Hm, so Afterlife started in 2013 and now it's 2017 and there's only been eleven issues, I think?

I'm going to have to wait and see if this ghost can get out of the grave before I get my own spirits up.

IDW: Taking my childhood and making it awesome.

Well, save for MMPR. Boom Studios is handling that one. And that series is amazing.

Please be Harley in classic costume...please be Harley in classic costume...

...

Dang it.

But besides the horrible costume that I don't get why anyone likes, you do have Dini helping with Quinn and Ivy and the art looks good from the cover. So this should be fun.

I gotta be honest, when Cheryl talked about how Clifford's hair turned white by seeing the ghost of great grand murder papa Blossom...I kind of wanted to see the season finale become the lead in to Afterlife with Archie.

SPOILERS.

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Hey, there's going to be a season six of Total Drama Island.
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I finally have enough money saved to get a 3DS. I'm thinking Litten as my stater.

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"Cliff hanger" heh-heh. Jughead, you witty person you.


Turns out you can't get rich from Maple Syrup as it was just a front for drug trafficking from Montreal...the evil part of Canada. Mayor Josie's Mom decides she's going to stomp out corruption kind of like how Donald Trump has dinner with James Comey. Instead of focusing on herself or the Blossoms, she's going after the easy targets: Those loveable scamps The Serpents.

Sheriff Dummy wants FP to give names for a lighter sentence but FP says the Serpents don't deal in heavy drugs, just weed and bros before your only son.

At the jubillee...seriously there was just a prom a few days ago!!!... she is going to have Betty and Archie front and center to sing and give a speech as the heroes of the town. Okay, Archie is no hero. He only contributed at the end said contributions were breaking and entering and putting on a dead kid's jacket.

Betty points this out, but Mr. Blackbee doesn't have the integrity of his white comic counterpart (Hey, I'm the not the writers making nearly every black character on this show evil or a jerk!) and tells her to shut up and go along.

Betty's got other problems as her family is trying to ignore what happened and acting like one big happy family. Veronica and Archie finally tell Betty that they are seeing each other and she's cool with it since she's with Jughead, a true blue hero...

Who is being sent to the South Side to a foster home and having to transfer out of Riverdale. Apparently Fred Andrews is disqualified because of money and a DUI off screen (Boo! Show don't tell!)

And it's not easy on the workside as Hermoine has lapsed into being a ...witch and fired all the Serpent workers and want's him to sell his stack in the land before Hiram comes back. She even wants Veronica to seduce Archie to help with that. Veronica, being one of the only five people worth a flip in this show) disapproves. I'm thinking Smithers lied about Hermoine.

Cheryl is acting weird (well besides the usual bi-polar of being really mean and then being nice) as she gives up being captain of the vixens, apologizes to Jughead and even gives him something to pawn for money.

And Penelope is in real...witch mode herself as she is cold to Cheryl and won't even let her stay home....also why did Sheriff Keller leave that rope up in the barn? He is horrible at his job. Eh, like that will have an effect on her.

Archie goes to FP where FP tells him Jughead will go into the darkness and he needs to be there for Jughead before that happens. He of course doesn't.

Jughead decides to give in and go to South Side High where...dear lord. You know those 90 movies that have horrible schools like the Substitute? Times that by ten and add in North Korea. That's about what South Side is. Betty and the gang (well not Kevin because...where the heck is he??) get him and show he's loved.

Too bad Cheryl is trying to kill herself in the frozen Sweetwater lake. She falls in but Archie (with no time to take of his shirt to show his abbs) breaks the ice with his bare, bloody hands, pulls her out, and breaths life back into her body! Okay, fine. Archie finally did something heroic.

Veronica takes her home and Hermoine is still being a...witch.

Jughead sees his dad. Jughead don't turn heel! If I can believe in Megatron being heroic, I know you can overcome this.

Archie and The Pussycats sing, Betty gives a speech that inspires Riverdale to overcome the darkness that is engulfing Riverdale! That Archie is Riverdale! Veronica is Riverdale! Whenever Kevin is there, he is Riverdale! Reggie is...well, he's not Riverdale. Fred regains his faith in humanity and refuses to sell! Puppies and kittens are playing together in the streets!!

