Riverdale Review: Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm (Season 4 Episode 7)

Riverdale Season 4 Episode 7, “Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm,” is a holiday-themed feast for just about every fan of the show and its juicy romances. This episode gives us more of the chaotic drama and mystery that Riverdale is known for while rooting each narrative in the relationships between these couples that fans cannot get enough of.

Writer Arabella Anderson shakes up this season’s typical storytelling narrative by bringing each of these pairs together for each plotline rather than having them siloed as in previous episodes.  

American Gothic

Over at Thistle House, Cheryl and Toni concoct the perfect plan to cover up their accidental murder, and at this point, I am just rolling with the pure insanity of this storyline. While I would certainly love to see these two looped back into the main season narrative soon, this absolute chaos is at the very least entertaining. 

Cheryl: You were defending me and I love you for it. 

I think that the reason this storyline finally works, in spite of it still being so absurd, is because on this episode Cheryl and Toni speak to each other like a couple who truly care for each other. Until now, it seemed as if Cheryl had lost her mind and Toni had lost her agency.

On “Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm” what these two are doing is ridiculous but at least they are being ridiculous in the same way and working together as a team. I’m sure trouble is headed for these two once more, but for now, it’s just nice to see them share some good moments amidst the pure terror that they seem to live in. 

The Case of the Secret Society

Betty and Jughead take advantage of the empty halls of Stonewall Prep over the holiday weekend to spend some time alone together.

I’m not the biggest Bughead shipper but the moments they share on this episode might have made me feel something. They’re cute and soft and sweet, and I’m sure there is a considerable amount of Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse in these moments, especially when they decide to raid the vending machine for dinner. 

Betty: Jug, hit save. 

Betty going up against Jughead’s Stonewall classmates is a pleasure to watch. Donna and Bret may ultimately get away with their lies on this episode, but it’s really fun to watch them underestimate Betty and then immediately learn that she’s not exactly someone they can mess with. 

Betty: Maybe next time don’t threaten my boyfriend with an axe. 

Turkey (Saves The) Day

Archie has been doing a wonderful job of honoring his father’s legacy and that motivation is felt even more on “Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm.” Making Riverdale a better place is something near and dear to Archie’s heart and he’s doing all that he can to create a safe space for the wayward youth of the town. 

On this episode, Archie sticks to his guns and gives all of these kids home to come even for the holiday. Essentially, Archie is saying, my family is your family and everyone is welcome at my table. It’s quite endearing and so good to see him stand up for something in a way that feels true to both Archie himself and his father’s memory. 

Unfortunately, Hiram hasn’t given up on his vendetta against his daughter and her pure-hearted beau. For reasons that are truly unclear at this point Hiram still has it out for a pair of teenagers and has every intention to tear down all of the good work that Archie is doing. He’s definitely behind the attack on Dodger. 

The return of Darla isn’t something I saw coming, but I love seeing minor one-off characters come back in ways like this. Archie and his little found family fend off their Turkey-day terrorists in what has instantly become one of my favorite scenes of this entire series. 

From the exploding deep fryer to Mary Andrews wielding a pistol and confidently laying down the law, there isn’t anything I don’t love about the climax of this storyline. 

Veronica: Mrs. Andrews, I’m obsessed. 

Archie and Munroe move into action to protect their twelve children while Mary and Veronica show their attackers the door and it’s nothing short of jaw-dropping in all the right ways. 

The Serpent and The Sherriff 

Critic Alex Zalben mentioned in his preview for this episode that this is how FP and Alice were always meant to be and I genuinely could not agree more. This episode is a whole meal for fans of this relationship who have been surviving on little more than breadcrumbs for the past three seasons. 

While we skipped over some big developmental moments for this relationship during the end of Season 3 and the beginning of Season 4, it’s all worth it to see them together like this. 

Further props to Mädchen Amick and Skeet Ulrich who do the absolute most with every scene their characters have on this episode. The soft intimacy FP and Alice share, even when they are out in public, really lends itself to the history between them and the deep love that they have for each other.

The Riverdale writers finally gave these two the screentime they deserve and they just ran with it, and I, for one, could not be more thankful. 

FP: I’m not going to wear that crap uniform to tell a bunch of teenagers that they can’t feed homless kids. Its…

Alice: Whatever you decide, I’m behind you one hundred percent. 

FP and Alice have an empty nest for the holiday so they head over to Pops for date night and a rather eventful Thanksgiving dinner. In one of the greatest comedic moments that has ever happened on Riverdale, Alice invites Hiram and Hermione to double date with her and FP for the holiday.

The physical reactions of FP and Hiram in this moment are truly peak comedy, little else compares to how funny it is to watch two men who deeply do not want to spend time with each other submit to their wives who are just trying to do the right thing. 

I am completely here for the war that is brewing between FP and Hiram. FP is right in saying that everyone in Riverdale knows that Hiram deserves to be murdered, but I’m proud of him for not taking up the task himself. 

FP has had one of the best character arcs on Riverdale and I am so excited to be able to root for him against the town’s quite obvious big bad. It’s also a pleasure to see Alice at his side as they head into this war as a complete battle couple. 

FP goes through a real identity crisis on this episode as he is torn between his job as Sherriff and his instincts as a life long Southside Serpent. Watching Alice come up with the solution that FP should follow his heart and combine both sides of himself against Hiram gives me so much joy. 

FP: I am a serpent Alice, I’m a serpent. Every bone in my body is a serpent. 

Alice: Okay, so is there a rule that says you can’t be both?

It feels like this episode is just a taste of what is to come for FP and Alice as a couple, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them as they team up against Hiram and Hermione. This really is the way that FP and Alice were always meant to be and it’s a pleasure to be able to watch them play on both sides of the tracks and be able to root for them as the hero couple of team adults.  

Blue and Gold Classifieds: 

• Toni feels like she’s being watched. I’m starting to think someone is lurking in the walls of Thistle House. Who do you think it might be? I sure hope it’s Penelope, I love that crazy woman. 
• Can Betty just keep hanging out in Jughead’s storyline? I like her so much more when she’s solving mysteries instead of starting drama. 
• I miss when Betty and Veronica actually spent time together. Consider this me putting in an order for B & V scenes ASAP. 
• We haven’t forgotten the mysterious videotapes sent to the residents of Riverdale. It looks like whoever has been watching houses, is now getting into bedrooms. Bughead’s intimate weekend gets recorded and I super do not feel good about that, but I am extremely into this part of the Season 4 mysteries. More on the sex, lies, and videotapes front, please. 
• Mary Andrews being more involved in Riverdale is my new favorite thing. I’m so here for her sticking around.  
• I know Pops is pretty much the only restaurant in Riverdale, but I’m really glad that FP refers to it as his and Alice’s burger joint. Thanks! 
• Y’all mind if I cry about how much FP and Alice touch on this episode? Cool, because I might just cry about it. 

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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