Favorite 2021 TV Shows

I always say that I read more than I watch TV, which might be true…but then I compile my favorite TV shows of the year and somewhat doubt myself. I always talk about what I watched in my monthly wrap ups, but today I’m sharing the best of the best of my 2021 TV watching. You’ll likely notice that most of my favorite shows come from streaming platforms, and I also recently started subscribing to Hulu (Only Murders in the Building is on the top of my Hulu list). I’m highly anticipating this week’s release of Just Like That, the Sex & the City spinoff, on HBO Max and here’s to hoping that Bridgerton Season 2 makes a surprise release over Christmas – I can so see it dropping during the holiday break, if not in early 2022 (sidenote that I finally bought the first book, the Duke and I, to spread some good karma & hope!). 

Anyway, I decided to forgo descriptions of each show and separated the post into my absolute favorites & honorable mentions – I’ve mentioned nearly all of the shows included in my monthly wrap-ups. If you are fortunate enough to have some extra time off around the holidays, I hope this list helps guide your TV watching decisions!

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I Sense a New Favorite TV Show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1 Discussion

As some of you may know, I am a Pawnee Goddess, frequent customer of the Low Cal Calzone and Tom’s Bistro, patient of Dr. Richard Nygard, avid Johnny Karate watcher, and supporter of Treat Yo Self. In other words, I am a Parks and Recreation fan.

A few weeks ago, I watched the first two seasons of an increasingly popular and deservingly so show called The Good Place, and now like everyone else, I must wait until the third season. Like books, I definitely enjoy watching TV shows when they’ve already ended because Netflix and Amazon Prime have spoiled me into becoming a binge-watching machine. In addition, February 25 marked the third anniversary of the end of Parks & Rec, my all-time favorite TV show. Since then, I’ve been craving a show that makes me feel almost as happy as Parks and Rec. Because of how much I love Parks and Rec and The Good Place, I decided to remain in Michael Schur territory and watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine. This is also a good time for me to admit to you guys that yes, I have tried watching The Office, and no, I can’t get into it, and yes, is literally the best show out of the two. Anyways,…

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Like The Good Place, I’ve seen nothing but rave reviews of Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Twitter and Youtube, so I figured it was time that I tried it myself. The only problem? Brooklyn Nine-Nine is only available for streaming on Hulu, one of the few subscriptions I don’t have *hides because this also means that I still haven’t watched The Handmaid’s Tale*. Luckily, spring break came around and my local library has all four seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine that have come out so far on DVD (and they’re also ordering The Handmaid’s Tale!). Over spring break, I completed the first two seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine , and I’ve come to the conclusion that I absolutely love this show and it gives me so many Parks & Rec feels! For those who are unfamiliar with the show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a police sitcom set in the fictional 99th Precinct of the NYPD in Brooklyn, following a team of detectives under a newly appointed captain.

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While different in subject, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has reminded me so much of Parks & Rec because of its set and characters. For most of the season, I thought that Brooklyn Nine-Nine might’ve been filmed on the Parks set, but the show started while Parks & Rec was still on air. However, the precinct is a pretty similar style of the Parks and Recreation office—same floor tile, wallpaper, and desks, but I haven’t noticed any Parks Easter eggs (hopefully yet, anyway). A lot of people believe that The Good Place and Parks & Rec take place in the same universe, and I can definitely see Brooklyn Nine-Nine fitting in there as well. And here’s my character breakdown of who would be friends with who between Parks and Brooklyn (honestly guys, this was my inspiration to do write this post):

  • I am convinced that Rosa and April are cousins
  • Amy and Leslie would be best friends for their go-getter attitudes and love for pants suits (but of course no one could replace the  cunning, pliable, chestnut-haired sunfish that is Ann Perkins)
  • Andy, or should I say, Bert Maclkin, would replace Santiago as Jake’s partner
  • Boyle definitely plays Cones of Dunshire and would partner up with Tom to open a Tom’s Bistro in Brooklyn
  • Ron would appreciate Holt’s no need for conversation (and would probably find him hilarious like everyone else except for the squad).
  • Chris and Terry= workout buddies
  • Gina would be the newest member of the Treat Yo Self team
  • Jerry/Gerry/Larry is the combination of Scully and Hitchcock