And the gang goes off for shakes at Pops and everything's happy! Yeeeeeeeaaaahhhhh!

(Looks at watch)

Huh. There's about seven minutes left.

And this is the CW Channel. With the guy who decided "Zombies in Riverdale" as the creator of the show.

Uh-oh.

Archie and Veronica make out...ah. There's those abbs.

Jughead and Betty are making out in FP's trailer when the Serpents show up and offer to help Jughead, don't take that jacket Jughead...don't....NOOOOOOO!!!

Cheryl burns down the mansion. Whatever.

Huh. I don't see Nana Rose...eh whatever.

Oh and there's a robbery at Pop's where Fred Andrews gets shot. Whatever.

Jughead turned heel. and I feel like I did when my hamster died...



Anyway, pretty good episode. I do have a few problems with it but those problems are the same through the series but it was great. Great cliffhanger, storylines were advanced. The acting was good. Archie actually did something worthwhile. So until next season...or I get around talking about what I liked and didn't like about the show.

Spoilers for anyone who hasn't watched the episode.


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It turns out the murderer of Jason Blossom was

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Seriously, if you don't want to know and scrolled down this far, don't blame me.
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Clifford Blossom. Okay, it stormed in my area so I missed some parts in the episode but from what I can piece together from what I saw. Jason didn't want part of the family business (not the maple syrup part) and wanted to leave with Polly and needed money so he wanted to run drugs for JP and Serpents. They decide to hold him for ransom because "rich kid" but that leads to Clifford shooting Jason. Looks like one of the serpents (the one who was going to clobber Archie in the bar) had roughed him up pretty bad.

Also on a more creepy level, we find out why Hal stole the evidence from Sheriff Useless and why the sudden mood swing: turns out grandfather Cooper...was a Blossom. That's right. The Coopers are really Blossoms, they just gave up the family name after their side of the family tree was robbed of their wealth. So Betty and Cheryl are cousins and Polly and Jason...are something I see in the South far too often.


Daddy Jones confesses to the murder because Clifford went to him when he went to jail and told him he'd kill Jughead if he didn't take the blame. I mean, yeah, he kidnapped and dumped the body, but y'know...who am I kidding, he's garbage.


The evidence was found on a flash drive after Joaquin leads them to where he stashed Jason's jacket. So that was his insurance.

When Sheriff Moron finally arrives at the Blossom compound he finds Clifford hung himself in the barn and several barrels with drugs. So that was what Jason was trying to get away from. So yeah. Jason was the only pure hearted red head on this show. And you can argue Archie when he stops going after every girl he sees!

Anyway random thoughts.


Jughead had it rough this episode. His friends betray him, his dad is in jail, all the adults treat him like garbage, and when he wants to live with his mom...she's moved on wants him to stay out of her and his sister's life. So all the hope of his family ever being together was for nothing. I'm a guy, and even I wanted to give him a hug.

Oh, and the adults in this episode, save for Alice Cooper, took a few levels in dumb. As the kids try to explain that gun was planted but are not believed. Fred took an extra level in jerkiness, too with his treatment of Jughead. He was so bad, Archie wanted to move to Chicago. Seriously, do you know how bad you are when being in Chicago is better than being in a room with you? Did you all not see that Draft?


The random serpent guy I didn't bother remember was killed and made to look like an overdose with money from a bag with the initials H L on them.


Betty Cooper really carries this episode as she proves that she and Jughead are the real stars of this show and the only two with fully functional brains. She even figures out "hole in jacket" something probably in the linen of the jacket. I mean, probably didn't need Archie to put the dead kid's jacket on, but Archie has been a jerk for a good bit, so yeah. Serves you right. Ghost cooties.

Sheriff Keller is an idiot.

Hiram is getting out of jail, so y'know nature hates a void so we're getting a new evil rich guy! Yay!

Kevin inherited a good deal of Sheriff Rosco's braincells, but luckily he has smart friends who convince him something is up with his boyfriend.

The House GOP reads healthcare bills better than Sheriff Keller examines evidence.  Well, evidence that doesn't get stole from him.

