Riverdale Season 6 Episode 20 Review: Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Return to Rivervale
Our questions are answered on Riverdale Season 6 Episode 20, “Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Return to Rivervale,” and it is shockingly satisfying.
We finally learn the true origins of Percival Pickens–even if it ignores basic American history–and the reason for the group’s superpowers. In the biggest surprise of all, the answers make sense in a perfectly Riverdale type of way.
Cole Sprouse owns this episode.
Riverdale Season 6 has asked a lot of him. He has played a bunch of different versions of his character, including Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s Nick Scratch, and he nails it.
He masterfully pulls triple duty on “Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Return to Rivervale,” playing Writer/ Bunker Jughead, Rivervale Jughead, and Riverdale Jughead as they all interact with each other.
It’s not an easy task to play three versions of the same person while finding ways to make them all different, but Sprouse adds small details and mannerisms to each role to differentiate the Jugheads.
His talents shine brightest when he plays a paranoid and overworked version of Writer Jughead, a character struggling to keep a whole universe alive.
Writer Jughead provides excellent comedy and exposition as the show explains what is happening, and Sprouse’s delivery is perfect. The information sounds absurd, but Sprouse’s conviction shows how serious this matter is to Writer Jughead in Rivervale.
Plus, it is immensely satisfying to learn that Jughead calling Betty to warn her about the bomb is the reason why the universes are bleeding together.
While he technically calls both Betty and Archie, the argument between Writer Jughead and Ethel points to his primary reason being Betty’s safety.
Ethel says it best, he ruined everything to save her, so that has to mean something.
It’s also really sweet that no matter what universe she is in, Jughead wants her safe. After everything those two have been through together, there is still a strong sense of protection.
I have no idea where Riverdale plans on taking its romances moving forward, but this feels like another sign of unresolved feelings between Betty and Jughead that need addressing — whether to close a door or leave one cracked for the future.
Since the two universes are similar for the main relationships, it makes sense for this detail to reappear in Riverdale. If not, then why bring it up at all?
“Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Return to Rivervale” also focuses heavily on Percival Pickens, connecting the dots to explain why his identity remained so elusive for most of this season.
As I said earlier, it makes sense! Riverdale is very creatively using Hiram Lodge’s last move against Archie to its fullest, allowing it to have substantial impact on the whole season.
Percival is tied to Rivervale, not Riverdale, allowing the show to replace their OG Big Bad (Hiram) with someone new without it breaking canon too much.
And the bleeding universes explains the superpowers, so it’s possible that once they figure out how to break the two universes from each other once and for all, the superpowers in Riverdale will go away.
However, I wonder if there will be a few casualties as the universes break clean, especially if this involves another explosion like the one at Archie’s house.
Although “Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Return to Rivervale” feels heavy in exposition, the information is necessary and earned.
While Season 6 could be cleaner in its execution, the story has been leading here the whole time. It has always felt like Jughead’s writing, and the story was inevitably building to something bigger.
Stray Thoughts
- Someone call Buffy Summers ASAP. We’re dealing with a Hellmouth!
- Are the writers making fun of Jughead’s lack of creativity with all of the story stealing?
- I’m glad that Betty can heal, but what is with the feet cleansing?
- Jason and Polly are still cousins, so they should not be a couple anymore.
- Reggie, Kevin, and Mr. Mantle are “Prisoners of War.” Never change, Riverdale!
- Losing people is an inevitable result of war. Bye Alice, Uncle Frank, and Tom!
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!