• Home
  • Movies
  • Music
  • TV
  • Video Games
  • Wrestling
  • Topics
  • Latest Comments
Search
Cult of Whatever logo
  • Movies
    Featured
    • The Living Daylights: Timothy Dalton as James Bond

      The Living Daylights is still awesome, thirty-five years later

      By Matthew Martin
      | March 28, 2022
      Movie Blogs
    Recent
    • Elvis: Austin Butler

      REVIEW: ELVIS beautifully mythologizes the King of Rock and Roll

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 25, 2022
    • The Black Phone: Ethan Hawke as The Grabber

      REVIEW: THE BLACK PHONE is a flat, dull, rushed non-horror movie

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 25, 2022
    • Jurassic World Dominion Logo

      REVIEW: Jurassic World Dominion – Here we go again…again

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 12, 2022
    • Three Men and a Baby: Tom Selleck and Ted Danson

      Three Men and a Baby is still awesome thirty five years later

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 31, 2022
    • The Bob's Burgers Movie Poster

      REVIEW: Bob’s Burgers The Movie is Bob’s Burgers The Show, which means it’s great

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 28, 2022
    • Top Gun Maverick: Tom Cruise

      REVIEW: Top Gun Maverick is a sequel that soars!

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 27, 2022
  • Music
    Random
    • Elvis

      Elvis: Long live the King

      By Matthew Martin
      | September 17, 2015
      Music Blogs
    Recent
    • The Beatles: Get Back

      What GET BACK reveals about the Beatles

      By Matthew Martin
      | December 15, 2021
    • Simon And Garfunkel at Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam1982

      The Boxer is a song about being conned

      By Matthew Martin
      | July 4, 2021
    • Lady Gaga: Chromatica Album Cover

      Lady Gaga’s discography is totally out of order

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 3, 2021
    • Michael Jackson Thriller Album Cover

      Thirty years ago music fans said “Nevermind” to Michael Jackson

      By Matthew Martin
      | March 21, 2021
    • Queen II Album Cover

      On Queen’s The Miracle, and the importance of track ordering

      By Matthew Martin
      | February 16, 2021
    • Linda Paul Mccartney 1976

      50 years ago, McCartney dropped “Lennon” and went solo…

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 5, 2020
  • TV
    Featured
    • Nancy Drew S03e01: Kennedy McMann as Nancy

      Nancy Drew S03E01 Review: The Warning of the Frozen Heart - Uh-oh!

      By Salome G
      | October 10, 2021
      TV Blogs
    Recent
    • Evil S03e03: Katja Herbers and Aasif Mandvi as Kristen Bouchard and Ben Shakir

      Evil S03E03 Review: The Demon of Sex – Contrived?

      By Salome G
      | June 29, 2022
    • Dark Winds S01e03: kinaaldá Ceremony

      Dark Winds S01E03 Review: K’e – Swoon!

      By Salome G
      | June 29, 2022
    • Roswell, New Mexico S04e03: Sibongile Mlambo, Lily Cowles and Michael Trevino as Anatsa, Isobel and Kyle

      Roswell, New Mexico S04E03 Review: Subterranean Homesick Alien – Treading water?

      By Salome G
      | June 23, 2022
    • Obi-Wan Kenobi Series: Ewan McGregor and Vivien Lyra Blair as Obi-Wan and Leia

      REVIEW: Obi-Wan Kenobi had a good season and little else

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 22, 2022
    • Evil S03e02: Sohina Sidhu and Aasif Mandvi as Karima and Ben Shakir

      Evil S03E02 Review: The Demon of Memes – Delightfully creepy

      By Salome G
      | June 20, 2022
    • Dark Winds S01e02: Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito

      Dark Winds S01E02 Review: The Male Rain Approaches – Loose threads

      By Salome G
      | June 20, 2022
  • Video Games
    Featured
    • Arkham Knight

      Batman: Arkham Knight - A fitting end to a trilogy

      By Tom Farr
      | July 18, 2015
      Video Game Reviews
    Recent
    • Legend Of Zelda

      Can a Legend of Zelda movie work?

