TV Review: Riverdale S1E2 Chapter Two: A Touch of Evil
Archie pleads with Ms Grundy to come forward with what they heard; Cheryl deals with the pressure of Jason’s death; Jughead stumbles upon Archie’s secret.
The second of Riverdale builds on the first quite well upping the teen drama as the death of Jason swirls around. With the main introductions and set up out of the way, the second episode does a good job of balancing so many characters and none feel like they’ve been neglected at all. And I think that’s partially what impresses me the most of this second episode. There’s so much going on with so many characters and it all naturally flows. Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, it’s really impressive and stands out. Instead of segments brought together in an episode everything just naturally leads to the next thing.
The episode itself still has a so much going for it. There’s a lot of set up of teenage drama as things circle around the murder mystery. The perspective of the show still comes from Jughead’s perspective in a way and that take is interesting in that while so much revolves around Archie, the show really doesn’t. The drama is high as fights break out and the depravity ratchets up. I don’t even know where to begin. From Kevin Keller’s comments to Betty and Veronica jockeying against one another, Moose, Reggie, it’s all here in an hour that’s fun in a really twisted way.
While the acting isn’t going to win awards, but it’s all at a touch above soap opera level, something I’d expect from a network drama show. But, what really makes it stand out is each actor really has their character down and play off each other’s personalities. The show has clearly learned a lot from what’s come before, not just in Archie’s history, but also all of those teenage movies and shows that paved its way.
The end of the episode is a bit of a shocker as we possibly find out who killed Jason. A quick twist that’s beyond fascinating creating an even greater mystery for the show. Where you think things are going to play out, clearly that’s not the case setting the series up as one that’s really going to keep you on your toes.
Riverdale is absolutely my new guilt pleasure of the tv season.
Overall Rating: 8.35
In the first episode of Powerless Emily begins her first day, and quickly learns that her expectations far exceed those of her new boss, Van Wayne, and her co-workers.
For two years, Comixstravaganza, in partnership with GraphicPolicy.com has brought you weekly live stream comic news, reviews, and pop culture views. However, all good things must come to an end. Kind of. Beginning in Feb 2017, Comixstravaganza will become Tales From The Flip-Side Too and will again star “Big Daddy Cool” John Pyka in a series of three weekly live stream programs!
Czechoslovakia, 1949. What Evil lurks within the walls of an ancient children’s infirmary? After the brutal murder of her parents, Sarah, a young orphan, is about to discover that and much more. From long-buried secrets to imminent battles, the fate of man, and monster, lie with young Sarah. A gothic tale of horror from David Muñoz (co-writer of Guillermo Del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone film) and artist Tirso.
Josie and the Pussycats #4 goes all Audrey Hepburn in an homage to Roman Holiday as a band that was playing random gazebos has truly hit the big time playing a gig at the Colosseum. Writers Marguerite Bennett and Cameron DeOrdio continue to almost too clever for their own good with a script that is brimming with pop culture and literary references, awareness of the fourth wall, frenetic flirting, and so many puns. Josie is self-indulgent, and it knows it with artist Audrey Mok and colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick upping the “production values” of the backgrounds and clothes that the Pussycats wear starting with a music video shoot featuring luscious tiaras and Corinthian columns.
From Hollywood’s darkest shadows, an old enemy rises to extract revenge on Faith! A superhero’s work is never done…and, now, one of Faith’s former adversaries has returned for a fateful rematch that will put the life of Los Angeles’ greatest hero into a tailspin. And when this familiar assailant finally shows their true face, will the high flying psiot have the strength to put them down for good?
“Adulting” is the theme of Giant Days #23 as Esther is between jobs and feeling a bit bored so she invites her entire circle of friends and acquaintances to a kind of fancy dinner party. Writer John Allison continues to juggle a cast of about a half-dozen characters and plotline ably cutting to a new scene just when thing seem to be slightly less exciting. Some of the secondary characters like Ed’s semi-disgusting, programming major flatmate Dean and Daisy’s girlfriend Ingrid have their own shining moments through boldly honest toasts and debates about superhero battles, which end up playing a big role in resolving a long-running subplot. And artists Max Sarin and Liz Fleming with colorist Whitney Cogar mine a tragic vein humor through the crazy gestures and sick state of Susan, who is suffering from a cough as well as struggling to see her ex-boyfriend McGraw with his new, Spanish guitar playing girlfriend Emilia.
that she uses for Ed, McGraw, and Dean’s flat after Dean had an all night coding session. You can definitely smell the sweet aroma of nerd sweat, leftover pizza, and half-drunken energy drinks and beers through that color choice. It’s the complete opposite of Emilia’s well ordered, stocked with pesto and angsty poet’s apartment that Sarin gives us a glimpse of in a neat nine-panel grid. As usual, McGraw is the crux between chaos and order as well as being in the awkward position of being Susan’s ex while still being close to most of her friends’ group. But he doesn’t get stuck playing peacemaker, and Allison and Sarin give him a beautiful romantic moment of kissing Emilia by the Guy Fawkes Day bonfire where she calls him by his real name “Graham”. (Maybe one day he’ll grow up to be the guitarist for Blur or a fun chat show host.) The yellow flames from Cogar makes the scene even more touching.
Twenty-five years ago, seven superstar artists left Marvel Comics to create their own company, Image Comics, a company that continues to influence mainstream comics and pop culture to this day.
Oliver gets help from a surprising source in his quest to take down Kovar; Felicity tries to hack the NSA to help free Diggle; Curtis informs the team about a female vigilante.