Hal breaks into the Cooper home to destroy the evidence and reveals...ewwww...and of course The Coopers get Polly the heck out of their. The transmission cuts off a bit, but Betty probably said something awesome to Penelope.

The transmission again goes out when Betty and Polly talk. So someone will have to fill me in on what they said.

Betty should be the Sheriff of Riverdale.

Apparently Pop Tates is like Wal-Mart: opened 24/7

Jughead is upset that his dad will stay in jail because...y'know disposing the body, kidnapping, perjury. While I know that this seems right in the normal world, I don't like agreeing with Sheriff Hindrance.

I want to feel bad for Cheryl...but nah. Maybe this will make her a better villain later on. Seriously, you tell everyone that Betty kidnapped and tortured someone...and Betty is still doing Homecoming? Your dad was right, you are a disappointment.



So my thoughts, all joking aside. I liked the episode, but I think the mystery could have been done a bit better.

Okay, let's take the Cooper/Blossom thing. Jughead and Betty were researching everything and they never stumbled across this or looked into it? I mean, I'm pretty sure town hall, archives, old newspapers. But whatever.
What bothers me is that this wasn't hinted at. Heck, how about something like "Polly and Jason have the same eyes" or some sort of comment.

And I'm supposed to remember that one random Serpent from when he messed up the costruction site in the dark and in the darkly lit bar?

Just a few subtle hints like when Monk goes over "Here's what happened" and I can go "oh okay, I missed that in the beginning but it's there." Just so I have a chance to get all the clues instead of two big bits revealed that I had no way of knowing. But I will give them credit for Clifford telling the family "I looked our son's killer in the eye" as proof he went to the jail. It's just one or two little tweeks to make this perfect.



But the jacket and it's importance did come up. And again, at least you had the two stars of the show, Betty and Jughead go to their board, eliminate suspect and come down to the finally two, The Blossoms.

And you really feel for Jughead. Man, do you feel for this kid. All the adults dump on him, his dad's in jail and still a criminal, and his mother doesn't want him in her life and when he tries to leave Riverdale he's stuck. Heck, he even moves into the Andrews garage after he overhears Fred not wanting him for fear something could happen to Archie. Great work by Cole.

And Reinhart. Those two are the main reason why I like this show. And Camilla. And the chuckles I get when Archie is just randomly shirtless for no reason but to show his abs. "Hey, let's go jog in my boxers to Ms. Grundy's."



So it was a great episode...and this isn't even the season finale!

I've given up on reading certain stories a long, long time ago.

Hiram: You idiot! You broke my prized vase! I'm going to throw you out myself!

(Archie holds up his shirt to show off his abs.)

Archie: You really think you can?

TWO SECONDS LATER

(Archie is landing on his face outside of the Lodge Estate)

THUD

(Archie begins to pick himself up)

Archie: Why does that have to be the one thing the comic and live action series has in common?


And if Hiram is smart, he keeps Veronica away from Jughead and Betty. It's never good for bad guys to be near meddling kids.

So the sad day is finally here. Another reminder that everything I like has to go away. Well, except for The Simpsons.

And if I had to say Ruiz' best art it's either Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. (Also my all-time favorite Archie story) or Cyrano Jones.

Ha-ha! No one can keep any rich person in jail!

I like Templeton. I used to read Batman Adventures all the time when I was a kid. Heck, to me, the comics were better than the tv show.

It'll probably drop a bit more  because next week there's going to be some sort of video game contest show and then when it comes back: The NFL draft.

Sorry, Riverdale, but The Titans have two first round picks.

But it's already been renewed for season two so the worse that can happen is it gets moved to Friday night.

It's Jughead's birthday as Betty tries to throw him a small, nice party--which is ruined by the two main villains of the show. Archie is depressed that not only is he and Valerie through but his parents are finally getting their divorce finalized. Veronica must come to terms with how ruthless her father can be. And Midge has to come to terms that she is non corporeal and that's okay.

Okay I know it's not right to start random musing with preview at the end...but Riverdale is too dangerous and CHICAGO is the better option!??