      By Matthew Martin
      | April 6, 2022
    • Super Mario 64

      Which system had the better launch: A battle of four Nintendo consoles

      By Matthew Martin
      | December 1, 2021
    • Luigi's Mansion

      Happy twentieth to Nintendo’s underrated gem, the Gamecube

      By Matthew Martin
      | November 18, 2021
    • Metroid Dread

      Metroid Dread – Post Game analysis and sequel needs

      By Matthew Martin
      | October 29, 2021
    • Mario Headphones

      The SNES Turns 30: A look at some of the system’s best soundtracks

      By Matthew Martin
      | October 22, 2021
    • Metroid Dread Poster

      REVIEW: Metroid Dread reawakens the old gamer in me

      By Matthew Martin
      | October 11, 2021
  • Wrestling
    Featured
    • Wwe Payback 2017 Poster 2

      Your SO OF COURSE preview of WWE Payback 2017

      By Matthew Martin
      | April 30, 2017
      WWE Blogs
    Recent
    • AEW Double or Nothing 2022: CM Punk vs Adam Page

      REVIEW: AEW Double or Nothing 2022 delivered an up-and-down show

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 30, 2022
    • MJF on AEW Dynamite 17th November 2021

      Getting AEW to the next level…

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 29, 2022
    • Raw 210501: Triple H and Stephanie McMahon

      May 21, 2001 – A (forgotten) date that will live in WWE infamy

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 20, 2022
    • WWE WrestleMania 39 Logo

      Your WAY TOO EARLY predictions for WWE WrestleMania 39!

      By Matthew Martin
      | April 20, 2022
    • WWE WrestleMania 38 Poster

      Your SO OF COURSE preview of WWE WRESTLEMANIA 38!

      By Matthew Martin
      | March 30, 2022
    • Wrestlemania 31 Paige Aj Lee 2

      BOOK REVIEW: The Women of WrestleMania is a balanced take on an under-valued slice of history

      By Matthew Martin
      | March 16, 2022
  • Topics
    • site logo
    Latest
    • Evil S03E03 Review: The Demon of Sex - Contrived?
    • Dark Winds S01E03 Review: K'e - Swoon!
    • REVIEW: ELVIS beautifully mythologizes the King of Rock and Roll
    • REVIEW: THE BLACK PHONE is a flat, dull, rushed non-horror movie
    • Roswell, New Mexico S04E03 Review: Subterranean Homesick Alien - Treading water?
    • REVIEW: Obi-Wan Kenobi had a good season and little else
    • Latest Comments

    Riverdale S02E20 Review: Shadow of a Doubt -Hiram’s creating chaos!

    By Salome G
    | May 3, 2018
    TV Blogs

    By now we should all be familiar with Black Hood’s central premise. The seemingly quaint burg of Riverdale is actually rotten at the core and the sinners of the town should be punished. Even if we were to accept this as fact, the question remains: why is he going after small fry, though? (And by that, I don’t mean Small Fry*, whom we learn in this episode is Papa Poutine’s vengeance-seeking son.)

    I mean, he took out the Sugar Man, but why Midge? Why the attempts on Fred or Moose? Basically, if he wants to take out someone who is causing real harm to the town, why hasn’t he gone after Hiram?

    While I meditate on that, it’s time for the mayoral debate as the campaigns heat up. Archie has been going door-to-door stumping for his dad, which Hiram doesn’t understand. Archie explains that since he saw the Black Hood’s eyes, he’s really taking the opportunity to look every man in Riverdale in the face.

    Riverdale S02e20 Serpents

    Meanwhile, Jughead’s got his own issues. Trying to tell the Serpents at school that the Ghoulies are being released from jail and will be coming after them, he’s interrupted by the rebooted Dark Circle. It seems that Moose has confessed to them that he and Midge were bickering the night of her death because she had secretly been seeing a Serpent. Nothing much comes from this confrontation, but it’s not hard to figure out which Serpent it was–Jughead got it on tape. That documentary footage he was shooting (and has since turned in to the sheriff’s office) caught Fangs in Midge’s dressing room.

