It’s the third episode in the fifth season of a show that was justrenewed for a sixth.
And for many of them, that also meant saying goodbye to Riverdale.
The hour starts with Jughead blaming himself for what went down with Jellybean.
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And that’s exactly why FP thinks it’s time to leave.
As he tells Alice, Betty, and Jughead, he’s going to take Jellybean back to Toledo.
And he’s going to stay there with her.
“She’s my little girl,” he tells Alice.
Across town, Archie has a dream about his dad attending graduation a.k.a.
Considering there’s an army recruitment booth in the school hallway, Archie wonders if it’s a sign.
Only in Riverdale would the yearbook highlight illegal activity by its students.
But the same can’t be said for Archie.
Oh, but Weatherbee would like him to record the graduation song.
After the bell rings on their last day of high school, they all prepare to say goodbye.
The small town that wasn’t plagued by death.
She wants everyone to try and remember that place.
All valedictorian speeches should take note.
They should never exceed 5 minutes.
Apparently, Hiram has promised to take care of her in his private jail.
But when she mentions Cheryl’s college graduation, it’s clear Cheryl isn’t thinking about college.
More on that later.
Then it’s time for FP’s farewell.
She understands why he has to go and she loves him for it.
With one final kiss, FP and Jellybean drive off.
She then meets up with her classmates as they each put something in the capsule.
Veronica has the Pop’s menu and a matchbox from La Bonne Nuit.
Kevin has the programs from his musicals and a pair of Josie’s cat ears.
She keeps her Serpent jacket, though.
Together, they bury it.
Archie then tells them all that he snuck away after graduation and joined the army.
He leaves for basic training in the morning, and Veronica is not happy about it.
Okay, now it’s time for Cheryl to explain her plan.
That night, Jughead is hung up on the fact that Veronica didn’t know about Archie’s choice.
He feels like things have been off with them, but he has no idea why.
And so, Betty tells him about the kiss.
Then, through both their tears, they… sleep together?
Today, she’s too upset about Archie leaving.
And when she regrets not giving Archie one final hug, Betty gets an idea.
He claims that a normal amount of high school angst is good for them?
Does cheating count as angst?
I’m not sure, but he says they’re good.
Veronica and Betty, however, are late.
By the time they get the jalopy to the bus station, Archie is on the bus.
So, Jug hops in the back and they chase the bus down.
Ugh, this is the kind of sentimental stuff I love.
They all wave at Archie and Veronica screams that she loves him.
As Jughead’s voiceover explains, Archie leaving was the moment the glue that held them all together dissolved.
And things between Betty and Jughead were never the same.
They didn’t talk about the kiss, but Betty decided to go to New Haven early.
With everyone gone, Jughead moves into Archie’s old house, which is apparently up for sale?
Man, when these people leave a town they really LEAVE IT.
When the hot water and gas are shut off, he returns to the bunker.
Then, with one final burger at Pop’s, Jughead leaves, too.
But one year later, he returns!
And yet, he’s the only one.
“But that’s another story for another day,” he says.
Realistically, that’s another story for… next week.
But I have to say, this was my favorite episode ofRiverdalein a bit.
I realize this wasn’t the series finale, but it had so many aspects of a good one.