That's right, I was right as Cheryl teams up with Chuck to cause trouble just because they are both evil jerks who everyone hates, so why not?

I'm really enjoying Bughead as they are both damaged people who are decent human beings who have found each other and have connected. Jughead doesn't think he can be who Betty deserves and Betty thinks she has to be perfect. In the end they realize what they are. Honestly, I thought they were going to break up but Poppa Jones actually was a parent for a good ten seconds.

EEEEE Jughead took his hat off for Betty!!! EEEEE

I mean, Poppa Jones wasn't a parent for the entire kegger party, but hey, he's an alcoholic, thief, and possible murderer. Let's not hold him to too high of standards.

It looks like The Lodge Family has something on the Blossom family as they have forced the red hair clan to pay them a large amount of money every month--for seventy-five years!!! I'm guessing Great grandpa Lodge has evidence showing Great Grandpa Blossom killing Not as Great Cooper. Probably on VHS or something. That was around back then, right?

Speaking of Hiram, he hears that Veronica won't testify that he's a good human being--so he threatens to take down Hermoine with him unless Veronica says exactly what he wants!! Humanitarian of the years, folks.

Veronica: Smithers, is my mom good?

Smithers: A saint.

Veronica: What about my father?

Smithers: He's evil incarnate and has committed acts of cruelty that have made the world an irreversible worse place. I found religion solely on the need to believe there is a hell waiting for him.

Smithers: Oh, and how was school today, miss?

Veronica: ...

I think I might move Chuck up on my "going to get killed" list since he punched the son of a the local gang leader with said gang leader in the room and throwing him out.

And it looks like everyone is starting to get sick of Cheryl as the cheerleaders side with Veronica and even her two newly unemployed henchwomen/ vixens don't even vote for her. I guess it doesn't help that if you breath the wrong way this crazy psycho red head tries to ruin your life. To paraphase a horrible C Reiley movie "THE WRONG TWIN DIED THAT DAY."

To deal with getting dumped and his parents divorce Archie gets drunk before the birthday party and then gets drunk even more during the kegger party. And he even drunk dials his dad after the worst bit of camera work ever on the show thus far.

I like how even Poppa Jones acknowledges that the kids are the ones he needs to worry about.

And he probably feels a lot worse now that so much more information was given out during Cheryl and Chuck's revenge fest.

Joaquin: They're going to find out--they're going to know!

Jones: No they won't.

Cheryl: ...Did you know that Lodge hired the Serpents to ruin the theater?

(Joaquin gives Jones a death glare)

(Jones takes a sip of his beer)

Jones: Meddling kids.


...Actually, come to think of it, it really wasn't that good of a revenge. I mean, yeah, you told about Archie banging Ms. Grundy...but that'll only make him more popular. Veronica nailed Cheryl with the the twincest and killiing her own brother. And in the end, the characters ended up in a better place with Bughead stronger after dealing with issues  and Veronica needed to get some anger out of her system. Heck, Cheryl gave the teens more pieces to the puzzle of the murder of Jason.

...

Wow. Cheryl is a horrible villain. She doesn't succeed at anything! I mean, yeah, she's snarky and gets in good lines, but that's all she is!

Turns out that Alice Cooper used to be a Serpent.

Also Mr. Weatherbee decides it's okay for her to advise on the Blue and Gold because...eh. Whatevers.

She also caught Joaquin talking with Poppa Jones and she told Betty. Yep, Jones, those kids are the ones you have to worry about. BIG TIME.

And Archie and Veronica might be a thing. Well, it's a huge upgrade over Valerie. I swear, there should be a rule about bad Dan Parent ideas staying in one medium only.

Veronica decides to tell the world how great her dad is and he rewards her with a pearl necklace. That's good because she broke the last one out of grief about the parent of a friend who attempted suicide because of him.

Veronica decides to join up with Bughead and crazy mom to investigate what is going on. So yeah, that makes three of the four main characters now in the interesting storyline while Archie...

I dunno, there's about four episodes left in the season so he'll probably be with six different girls, mope about his music, and whine about his parents while occasionally showing his abs. See, I never got the hate for comic Archie, but this guy. Yeah. I get that hate.

