The Crow

I still find the character the dullest of everyone on the show, but this was a good episode for the actor. He hit everything right, from Archie's exasperated giving in to Betty to his drunken party antics.

I was torn. Yes Betty was trying to give Jughead the perfect birthday, but it was her version of the perfect birthday. Archie repeatedly told her that Jughead wouldn't want a part. Jughead repeatedly told her that he wouldn't want a party. She did it anyway.

This was the first episode where I actually saw/felt that chemistry. Maybe it was because Jughead was doing something besides passively observing everything in the semi-daze that he seems to default to. I don't know. But I actually was glad when he went back and made things right with Betty, and not just because I wanted Betty happy.

You're definitely not wrong in that description of Lili.

Cheryl seems like the sort to have an entire list of real and imagined slights for every person in her life. I'm sure that this was about all of them. Besides, I got the idea that the dance off was the last straw. I think that Archie rejecting her last week was combined with the general dislike she has for Veronica and led to horribleness. I want to like Cheryl as a villain, but aligning with Chuck was pretty unforgivable. No matter what she feels for Archie and the gang, teaming up with someone of Chuck's reprehensible personality is a step too far. His severely misogynistic view of women alone should have precluded him as a conspirator.

I liked him the whole episode. He's one of the more intriguing characters on the show. Most of the time you have to wonder if he's sincere in the things he's saying, or working an angle. I took him at face value in that moment. He saw a chance to improve his son's life using his own past experience as example, an he took it.

That sums up the audiences thoughts nicely I think.

I thought that was weird too. She doesn't seem like the type to hook up with someone solely to punish/taunt an ex, so there was no real reason for her to be there...outside of the writers needing her there for Archie to drunkenly accost.

Well, I can't comment on the comics that much because the Archie comics I read when I was a kid were my dad's old comics from the 60's, and there was no hint of anything between Betty and Jughead in those. In fact, he was often paired up with Ethel if he was paired with anyone. They did follow that pattern you mentioned though. I remember even then wondering why Betty even liked Archie when he only talked to her when Veronica wouldn't talk to him.

As for a romance on the show...I'm resigned to it. I think that Veronica (and Betty for that matter) are too good for Archie as he is now. Maybe this will all be a catalyst for him to stop wallowing the his life and actually make a more mature turn. I thought he was tasking a step in that direction when he started going out with Valerie, but that proved to be a momentary thing.

As for their interaction in this episode specifically...throughout the series so far, I've always understood why Archie wanted to kiss the people he has kissed. I've just never understood why those women want to kiss him. For the first time, I understood why in this episode, but it wasn't really because of Archie's qualities as a person. It was more wanting comfort and commiserating over their dysfunctional families. Also, I don't think they did more than some light to heavy making out because Veronica was fully clothed in that bed. I just don't believe that she and Archie would've had sex and then she completely redressed and kicked him out of the bed. Plus, I think if she had actually done the deed with him she'd have felt compelled to tell Betty about it, for better or worse. I'm surprised she didn't tell her about kissing him again at the end.

So, does she have another necklace, or did she spend the time to round up all those individual pearls off the bathroom floor after her breakdown?

I felt sorry for her too. I have long suspected her dad was a horrible person, and it's very sad to see Veronica find this out for certain. I too think that Hermione is at heart a good person, so I'm glad that Veronica has one good parent, but I'm sad that realizing that made her feel as if she had to buckle to the blackmail to protect her mom.

Like I said, I'm resigned to it, just like I'm sure you're resigned to the fact that at some point B/J are most likely going to break up, and she's going to date Archie. I'd love for the show to break completely out of the mold of the comics, but I just don't see that happening. It just wouldn't be an Archie show without at least a perfunctory attempt at the classic love triangle.

I just hope that Archie gets better. It's like on One Tree Hill. I'd have never wanted Haley with the Nathan that existed at the first of season 1, but he eventually evolved into a pretty good person. While Archie isn't as bad as that, he does have a ways to go before I ship him with any character I actually like.

I didn't like that either. As I said, it was obvious that kissing (and maybe a little groping) was all that happened, so I don't understand why she didn't say anything. Especially since Jughead caught her coming down the stairs that morning.

Me too. Now maybe it won't feel like she and Kevin are on their own separate show anymore.

I'm worried that this new and improved Alice is going to end up being a facade, but for now I'm enjoying her. Maybe she'll have a torrid affair with her old buddy.

It'll be interesting.

That reference reminds me: why did Arche and the gang go for Cheryl and Chuck's 'game' in the first place? It's Archie's house, so he could kick them out at any time, so the fact that they just sat back and passively let C & C roll over them annoys me. At least Veronica fought back. I think that Cheryl has made a huge mistake by making an enemy out of Veronica, because she seems to be the only person in the entire town that is possessed with the fortitude to take that demon down a peg or two.

As is usually the case on shows like this. Of course, they don't have to work with the entire Blossom family scrutinizing their every move like the sheriff does.

Nice that she's part of the inner circle.

That was great. Seems like a nice merch tie-in for the show.

I enjoyed the episode was well. I'm hoping this one is the signal that we're going back more to the Betty and Veronica friendship, and maybe Veronica and Archie can bang out a quick relationship so they can get that over with...