betty and Alice. After admitting he did not attack the debate, he is subdued by Betty and arrested. Fred, who is wearing a bullet proof vest, is shot by a man in a black hood and Betty and Archie realize the man was not Hal. Penny Peabody resurfaces and holds Toni captive, but Jughead and Cheryl help her escape. F. P. alerts the Serpents of Fangs’ death and the Serpents decide to fight the Ghoulies. Jughead turns himself over to avoid bloodshed, but Penny breaks her promise and the Ghoulies attack Jughead. Learning of this, F. P. goes to save him. Later, Archie, Cheryl, Betty, and the Serpents find F. P. carrying Jughead’s bloodied, unconscious body.

Episode 2.22 “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night”

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Original air date: May 16, 2018 | Directed by Steven A. Adelson | Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Jughead survives his assault and F. P. reveals Fangs is alive. Sheriff Minetta reveals the second Black Hood to be Tall Boy, who was killed by an officer. Cheryl discovers Penelope and Claudius meeting with Hiram and informs Veronica, who reveals this to Hermione. Hermione, believing it to be conceivable that Hiram planned the attack at the debate, reveals to Veronica that Hiram plans to consolidate the entire Southside, and needs the Whyte Wyrm to set his plan fully into motion. Jughead, Archie, and Cheryl lead the Serpents to the Northside, where they are offered asylum. Veronica buys the Wyrm, and trades it with Hiram for Pop’s. F. P. retires from the Serpents, naming Jughead the new King, with Cheryl joining the Serpents. Hermione wins the mayoral election. Later, Hiram meets with Penny, Penelope, Claudius, Sheriff Minetta, and Malachi, to discuss joining forces. Archie is elected student body president, but is wrongfully arrested by Sheriff Minetta during his inauguration for the murder of one of the intruders from the lake house that one of Hiram’s thugs killed.

MUSIC

Mad World
Episode 2.08 | Buy on iTunes | Buy on Amazon

Archie and Veronica perform karaoke at FP’s retirement party; Veronica runs off stage and Archie chases her; Betty takes over the song and performs the Serpent Dance.

 
In
Episode 2.18 | Buy on iTunes | Buy on Amazon

Betty and Veronica ready for school; Cheryl and Toni practice a cheerleader routine; Archie turns down a ride from his dad and takes his own car; the musical cast meets up on the auditorium stage.

 
Do Me a Favor
Episode 2.18 | Buy on iTunes | Buy on Amazon

Betty and Veronica perform a song together.

 
You Shine
Episode 2.18 | Buy on iTunes | Buy on Amazon

Betty and Archie sing together as Tommy and Sue; Betty comes to talk to Veronica.

 
A Night We’ll Never Forget
Episode 2.18 | Buy on iTunes | Buy on Amazon

Everyone gets ready for the play backstage; Cheryl arrives at Thistle House in her Carrie attire carry a bucket of blood.