*Warning: Spoilers ahead*
Two weeks ago, Riverdale left us hanging after the Gargoyle King demanded a Midnight Club reunion. And now, the popular series returned to The CW with a brand-new episode that proves Betty (Lili Reinhart) is in over her head…again.
Here’s what went down in Chapter Forty-Eight of Riverdale, titled “Requiem for a Welterweight.”
There’s only one thing on Veronica’s (Camila Mendes) mind, and that’s Gladys (Gina Gershon). Since Veronica owes her for burning the Fizzle Rocks in Chapter Forty-Six, Gladys asks her to spy on her dad, Hiram (Mark Consuelos), and Veronica happily obliges. (Sorry, Hiram.)
When Veronica learns that Hiram is hoping to enlist the Ghoulies for a brand-new project, Gladys beats him to the punch and offers them a deal they can’t refuse. Not only does she convince Jughead (Cole Sprouse) to let them join the Serpents, but she also has FP (Skeet Ulrich) grant them immunity from the law.
Later on, Veronica meets with her dad and agrees to help out with the “family business,” as long as Gladys is involved. When Veronica reveals that she’s responsible for burning the drugs, Hiram casually tells her that she owes him $75,000 before excusing her from his office.
In one of the show’s most bizarre plot lines to date, Archie (KJ Apa) decides to turn his boxing hobby into a career. Well, sorta. In an attempt to, er, boost his ego, he signs up for a real-life boxing match, where he goes up against an undefeated professional boxer. NBD.
After a series of workouts with his trainer—who is ripped AF, we might add—Archie faces off against his competitor and walks away with a big fat “L.”
The good news is the night wasn’t a total loss, considering he finally made a move on Josie (Ashleigh Murray), resulting in a NSFW make-out sesh.
Remember the girl gang that Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) formed in Chapter Forty-Seven? Well, it’s actually a huge hit. In fact, she convinces all the female members of The Serpents to join the Pretty Poisons, and it’s just as epic as it sounds.
Jughead sees what’s happening, so he sits down with Toni (Vanessa Morgan) and asks her to rejoin the Serpents. Although she’s not opposed, she has one requirement: She wants to be the Serpent Queen, instead of Betty. When Jughead shoots down the idea, Toni decides to send a message. (And by Toni, we mean Cheryl.)
Cut to Cheryl and the Pretty Poisons beating up Sweet Pea (Jordan Connor) and Fangs (Drew Ray Tanner) at Pop’s Diner. When Toni catches wind of the act, she confronts Cheryl, demanding to know her intentions for starting a girl gang in the first place. Cheryl assures Toni that it’s for her well-being before promising to never act out again…without permission.
At the Cooper home, things get real weird, real fast. It all starts when Alice (Mädchen Amick) takes her old wedding dress to the tailor. Why? Because she’s getting baptized into the Farm. Gulp.
To no surprise, Betty is really, really concerned. So, she tracks down a former member named Martha (Victoria Bidewell), who spills major details on what to expect.
Martha explains that her sister died during the ritual, considering the Farm pretty much brings members to the brink of death. When Martha calls it “ascension,” Betty immediately perks up, since the Midnight Club recently reunited to complete their “ascension night.”
Betty races across town to stop the ritual and walks in to find a horrifying scene. The Farm is dressed in all-white and gathered around Polly (Tiera Skovbye), who is holding an unconscious Alice underwater. Betty immediately pulls her to the surface and begins performing CPR. She succeeds…sorta.
Later that night, Alice is rambling on about how she was “reborn” and must sell the house to complete the process.
Well, that was…weird. Riverdale returns to The CW next Wednesday, March 6, at 8 p.m.