History Heartwarming / Riverdale

-->'''Penelope:'''Nightmare child, what do you mean?

* The simple fact that this is the only episode of Riverdale to ''not'' end on a cliffhanger. Instead it ends with Archie alone in the garage, lit only by Cheryl's fireworks outside, silently thinking about his dad.

** The fact that Hiram paid for Fred’s funeral arrangements.

*** At the end, Cheryl even helps Betty [[spoiler:burn the Playbook!]]

* Archie [[spoiler: coming forward and admitting to the police that he heard a gunshot on July fourth,]] so that Cheryl could stop being [[CassandraTruth disbelieved and hounded.]]

* Also on Jason, despite his dealings with her beforehand, he did seem to genuinely care about Polly, perhaps even love her on some level, [[spoiler: to the point that the two were secretly engaged.]]

* The fact that Jason and Cheryl's grandmother [[spoiler:gave her blessing to Jason and Polly's secret engagement]]. She also shows some genuine empathy to Betty (thinking she's Polly, but still).

* Betty reuniting with her sister in the convent/group home, and her overjoyed reaction to [[spoiler: her pregnancy.]]

* [[spoiler: Betty and Jughead's first kiss. The fact that Jughead, TheStoic DeadpanSnarker who spends 90% of his screentime brooding, is nervous out of his mind is just adorable.]]

* Jughead and Betty's friendship (and blooming romance) is on full display when Jughead attempts to bypass the orderlies, who are roughly [[spoiler: prying Polly and Betty apart]] in order to help Betty - he gets slammed into the wall for his trouble, but it seems clear that Betty's safety was his priority at that moment.

* As soon as she finds out [[spoiler: she's going to be an aunt]], Cheryl [[HeelFaceTurn completely reorganizes her priorities.]] She completely accepts that she won't be EasilyForgiven by Betty, but does everything she can to help anyway. Including warning Polly that Penelope [[spoiler: wants to take the baby away from her]].
* The fact that an entire gaggle of people showed up to help [[spoiler:find Polly before the Blossoms did]].

* Hermione [[spoiler:immediately and without question takes Polly in with open arms]].
* [[spoiler: When Jughead is arrested]], Fred Andrews not only makes it to the station before his father does, he immediately and without any hesitation provides him with an alibi, even [[spoiler: forging a timecard to back up his story]]
* Betty comforting a very distraught and terrified [[TheWoobie Jughead]] at the [[spoiler: police station]], assuring him that she'll help fix this, and that she won't let anything bad happen to him.
-->'''Jughead:''' ''[clearly very shaken up]'' [[spoiler: I didn't do it,]] Betty. You have to believe me.\\

* Betty immediately goes to comfort Jughead again after his emotional confrontation with [[spoiler: his dad, who leaves him in the care of Fred Andrews]].

* Alice going to Polly's baby shower, despite her own feelings and dislike for the situation, she really was trying her best to be there for Polly, even giving her old night light as a baby present. It turned ugly when the Blossom's showed up, but for the moment it was sweet.
* FP calls Fred the second he sees Archie and several friends walk into the BadGuyBar the Serpents hand out in, even though it means outing himself as a Serpent. Then, when Fred asks if he knows anything about [[spoiler: the attack at the construction site]], FP states that he would never have done it, since Fred [[spoiler: covered for and is housing Jughead.]]

* The fact that Cheryl seems to have legitimately developed some form of crush on Archie and thinks he is one of the few good people in Riverdale. The two's interactions show Cheryl at possibly her most vulnerable. [[spoiler:Too bad Archie ruins it by letting her find out about the deal her parents made with him.]]

** [[spoiler: Relatedly, there's the very sweet kiss she plants on Archie's cheek the next morning. Betty or no Betty, it's clear as day she already loves him. Still, she seems to be making a tradition out of giving baked goods after such slips.]]
* Alice showing that her HeelFaceTurn really did take by helping Betty with what the former presumes is a hangover, and then [[spoiler:postulating about FP and Joaquin's machinations with her as an equal investigator]]. It's really refreshing to see her being supportive and loving as opposed to judgmental and bitchy.
* The episode ends with Fred coming home to Archie... [[spoiler: with Archie's mother next to him.[[note]]Creator/MollyRingwald, ladies and gentlemen![[/note]]]]

* The reason FP [[spoiler: falsely]] confessed to murdering Jason: [[spoiler: the '''real''' killer threatened to kill Jughead unless FP took the blame for Jason's murder.]]
* Betty's ''immediate'' reaction to watching [[spoiler: Clifford murder his own son, Jason,]] is to call [[spoiler: Cheryl- who has spent most of the season, and most of their lives, being a jerk to Betty-]] to get out of her house.

