Riverdale Recap: 2.01 ‘A Kiss Before Dying’

Fans of the CW drama, Riverdale are ecstatic that the show has returned with its second season after a thrilling first season.

Last season was a high-speed ride from the beginning to the end and this season promises much more of that drama, so welcome back to Riverdale where despite its attractive residents, and hilarious one-liners, it’s a “haunted town.”

Jughead (Cole Sprouse) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’
Jughead (Cole Sprouse) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’

Our story picks up with Archie who’s attempting to “outrace death” as he races his father to the hospital after being shot in the Season 1 finale. Upon arrival, Fred is rushed into surgery as he begins to imagine taking a photo of Archie and the gang on graduation day, but they remind Fred that he actually died. Meanwhile, Betty’s mom is being judgy especially when Betty admits she and Jughead went back to FP’s trailer. Mrs. Cooper asks, “if that beanie-wearing cad defiled you”, which is a no as they were interrupted by Southside Serpents. Question: who shares this with their mother?

Thankfully, Archie calls Betty, who then updates Veronica who is in the middle of drinking a mimosa filled with the Cristal her mom bought for Hiram (apparently, that was not a good move). Betty then calls Jughead (who has a motorcycle now) and then they all meet up with Archie.

Mrs. Cooper uses Fred’s shooting as a chance to blame the Serpents and Archie calls his mother before talking to Sheriff Keller. He describes the shooter, but it’s obvious Archie is hiding something. Archie then tells Jughead that his dad had fired the Serpents and Jughead goes to ask them questions.

Fred is out of surgery, but no one is allowed to see him yet so Archie agrees to go home to clean up and change. Betty tells Veronica to go home with Archie so he can change and clean up. At the house, Veronica tries to convince him to shower except he wants to walk his dog, which makes him think about how much he needs his dad and Veronica tears up at his story.

Upon their return, Archie showers (with his cast which was probably a bad idea) and Veronica decides to join him, saying that he probably needs company. Despite Archie’s dad being in the hospital, Archie doesn’t object and they decide to have a steamy moment in the shower.

Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Archie (KJ Apa) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’
Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Archie (KJ Apa) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’

Afterwards, Veronica lays out all of Fred’s personal belongings from the hospital and when Archie can’t find his dad’s wallet, he yells at her and tells her to leave. Veronica continues to try to be the good girlfriend, so she refuses and instead holds Archie as he cries. She then asks Betty and Jughead to look for his wallet at Pops whilst Archie is called to the police station to see a lineup, but of course, the shooter isn’t there (cops can’t find people that fast no matter how small the town).

Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Archie (KJ Apa) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’
Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Archie (KJ Apa) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’

Betty and Jughead don’t the wallet and instead get a dramatic speech from Pop about an “angel of death,” which needless to say scares both teenagers. Pop offers them a meal and Jughead eagerly accepts though Betty says she isn’t hungry. She voices her concerns as Jughead bites into a burger and tells him that she is worried about him being closer to the Serpents and living with a foster family. However, he won’t stay with them and will remain at FP’s trailer so he can feel closer to his dad no matter what he’s done (awe Jughead).

Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Betty (Lili Reinhart) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’
Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Betty (Lili Reinhart) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’

Cheryl arrives at the hospital with her mother, who somehow ended up severely burned (last time we checked, she was fine but whatever).  She tells a tale of a breeze knocking over a candle while she was sleeping and Mrs Blossom rushed in to save her life. Cheryl later threatens her mother that if she tells anyone the truth, Cheryl will reveal “what really happened in the barn with daddy”. Cheryl is done with the ‘abuse’ she’s had to put up with and it clearly shows.

Veronica accuses her of hurting Fred and not being innocent. and honestly, Hermione is acting very suspicious. Hermione doesn’t appreciate the accusation and tells her to get back in line with their family.

Veronica refocuses her attention on Archie and buys a Fred a new wallet for now. Archie then finally tells the entire story of the shooting and says he was a coward after Fred was shot and didn’t go after the shooter. Archie is then allowed to see his father, but Cheryl is there, which is very suspicious. Cheryl kisses Fred on the head and thanks Archie for giving her the “kiss of life” at Sweetwater River and says she’s giving it to Fred (that’s not how it works Cheryl but A for effort).

Archie talks to Fred telling him that he needs to wake up and that he’s crazy about Veronica. This leads to Fred imagining the wedding of Archie and Veronica until the shooter comes down the aisle and Fred dives in front of Archie causing him to wake up. Archie promises to protect him and it’s a promise he intends to keep. At the end of the episode, he is sitting in his entryway with a bat in his hand.

Betty promises to support Jughead no matter what and they kiss. When Jughead gets home he finds the Serpents have beaten a man, who didn’t end up knowing anything. They inform him, “with or without the jacket, you’re a Serpent”, which was slightly concerning. Veronica arrives home to find her father there, who thinks her drinking his Cristal was “so disrespectful,” which was unintentionally the funniest line of the episode. She welcomes him home, but then makes it clear she believes they were behind Fred’s shooting.

Ms. Grundy (Sarah Habel) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’
Ms. Grundy (Sarah Habel) in Riverdale 2.01 ‘Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying’

The most shocking moment of the episode was when the shooter makes his way to Greendale where Ms. Grundy has found another student to seduce. When the student leaves and she’s alone, the shooter sneaks up behind her and strangles her (in a very bloody way) with a bow.

Overall, the episode was enjoyable and as usual, there were great one-liners and humour to lighten the darker tone of this episode and from what I know, they are planning on making this season a lot darker overall.

What did you think of the Season 2 premiere of Riverdale? Sound off in the comments below!

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