I love the entire cast of characters on B99, but I think my favorites so far are Jake, Rosa, and Gina. I honestly laugh at all the right moments when it comes to Jake, and I am most definitely rooting for him and Amy to get together– my favorite scenes include when Jake talks to her through the teddy bear and having to hideout in Holt’s bathroom with Terry at his birthday party. I think my favorite episode of the first season is “The Party” because EVERYONE has at least one moment where I laughed out loud (my favorite episodes of Parks & Rec are also like this). I feel like there’s a lot to explore about Rosa, and like I said above, she reminds me so much of April Ludgate, but I will say that she’s better about expressing how much she cares for the squad. And yes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a comedy, but Gina provides the best comic relief. “Tactical Village” is not only one of my favorite episodes for getting to see more of Amy and Jake’s relationship, but also for Gina and Holt’s obsession over Kwazy Cupcakes (which I may or may have not downloaded on my phone).

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Overall, I’ve really enjoyed Brooklyn Nine-Nine for its cast of characters, humor, and over arching storylines. While each episode has a new investigation, the reset button doesn’t affect our character’s problems and relationships. I’m invested in how Jake and Amy’s relationship will play out, and it’s been fun to see Holt’s guard come down a bit (him being a robot is still questionable though). I’m hoping to somehow watch seasons 3 and 4 before my spring semester ends, but if not, I’ll definitely be watching them right at the start of my summer break and will be catching on season 5 ASAP.

Do you watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine? Share in the comments!

Fierce Fangirl Friday: Hart of Dixie

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Fierce Fangirl Friday was created by Jackie of Too Much of a Booknerd as an opportunity for us fangirls to do some healthy fangirling on our blogs. Today I will be discussing my latest binge watch on Netflix, Hart of Dixie.

Binge-watch may be too strong of a term, as I watched all four seasons of Hart of Dixie over two months—I have friends who would have done so in less than two weeks. Anyway, in the beginning of November, I needed a new show to watch, after my billionth (okay, tenth or eleventh) Glee rewatch and I  didn’t have a weekly show during the fall (side confession that I have not been too keen on season 2 of Riverdale). Hart of Dixie kept popping up on my recommended list on Netflix, so I decided to give it a try. The CW show follows cardiac surgeon, Zoe Hart, who after being told that she needs more experience in bedside manner, moves to Bluebell, Alabama, where she’s been given the opportunity to work as a general practitioner. As this New York City girl adjusts to southern life, she forms new friendships and relationships while finding herself in some crazy schemes.hod.jpg

Like I mentioned above, there are four seasons of Hart of Dixie. Season 1 focuses on Zoe’s attempts to have a least 30% of the patients in the practice that she shares with fellow GP, Brick Breeland, and her forming relationships with people in Bluebell. Most notably, this includes the young mayor of Bluebell, Lavon Haynes, and Rose, a teenage girl who looks to Zoe for guidance on relationships and growing up. There’s also every fangirl’s favorite trope: a love triangle! This triangle includes Wade, Zoe’s neighbor and town playboy, and George Tucker, a local lawyer who’s engaged to Lemon Breeland, Brick’s daughter and Zoe’s quickly-formed rival.

Each episode is around 40 minutes long and there are 70 episodes of the show altogether. Season 1 was my favorite season of the show, as I loved getting acquainted with the southern, small-town vibes and learning about our main characters’ backgrounds. Season 2 and 3 were also fun, as Zoe has fully adopted life in Bluebell and a lot of relationships between our main cast and some new characters take place. However, I will say that Season 3 was my “least favorite” season of the show, only because I feel like despite all of the drama, we knew what duo was always going to be together by the end of the season. I really enjoyed Season 4, the final season of the show, for the way it wrapped up each character’s story arc, especially in the final episode. It did become a bit cheesy at times (I wasn’t completely in love with the musical-style ending of the last episode), but Hart of Dixie is such a feel-good show that it’s what you expect!

