Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13
Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24 | Chapter 25 | Chapter 26 | Chapter 27 | Chapter 28 | Chapter 29 | Chapter 30 | Chapter 31 | Chapter 32 | Chapter 33 | Chapter 34 | Chapter 35
Chapter 36 | Chapter 37 | Chapter 38 | Chapter 39 | Chapter 40 | Chapter 41 | Chapter 42 | Chapter 43 | Chapter 44 | Chapter 45 | Chapter 46 | Chapter 47 | Chapter 48 | Chapter 49 | Chapter 50 | Chapter 51 | Chapter 52 | Chapter 53 | Chapter 54 | Chapter 55 | Chapter 56 | Chapter 57
Chapter 58 | Chapter 59 | Chapter 60 | Chapter 61 | Chapter 62 | Chapter 63 | Chapter 64 | Chapter 65 | Chapter 66 | Chapter 67 | Chapter 68 | Chapter 69 | Chapter 70 | Chapter 71 | Chapter 72 | Chapter 73 | Chapter 74 | Chapter 75 | Chapter 76
Chapter 77 | Chapter 78 | Chapter 79 | Chapter 80 | Chapter 81 | Chapter 82 | Chapter 83 | Chapter 84 | Chapter 85 | Chapter 86 | Chapter 87 | Chapter 88 | Chapter 89 | Chapter 90 | Chapter 91 | Chapter 92 | Chapter 93 | Chapter 94 | Chapter 95
Chapter 96 | Chapter 97 | Chapter 98 | Chapter 99 | Chapter 100 | Chapter 101 | Chapter 102 | Chapter 103 | Chapter 104 | Chapter 105 | Chapter 106 | Chapter 107 | Chapter 108 | Chapter 109 | Chapter 110 | Chapter 111 | Chapter 112 | Chapter 113 | Chapter 114 | Chapter 115 | Chapter 116 | Chapter 117
Chapter 118 | Chapter 119 | Chapter 120 | Chapter 121 | Chapter 122 | Chapter 123 | Chapter 124 | Chapter 125 | Chapter 126 | Chapter 127 | Chapter 128 | Chapter 129 | Chapter 130 | Chapter 131 | Chapter 132 | Chapter 133 | Chapter 134 | Chapter 135 | Chapter 136 | Chapter 137
Title From: The Crucible (1953)
Archie's progressive teacher is fired, under alleged suspicions of 'communism'. The students have to perform monologues for English class and Archie does an emotional reading from The Crucible that inspires Cheryl. Toni, Clay, Cheryl, and Kevin, pretend to be straight couples, to avoid being attacked for being gay. Betty starts an underground teen newsletter in protest against the Blue & Gold being shut down. Veronica's father comes to town to ask a favour of Veronica, who grants it for her mother's sake, and in exchange for securing her own future independently of him, as she makes clear he has destroyed their relationship. She reconciles with her mother, Hermione, who is divorcing Hiram. Ethel and Jughead try to sell their comic counterfeit, but are discovered, leading to a public burning of comics.
Tropes
- Actor Allusion: Hiram's blonde mistress is named Kelly, a reference to Mark Consuelos's (Hiram Lodge) real-life spouse, Kelly Ripa.
- Alas, Poor Yorick: Julian mimics holding a skull as he does his monologue.
- Ask a Stupid Question...: When Mrs. Thornton asks how Archie found her, Archie points out her address is listed in the phone book.
- The Beard: To cover their true relationships under the increased scrutiny, it's agreed that Cheryl and Kevin will pretend to be dating and Toni and Clay will pretend to be dating, at least until graduation. This gives them an excuse to go on double dates.
- Book Burning: The evil triad of Blossom, Werthers and Featherhead arrange for all comics they can get their hands on to be burned, even buying old issues from unsuspecting kids for this purpose.
- The Bus Came Back: Miss Grundy pops up in this new timeline as a new teacher who offers to help Archie.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Veronica tells Hiram exactly how much he hurt and neglected her, and destroyed their relationship.
- Fired Teacher: Mrs. Edith Thornton, for being progressive.
- Irony: Verbal irony. Standing next to her husband, Penelope Blossom proclaims that the "Red Menace" is here, meaning Communism, apparently oblivious to how the term could apply to the anti-Communist takeover of the school by the Blossoms, who have red hair and dress in red, as well.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: When Hiram's introduced to the gang, Betty's says they are big fans of the Lodges' show, Oh, Mija, while Cheryl comments it didn't hold up after the premiere season, which is the general perception of Riverdale.Cheryl: Especially the first season. It kinda went downhill after that.
- During Hiram's visit to class he gives notes on Julian's reading and asks Julian if he's a man, to which Julian, semi-rattled, says he of course is. In the 2020s reality he only exists as a doll.
- Hermione mentioning that she's ready to move on after seven seasons of their show, as well as from her marriage.
- Mood Whiplash: Toni, Clay, and Kevin spend the episode worried about being outed and it all hinges on whether Cheryl will do so, which Cheryl spends the episode contemplating because... she will get evicted from cheerleading if she doesn't.
- Only the Leads Get a Happy Ending: While Cheryl, Toni, Kevin and Clay are able to get the rumors off their back, it’s unclear if the other teens on the suspected list are able to stop the rumors or if they even know what’s going on.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Uncle Frank doesn't think so, telling Archie he should avoid writing poetry for fear of being suspected of being queer for pursuing a supposedly feminine pastime.
- Revealing Hug: When Hiram asks Veronica for a hug, she grants it, but her face is painted with uncertainty at his true motives for being in town.
- Shout-Out: Betty and Kevin perform a passage from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for English class.
- Arthur Miller.
- The Crucible, which is an allegory for McCarthy's fear-mongering set in Salem, Massachusetts during the witch trials. Archie reads John Proctor's last speech where he refuses to sign his name to false accusations against others.
- Death of a Salesman. Archie had prepared to read a passage by the character Biff, before Mrs. Thornton gives him The Crucible.
- William Shakespeare
- Arthur Miller.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Mrs Thornton tells Archie that he is so much more than a "Biff" type jock.
