Riverdale season 2, episode 6 review: Chapter 19 and the Sugar Man

Reviewing Wednesday night’s episode of Riverdale.

Most of the Riverdale episodes have been about 75 percent Black Hood and 25 percent Northside vs. Southside. “Chapter Nineteen” saw that trend in the other direction.

There’s a battle brewing between the North and South, which as we saw, hasn’t reached its culmination. The Serpents and drug-dealing Ghoulies aligned, with the goal to be against the North in a “war.” It’s been a slow build and fascinating development over the past month, which surely ends in someone’s death, right?

Before that, Jughead’s attempt to thwart the Ghoulies was a drag race as his father, FP, suggested. It was to end the drug dealing, but with stakes that had the chance to ruin Riverdale. This looked like a big deal, only to turn into something grander, when the police arrived to catch the Ghoulies, who was ahead in the race. Archie revealed he called, but that won’t be the end of this. A three-way war feels like it’s on the way.

The other battle became Cheryl vs. Nick St. Clair. The episode started with Cheryl trying to play off the incident, a page out of her character from season 1. We quickly learned it was just an act, as when she saw Nick at Pop’s, it led to a confrontation that only began the process of her emotions unraveling.

Then, there’s the Sugar Man, this drug mastermind that dealt through Southside High. It was an episode-long mystery for his identity, which was closely aligned with Clifford Blossom. Mr. Phillips, the English teacher that helped Jughead with the school paper, got arrested to end the episode. A stunning revelation, as he seemed like the cleanest of everyone at Southside. It masked his true identity, however.

Let’s close with the Black Hood. He didn’t kill Nick St. Clair, but still toyed with Betty through their phone calls. It’s a man that’s overseen everything in Riverdale, but it’s somewhat difficult to put a finger on who he is. Then came the end of “Chapter Nineteen.”

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Betty followed the Hood’s demand to find out who the Sugar Man was and did. However, she reported Mr. Phillips to the police, who as noted, arrested him. That led to the brief glimpse of the Hood, killing Mr. Phillips inside his jail cell.

How would the Hood get inside the police station? It points to Sheriff Keller, who has the build of this murderer. Both want to bring justice to the wrongdoers of Riverdale. However, Keller does his like a cop and the Hood, well, goes about his business differently. The intention is there, but might there be a vigilante side to Kevin’s father?

• Underneath all of this, the Lodge’s still remain prevalent. They’re not just sneaking around and being cryptic, just for the sake of things. It would be obvious if they were the masterminds of the Black Hood, so it feels like they’re connected to something else. What is the “something else,” though?
• In one phone call, Archie turned the Serpents and Ghoulies into enemies, along with the North and the Ghoulies. This third group likely will disappear for a while. When they’re out, look for a battle that could rock Riverdale.
• Sheriff Keller is all over the promos for next week. So, while the theory of him as the killer fits, the promo may have made it obvious that it won’t be him, and just a way to fool the viewers.
• If it’s not Keller or Betty’s dad, then the potential candidates for the Black Hood become open season.

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Riverdale returns on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET on the CW.