My favorite characters were Lavon and Lemon. I loved Lemon’s antics and I was rooting for her relationship with one particular character from the start (no spoilers here!). Lavon was also a great friend to Zoe and it was really sweet to see how much he cared about Bluebell. When it comes to the Zoe love triangle, I wasn’t really Team George or Team Wade (does anybody know if this was a thing when the show first aired??) because I thought either would work for Zoe just fine! I will admit that I tended to enjoy the other characters storylines more than Zoe’s relationship problems.

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Overall, Hart of Dixie is the perfect show for anyone looking for a light and fluffy series with a touch of comedy. My overall rating for the show is a B+.

Now that I’m finished with Hart of Dixie, it’s time to find a new show that I can easily watch while I’m at school. I’m craving a new season of  Big Little Lies, and I watched the last few episodes of Fuller House season 3 within a day!I’ve started a watch/rewatch of Sex and the City (I haven’t seen every single episode), I’ve heard amazing things about Call the Midwife and The Man in the High Castle, and I keep going back and forth on season 2 of Strangers Things.

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Have you watched Hart of Dixie? Do you have any TV recommendations for me? Share in the comments!

TV Review: Fuller House Season 3 Part 1

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Last Friday, the first half of Fuller House Season 3 was released on Netflix. After being quite disappointed with season two of the show last December, I debated if I would watch the third season of the Full House spinoff.  I found the first two seasons of Full House to be a bit cheesy and quite frankly, cringey. I’m not sure if this because I’m watching Fuller House as a young adult, where I started watching Full House when I was four or five years old.

I think what really made me watch Fuller House was that this season was released on the 30th anniversary of Full House. I had to celebrate in some way! So on the morning of September 23rd, I woke up a half hour earlier than I usually do on Fridays and watched the first two episodes of the show before class. Throughout the rest of the day and night, I continued to watch the rest of the season and right after I finished, I was Googling when the next half of the season is going to come out! While it was still cheesy at times, I enjoyed Fuller House Season 3 Part One much more than I had anticipated! I think these nine episodes did a better job of focusing on the adults a tad more (lets be honest, the kids are cute, but I really only care about the characters I grew up with on Full House).

Before I jump into spoilers and for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to watch the season yet, I will say that I recommend watching this season of Fuller House if you are looking for a lighthearted binge-watch or you’re as a big of a Full House fan as I am.

 *Woah baby: There are spoilers for Fuller House below*

 Like I said above, I enjoyed this season much more than I had anticipated. I actually skipped through most of Season Two because I was only concerned about DJ and Steve, who do remain as my top concern. However, I do have a few disappointments regarding these first nine episodes. I was a bit nervous from the get-go, as the first episodes begins with a musical routine. I will never understand why Fuller House has included singing and dancing in most of the episodes. While Full House had its musical elements in the form of Jesse, it wasn’t like the Tanners were breaking into musical numbers every episode. I will say though that I enjoyed the “Summer Nights” duet by DJ and Steve.

My next disappointment was the emphasis on Stephanie becoming mom. We learn in the first season of the show that Stephanie is unable to have a baby, however, she learns in this season that she has viable eggs and could possibly have a baby through a sperm donor and surrogate. Of course, we then get Becky and Stephanie jumping up and down in the doctor’s office, screaming that Stephanie could actually be a mom. NEWSFLASH, STEPHANIE WOULD STILL BE CONSIDERED A MOM IF SHE ADOPTED A BABY/CHILD. I found this a bit disappointing, especially since Becky and Jesse just adopted a baby themselves. And why does Becky have to be so baby crazy?? In Full House, Becky and Jesse decided not to have any more kids because Becky really wanted to focus on her career.

Negativity over, positivity’s here!

