Riverdale is back and the actors weren’t kidding when they said it starts off right where they left off. If this episode is any indication of what’s in store for season two, it’s going to be very dark and scary but these friends are going to be there for each other no matter what.

SPOILERS BELOW

Dean Buscher/The CW

Over the last few weeks, there have been a lot of spoilers. Way too many. So many in fact that the intensity of this episode could have been up a notch if we didn’t already know that Fred (Luke Perry) was going to make it. It was nice when he finally opened his eyes but we knew it was coming, we just didn’t know when. I’m pretty good at avoiding spoilers but all these spoilers were pushed out to create hype for the second season and I don’t think they needed spoilers to do that. We were all excited and ready to see what happened next.

The two biggest surprises came with Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Veronica (Camila Mendes). It seemed very nice that Jughead was asking the Serpents for help so he could help Archie but he really didn’t know what he was getting himself into. I’m not sure why I was so surprised that they brought the guy they tortured back to Jug’s dad’s trailer but I really was. It’s like Jughead was pulled in right there without even being able to help it. We knew Jug was going down a dark path this season and this must be where it starts. Can we guess that Archie’s (K.J. Apa) dark path stems from his need to protect his father? 

Dean Buscher/The CW

I definitely didn’t expect Veronica to accuse her mom of putting a hit out on Fred and I definitely wasn’t expecting Hermione’s (Marisol Nichols) reaction. We knew she was tough but this is a side of her we haven’t seen before. This opens up a whole new side of their mother-daughter relationship. It makes a lot more sense now that we’ve got a glimpse of Veronica’s dad, Hiram (Mark Consuelos). He seems a little intimidating. But Hermione definitely didn’t put the hit on Fred, she was very relieved and happy to hear Fred was okay. Hiram couldn’t seem to care one way or the other. 

I would have liked to have seen more of Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch). She was so calm after the fire that she was really freaking me out. Then she was sweet to Archie. I did love the scene with her and her mom. Madelaine told me at San Diego Comic-Con that Cheryl setting the fire was her taking back control of her life. She truly meant it because now she owns her mom and won’t stand for any of the abuse her mom has been putting her through. Not that I condone her taking control this way but I am loving it. This is a side of Cheryl we haven’t seen before and I’m looking forward to exploring it.

There’s definitely a new mystery to solve which is great because I love watching Jughead and Betty (Lili Reinhart) investigate. This one may hit closer to home than even the last one did.