    Jughead tries to get the tape back from the new sheriff, Michael Minetta (), but it mysteriously leaks to the Register’s website before he can do so. When the sheriff and deputies come for Fangs at school, he resists and drops a switchblade. It ain’t lookin’ good for Fangs, but I don’t believe he killed Midge and then staged that display. Nevertheless, that plus bankrolling from Hiram gives the Dark Circle a good excuse to cause mayhem on the South Side.

    With her boyfriend otherwise occupied–and laughing when she tentatively suggests that her dad could be the Black Hood–Betty turns to Cheryl for help. She’s not the slightest bit interested in being Nancy Drew and is like, call the police. Betty, however, would like to gather some actual evidence first.

    Riverdale S2e20 Lili Reinhart Madelaine Petsch Betty Cheryl

    To that end, they go to the ShareBNB that Hal had been renting during the separation because he’s still paying on it. And speaking of Nancy Drew, they find the very same code book that Black Hood used to send Betty messages. So Betty confronts her father over the weirdest family meal I’ve seen in a long time. She talks about her darkness, which is whatever. But her parents are strangely chill over the fact that she’s been phone friends with a serial killer to whom she led Chic. Her dad says the Nancy Drew book was a birthday present for her and he had no idea about its connection to the Black Hood.

    Actually, as we come to the debate itself, everyone has been strangely chill about the whole Black Hood thing. Maybe it’s because I’m still thinking about the Golden State Killer, but communities tend to get a little more freaked out about these things. They hold community meetings and form watch groups. A little bit of that has been done here, but they have goldfish memories. I mean, I wouldn’t head out to a public debate so soon after the Midge incident, but go off, I guess.

    The debate is pretty standard. Hermione scores points with the fact that Fred isn’t aware of the “dangerous, radical” Dark Circle at all, even the fact that his own son founded the group. A smart person would slip Fred a note at this point about Hermione’s husband funding the group, but Fred has Archie.

    Veronica seems to be mostly tuning out the debate, but a flash of light in the balcony catches her eye. It’s the Black Hood with a gun. As he strafes the audience, we see Hal with Betty, so either Hal’s not the Black Hood or there’s more than one. Despite the show of firepower, the Black Hood is either a terrible shot or wasn’t actually trying to hit anyone, because it doesn’t look like anyone’s actually hurt.

    Hmm. Creating chaos is a Hiram Lodge tool. In the aftermath of the shooting, he cares so little about Hermione’s visible fear that a disgusted Veronica switches sides to Fred’s campaign. (By the way, that’s great optics and all, but y’all know you’re too young to vote, right?) If this Black Hood were a Hiram plant, that doesn’t discount Hal as the real one.

    It doesn’t rule out Fangs as Midge’s killer, either, but c’mon. So while Betty’s on my wavelength, calling her dad to meet at her Town Hall to finish their Black Hood conversation, the townspeople of Riverdale, riled up by the Dark Circle, are outside the police station. What, do they think Fangs astrally projected himself and shot up the debate audience? It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Like, maybe they think he killed Midge, but…SOMEONE DEFINITELY ELSE JUST SHOT AT YOU.

    Riverdale S02e20 Charles Melton Reggie Mantle

    And speaking of guns, there’s a reason why you don’t point ’em at someone unless you’re prepared to shoot that person. That’s because there’s always a possibility that something will go awry. Unlike me, though, Reggie obviously didn’t grow up thinking that everyone’s home had a reloading room, because he shows up at the town riot with a gun. Archie tries to take it away from him, and in the struggle, Fangs takes a bullet to the chest. Something will go awry.

    Meanwhile, Hal never shows up to meet Betty. But the Black Hood comes for Cheryl.

    And again I ask, why these people?

    8/10 – You might be thinking, But Salome, you didn’t mention the casino plotline. Yes. I didn’t. 😉  I mean, in the face of everything else going on, I couldn’t rub two cares together about a teenager thinking she’s going to start a casino. But if you do, there’s your mention. Anyway, the show very definitely wants us to think that Hal is the Black Hood and I think they’ve wanted that the entire time. It still doesn’t make a lot of sense, though. I know that Hal has the means and opportunity–though I’m not that sold on motive–but there’s the physicality issue. Y’all know how I feel about Archie’s…simplicity, but I think even he could recognize a man he’s lived beside his entire life. (My brain: But what about that time he didn’t know Josie’s name was actually Josephine?) So if the Black Hood at the debate isn’t a Hiram plant, then he could be Hal’s partner. So who’s that?