My favorite episode was “Say Yes to the Dress” mainly (okay, entirely) for its emphasis on DJ and Steve. I have been with Kimmy on Team Steve since the very beginning of Fuller House, and my biggest prediction at the end of season 2 was that Van Atta High’s golden couple would pull through, despite Steve’s engagement. AND NOW OUR HOPE IS SO REAL GUYS!!! Honestly, this is the only reason why I need the rest of season 3 RIGHT NOW.

We also finally got to see the Gibbler house this season!! It was even weirder than I could have imagined, and there were a few Easter eggs from Full House inside!

I also really enjoyed seeing Grandpa Nick come in the last episode, as I was waiting for someone outside the main cast from Full House to pop in! And as much as I want the show to focus more on the Full House main cast, I did enjoy the kids’ storylines more this season (Tommy got even cuter), and Fernando was actually a nice comedic relief most of the time.My main hope for the rest of the season is to obviously to see DJ and Steve finally get together! But even more than that, being that Danny is now divorced, I think it’s time for a certain Ms. Vicky Larson to join the show!!!

My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars

Do you watch Fuller House? Share in the comments!

My Most Anticipated Fall 2017 TV Shows

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Not only is this fall bringing us so many exciting book releases, there’s such great television during the season as well! I’ve found that I’ve watched a bit more television this year than usual—Master of None and Big Little Lies have stolen my heart for the year- and I cannot wait to watch the series listed below.

Fuller House Season 3 (Netflix)– September 22nd I discussed in a Top Five Wednesday post a while back about how conflicted I felt about Fuller House, the Netflix reboot of Full House, aka one of my all-time favorite TV shows. In short, I find the humor of Fuller House to be VERY cheesey (maybe this is because I started watching Full House as a child and now I’m watching Fuller House as a young adult), the show overall tries to be too current, and I don’t like the direction of the plot that the show is going in. However, being the Full House fan that I am, I will be watching season 3 of Fuller House (even though we’ll only be getting the first half of the season) with high hopes that this show can turn my opinion around (not to mention DJ and Steve).

The Big Bang Theory Season 11 (CBS) – September 25th The Big Bang Theory has been in my nerdy heart since I was a freshman in high school and I cannot wait for this season primarily because of season 10’s cliffhanger!! The night before I moved back to school, my sister and I had a BBT marathon and even though it’s almost always on TBS, we wish that the show was on Netflix!

Ghosted (Fox)– October 11th Ghosted stars Adam Scott (anything that Ben Wyatt is in, I’m there) and Craig Robinson in Fox’s new paranormal sitcom. Adam Scott plays Max, a believer in the supernatural and a bookstore employee (!!), and Craig Robinson plays Leroy, a skeptic, and the show follows their adventures after being recruited by The Bureau Underground to investigate “unexplained” activities in LA. I think that this will be a light comedy with some creeper/ Stranger Things vibes.

Riverdale Season 2 (CW)– October 11th While the first season had its ups and downs, I am more than ready for season 2 of Riverdale, especially after the season 1 finale! Riverdale definitely does not share the Archie comic vibes, and I only compare the two together when it comes to character development. There’s going to be a few unanswered questions leading us into season two, and the show’s reported to having darker vibes and an even bigger cast this season. I plan on doing a rewatch of season 1 on Netflix leading up to October 11th.

Dynasty (CW)– October 11th I haven’t seen Elizabeth Gillies in anything but Nickelodeon’s Victorious, so I’m looking forward to see her star in this 1980s reboot. Like Riverdale, the show is reported to have some darker vibes, but there’ll be a bit more comedy. Dynasty follows one girl’s fight with her new step-mom over her family’s fortune.

What fall TV show are you most anticipating? Share in the comments!

TV Review: Big Little Lies

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Almost immediately after finishing Liane Moriarity’s Big Little Lies,  I started watching its HBO mini series. Unfortunately, I do not have HBO, but I bought the first episode on iTunes and fortunately soon after, a family friend let me use their TV subscription so I could watch the show for free (my iTunes account is VERY thankful). In short, I loved the Big Little Lies miniseries and like many, I wouldn’t mind a second season, as the finale leaves a few unanswered questions. I’ll be getting into more specifics about the show below.