* Archie, Jughead, Veronica, and Betty risking their own lives to [[spoiler:save Cheryl from her suicide attempt, up to and including Archie breaking his hand to shatter ice to get to her]] is an epitome of their dynamic with Cheryl. She may be a frosty bitch, but she's still their friend.

* Although, annoying as it is that the writers decided to have the 'core four' go to the jubilee as opposed to [[spoiler: stay with Cheryl after her suicide attempt]], Veronica's clear care for her is nice to see.

* The way the entire cast reacts to the news that [[spoiler:Fred has been shot.]] Not only do Archie's core friends show up (that is, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and Kevin), but so do their respective parents despite the previous animosities between the families. Additionally, Reggie rallies the football team to help Archie, and Josie and the Pussycats also show up to lend their support.
** Further than that, Archie finds [[spoiler:Cheryl kissing Fred's forehead. When questioned, she smiles at him and explains: "You gave me the kiss of life, Archie Andrews. Now I've given it to your dad. He's going to be just fine."]] It's a very sweet thing to hear, especially coming from [[spoiler:Cheryl.]]

* Betty telling Jughead that she supports his decision to explore the new life he's been put in. It's clear that she has certain reservations regarding the issue, but she nevertheless opts to be supportive, which is extra heartwarming considering that Jughead now has no immediately family around him, and no one else to look out for him or his well-being.

** While Veronica, Valerie and Melody are [[spoiler: kicking Nick's ass,]] Josie goes and checks on/comforts Cheryl.
** Veronica, Josie, Archie, and Betty all coming to support and comfort Cheryl after [[spoiler: her assault.]] Josie doesn't leave her side.
** Its also clear that the only reason Archie didn't beat [[spoiler: Nick]] senseless, is cause Veronica and the Pussycats beat him to it.

* Toni shows a lot of concern for Jughead and tries to make sure he's truly prepared to join the Serpents, culminating in them [[spoiler: sharing a kiss (Betty and Jughead have broken up by this point.)]]

* Its undercut somewhat by [[spoiler: the implication that she is the stalker]] after it being brought up several times before, we finally see how close Cheryl is to Josie. She's spends the episode supporting her, and is revealed to be helping her with her career opportunities, she specifically points out how much she owes Josie for saving her from Nick.

* Archie and Betty's friendship throughout the episode. The two are absolutely in sync in their attempts to bring down the Black Hood once and for all. But they also remind everyone how close friends they are, stand out moment being Archie reassuring and comforting Betty after she learns [[spoiler: her grandfather murdered an innocent man believing he was the Riverdale Reaper]].

* After episode 2x05, Madelaine Petsch put out a PSA on sexual assault and sexual abuse, telling survivors that there is hope after assault and abuse and given them resources to help deal with it.

[[/folder]]

--> '''Jughead:''' ''[clearly very shaken up]'' [[spoiler: I didn't do it,]] Betty. You have to believe me.
--> '''Betty:''' ''[reaching out to hold Jughead's hand]'' Of course. I was with you, and I know who you are.

* Cheryl lightening the Fireworks at the end of the episode, after she said that there won’t be any fireworks at the beginning of the episode.

[[folder:Behind the scenes]]

* The only reason Midge didn't get shot even once? Moose shielded her completely, without a second thought, and got all the shots himself. Also a CrowningMomentOfAwesome.

[[folder: Chapter One - The River's Edge]]

[[folder: Chapter Two - A Touch of Evil]]

[[folder: Chapter Three - Body Double]]

[[folder: Chapter Four - The Last Picture Show]]

[[folder: Chapter Five - Heart of Darkness]]

[[folder: Chapter Six - Faster, Pussycats! Kill! Kill!]]

