You know, Alison, for a storyline set in the 1950s, why did I keep getting a 1980s vibe? When Betty approached Archie to ask him to the sock-hop, it was in slow-motion with a noticeable 80s synth-wave melody. Did you notice? I've heard a few musical cues on Riverdale like that so far. And contrary to what people say, the 80s were the best time to be a teenager, not the 50s.

Fangs did a good Elvis Presley impersonation. And who is that friend of Cheryl's who's infatuated with Fangs? I love how she fainted when he touched her while he was on stage performing. Of course, the actor playing Fangs could've used some instruction on how to act like he's playing a guitar, because he wasn't really moving his fingers on the fretboard the right way.

I was particularly moved by the storyline involving Jughead and Ethel attempting to get jobs at Pep Comics. Principal Featherhead and that other guy getting upset at Ethel's drawings and holding her for detention mirrored the paranoia directed at comic books in the 1950s. A book called Seduction of the Innocent by psychiatrist Frederic Wertham accused comic books of contributing to juvenile delinquency and resulted in the creation of the Comics Code Authority, which greatly restricted what comic books were able to do. It also resulted in horror comics like EC Comics going out of business. That's why I found it ironic when Jughead began his monologue by saying that "superheroes were out, horror and crime comics were in." "Not for long," I said, because I knew what happened to comic books in the 1950s, and I was kind of depressed knowing what this episode was possibly going to do. Thank goodness the Comics Code Authority was self-regulated and not law, and Marvel and DC began ignoring it by the 1970s and it was finally abolished in the 2000s. Ethel's parents and their reaction to her drawings and her skipping out on detention and going to the sock hop with Jughead also got me annoyed. But what happened to Ethel? She showed up with blood all over her?

Not much from Cheryl or Toni that we haven't seen before, and ditto Veronica. She's still the rich socialite with a heart of gold, and I like the fact that she did show remorse over how she lured Archie into a contest with other guys to see who would take her to the sock-hop. I like how Archie stood up to Julian Blossom, who's proving himself to be a real ass.

Oh, the Barchie scene! Betty helping Archie learn to dance and feeling a "fluttering" in her stomach? But why was Alice so dead set on dismissing Betty's feelings and making sure she went with Kevin instead? I didn't think Alice had anything against Archie.

We got a little bit of Barchie, but not enough to satisfy me. I'm hoping next week we'll get more with the S-E-X episode.

Yeah I think Ethel probably killed her parents

I got emotional when Archie was trying on Fred’s suit and I teared up when Archie responded to Julian

I really hated Julian in this episode

I was okay with him in the first episode and thought his dynamic with Cheryl was funny to watch but the way he talked about Fred made me livid

Got a lot of Grease vibes from this episode

The scene where Betty walks up to Archie’s locker definitely gave me 80s vibes as well with the music like you said

It really felt like a scene out of a rom-com movie

Speaking of that scene I got so excited when I realized Betty was going to ask him

I was like wait omg she’s going to ask Archie and I shouted at my TV do it! lol

And then I was so disappointed/upset when she got interrupted by Kevin and I shouted at my TV again

Was watching with my mom and she thought I was nuts

Obviously I’m very invested in Barchie lol

Well there’s the whole thing with like in the high school seasons too how Alice was really against Betty having sex etc. and she thinks Kevin is a good boy so that won’t happen if Betty is with him

The slow dance scene was also very cinematic to me the way it was shot - was reminded of 4x17 for sure

I loved the song choice for the slow dance scene…the lyrics fit so well

And the hand placements with all the nervousness and romantic tension - was made even more romantic and better knowing they’re engaged

it felt like it was only them in that moment in that room - like the rest of the world disappeared

I ate that scene up - it was everything I could’ve hoped for and more

It was just so sweet and cute watching Betty teach Archie how to dance

The twist scene part was so cute too - my TV signal actually got stuck in the middle of this part and I was freaking out but thankfully I got to see the whole slow dance interrupted

And re-watching it today I felt like I was just watching KJ and Lili and they weren’t acting

I also really loved the scene where Archie shared his poem with Betty and she said it was sweet and that he had a poet’s soul

Oh Betty if you only knew Archie wrote a song for you before

Yeah Barchie is very steamy in that promo for next week’s episode

So you think Ethel killed her parents? Isn't that a bit too obvious?

Yeah, I knew things would get emotional when Mary gave Archie Fred's suit.

They seem to want us to hate Julian. He's the antithesis of Jason.

Yeah, but where does he come from? He's not one of the Riverdale gang, and he died before he was born in the original timeline.

You did? Grease? In which scene?

Yep, that was a typical 80s scene with the slo-mo and synth music.

So did I. Why did Kevin have to be the one to ruin it when we know he's not feeling it for Betty?

You shouted at Kevin?

OMG, your mom thought that?

Yeah, but how is Archie not a good boy like Kevin? Archie is the typical boy-next-door, not a hell-raiser or anything.

Oh, what was the song for the slow dance? When Barchie were dancing, or at the school dance?

I know, I can tell. But I still want more.

Yeah, I wasn't sure if Archie could dance or not. I guess he's not a singer in this timeline either.

OMG, I'm glad your TV didn't stay stuck or else your mom might've seen you have a nervous breakdown.

Oh, really? He is married.

Yeah, Archie did write a poem for Veronica, but if only Betty knew he wrote a song for her.

Yep, next week's episode looks like Cinemax level stuff.