 There are A LOT of differences between the book and the show. For starters, while the book takes place in coastal Australia, the show takes place in Monterey, California. The change in the setting didn’t have that much of an affect on the plot, other than that no one was speaking in Australian accents. We also experience more scenes focused on Bonnie and Renata, where in the books we only get point-of-views from Madeline, Jane, and Celeste. I liked how Ed had a bigger presence in the show, but I didn’t like a lot of the changes the show made about Madeline. Two of her more smaller and non-spoilery changes included that her and Ed’s son didn’t have a role in the show and instead of working in the town’s theater office, Madeline is currently running Monterey’s production of Avenue Q. It was also abundantly clear through each character’s car and house, with the exception of Jane, that nearly everyone was wealthy.

The cast was phenomenal. Each person fit his or her character perfectly, and my favorite had to be Reese Witherspoon as Madeline. She was just as I had imagined Madeline, and it was interesting to see her relationship with Chloe play out. She had the perfect reaction for when Bonnie and Nathan tell her about Chloe’s secret project. While I admit that I was nervous about Shailene Woodley playing Jane, I thought that she fit the role of the quiet, young mother quite well.

One of the hands-down best parts of the show is the music. I currently have the show’s soundtrack on repeat on Spotify, my favorite song by “The Wonder of You” by Villagers (I was 99% sure that it wasn’t Adam Scott actually singing this in the finale, but that 1% of me hoped he was). The songs in each episode perfectly corresponded to the plot, and I liked how the songs in Jane’s running scenes were almost always the songs she was actually listening to.

**spoilers ahead**

As mentioned, there’s room for a second season. The finale of the show leaves some unanswered aspects, especially since the murder investigation remains open. If you pay a bit close attention in the final scene (I didn’t catch it the first time), a detective views the women and kids on the beach through binoculars. We also leave the show with tension between Ed and Madeline, as Ed clearly suspects that Madeline had an affair. We’re also left to question Celeste and Jane’s relationship, as Perry has played a role in both of their lives. As much as I would love a second season, I’m a bit nervous about how much the plot would expand. How much would the characters change?

I realize that I’m a bit late to the Big Little Lies train, but hey, I loved it and I can’t be the only one! Have you watched Big Little Lies? Share in the comments!

“Riverdale” Talk, Episode 10: The Lost Weekend

Episode Synopsis:It’s Jughead’s birthday and Betty is intent on throwing him the perfect party. With Archie’s dad out of town, Betty and Archie plan the perfect inner circle gathering, until Cheryl and company show up. Meanwhile, Veronica needs to decide if she’ll testify as a character witness for her father.

My Thoughts:

Jughead doesn’t need a party. Isn’t it obvious that he doesn’t want one either?

He just needs me and cake

Okay, let’s just pull Chuck back in. 

Oh CW, you definitely bought Chuck back for even more tension and drama.

Don’t you love getting a letter from Papa Lodge saying that he’ll ruin your and your mother’s lives. 

I hate how we haven’t even met Hiram and he’s controlling everyone, not to mention his growing involvement with the Blossoms and the Serpents.

Poor Jughead.I would take you to Pops in a heartbeat. 

At least you have cake now.

Sure, let’s throw a keg in the yard and one in the kitchen. Comic book Archie is here.

While brining Cheryl and Chuck wasn’t the best idea, I sort’ve like seeing this indecisive Archie. It reminds me a lot of the comic book character (even though his hardest decision was choosing which blazer Veronica would like best).

OH MY GOSH MRS.COOPER WAS A SERPENT AND FROM THE SOUTH SIDE???

As much as Mrs.Cooper gets on my last nerve, I think she’s had the best storyline and background in the show. I just can’t wait for everything to really connect.

