Riverdale: The 10 Best (And 2 Worst) Things About “Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember” (Season 2 Episode 18)

Y’all, I am dead. Riverdale‘s much-hyped musical episode has killed me — and Midge, incidentally (RIP, Midge!) — and I’m reviewing it from beyond the grave.

I won’t lie: The episode itself is slightly corny, with plenty of cringeworthy, Glee-lite moments. But ultimately, more about the episode works than doesn’t. All in all, it’s a successful Riverdale outing, Broadway-style!

Let’s break down what parts of the hour work best and what flops the hardest.

The Good

1. Kevin and Fangs

It certainly isn’t a major part of the hour, but Fangs as Kevin’s assistant director is a great gag. Poor Kevin is so harried that he hardly even recognizes that Fangs is there and just keeps sniping at him.

I’m still shipping this, but Fangs is starting to look a bit suspicious. Near the end, Jughead spots Fangs with Midge backstage, alone — shortly before Midge turns up on stage dead. Hmmmm. Sketchy.

2. Archie’s Dancing

I will never be over this GIF. Never.

Side note: The cast all look amazing in their 1970s looks, but Lili Reinhart pulls the feathered hair and high-waisted jeans off particularly well.

3. Alice’s Participation

Everything about Alice, a grown-ass mom, appearing in a high school musical with a group of teens is objectively weird. But this is Riverdale, so I don’t really care and kind of love it regardless.

The permed hair is pretty great too.

4. Alice and Betty’s Moment

On a related note, Betty and Alice’s bonding moment — and the musical number that leads up to it — is excellent.

Mädchen Amick and Lili have excellent mom-daughter chemistry, and I appreciate any and all opportunities for Alice to demonstrate character development and complexity. Her breakdown over her entire family leaving her, on stage in front of all the kids, is so heartbreaking.

The one drawback? Betty, for some reason, decides that she’ll help her mom by (1) inviting Hal back to live with them (ugh, Hal) and (2) inviting creepy Chic to see the musical. Both are… not Betty’s greatest ideas, honestly.

5. Camila’s Dancing Skills

The entire production of Carrie: The Musical — what little we see of it, anyway — is surprisingly good. The choreography is particularly impressive, and of the dancers, Camila Mendes is far and away the best performer.

“The World According to Chris” is one of the best numbers featured in the episode, largely thanks to Camila’s skills.

6. Josie and Cheryl’s Duet

There’s not a lot of build-up to this moment, and it’s admittedly illogical that a few minutes of singing can resolve a very serious friendship issue. But despite it all, I still like the reconciliation between Josie and Cheryl.

Cheryl has enough crap to deal with in her life — the writers love to pile on her — so I think it’s fair that one of her many issues is resolved. Even if it’s resolved in a fairly nonsensical way.

7. Ethel Being Salty AF

Oh, Ethel.

Shannon Purser is just so damn good at that annoyed/judgmental facial expression, and she really has a chance to show it off throughout “Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember.”

8. This Entrance

It really reminds me of Grease, for some reason. It’s such a quintessential teen musical entrance!

9. Archie’s Retro Jalopy

Archie does one of the first non-stupid things he’s accomplished in weeks: He turns his back on Hiram in favor of Fred.

Hiram and Hermione are in full scheming mode when they decide to use the car Hiram got Archie to undermine Fred and Archie’s relationship. Their goal is to rattle Fred enough to get him to pull out of the mayoral race.

In a rather glorious fashion, that backfires completely.

Instead of driving Fred and Archie farther apart, Hiram’s machinations push them back together. Archie recognizes he’s being messed with (finally!) and returns the car keys. He sells his music stuff (thank the lord) to buy an old beat-up car that he and his dad can rebuild together as his first car, fulfilling Fred’s dad dream.

Luke Perry is a great, immensely underrated part of this show. Seeing him tear up at Archie’s gesture really got me. Such a great moment.

10. Cheryl Goes Full Carrie

Cheryl may not get the chance to play Carrie on opening night — thanks a lot, Penelope — but she does take full advantage of the week’s theme and go full pig’s blood crazypants on her terrible mom.

The redheaded bombshell showing up to confront her mom while doused head to toe in blood, Carrie White-style, is exactly what Riverdale is all about: crazy, campy AF goodness.

An added bonus is that Cheryl (apparently successfully?) threatens her mom into allowing her emancipation. Fingers crossed Cheryl — and Nana Rose! — manage to get far away from Penelope and Claudius.

The Bad

1. Beronica Making Up

This is, frankly, the dumbest thing to happen on the episode. Archie and Betty’s conversation preceding the reconciliation practically has me screaming at my screen.

Sure, Betty is a little overly rude to Veronica onstage, insulting her and embarrassing her in front of everyone. But Veronica’s actions are completely swept under the rug when Archie guilts Betty into feeling bad about her smackdown.

And PS, Archiekins — what Betty said to Veronica under duress from the Black Hood’s threats is not the same as Veronica’s continued collusion with her criminal parents and lying to all of their friends.

To be clear, I love the Beronica friendship. I just wish their estrangement had been resolved in a way that feels organic and makes more sense. Betty’s forgiveness of Veronica here just doesn’t seem logical or warranted. It’s totally out of left field.

The one bright spot? The actual duet “You Shine” being between Betty and Veronica (rather than Betty and Archie in character) is a super sweet moment. Camila and Lili’s voices are lovely together.

2. Lack of Choni

The lack of Cheryl and Toni interaction during the hour is an absolute travesty.

We go from Toni heroically rescuing Cheryl to one measly scene between the two? What? Why?

What’s strange is that everyone around them seems aware that the two are now girlfriends. They’re certainly acting like girlfriends, and Toni going to find Cheryl after Penelope forces her out of the musical is a cute moment.

But why didn’t we get to see any of the actual, formal beginning of their relationship? It feels like a bunch of stuff was cut out that should have been there. Not cool, writers.

Other Stuff:

• Cole Sprouse must have really been like “No, I will not sing or dance. Not even for a second. No.”
• Alice tells Hal that Chic isn’t his son. He’s surprisingly chill about it, but does she tell him who Chic’s father actually is? The entire conversation happens off-screen, so we don’t know.
• So the logical “Black Hood resurrected” suspects appear, at this stage, to be Chic or Fangs. Chic still seems too obvious, in my opinion, but I’m hoping it’s not Fangs either. Let’s not turn one of the LGBTQ+ characters into a psychopath, okay?

What did you think of this episode of Riverdale? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Riverdale airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.

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