Anyway this was a very good episode. The only thing I can say I hated was The Archie drunk camera thing they were going for as it looked really stupid. No episode next week as...there's a gamer contest??

Okay, what's up with these video game tournament shows? TBS has one and now CW? You know what I do when I want to see someone play video games? I go on youtube and watch Markiplier.

Who eats buckets of maple syrup. Well, I mean besides Canadians and people with stage five diabetes? And...that's how the Blossoms got rich? So basically great grandpa Blossom killed not so great grandpa Cooper for tree sap. Nice.

Oh no. Valerie's dumped Archie. She was so interesting and not boring in the zzzzzzzzz

Well, I'll say this for Archie, he's somewhat contributed in the portion of the show I like: the murder mystery.

Seriously, Betty and Jughead should be the main stars and reduce Archie's time. I mean, I'd hate to shave minutes off of whatever girl he's with that episode, but I just find the more interesting storyline interesting.

I don't know if Alice working on the school paper is a demotion. I mean, the Blue and Girl staff have been breaking ground on Riverdale. That's right Betty and Jughead>>>>>>Riverdale Paper (sorry Reggie...not important!!!)>>>>>>>> Sheriff Keller.

Fred Andrews actually showing some guts. Good for him. And nice to see Hermoine back to being one of the only good adults/no crazy adults in Riverdale. I think there's only two.

Cheryl has a 4.0 GPA?? I call shenanigans!!

I love Alice Cooper. She handles stressful situations like an adult would.

"So Archie, you've always been nice to me and helped me out when I was getting arrested...but you did this one thing to slight me, so now you must DIE!" I don't get why hey don't want Cheryl running the family business.

Y'know, since this show is doing this so well, I'm gonna say something I've held back. Jughead being asexual is stupid. Yeah, I said it! It's stupid from a marketing standpoint and limits the character! There! I said it! And another thing...I hate wacky Jughead and can't wait for Waid's Jughead! Yeah!!

...

So many dislikes coming my way now.


Veronica is a good person. Be sad when her father returns and corrupts her.

I still say Polly is the killer! She's getting revenge on both families! She's disrupted her family and is going for the Blossoms next!!

So we can put Cheryl with Chuck in the "gonna get revenge sooner or later" category. Cherck? Churyl?

See, Archie's not a bad guy? Just stupid and naive. I mean, extremely stupid and supremely naive.

Hm....

Who are the most likely to die...

Joaquin: Not based on anyone from the comic, is part of whatever is going on with Big Bad Daddy Jones and burning the car and taking evidence. He's got the relationship with Kevin to give him some sympathy (even though he is using Kevin, he does seem to be growing attached to him) and is in a dangerous spot.

Kevin Keller: And to be fair, Kevin's in a dangerous position because of the above. Say he finds out more than he supposed to (J is keeping Jason's jacket). Say, the sheriff's son finds the jacket, he does need to be taken care of. Serves him right for dumping Betty for Veronica.

Big Bad Daddy Jones: Well, he seems to be playing everyone and will likely be at ground zero when the crazy bomb explodes in Riverdale. And he feels he needs to keep evidence as insurance. Someone is out to get him or would want him dealt with.

Sheriff Keller: I can see him getting killed by the killer. Heck, he tried to jail one of the only two people who are actually coming close to finding the real killer.                                               

Mary Andrews: Hey, look who came back...TO DIE??? Maybe.

Hal Cooper: Remember when we thought Alice was the bad one?!? He and the Blossoms hate each other enough to kill one another.

Polly Cooper: And look who is in the middle of the blood feud. Personally, I think she's crazy and Jason's killer. I don't trust these Coopers. Even the nice one is slightly unhinged. I mean, I'm sure the Blossoms are evil...and possibly into inbreeding, but they do seem to really love Jason and are saddened by his death. So her telling Archie what she "suspects" doesn't float the boat with me.

Old lady Blossom. I think her name is Rose: Just old age.

Midge: Granted, we don't have any visual evidence she exists at all...

Reggie: Sorry dude, you're expandable.

Jughead: Turns out, he's a ghost narrating the story!!