    Also, come for Cheryl, Black Hood. I will END YOU.

    *I swear, I levitated a few feet when this name was revealed.

    Share this article:

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit

    Tags

    Riverdale

    COMMENTS

    Please read our Commenting Policy before you join in with the discussion.

    Note: If you have email notifications enabled, please check your email spam folders to ensure emails are not missed.

    Subscribe
    Connect withD
    I allow to create an account
    When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
    DisagreeAgree
    Notify of
    guest
    Connect withD
    I allow to create an account
    When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
    DisagreeAgree
    guest
    8 Comments
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    callmeishmael
    callmeishmael
    4 years ago

    I don’t get the point of all the casino crap. Is it just to make Hiram look like more of a tool? That’s not necessary. It’s hardly the worst of his sins. I’m guessing it’s just to introduce this Small Fry nonsense. I read a theory that he was the one who shot up the Town Hall, trying to kill Fred to get back at Archie for killing his dad. How many people running around in masks can there be in one small town?

    0
    Reply
    Salome G
    Salome G
    4 years ago
    Reply to  callmeishmael

    It could be any number of things–driving a (bigger) wedge between Hiram and his family, giving Veronica something to do, introducing more characters with ridiculous gangster names, etc.

    As far as people in masks, I know this is just a show and I should really just relax, but I’m surprised the debate had so little security, especially right after a teenager was murdered during the high school play.

    0
    Reply
    callmeishmael
    callmeishmael
    4 years ago
    Reply to  Salome G

    I think it was just to introduce Small Fry to us so that things could get moving in this next episode. After seeing him, I have to admit that his name was a little less funny.

    You would think so, right? They should really consider hiring some more police officers instead of just assuming the sheriff is the issue.

    0
    Reply
    surfari
    surfari
    4 years ago

    Archie is literally going door to door looking for the Black Hood. I would find it really hard to believe that he couldn’t figure out it was not only his next door neighbor, but the father of his childhood best friend too. I’ve read theories about people thinking it’s going to end up being Hal’s identical twin because the Blossoms clearly have the twins gene going on. I would hate that but I think that would make more sense than whatever Hal’s motive would be. I guess it’s not surprising that Reggie would bring a gun. He did tell Archie… Read more »

    0
    Reply
    Salome G
    Salome G
    4 years ago
    Reply to  surfari

    Oh my Gooooood, I didn’t even think about the secret twin angle. They better make them fraternal.

    As for Hiram, the easiest answer is because they’re impressionable. What I don’t get, if I were looking at this rationally, is [extremely old man voice] where are the parents? Like, Reggie’s dad may support the idea of the prison, but is he also down with his son causing mayhem and/or carrying a gun?

    0
    Reply
    surfari
    surfari
    4 years ago
    Reply to  Salome G

    I am trying to think of a show that has done the secret twin angle and went for fraternal twins instead of identical ones. I’m coming up short.

    Yeah, I get it, but it still doesn’t fit with my mental image of a mobster. It’s working for him, I guess. I can’t imagine that Reggie’s dad would be crazy about that. I bet they don’t know about it. Even Fred didn’t know about them, much less that Archie had started it, and Fred is the golden parent of Riverdale.

    0
    Reply
    Salome G
    Salome G
    4 years ago
    Reply to  surfari

    According to TV Tropes, there is at least one example, but I never saw it. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AlwaysIdenticalTwins)

    And yeah, I guess I tend to think of think of parents through the prism of my own. For example, I was late for tonight’s episode because I was at my mom’s watching an episode of Web of Lies, in which a 14yo was allowed to go out to a party at 11PM. I yelled, “My mother would not!” and my mother agreed. So I have to get used to the fact that not all parents are like mine or are like Alice Cooper.

