Riverdale season 4, episode 17 review: Wicked Little Town

In what was already set to be a divisive episode — the musicals always are —Riverdale’s Hedwig tribute ups the ante with not one, but two surprise kisses.

Riverdale always reserves major relationship moments for its musical episodes — typically, fights and reconciliations. This year’s episode was no different… except that it was completely different because that particular “moment,” whether you loved it or hated it, wasn’t just major.

It was a literal game-changer… and that moment is, of course, Betty and Archie’s passionate make-out sesh.

What does it mean? What lies ahead? And also can we talk about that “Karchie” kiss for a sec? Here’s a look at what went down in Riverdale‘s tribute to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, “Wicked Little Town.”

To Barchie and Beyond?

Riverdale has been teasing Barchie as a potential endgame since the pilot, and more groundwork has certainly been laid this season: the Pop’s scene and them pretending to be a couple in an effort to convince everyone that Jug was dead. Plus, they do have a history of kissing in high-stress situations. Remember that car scene back in season 2?

That being said, this was no momentary lapse. Yes, they were both hurting after getting into fights with Jug and Veronica, but it was an undeniably passionate and rather lengthy kiss. Furthermore, despite reconciling with their respective partners and feeling guilty, they went full on rom-com: staring longingly at each other through their bedroom windows, while touching the window panes, and singing another love duet.

And from the looks of the next episode, Betty and Archie holding hands on the bed in the (sex) bunker, Riverdale is going to be saying Barchie rights for awhile.

At this point, though, it feels like the writers haven’t developed Barchie nearly enough for them be together, let alone together while in relationships with other people who happen to be their respective best friends. There is chemistry there, but it’s the motivation that’s lacking. Why now?

Kevin Keller deserves better

Casey Cott finally got the chance to truly flex his vocal and acting skills in this year’s musical with multiple solo songs and solos. (Yay!) But it begs the question: why isn’t he featured more in general?

Despite being on Riverdale since the pilot and a series regular since season 2, Casey Cott’s Kevin Keller has only had a handful of storylines focused directly on him, and they’re usually resolved in the same episode in which they’re introduced, as was the case in this year’s musical and musicals past.

It was especially ironic this time around, though, since his storyline was literally about how he feels overlooked and ignored.

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And as for that “Karchie” moment, just why? Why couldn’t he have a kissed Fangs, the guy who does actually like him? Kudos to Riverdale for using its platform to introduce people to Hedwig… but if you’re going to pick a musical with very prominent queer themes, you should provide actual queer representation, not a gay guy kissing his straight friend as a joke.

Video killed the Jughead impersonator

Remember that video tape arc? Apparently the writers do, too. And there’s a new twist. Aside from more ominous footage of people’s houses, Jug stumbles across a disturbing video of someone in a Betty mask bludgeoning someone in a Jughead mask with a rock.

Parting thoughts…

Storylines aside, as a musical theater fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the songs and performances. The cast definitely brought their A-game.

I do have one more bone to pick with the writers, though. That line “you make such an exquisite corpse” — why did they give it to Veronica to sing at Archie when it very clearly should’ve been Betty singing it at Jughead? I mean, he literally pretended to be a corpse… in a morgue… just a few episodes ago!

What did you think of the musical episode? Let us know in the comments below!