Riverdale Review: Chapter Thirty-Two: Prisoners (Season 2 Episode 19)

Buckle up, Riverdale viewers. This is a wild one.

Riverdale Season 2 Episode 19, “Prisoners,” opens on Midge’s funeral. The scene also gives us one of the hour’s highlights: the Vixens in black uniforms, as Cheryl delivers a funeral song. It’s… extremely Riverdale, let’s just put it that way.

From there, the episode is a mixed bag, but largely entertaining, twisty, and successful.

The primary storyline of “Prisoners” follows Bughead’s investigation of Chic.

Initially, Jughead is (reasonably) suspicious that Chic is the Black Hood (or a copycat killer). While that doesn’t end up being the case, the truth isn’t too far off.

Chic is a fraud!

The idea that Chic would be an imposter seemed so obvious when he was first introduced that I immediately dismissed it. But I guess sometimes the biggest shocks are the ones that have been plain as day all along. Somehow, the way this twist (that isn’t quite a twist) plays out here is satisfying for several reasons.

First, we get Bughead playing detective once again, which is always fun. Then, we get to see Betty use her surprisingly impressive physical prowess to take down Chic using a rolling pin when they confront him and he attacks them with a knife.

Betty is easily the best and most interesting part of this episode — Lili’s performance is stellar. But Alice isn’t too far behind.

Alice’s blind allegiance to Chic without ever having confirmed he was indeed her son is completely absurd in retrospect. As it turns out, Alice just so badly needed to believe that her son was okay and could come back to her that she was willing to accept anybody claiming to be him.

The reality (or at least the reality according to Chic) is depressingly much darker.

Chic initially claims that the real Charles overdosed on Jingle Jangle (lol) after stopping by the Cooper house and being rejected by Alice. This prompts another of the hour’s best scenes, when a distraught Alice confesses the truth to FP.

And that truth is that Charles — the real Charles — was Alice and FP’s child all along. It’s something that many fans of this ship have expected for a while now, but it’s nice to finally have that explicit confirmation.

What results is a fantastic, emotional Falice moment. FP, for what it’s worth, takes the news really well. He even puts aside his only confused and complicated feelings to comfort Alice as she breaks down, which is pretty much shipper gold. The only way it could’ve been better is if they’d shared an emotionally-wrought, angst-ridden kiss.

Betty ends the Chic saga by pulling one of Riverdale‘s darkest moves ever: she hands him over to the Black Hood.

I honestly didn’t think she’d really go through with it. I was convinced it would be some elaborate scheme to try to capture the serial killer. But nope — it was exactly what it looked like.

This is a tad beyond morally grey, but I also kind of love it? There’s no going back for Betty from here. I’m so intrigued to see how this decision affects her character going forward.

Of course, there’s no confirmation that the Black Hood does catch Chic. There was still that ~ 40% chance that he got away.

I’m sure the writers will keep that reveal in their pocket for another day. To be frank, though, Chic has outstayed his welcome. If he really is dead, I won’t mourn him — but I’ll mourn the last remaining bit of Betty’s innocence.

Perhaps the most intriguing development from the final moments of this installment is the possibility that Hal Cooper is actually the Black Hood. Or at least, that’s what Betty seems to think might be the case when Alice informs her that Hal went out looking for her while she was secretly delivering Chic.

This isn’t an uncommon theory among the fandom, and Hal fits the bill in terms of stature, build, and eye color. But now that Betty is aware of the possibility, I’m thinking it might just be a red herring.

Plus, we already had an evil murderer dad in Season 1 (Clifford Blossom). Are they really going to do a version of the exact same thing again and have Hal be a serial killer?

Also, Hal isn’t exactly Mr. Innocent himself, so the Black Hood’s mission statement about offing sinners doesn’t exactly make sense in this case. And it wouldn’t explain what Fangs was doing with Midge in the dressing room shortly before she died on Riverdale Season 2 Episode 18.

Elsewhere, Veronica and Archie have an adventure on their own. Overall, I care far less about the Varchie portion of the episode, although the story admittedly has its great moments.

The Black Hood isn’t the only villain to return to Riverdale. Nick St. Clair, attempted rapist and all-around d-bag, is back — and this time, he’s seeking revenge on Archie and the Lodge family.

The entire plot is goofy AF. The idea that these teen boys are trying to kill each other to prove things to mob boss daddies is beyond ludicrous, and it’s increasingly hard to root for Archie or Veronica.

What I do love about this storyline is that it’s Veronica — not Archie or her parents — who saves the day. Her successful plan to turn the tables on Nick is badass.

I can even overlook how silly and illogical it is for Nick to not have been suspicious/guarded around her at the hotel in exchange for the epic shot of Ronnie standing over the roofied attempted rapist. It’s just perfect. Veronica successfully squeezing Nick’s parents for $1 million in ransom money is also ridiculous but fun in how much it vexes Hiram and Hermione.

Also, it’s sort of satisfying to see Archie getting punched a whole lot. Does that make me a bad person? Perhaps.

But seriously! Hiram straight-up refuses to ransom Archie, and Archie doesn’t care at all. Like, he doesn’t blink an eye.

In fact, the whole ordeal — and the fact that Hiram (someone Archie has now proven himself to approximately 95,000 times) was willing to let him die! — culminates in Archie vowing to kill the Black Hood to “make his bones” with Hiram.

What? I mean… what?!

The choices Archie makes are becoming more and more nonsensical and boneheaded as we near the season’s end.

I’m not sure what redemption there is to be had for our de facto protagonist from here. But I’ll state it yet again, plainly: There is absolutely nothing enjoyable about this Archie/Lodge family storyline. I keep hoping the writers will wrap it all up soon, and it keeps not happening.

In order to redeem these characters, Veronica and Archie need to somehow extract themselves from the Lodge family business. I’m praying that this all culminates in the two turning on Hiram and Hermione, but I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

Other Thoughts:

• So the Riverdale Vixens just have black versions of their uniforms for occasions such as this? Really?
• Bughead trying to get a room at the sketchy hostel is an adorable quick bit.
• Ethel pretty much confirms that she sent the letters and that said letters had nothing to do with the murder of Midge.
• Nick calling Archie “Hiram Lodge’s teen capo” gives me a good chuckle. So silly.
• If I were Polly, I’d be super pissed when I found out about the whole Chic situation. Alice let that maniac wander off with Polly’s twin babies!
• What are the chances that Chic is lying about Charles’ fate and that he’s still alive? Now that would be twist I can appreciate.

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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