Riverdale Review: Chapter Ninety-Five: Riverdale: RIP(?) (Season 5 Episode 19)

Boom goes the dynamite. 

Riverdale Season 5 Episode 9, “Chapter Ninety-Five: Riverdale: RIP(?)” course corrects itself by setting characters on new trajectories, and saying goodbye to old chapters with recycled plotlines. 

“Riverdale: RIP(?)” is an explosive episode in more ways than one, and most of the hour is overwhelming bloated. The dialogue is choppy, conclusions often feel rushed, and the episode loss due to COVID scheduling is never more present. 

But it’s still a crazy fun ride. 

The show is making all the right decisions, it just doesn’t have quite enough time to get through what it needs in order to be fully satisfying. 

Something that does satisfy, is the final takedown of Hiram Lodge. Riverdale’s long-standing Big Bad is bested after three seasons of being a constant thorn in the town’s side. 

Mark Consuelos has done a phenomenal job at bringing the patriarch of the Lodge family to life these past few years. His energy on the show will be gravely missed, but his goodbye is well past its expiration date. 

Hiram has been slowly losing his upper hand all season — surprisingly one of the more subdued, but through lines of Season 5 — and “RIP(?)” delivers the final nail in the proverbial coffin with the perfect swan song. 

It’s a brilliant way for the character to exit considering all he’s put Riverdale through. It gives characters the opportunity to work together on multiple occasions, and it’s gratifying to watch everyone have each other’s back — or even converse in simple conversation. 

With the tables turned, Hirams once terrifying threats land as pathetic excuses — a cockroach scrambling for his last defense before being stomped out of existence. The kids of Riverdale finally realize they aren’t kids anymore, and they can use that to their advantage. 

That same realization — that the high school days of Riverdale are no more — is a moment of recognition that drives every decision forward in “RIP(?),” taking the characters out of limbo, and into their true adult paths. 

Yes, the gang magically finds reason to stay in Riverdale at the very! last! minute, but at least the teens we loved are now the adults who run the town. 

Veronica continues to rise up in her new power, taking lead on Hiram’s destruction as their final dance ends.

Without the worry of what Archie may fit into her plans for the future, she’s able to fully embrace what she wants for her life — with a man by her side who would follow her anywhere. 

Chad’s death may lure over her, but those consequences as she continues to build an empire will likely only add to the immense growth she’s exhibited over the course of the season. 

For Archie, “Goodbye” from Veronica means almost an immediate “Hello” from Betty, and the show misses an opportunity to let Veronica and Betty have a conversation about their complex situation.

Instead, the show maddingly avoids the topic altogether, but points go to the directional choice of placing Archie between the two women throughout the scene, just slightly out of focus. 

Betty and Archie find each other after 5 seasons of being one another’s best friend, and biggest “what if,” but the conversation between them feels stilted. A deeper conversation would be beneficial for both characters long term, considering all the things left unsaid — and the fact Archie was with Veronica just one episode prior. 

The conversation does give Archie a chance to show how far he’s come in his emotional maturity. He says exactly what he wants, in no uncertain terms. 

What he wants, is Betty Cooper. At least, today he does. 

New ships are sailing left and right in “Riverdale: RIP(?),” but the shake-ups feel organic to the narrative. With interpersonal conflict taking a pause, more plot-driven conflict can commence. Jabitha, Veggie, Barchie — they all may be falling for new loves, but they’re certainly destined to face plenty of challenges ahead.

Hopefully, they face them together. 

If any couple can make it, it’s certainly Jughead and Tabitha. It has been deeply satisfying to watch Jugheads journey towards sobriety through Riverdale Season 5, and his stability at work — and with Tabitha — is the sweetest payoff possible. 

Riverdale has worked tirelessly to keep audiences rooting for Jughead Jones, the forever underdog. The wait has been more than worth it, and Cole Sprouse portrays the metamorphosis with exceptional care. 

With the gang all leading the town, Riverdale Season 6 promises to be an adventure, filled with new alliances, and plenty of new villains. 

It’s unfortunate Riverdale picks such an easy target for their next Big Bad in Cheryl Blossom, but Madelaine Petsch is so unbelievably entertaining in the role, it’s worth the eye roll. 

Besides, there’s always room for another witch. 

Random Thoughts

• Does this mean we’ll get to see Sabrina in Riverdale next season? Please say yes. 
• Reggie and Veronica are the power couple we deserve.
• I love the choices for Town Council with the exception of Uncle Frank. 
• Riverdale has to find a better storyline for Kevin moving forward. 
• Taking down Hiram really is the poetic ending Veronica and Archie should have together. 
• Archie throwing Betty a Graduation Party was just — *chefs kiss*
• Am I the only one who REALLY wanted Toni to be Mayor of Riverdale?!
• Jughead and Tabitha making out after setting someone’s house on fire? TOP TIER. 
• POP IS BACK! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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