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The CW Conclave: A Riverdale refresher before tonight’s premiere

By Catherine Palmer

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Ahead of tonight’s highly-anticipated Riverdale season 3 premiere on The CW, here’s a look back on major moments from season 2.

It’s a been a long few months for Riverdale fans, but the wait is finally over. From Archie (KJ Apa) being framed for murder to Hiram (Mark Consuelos) taking over the Southside to Alice (Mädchen Amick) maybe joining a cult, season three seems set to kick off on The CW quite dramatically.

While you’re counting down the hours, here’s a quick recap of the major moments from season two you’ll want to remember before you tune in for “Labor Day.”

The Black Hood & Chic

All season Betty (Lili Reinhart) was being psychological tortured by the serial killer known as the Black Hood. Turns out the Black Hood (at least the primary one) is actually her dad Hal (Lochlyn Munro), who felt compelled to cleanse Riverdale of sinners. He’s behind bars now, but it may not be the last we’ve seen of him.

Betty also met her older brother Chic (Hart Denton) last season, except he wasn’t not her brother at all. He was a poser who seemingly admitted to killing her real brother, Charles, who was Alice’s and FP’s (Skeet Ulrich) secret love child.

Betty handed Chic over to the Black Hood, but she gave Chic a running start, so he may still be alive. Technically, even Charles may still be alive. Just saying, we’ve haven’t seen the body.

Archie & Veronica vs. Hiram

After instigating an all-out war between the Northside and Southside, Hiram ultimately failed to divide the town permanently. However, the reconciliation came a bit too late. The Serpents’ ranks were decimated in a battle with the Ghoulies, and Hiram had already monopolized the Southside, anyway.

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He will now be a kingpin, aided by Penelope (Nathalie Boltt), Claudius (Barclay Hope), Sheriff Minetta (Henderson Wade), Penny Peabody (Brit Morgan), Malachai (Tommy Martinez).

After spending the almost all of season two as Hiram’s errand boy, Archie finally realized Hiram had been manipulating him and called it quits. Hiram then framed Archie for the murder of Cassidy Bullock (Harrison Macdonald).

Earlier in the season, Cassidy robbed the Lodges’ lake house while the Core Four was there. Archie ran after and tackled him, but then Andre (Stephan Miers) stepped in and said he would take of Cassidy. On his way back to the house, Archie heard a gunshot.

Meanwhile, Veronica (Camila Mendes) has cut ties with her father and is the new owner of Pop’s. She’s planning to open a “speakeasy” in Pop’s basement, in which Northsiders and Southsiders can hang out. It doesn’t sound the like wisest business decision to me, considering the kids going there would all underage. But whatever, V, you do you.

Barchie & Jeronica

In a brief time period in which both Bughead and Varchie were broken up, Betty and Archie kissed. They were on a mission to take down the Black Hood, so it was definitely a “what if we’re both about to die?” kind of kiss. But there seemed to be some feeling in it, too. Meanwhile, after both Veronica and Jughead (Cole Sprouse) found out, they kissed to settle the score.

Bughead

Betty and Jughead started off season two pretty strong, even with Jug at Southside High, and then everything started to fall apart. Betty (through Archie) broke up with Jug to protect him from the Black Hood. They soon got back together, only for Jughead to break up with Betty to protect her from the Serpents.

Then, Bughead reunited again and consummated their relationship. However, near the end of the season, Jughead sacrificed himself to the Ghoulies to save everyone. He survived, though, and was promoted to Serpent King by FP. The only questions now are: Will Betty agree to be his Serpent Queen; and, if so, will the Serpents accept her?

Choni

Cheryl finally found her person in season two, and it was probably the last person she would’ve expected. Cheryl had resented and look down on the Serpents for their role in covering up Jason’s (Trevor Stines) murder back in season one, but Toni (Vanessa Morgan) changed that.

As I’ve written about before, Cheryl instinctively pushes people away because of how often she’s been hurt in her life. She just wants to protect herself. However, as soon as Toni showed Cheryl that she genuinely cared about her, Cheryl let her walls down in a way she never had, admitting her mother had emotionally and psychologically abused her for years on account of her bisexuality.

When Penelope later sent Cheryl to conversion therapy, Toni rescued her. The two shared their first kiss and became a couple. At the end of the season, Cheryl joined the Serpents and even got a custom red jacket.

Falice

Season two was a big one for Falice shippers. It was finally confirmed that Alice and FP have been canon since high school and had a child that FP was unaware of and that Alice gave up for adoption. Alice and FP also definitely still have feelings for one another.

Unfortunately, the season ended with Alice reeling from the Black Hood reveal and contemplating joining The Farm, which sounds like a cult. However, the season three teaser trailer suggested that Falice will happen.

Varchie

In season one, Archie and Veronica proved to be Riverdale‘s most, shall we say, “passionate” couple, and they did not lose that status in season two. Remember the shower scene? Frankly, they really should find a more productive and healthy way to deal with stress, but I don’t have high hopes going into season three.

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Like Bughead, Varchie had their fair share of rough patches in season two, from Archie’s vigilantism to Hiram’s meddling to the “I love you” complication. However, Veronica and Archie proved how strong their bond is as the season progressed, especially when they took down Nick St. Clair (Graham Phillips) to save each other.

Unfortunately, the stress of Archie’s arrest will definitely put a strain on their relationship.

Are you excited for Riverdale to return? Tell us in the comments below!

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