[[folder: Chapter Seven - In a Lonely Place]]

[[folder: Chapter Eight - The Outsiders]]

[[folder: Chapter Nine - La Grande Illusion]]

[[folder: Chapter Ten - The Lost Weekend]]

[[folder: Chapter Eleven - To Riverdale and Back Again]]

[[folder: Chapter Twelve - Anatomy of a Murder]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirteen - The Sweet Hereafter]]

[[folder: Chapter Fourteen - A Kiss Before Dying]]

[[folder: Chapter Fifteen - Nighthawks]]

[[folder: Chapter Sixteen - The Watcher In The Woods]]

[[folder: Chapter Seventeen - The Town That Dreaded Sundown]]

[[folder: Chapter Eighteen - When a Stranger Calls]]

[[folder: Chapter Nineteen - Death Proof]]

[[folder: Chapter Twenty - Tales From The Darkside]]

[[folder: Chapter Twenty-Two - Silent Night, Deadly Night]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirty - The Noose Tightens]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirty - A Night to Remember]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirty-One - A Night To Remember]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirty-Two - Prisoners]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirty-Three - Shadow of a Doubt]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirty-Four - Judgement Night]]

[[folder: Chapter Thirty-Five - Brave New World]]

[[folder: Behind the scenes]]

* After spending the second half of the season on bad terms, Archie finally realizes how much of a jerk he has become to his father. Then, he gives Hiram the car back, buys a jalopy at the junkyard, and tells Fred that he wants to fix it with him. The sentiment was so heartwarming, Fred was tearing up in joy.

* [[https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_zXTZHH1n/?taken-by=thecwriverdale This video]] from the show's Instagram page, which is basically "everyone's welcome" on the CW, being said by many of the show's main cast members. Notable in that one of the actors to appear is Mark Conseulos, a.k.a. [[BigBad Hiram Lodge]], acting like the [[RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor nice guy]] he is in real life.

[folder: Chapter Thirty-One - A Night To Remember]]

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[[folder: Behind the scenes]]
* The fact that, as confirmed by their actresses, Betty and Veronica will ''not'' be rivals to each other -- they'll be genuine friends.
* The cast as a whole seem to really like each other, being genuine friends on and off camera.
* After episode 2x05, Madelaine Petsch put out a PSA on sexual assault and sexual abuse, telling survivors that there is hope after assault and abuse and given them resources to help deal with it.

[[folder: Chapter Thirty - The Noose Tightens]]

* Veronica confiding in her Mom about how she found out about what Cheryl's life, she tells her Mom she's lucky to have a Mother that loves and protects her.

* Archie also gets a small one. To decide who gets the Bulldogs votes, he and Reggie have an arm wrestling match. Reggie is clearly winning, right up until he makes a crack about Fred. This motivates Archie to not beat him, but tells him to his face that the if he ever talks about Fred like that again he'll break his arm. Whilst two may not be on the best terms at the moment, its clear Archie loves his father.

---> "I can't answer that, Archie. But we wouldn't have met. And that would have been a tragedy of epic proportions."
---> "I'm messed up, Veronica."
---> "We all are, Archie. And honestly, you less than most."

** Later, Archie confides in Veronica about his doubts and uncertainties. Veronica reassures him and together, they bond over their respective family issues.

** Further than that, Archie finds [[spoiler:Cheryl kissing Fred's forehead. When questioned, she smiles at him and explains: "You gave me the kiss of life, Archie Andrews. Now, I'm giving it to him."]] It's a very sweet thing to hear, especially coming from [[spoiler:Cheryl.]]

* The reveal that Serpents actually donate and deliver toys to the children of the Southside. It just goes to show their not just a biker gang, their a part of the community.

* Whilst out driving to Greendale together, Archie admits to Jughead that back before all this occurred he used to dream that once they graduated the two of them would move to New York together and live in the East Village, he'd be a musician and Jughead would be a writer, and Betty and Veronica would be roommates living not to far away in Park Avenue. Jughead does light hearted points out a few flaws in his plans, but for just a little while you can see them both latch onto something from back when they were more innocence. Considering all they've been through, its really sweet to watch.