    0
    Reply
    callmeishmael
    callmeishmael
    4 years ago
    Reply to  surfari

    Other than the fact that there are some facial similarities between Black Hood and Hal, I really don’t get why people are so ready to believe it’s him. Like you pointed out, there’s really just not a good enough motive. You would think he would’ve gone for the Blossoms right away. I think my favorite theory that I’ve read so far is that the Sisters are the ones behind it all. It could go all the way back to the original Riverdale Reaper. I don’t know. They just seem like the most likely people who would want to cleanse the… Read more »

    0
    Reply

    You might also like

    • Riverdale S02E19 Review: Prisoners – There was a lot going on in this episode!

      By Salome G
      | April 26, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E18 Review: A Night to Remember – Riverdale High gets musical

      By Salome G
      | April 19, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E17 Review: The Noose Tightens – I died a thousand secondhand embarrassment deaths during it

      By Salome G
      | March 29, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E16 Review: Primary Colors – Why is anyone still Veronica’s friend?

      By Salome G
      | March 22, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E15 Review: There Will Be Blood – Chic, who’s your daddy?

      By Salome G
      | March 15, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E14 Review: The Hills Have Eyes – More Choni please!

      By Salome G
      | March 8, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E13 Review: The Tell-Tale Heart – Painful to watch

      By Salome G
      | February 8, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E12 Review: The Wicked and the Divine – I’m always a sucker for the FP moments

      By Salome G
      | February 1, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E11 Review: The Wrestler – It’s always fun when the show goes bonkers!

      By Salome G
      | January 25, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E10 Review: The Blackboard Jungle – Not much happened, but you still got whiplash!

      By Salome G
      | January 18, 2018
    • Riverdale S02E09 Review: Silent Night, Deadly Night – I can’t accept this tidy ending.

      By Salome G
      | December 14, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E08 Review: House of the Devil – It’s a very, very mad world

      By Salome G
      | December 7, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E07 Review: Tales from the Darkside – Day of reckoning coming soon…

      By Salome G
      | November 30, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E06 Review: Death Proof – A drag race in 2017?

      By Salome G
      | November 16, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E05 Review: When a Stranger Calls – High drama this week!

      By Salome G
      | November 10, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E04 Review: The Town That Dreaded Sundown – Archie almost loses his (sweet, sweet) mind

      By Salome G
      | November 2, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E03 Review: The Watcher in the Woods – We get it, Hiram is shady!

      By Salome G
      | October 26, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E02 Review: Nighthawks – They said this season would be darker, they weren’t lying!

      By Salome G
      | October 19, 2017
    • Riverdale S02E01 Review: A Kiss Before Dying – It’s just fun to have it back!

      By Salome G
      | October 12, 2017

    FIND THE TOPICS YOU WANT...

    TV Topics

    Recommended for you

    • Dark Winds S01E03 Review: K’e – Swoon!

      By Salome G
      | June 29, 2022
    • Evil S03E03 Review: The Demon of Sex – Contrived?

      By Salome G
      | June 29, 2022
    • Roswell, New Mexico S04E03 Review: Subterranean Homesick Alien – Treading water?

      By Salome G
      | June 23, 2022
    • REVIEW: Obi-Wan Kenobi had a good season and little else

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 22, 2022
    • Riverdale S06E17 Review: American Psychos – Bored

      By Salome G
      | June 18, 2022
    • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Episodes 6-7 review (the best and the not-so best)

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 18, 2022
    • The Orville season three review part 1 (episodes 1-2 bring ups and downs)

      By Matthew Martin
      | June 12, 2022
    • Stranger Things S04 Part 1 Review: Almost perfect!

      By Salome G
      | June 5, 2022
    • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Every episode ranked! (Part 5/5)

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 30, 2022
    • The Flight Attendant S02E08 Review: Backwards and Forwards – A satisfying conclusion

      By Salome G
      | May 27, 2022
    • Star Trek Picard Season 2 (not a review but a rant)

      By Matthew Martin
      | May 10, 2022
    • On a scale of 1 to really messed up, how well does The Boys translate to the small screen?

      By Jason Collins
      | March 15, 2022
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Cookie Policy and Settings
    • Terms of Use
    • Photo Credits
    • RSS
    All Cult of Whatever articles, logos, illustrations and graphics are copyright CultOfWhatever.com. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. © 2021 CultOfWhatever. All Rights Reserved.
    • facebook
    • twitter
    wpDiscuz