I think I’m boarding the Betty-Jughead train?

They obviously both have dark sides, and I see how they work together now. Just no more parties, Betty. Just more Pops and cakes shaped like burgers.

My Star Rating: 4/5 stars. “The Lost Weekend” was a solid episode. Even though I hated the idea behind Cheryl and Chuck’s game, I think it brought back some character development for Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica. Their past storylines aren’t just going to get left behind. I’m really interested to see how Hiram’s potential role in Jason’s murder plays out and what else Mrs.Cooper is hiding.

“Riverdale Talk”, Episode 9 :La Grande Illusion

Episode Synopsis: It’s the Blossoms’ annual maple syrup ceremony, and some other red head has to accompany Cheryl if Jason can’t, right? With some incentives set out by Mrs. Blossom, Archie is Cheryl’s date for the event, even though it might be more than he bargained for. Polly and Mrs.Cooper look for a way to get Polly to return to the Cooper household, while Veronica helps a classmate who’s going through a rough time at home.

My Thoughts:

Archie’s a major part of this storyline, whaattt?

It’s definitely been awhile since Archie was in one of the episode’s major arches. One of the few things I liked in this episode was seeing him come back into focus.

Okay Veronica, purging your closet isn’t going to help Ethel/Barb that much

Haven’t we figured out by now that clothes can’t change the fact that your daddy put people into a lot of debt?

Not melodramatic at all, Mrs.Cooper. Let’s throw one more brick at the family business, shall we?

This whole Archie and Cheryl take on the Blossom corporation and the world together isn’t going to happen

And I was right

Is Riverdale that big of a town for this money scheme?

I realize Hermione grew up in Riverdale, but how did her husband become so invested into this town’s livelihood?  

My Rating: 2/5 stars. Coming off of the high that was last week’s episode, I had big expectations for this week. I was disappointed because “La Grande Illusion” just felt so melodramatic, and it really just moved along some plot lines and open up a few news ones. While it’s interesting to think about how complex Jason’s murder could be, the overall storyline over his death is starting to rely on more outside information.

What are your “Riverdale” thoughts? Comment below!

“Riverdale” Talk, Episode 8: The Outsiders

Episode Synopsis: After moving in with the Lodges, Polly still feels a bit unwelcome back in Riverdale. In order to lift her spirits, Betty and Veronica decide to host the mother-to-be a baby shower, even if it means having to invite Mrs.Cooper and the Blossoms. Meanwhile, Mr.Blossom puts Fred’s construction project on hold by taking his crew. As Archie and friends begin to help out, one of Fred’s rivals sends a threatening message to stop the project all together.

My Thoughts: I decided to try something new for this discussion and write mini blurbs of my thoughts during the episode!

Maybe Jughead can take his jacket off more often???

I think it would be in the best interest of Jughead for him to keep wearing a tank top while working for Fred. His ripped arms will agree.

OH MY GOSH MOOSE, NOT MOOSE!

Moose is one of my favorite characters in the Archie comic book series and seeing him get beat up was so heartbreaking for me. However, I’m still trying to figure how he recovered so easily after being hit by a crowbar.

I’m trying to get on the Betty and Jughead ship, but I think I left my boarding pass at home

As a reader of the comics, I’m having trouble picturing Betty and Jughead as a couple. I do like seeing the more personal and intimate side of Jughead though!

Okay Archie, let’s just waltz into the baby shower, accusing our friend’s dad of being in a gang and sabotaging Fred’s company. Cute stroller by the way, Polly!

Oh Archie, why must you be so melodramatic? I understand that your dad’s livelihood is at risk, but there’s this great saying that goes, “Think before you speak (preferably before you crash a baby shower)”.

It’s official, Mr and Mrs.Cooper are the worst.

While Mrs.Cooper does begin to redeem herself in this episode, Mr.Cooper  is another story. He refuses to welcome his future grandchild because of their “Blossom blood”.

Yup, I left my boarding pass at home. Sorry, but not sorry, I won’t be boarding the Betty and Jughead express today.

