Riverdale: 5 Pressing Questions We Had After “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night” (Season 2 Episode 21)

Several storylines converge and reach a head on Riverdale Season 2 Episode 21, “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night.”

The action-packed hour is by far the most exciting and game-changing of the season. In fact, I’d argue that more happens in it than throughout the rest of the episodes combined.

Heading into the finale, “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night” leaves us with several cliffhangers and major questions that we hope will be resolved before Season 2 comes to an end.

1. What’s going to happen to Mrs. Klump?

So, this is low-key the most tragic part of the episode.

Obviously, murder and vigilantism are both very bad. And it’s absolutely horrible that Fangs is actually dead — something I genuinely didn’t see coming, by the way.

But there are definite extenuating circumstances and mental health concerns that need to be taken into account for Mrs. Klump’s state of mind.

In all likelihood, she’s set to go to jail for premeditated murder for the rest of her life. She’s already lost her daughter.

It’s all just extremely sad, and I hope we get some kind of closure .

2. When did Cheryl become the Red Arrow?

We’ve seen Cheryl practicing archery before, so I guess that should’ve been a clue. But holy hell — how awesome is the scene where Cheryl turns the tables on the Black Hood by “suiting up” like a badass Little Red Riding Hood?

Answer: almost as awesome as Cheryl later turning up to help Jughead rescue Toni from Penny Peabody.

3. What is the real story behind Hal’s turn as the Black Hood?

I’m sort of torn on the reveal that Hal Cooper is indeed the Black Hood.

On the one hand, the writers telegraphed this “twist” for much of the season, to the point where it wasn’t surprising or interesting when it actually happened. Hal was the most obvious choice for a while.

On the other hand, Mädchen Amick and Lili Reinhart knock it out of the park with their stellar performances. It all unfolds perfectly.

Even though Betty had pretty much already come to the conclusion that her father was the Black Hood on Riverdale Season 2 Episode 20, “Shadow of a Doubt,” Lili plays the dawning horror during Hal’s confession perfectly.

Similarly, it’s so satisfying to see Alice immediately come up with the perfect distraction so they can knock Hal out: nagging and insulting the crap out of him. She essentially plays on Hal’s emotions by insulting his masculinity and his serial-killing skills, which is both hilarious and very cathartic.

Alice: All I’m pointing out is, your father can’t do anything right. Even be a serial killer.

Almost as cathartic as seeing Betty and Alice each take a turn hitting Hal in order to incapacitate him long enough for them to call the cops.

Now that Hal is in jail, I’m waiting for some kind of further reveal about his motivations. Anyone else think his whole speech and backstory reveal is kind of lame and a bit of a let-down? And also that there are tons of logical gaps and plot holes in why he did what he did?

It seems clear that Hal is truly crazy and definitely killed some people, but I guess I’m just looking for something more… interesting about it all. “All of Riverdale’s dads are murderers or murder-adjacent” is kind of a weird theme, but the first two seasons are holding steady with it.

4. Who is the second Black Hood?

Hal worked alone, and he confesses to Betty and Alice the murders and attacks he did commit (or claims to have committed). But he says that he wasn’t the shooter at the mayoral debate, and he doesn’t have any real reason to lie about that.

Logistically, as Betty explains to Archie, Hal also couldn’t possibly have been the person who showed up at the Andrews house and took another shot at Fred. So who was that?

At this point, I have no scintillating theories. The one thing I can think of is that it’s just some rando Hiram hired to stir up trouble and take out Fred. Because now we certainly know that Veronica’s dad is capable of that — and worse.

Speaking of which…

5. Is Jughead dead?

Jughead is clearly the episode’s MVP, and I refuse to believe he’s dead.

After running around town for the entire episode trying to rein in the Serpents from destroying the town in dearly departed Fangs’ honor and then rescuing Toni from Penny and the Ghoulies, the town’s resident “weirdo” pulls the ultimate selfless act. He offers himself up to Hiram and his recently-revealed accomplice, Penny, in exchange for the Ghoulies leaving the Serpents alone.

Of course, it all winds up being for naught. The Ghoulies beat the ever-loving snot out of Jughead and still vow to attack the Serpents and wreak havoc in town.

Importantly, this act proves once and for all how truly evil Hiram is. He’s willing — and glad — to let Jughead, one of his daughter’s closest friends, die in order to simplify his increasingly nefarious plans.

Also importantly: Betty needs to get into therapy stat for the incredibly traumatizing day she’s had!

Other Great Moments:

• The entire sequence where Small Fry attacks Hermione and Veronica, particularly when Hermione manages to get the jump on the enormous attacker and shoot him dead.
• Cheryl becoming an honorary Serpent (in a fraction of the time it took Betty to be accepted) and voting to go to war with the Ghoulies.
• Hermione inexplicably offering a $1 million bounty for the capture or murder of the Black Hood — which is almost definitely illegal.
• Alice sticking it to Hal by telling him about cheating with FP and how much more of a man FP is. So much Falice goodness, even without the two sharing a scene.
• Veronica attempting to talk some sense into her mom and seeming to truly understand, for the first time, that Hiram is a terrible, irredeemable person.
• That amazing shot of a distraught FP carrying a beaten and broken Jughead out of the woods, as most of the main crew look on.

What did you think of this episode of Riverdale? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to tune in next week for the season finale!

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

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