Did 'Riverdale' Kill Off This Major Character?

From Cosmopolitan

This post contains spoilers for the Riverdale episode, “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night.”

In the closing moments of Wednesday’s Riverdale, Betty arrives to a wooded area just in time to see her worst nightmare: FP carrying Jughead’s bloodied, maybe lifeless body. Is Jughead breathing? Hard to tell. Are his eyes open? Don’t think so. But this much we know: Jughead’s condition, whatever it is, is the work of Penny Peabody and the Ghoulies, Hiram’s newest hires in Operation Destroy Riverdale (and the Serpents). In an effort to avoid an all-out war between the Ghoulies and the Serpents the next morning, Jughead makes a counteroffer to Hiram: he gives himself to the other side and risks never seeing FP, Betty, or their friends ever again. He even calls Betty just before going into his “30-to-one” situation. “I’m happy to hear your voice,” he tells her. “I just want you to know that I love you. I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll see you soon.” He throws a punch and eventually disappears in a sea of Ghoulies.

So, is Jughead dead? And if he isn’t, will he die on the next episode? In a TVLine interview in April, both KJ Apa and Cole Sprouse hinted at a “tragedy” in the season two finale. “I think the last episode, if I were to describe it in one way, it would be tragic – for one person in particular in the show, but for everyone, ultimately,” according to KJ. Cole also offered this: “Jughead’s made a lot of enemies.”

For those who remain hopeful, consider this: not long after arriving by bike, FP is met with some audible rustling in the bushes. Were these Jughead’s last breaths, or signs that he was fine and just a little bruised up? If you choose to believe this alleged quote from Skeet Ulrich (FP), which a fan shared on Reddit, Jughead is at least guaranteed a “hospital bed” scene next week.

Then again, showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa teased that this week’s episode was going to be “heart-stopping (for one of our characters),” along with a photo of Jughead in a scene prior to his sacrificial lamb throw down. At face value, this tweet is all about Jughead. But if Riverdale has taught its fans anything, it’s that nothing should ever be taken at face value. Could this have just been yet another fake out, and the teaser was just confirming Fangs’ death on the episode? (FYI, despite arriving at the hospital alive after getting shot, Fangs is indeed dead. And Midge’s mom, Mrs. Klump, was the one who originally pulled the trigger outside the sheriff’s office. Oof.)

If you’re more confused than ever, you’re watching the right show. Killing off a major character would be a dramatic and serious move for Riverdale (no offense to the minor characters who died, like Midge, Miss Grundy, Dr. Masters, the Sugarman). At the core of the show’s most outstanding episodes (“Chapter Thirteen: The Sweet Hereafter” remains supreme), catching fans off guard, while dozens of theories float about, has been key. Could anyone have predicted that Clifford was Jason’s murderer, or that Fred was going to get shot? Twice? Yep – Fred was also shot on this week’s episode, but thankfully he was wearing a bulletproof vest this time. In the words of Alanis, you live, you learn, amiright?

As Jughead fans wait another week to find out the fate of their beloved beanie-wearing weirdo, there’s at least one bright spot from this episode: the Black Hood saga is finally over. Finally. To no one’s surprise, the masked vigilante was none other than Betty’s dad, Hal (and not his imaginary twin, as some theorized). In an underwhelming reveal, Hal tells Betty and Alice that he’s lived with a darkness his whole life, a darkness that was passed from his grandfather to his father and now to Betty (hi, Dark Betty). And what’s more, the darkness killed most of the Conway family, leading Hal to manipulate the only surviving member, Joseph the janitor, into pretending to be the Black Hood. The dull cherry on top of this whole reveal? Betty’s great grandfather Cooper murdered his own twin (Cheryl’s great grandfather Blossom), not the other way around. Blame the darkness! TL;DR, Hal is eventually taken away by Sheriff Keller, but not before everyone realizes there’s a copycat Black Hood lurking about.

Other thoughts:

• Riverdale needs more Cheryl archery scenes (and only if she can wear her red cloak)

• “Hot Riverdale Dads” needs to be a real calendar, starting with the photo Kevin took after Sheriff Keller, FP, and Fred saved the diner from the Ghoulies

• Andre was never good at his job

• Hermione needs to divorce Hiram and take all his money

• Jughead needs to be alive, at least long enough for Betty to tell him, OMG Jug, you’ll never guess who the Black Hood is…

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