3x03 Chapter Thirty-Eight: As Above, So Below

I'd always heard that Riverdale gets batshit insane, but I didn't know when that would truly start. Up until this season, it's been ridiculous, but it was at least fairly grounded (for the most part). But now, this shit is stupid and ludicrous. An underground fight club where adults force teenagers to fight for their entertainment, a teenager-ran speakeasy, a brainwashing farm cult opening a new branch in town, a brainwashing D&D knockoff that may or may not be related to the aforementioned cult... It's so much insanity, all at once.

I like how Veronica makes it clear that the speakeasy is only serving mocktails, even though this show has never had any issue with showing underage drinking. Hiram served both Archie and Reggie alcohol like it was the most normal thing to do. They all drank at that lakehouse. Even at the end of this very episode, the warden gives Archie actual rum. Why bother with the non-alcoholic pretense for this speakeasy, then? Nothing about the speakeasy makes sense, either. I don't want to just keep saying "this is stupid" about everything, but my god, this is stupid.

I like how Joaquin was made to be antagonistic towards Archie in the previous episode, even though they never had that kind of relationship in the past. And now, in this episode, they're back to being friends. Riverdale, where any character will conveniently fit into any role that the particular episode needs them to fill.