Riverdale Review: Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos (Season 6 Episode 17)
While a musical about a murderer sounds like the perfect fit for this show, Riverdale Season 6 Episode 17, “Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos,” is a mostly boring hour that doesn’t need to be a musical.
Musical episodes should advance the plot through song, but except for one number, the music is an unnecessary accessory to the episode’s main event, Slaughtercon. There isn’t even much to comment on with the individual performances because they almost all exist to fill time, not advance the story.
“Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos” rightfully centers on Betty, but it struggles to respectfully handle the subject matter it attempts to tackle during the hour.
After weeks of teasing the attraction between them and promotional content pushing the potential romance, Betty and Agent Drake remain coworkers. It’s a confusing twist because it feels like a vessel, or unfortunately, bait, to force Betty to reevaluate her relationship with Archie.
It’s frustrating that Riverdale thinks it needs to tease a new queer romance to keep fans guessing about the future of its couples. It is a bit offensive to the queer community, and it takes away from Betty’s realization about herself. Let Betty explore her sexuality without the pressure of her relationship with Archie.
It is equally frustrating that Agent Drake’s professionality is called into question when this show is full of cheaters, liars, and scammers. An attraction between coworkers has led to many romances on Riverdale, and this one shouldn’t be viewed any differently.
Plus, Agent Drake is perfectly respectful after the rejection, so there is absolutely no need for Veronica to involve herself. When Veronica yells at Drake, it feels a bit like she is shaming her, which is unfair and rude.
Betty’s other main conflict, her darkness, feels like it will never receive the respect and care that it deserves.
Riverdale has been mishandling Betty’s mental health since Season 1, and it’s time for the show to properly address it or drop the “darkness” metaphor from Betty’s life and relationships completely.
The decision to frame Betty’s final song as a triangle between her, Archie, and the Trash Bag Killer is absurdly disturbing. Instead of sending Betty to therapy for the trauma she endured during the time jump, Riverdale forces her to constantly live in fear of TBK’s return and her descent into evil.
It is cruel because we know this storyline will never receive the emotional payoff that it deserves. Betty will never heal in a way that feels real or cathartic, and the next monster will find her soon enough. Killing her tormenter doesn’t simply erase those demons.
After watching Betty skate through almost all of Riverdale Season 5 like a creature without emotions, it is disappointing that her trauma remains inconsistent and underdeveloped. She deserves to actually talk about where her emotional state has been over the past year instead of being a character we barely recognize.
Betty mentions that she compartmentalizes in her relationship and that she might want different things than Archie, so it is beneficial to her future if Riverdale explores those ideas more. What does she really want out of life?
Shifting gears from Betty’s showdown with her greatest enemy, “Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos” struggles to live up to the hype of musical episodes past.
While Archie and Tabitha’s desire to help struggling workers is admirable, Riverdale is at its most boring when it gets serious. Musical moments in the town of Riverdale are most exciting when they are timed with chaos and absurdity, not emotional reunions for families of characters that we don’t know.
The drama over Percival’s railroad is starting to overstay its welcome. This conflict needs to progress to an actual solution, or it should explode. The back and forth with the work crews keeps Archie and Tabitha’s union storyline stagnant for too long.
However, “Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos” reminds audiences of Rivervale yet again, proving that there is something seriously spooky happening to these characters. With the flashback to Baby Anthony’s colic and the continuation of Jughead’s haunting in the bunker, we can see that Rivervale isn’t over.
There is so much potential for Riverdale to reach a satisfying conclusion to Season 6 with the two universes connecting. It would explain the odd parallels, out-of-character decisions, and the weird dialogue choices if Rivervale is part of this.
Nevertheless, “Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos” fails its heroine in her moment of need and mishandles the severe torment that she endures season after season, making for an hour that ultimately disappoints us.
As Riverdale enters the home stretch of Season 6, it needs to deliver conclusive answers about the strange happenings that magically popped up after the special event or this season won’t achieve much of anything.
Stray Thoughts
- Charles saying that serial killers love their fans and that they don’t kill where they eat made my night.
- Dr. Curdle Jr.’s presence is always appreciated, especially when he is one of the performers. A live autopsy is peak Riverdale.
- Jughead would absolutely love a serial killer convention, so it feels like cheating that he isn’t there.
- There is a line that Archie uses in his speech to Betty that Jughead used in Riverdale Season 2. This cannot be a coincidence.
- I’m still not sold on Archie as Betty’s soulmate, but I think it’s lovely that he got through to her with a memory as proof of her kindness.
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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Julia Paino
Julia is a TV and pop culture enthusiast who gets too emotionally invested in her favorite characters. She loves making people laugh and is always down for a Taylor Swift sing-along. She is firmly on Team Stefan and has been since 2009. Follow her on Twitter @juliampaino!