As much as I love this show and the direction it’s headed, I feel like the CW sat back and said, “Hm, there’s not a romantical relationship on this show yet? We can change that!” While I appreciate how much Betty and Jughead care about each other, I just find their relationship so cringey. I almost lost it when Betty announces that she believes anything Jughead says and proceeds to kiss him, accompanied by bright light and background music of course.

Mrs.Cooper: “And I think by now you know what I’m capable of”.

ME: *Screaming and having ALL the fangirl feels*

My mouth dropped when Mrs.Cooper threatens Mr.Cooper to get out of this house with this line. She has to have murdered Jason, right???

My Rating: 5/5 stars. While a ripped Jughead may or may not have influenced my rating, this is the Riverdale episode that I needed! “The Outsiders” reminded me so much of the show’s earlier episodes because the dark and mysterious vibe was back.

What do you think of Riverdale? Share your comments below!

“Riverdale”Talk: Episode 7: “In a Lonely Place”

Episode Synopsis: After Polly escapes from Quiet Mercy, the tension between the Blossoms and the Coopers increases even more as each family hunts down Polly. Meanwhile, Archie convinces Fred to give Jughead’s dad, FP, his job back at the construction company. Jughead encourages FP to take the job and clean up his act so their family can get back together. Keeping up with the Lodges, Veronica is still angry at Hermione for her relationship with Fred and forging her name on the drive-in contract for Fred’s company.

My Thoughts: This episode put a really big emphasis on Jughead and his strained relationship with his dad. My heart shattered when we learned that Jughead was living in a stairwell closet in Riverdale High. I wish Archie had taken him in sooner, you know, before Jughead is forced to go to the police station! While I definitely don’t believe that Jughead was Jason’s murderer, I’m not entirely convinced that he wasn’t involved at all in the murder. Thanks to Archie’s wait, whatttt facial expressions, Fred wasn’t too convincing when he tells Sheriff Keller that Jughead was doing work for him the week of the murder. My suspicion grew more when the camera pans to Jason’s varsity jacket in FP’s closet at the end of the episode. I had my own wait, whatttt moment this episode when it’s revealed that FP is the Serpent doing business with Hermione. Since FP is part of this “wrong-side of the tracks” gang, it makes me wonder if he was doing some sort of business with Jason and got Jughead involved.

I was a bit annoyed by Betty’s willingness to share information about Polly with the Blossoms.Betty, here’s a tip: if you’re going to talk about your sister who’s being hunted down by half the town and who’s pregnant with her dead boyfriend’s baby and said boyfriend is related to your family’s biggest enemy, please don’t discuss the matter in the student lounge. It’s obvious by the Blossoms’ demeanor throughout the episode that they just want the baby and will do anything to put Polly out of the equation. I was really intrigued by Cheryl’s change of heart about Polly and the baby. I think that Cheryl is motivated by the fact that this is Jason’s baby and she doesn’t want her parents’ untrustworthy hands in the matter. I’m happy that Polly is safe staying with the Veronica and Hermione, but how long is that going to last without the Coopers finding out? In regard to the Lodges, I really wasn’t a fan of Veronica’s brat attack in this episode. I think there’s a better way to resolve issues with your mother without having an online shopping spree and going clubbing with your gay best friend. Also, why does the label ‘gay best friend’ even exist in this show??? I’m really hoping that we get more character development about Kevin (show that he’s more than the gay best friend) in the second half of the season.

My Rating: 4/5 stars. I really enjoyed that the plot focused more on Jughead in this episode because we got to see more of his character and background. However, being a fan of the comic book series, I’m still unsure of his emerging relationship with Betty. While I love them as best friends, I don’t know how well I could see them as a couple. We could also tell that Archie may or may not be cool with this relationship and I’m sure we’ll see his feelings play out more when ‘Riverdale’ returns on March 30.

What do you think about Jughead’s possible role in Jason’s death? Share your ‘Riverdale’ comments below!