Archie is on trial for the murder of Shadow Lake resident Cassidy Bullock, orchestrated by Hiram Lodge. Feeling it won't go his way, Archie spends the weekend before the verdict having fun with his friends, camping. Meanwhile, Jughead deals with the Ghoulies having abducted Hotdog. The trial ends in a mistrial, but, to avoid putting his family and friends through another 3 months of hell, Archie accepts a deal and is taken to juvenile detention.
Tropes
- All-Loving Hero: After his case is judged a mistrial because of a hung jury, Archie's accepting the DA's deal without hearing the full extent of it. Reckless, well yeah, but he does so mainly so his friends and family won't have to go through another stint in hell due to his second trial.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Fred, who is one of the kindest characters on the show and who seldom ever loses his cool over anything, finally snaps and slugs Hiram across the face when Hiram taunts Archie's predicament.
- Call-Back: Both the DA and Mary call upon both Archie's past misdeeds and heroics in court while painting the picture of his character for the jury.
- Catharsis Factor: In-Universe; Betty calls Fred punching out Hiram "cathartic".
- Courtroom Episode: The story revolves around trial of Archie, with his mother, Mary Andrews, and Josie’s mother, Sierra McCoy, representing him, and all of his school friends and their families attending the proceedings.
- Flashback Cut: When Archie's past actions are mentioned in court, flashbacks are shown of the moments and Archie reacts pained to the things he did.
- Genre Shift: After occasional vague hints in the first two seasons, the episode's final minutes finally drop all pretense and reveal unmistakable supernatural elements are now part of the show.
- I Will Wait for You: When Archie attempts to break up with Veronica before his possible sentencing, she outright refuses, stating she loves him no matter what.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Cheryl acts her usual carefree, bitchy self, but in a moment of weakness sheds tears for Archie, confiding in Toni she can't believe and refuses to believe that the boy who saved her life could kill another human being, and finds it wrong that he could go to prison for it.
- Mama Bear: Mary does everything she can to keep her son from getting convicted.
- Mr. Fanservice: Archie and Reggie playing catch shirtless at Cheryl's pool party.
- Ms. Fanservice: At the pool, Josie, Toni, and Cheryl wear bikinis, and Betty and Veronica wear one-pieces. The latter two are later seen in their underwear when they go swimming with Archie and Jughead.
- Never My Fault: Hiram tells Veronica that Archie is to blame for being violent, when it's Hiram himself who set up a majority of the events.
- Papa Wolf: Fred can't hold back when Hiram openly mocks Archie's situation in the courthouse.
- Pool Scene: Cheryl's 'End-of-Summer' pool party at Thornhill. Despite the sadness of Archie's situation, everyone attends and mostly have a good time, donning swimwear and hanging out in the sun.
- Second-Hand Storytelling: Used a couple times in the episode, given the 3-month time jump that took place between seasons:
- Cheryl tells the core four she and Toni spent their summer vacation biking across the country.
- Josie briefly refers to her and Sweet Pea's summer fling.
- Shout-Out: Veronica compares Hiram's plans to drive the friends apart to Iago of Othello fame.
- Smug Snake: Hiram, as stated above, openly mocks Archie in public, and makes it clear that he set him up to punish Veronica.
- Stripperiffic: Cheryl’s entrance, where she’s wearing only her Serpent jacket on top of a bra.
- Supermodel Strut: Cheryl enters Pop's diner with a confident strut while swaying her hips, arms and legs. All in slow-mo while a booming song plays in the background.
- Underwear Swimsuit: Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead, when they go swimming at the swimming hole.
