Well, well, well: I have been right all along about Jughead's fate in Riverdale, wasn't I?!
Now whether if it was too obvious to the viewers or not that the death was a only ruse, the show really had me going for a good bit, especially with episode 71 "How to Get Away with Murder" (gee, I wonder where the writers got that title from) and the majority of episode 72 "To Die For."
(Also, click here if you want to read my last article on what my thoughts were on this subject…)
While 71 only had Jughead's narration of the show's events – as in the flash-forward scenes finally making their way into the present-day – within the very first scene and nothing later on, as in the scene following the rest of the gang's supposed cover up by burning their clothes and Juggie's beanie, it was three-quarters of the way through 72 that almost had me feeling like a complete fool, for thinking that Jughead couldn't possibly be alive, because of how the gang kept casually playing up the charade in front of everybody… but that was the whole point.
The whole point was to have Bret and Donna, along with everyone else at Stonewall Prep and at Riverdale High, believe that Jug really was dead just so they – the gang and Jug, fully the Core Four again – can prepare and buy themselves – mainly Jug – some time before he and Betty making next move in exposing Stonewall's secrets once and for all. So, when I saw Jughead in the bunker alongside Betty, of course I was overjoyed and was screaming my head off!
I said it before and I'll say it again: the show really had me going there. I mean, 72 even had a blacked-out title card at the episode's start, stating the kind of quote that Jughead would have on his tombstone, so how could I not be deterred from what I thought I knew to be true deep down just by a little bit? (His quote was by Agatha Christie. Also, the tombstone stated his birthdate as October 2nd – two days before mine, in fact – but in the year 2001. Sure okay, Cole Sprouse…)
Anyway, aside from those occasional doubts in my belief, and the details surrounding the death's setup I kinda dropped the ball on, Jughead's being alive and well was what I predicted and was all that truly mattered! However, while that was one thing I got generally right on, there was another thing that side-stepped me, but before I move forward with that, allow me to explain…
Keep in mind that I am still a Bughead-shipper, but on the off-chance that Jughead would be dead, I would have been content with Barchie being endgame. And I should be honest here: I have grown more used to the idea of Betty and Archie actually ending up together in the end.
Anyway, before the reveal of Jughead's being alive and well, in order to have everyone keep thinking that he's dead, Betty kisses Archie in the music room – yeah, of all places – so that Cheryl – of all people – would see them through the window and spread the rumor over school, causing Veronica to dump Archie as a boyfriend and Betty as a friend – staged, of course – and that if they pretended to be dating, then everyone would be fooled into thinking that Jughead really wouldn't be around if Betty were with Archie (a.k.a. her crush back in season one).
Now, after the reveal (to us viewers), when Archie and Betty are texting each other about their "performance," Archie was starting to text her that he'd be happy to do it anytime before quickly erasing that part of the text, having a look of longing – or as Veronica would call it a "wistful" look – on his face. And Betty's face bears a similar look – a bit of a flirtatious look – as this whole text exchange is taking place.
Hell, even Jughead and Veronica question their partners if there were any old feelings left from pretending to be a couple, so it was kinda obvious that the show would go this route, with Jughead dead or not. And in episode 73 "The Locked Room" when the truth gets out about the whole ordeal being a charade, Cheryl tells Betty that it looked pretty convincing, so even Cheryl can see it – but then again, it's Cheryl.
Deep down, I kinda knew that Kevin would get his season one wish: Betty and Archie may not be dating (right now), but they are endgame.
So, while it was a fun ride being on the Bughead train, when the time comes to get off at the station, I think I'll switch to the Barchie train. And Jughead, my baby, welcome back…
