Riverdale Review: Chapter One Hundred and Three: The Town (Season 6 Episode 8)

The gang struggles to improve the living conditions in town on Riverdale Season 6 Episode 8, “Chapter One Hundred and Three: The Town.”

Riverdale is a town built on scammers, manipulators, and toxic parents. Nobody is all good, and nobody is all bad. That is the magic formula that keeps these characters as pseudo- friends throughout constant scandals and betrayals.

However, when it comes to Veronica Lodge, for some odd reason, the other characters decide that she is the one to blame for years of misfortune under Hiram. As if she isn’t one of the prime victims of his treachery.

Veronica’s business model is not always the most ethical, but to assume that she is selfishly out to hurt the town is blasphemous. Riverdale needs businesses outside of Pops and the Whyte Wyrm to rebuild its economy. 

She has the experience, skills, and knowledge in the field that few in Riverdale outside of Tabitha possess. She is an asset that they refuse to utilize because they would rather villainize her. She deserves more respect. 

Alice is painted as the biggest opponent to Veronica’s plan, calling directly on Veronica’s family name as a strike against her. This behavior is extremely hypocritical of Alice given her track record. 

Alice, arguably one of the most emotionally manipulative characters on the show, spent months allowing a dangerous cult to recruit teenagers and steal their kidneys while she was “undercover.” Do not even get me started on how she treats her daughter. 

Therefore, Alice’s judgment is highly questionable. These characters have all made terrible, harmful decisions over the years. It’s unfair to only hold some characters accountable for the sins of their family when others walk off scot-free.

Plus, the characters are adults now. We should retire “Parentdale” and send Alice off somewhere new. Maybe wherever FP is. 

These characters don’t need their parents to help when Archie is available to solve any and every problem. 

Look, I understand that Archie loves Riverdale, but his hero complex is out of control. 

Archie running around town ready to fight someone for sharing valid opinions about a failing town in a free newspaper is exhausting. As the wise Taylor Swift would say, I think I’ve seen this film before… Every season of Riverdale.

Archie’s reaction to town hall disagreements is mind-numbingly predictable. His immediate, and aggressive, response to his problems has yet to actually change — or mature. We have seen this behavior since Riverdale Season 1. 

It also feels like he has zero respect for Jughead, which is frankly disappointing after decades of friendship. 

Jughead has forgiven Archie for a lot over the years, but Archie still bulldozes in as if Jughead is a backstabber for honoring the right to free speech. Did Archie even credit Jughead for his tiny house idea?

It’s a shame because KJ Apa and Cole Sprouse have great chemistry. The dynamic has the potential to work well, even when the two argue, because the actors play off each other very naturally.

Riverdale needs to honor this friendship more and allow them to actually work together for more than one scene every few episodes. 

Aside from tensions among the group, this season of Riverdale makes one of the biggest changes for the show in its couples.

However, there is not much to say on that front. We barely see these couples consistently develop on-screen.

The early seasons of Riverdale spend time showing us moments between the romantic pairings, which is rare this season.

We know next to nothing about Jughead and Tabitha as a romantic couple outside of Pops and his adjustment to his hearing loss. Betty and Archie feel like a tool for exposition with their catch-ups over beers. Reggie and Veronica share a love of money. And Toni and Fangs have a baby and run a gang. 

If Riverdale wants long-time fans of the foundational couples of the show to jump ship, then we need more of a focus on the passion and romance between these new pairs. 

Especially when Betty is experiencing pain from light. There is a fascinating metaphor from Riverdale Season 5 about Archie being her window of light. 

Maybe a part of me will always long for the days when Betty and Jughead were running around town solving crimes and writing for the Blue and Gold… or maybe I am catching hints of drama to come. It’s too early to know!

There is also an odd lack of acknowledgment from former couples about the new romantic developments. Riverdale is a show bursting with missed opportunities, so this is, unfortunately, not surprising.

Considering the lack of closure, outside of a poorly written, depressing scene in the bunker last season that barely scratched the surface, given to Betty and Jughead, the story would benefit from a conversation about their new relationships. It still feels unfinished. 

Overall, Riverdale struggles to tell a new, intriguing story that honors the relationships that we watch the show for. 

However, instead of the usual five trains running in different directions mode of storytelling, it feels like three right now. That is an improvement from most of last season.

Stray Thoughts

• Are Alice and Frank hooking up?
• There is so much to unpack with the Blossom family. Penelope is extremely disturbing in that dream world. 
• Jason talking ruins the joke!
• Reggie is the most delightful business partner. Charles Melton is so charming! 
• These writers hate Kevin. It’s frustrating that he is still so underutilized.
• Percival makes me miss Hiram and his Doritos. I want a fun villain. 

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

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

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