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Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) is in jail, and time is running out to save him. That might not seem like the most pressing item on the Riverdale gang’s agenda after last week’s genre-bending flashback episode revealed the mysterious Gargoyle King has been involved in the cast’s lives for decades. But, you know, he’s kind of the star of the show. So we roll with it.
Sent to juvie for a crime he didn’t commit, last time we saw the ginger stallion he had resolved to break out along with Joaquin (Rob Raco) and, uh, Baby Teeth. That’s because the maniacal warden had thrown all of them into a secret, underground fight club pitting prisoners against each other. This is, I will remind you, a juvenile detention and not jail. Just pointing that out.
Meanwhile, Veronica (Camila Mendes) is juggling a number of balls, just not Archie’s at the current moment. She’s recently opened a speakeasy, and is dressing up in disguise as Monica Posh, agent of the Innocence Project, in order to legally get Archibald out of the slammer.
And while that’s all going on, the rest of the town has become obsessed with Gryphons & Gargoyles, a role-playing game with ties to the Gargoyle King that may have led to the deaths of at least three people. Betty (Lili Reinhart) is hot on the case, of course, but as she discovered at the end of the last episode, G&G may have claimed some new victims… Including Jughead (Cole Sprouse).
With that all in mind, let’s get down to some teases for “Chapter Forty: The Great Escape,” which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW. And of note, there are so many big twists and surprises in the episode, there’s not a lot I can reveal. But let’s see what we can talk about it.
Gimme A Break
I don’t think it’ll be too much of a shocker to tell you Archie tries to make a break for it this episode, along with a few friends. In fact, the bulk of the episode, per the title, is focused on it. This ain’t the Casual Escape, you know? That said, I wouldn’t look to the 1963 movie the episode takes its name from for clues, as the plots are decidedly different. Also, way more abs.
Monica Posh Is Back!
The breakout TV character of 2018 returns! Monica Posh, the crack disguise donned by Veronica is back, blonde wig and all. And she’s brought Reggie (Charles Melton) along for the ride. Now, I can’t tell you specifically why or how Ms. Posh shows up, but I will say the disguise looks significantly better on screen this episode than it did previously. Veronica still isn’t the stealthiest spy, though, and that may lead to a reckoning for her recent actions… From a surprising source.
Every Kiss Begins With "J"
One quick scene in the promo that has raised the dormant Joaqarchie ‘shippers from the dead is a kiss between Kevin Keller’s (Casey Cott) ex, and his prison friend Archie. That’s it, that’s all I can tell you about this moment. It happens. Sorry, this is a big episode!
Choni's Still Standing
Yep, that’s Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and Toni (Vanessa Morgan) together… And for the first time in a long time, they’re a big part of the group, not just running around in the background. The better news for fans of the pairing (a.k.a. Choni) is that they’re onscreen, together, for a significant portion of the hour. That said, the episode spreads the love around in terms of both lines, and responsibility. This is one of the most deftly engineered episodes involving the full “teen” cast the show has done in a good long while, which means Choni is there; but this isn’t a Choni focused episode. So no, we don’t find out anything new about Toni’s backstory, nor is there real movement forward in terms of their relationship.
That all said! There may be a quick little smoochero, an archery demonstration from Cheryl, an interesting use of Toni’s skills, and at least one line that will raise an eyebrow. So take ’em where you can get ’em.
Tunnel Vision
The bulk of the episode is about Archie’s escape, but Betty and Jughead’s storyline is just as important. We left off with Jughead looking insane, ranting about how he was moving up the ranks of G&G. Betty, meanwhile, seemed to almost faint. Things… Do not get better from there. We’ll learn a lot more about Gryphons & Gargoyles this episode, even if that means Jughead ends up in far too deep. Betty, meanwhile, has her own problems to deal with. Bughead is strong, but after what we learn this episode, can even they survive the weird, horrible forces that are coming for Riverdale?
Layer Cake
Another shot I can’t tell you much about? This one here, featuring Kevin, Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and Reggie seemingly doing the most shocking thing imaginable: going to science class. I mean, let’s not go crazy, nobody actually goes to school on Riverdale. But one neat thing about this episode (as mentioned earlier) is it finds ways of giving every single member of the teen squad a mission and purpose. Including Josie (who is usually relegated to the occasional song) and Kevin (who has popped in and out for a quick romance storyline that isn’t followed up on this episode). It’s fun to see everyone together, and in particular the script by Greg Murray and Ace Hasan does a great job of highlighting everyone for small moments, even in the midst of the madness.
I Just Wanted To Take Another Look At You
Not a trick, not an imaginary story. These two shots from the end of the episode promo showing Monica Posh — sorry, Veronica — coming face to face with Archie are, in fact, connected. Where in the episode it happens, how it happens, what happens next… And what Veronica has to promise to an old friend to make it happen… You’ll have to watch and find out.
