A secret Blossom relative makes an appearance and more secrets unravel in Riverdale

In The CW’s Riverdale 2×15, a Blossom family secret is exposed and Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Betty’s (Lili Reinhart) investigation forces Hiram (Mark Consuelos) to reveal his business plans. Archie (KJ Apa) gives Jughead information regarding Hiram’s purchase of Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe. FP (Skeet Ulrich) helps Jughead by telling him about destroying the drive-in for Hiram so he could purchase it. It turns out that Jughead doesn’t’ need FP’s help as he gets a mysterious call with information. That ultimately allows Jughead to put the pieces together and put pressure on Hiram. To get ahead of a possible scandal, Hiram tries to save face by grooming Fred (Luke Perry) for mayor of Riverdale. After Fred finds out the details of Hiram’s business plan, he backs out and leaves the opening for another resident of Riverdale to run for mayor.

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Clifford Blossom (Barclay Hope) kept a secret will that is announced at a public reading. This causes friction between Alice (Mädchen Amick) and Hal (Lochlyn Munro) as he demands a divorce before she hears whisperings of Clifford’s will. The will reading brings multiple Blossom family members to town including Polly (Tiera Skovbye), Polly’s twins, and a familiar face! It turns out that twins really do run in the Blossom family. Penelope (Nathalie Boltt) and Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) keep a united front while Clifford’s will leaves a piece of his fortune to any Blossom relative. This causes suspicion when Chic (Hart Denton) announces that he won’t be getting the required blood test for an inheritance. Betty goes behind his back to get a DNA sample with surprising results.

Here to discuss Clifford’s secret twin brother Claudius, the new mayoral candidate, Bughead investigating Hiram’s plans, and more, is our roundtable:

Yari (@msluvchocolate) – Fangirl before it was cool. My favorite quote is “Live long and prosper… Peace and long life.”

Stacey (@StaceyONeale) – Multi-published author of young adult and adult fantasy, and a contributor for TV After Dark.

Jess (@lilixcoIe) – When I’m not at concerts, I’m obsessing over Bughead.

Bre (@NancyRiverDrew) — Almost graduate, journo, Team Bughead, likes to say she’s a Betty, but she’s probably more of an Ethel

Candace (@jaxthevampire) – Writer for TV After Dark and Nerdeek. Professional nerd, flannel enthusiast, and a member of the South Side Serpents.

1. Hiram’s plan for turning Southside High into a private prison will create jobs and turn Lodge Industries legitimate. What do you think of his business plan?

Yari (@msluvchocolate): Hiram only speaks in half-truths. So no that is probably the truth. They told Fred what they thought he would be able to understand or accept. The Lodges are out for themselves, not the betterment of Riverdale.

Stacey (@StaceyONeale): I’m confused. I understand the prison will create jobs, but how will that benefit the Lodge family? They have a tremendous amount of money invested. How does a prison produce a profit? I guess I’ll have to wait and see in future episodes.

Jess (@lilixcoIe): I hate all his business plans including this one. I feel like all his ideas are selfish and this one isn’t any different.

Bre (@NancyRiverDrew): I had no clue what the Lodges were planning, so I definitely did not expect this. It’s a totally shady Lodge move. It does make me even more curious as to what business Hiram was doing in New York. I kind of assumed finance and investing. I’m also a little confused as to how owning Pop’s as well as the trailer park fits into this. And while the Lodges are a family of criminals, who honestly wants to live in a town with a prison? Maybe they are looking to make sure their buddies get off scot-free. One thing is for sure, I don’t think it would decrease the amount of crime in Riverdale at all.

Candace (@jaxthevampire): I don’t think this is the full plan. There’s something else with the plan having to do with the prison that we don’t know yet. It’s such a strange business plan. A prison, of all things. There’s something shadier going on here and there’s a specific reason that they chose a PRISON. They haven’t revealed those answers yet. This dude is shady, and something tells me Veronica may not even know the full plan yet.

2. We saw a familiar face this episode, or rather Clifford’s secret twin brother, Claudius! Claudius and Penelope were planning something regarding Nana and Cheryl. What do you think they’re planning?

Yari: It is really convenient this “twin” shows up. They are planning to get rid of Nana and Cheryl. I hope that is not the case. What gets me is that Penelope knows what Cheryl is capable of. (You know Thorne Hill that’s now rubble).Why she would even want to plot against her know daughter is just nuts.

Stacey: I have a feeling Claudius has been working with Penelope for a while. How else would he know what time to show up for the will reading? I believe they are going to try to trick Nana out of her property–maybe even poison her. I don’t trust Penelope. With Cheryl, they have more options because she’s a minor. They could borrow against her inheritance. The sum could be large enough to wipe it out. It all depends on the wording in the will.

Jess: I really have no idea. The Blossom family is so unpredictable.

Bre: My reaction to Claudius was: Seriously? Those theories about Clifford having a twin brother are actually true? I have heard some interesting speculation that maybe Claudius, then, was the one hanged in the barn, and this is actually Clifford, but Cheryl saw what happened in the barn, and she was surprised to meet her dad’s twin. Others have suggested he is the Black Hood. I’m also now wondering if he actually did disguise himself as the woman in Greendale who received the drugs from Archie and Jughead back in 2×07. As for Penelope and Claudius’ plans, Nana Blossom owns their home, giving her control, and Cheryl is a renegade who says she wants peace in the town. Those are obstacles to their ultimate goal, which I guess is looking to take down the Lodges, probably for the same reason they have been paying them sums of money for 75 years.

Candace: This show has a great way of making you think one thing and meaning another. I’m not sure we have enough information to guess what they are planning yet. And Claudius clearly is not a fan of Penelope, so I can’t really see them working together on anything. Everyone on this show always has their own motives, and we don’t know Claudius’s yet. He left Riverdale for a reason, and I don’t buy the reason that he told Cheryl.

3. Betty uncovered one of Chic’s secrets by running his DNA as part of inheriting the Blossom family fortune. What do you think the results say?

Yari: It shows that Chic Is not who he says he is. I hope Betty can find out the rest of the truth about him. Did he think that “pretending” to be the long lost family member would go on for long? Whatever is in the dark comes to light always. Chic for sure has darkness.

Stacey: I thought the results revealed he doesn’t have Blossom blood. But that doesn’t mean he’s not Alice’s son. I have a feeling he’s FP’s son. It would certainly make things interesting. If not, maybe another Serpent.
Jess: I think there’s no relation at all to any of the families we know. Actually, I think it’s possible he could be the Black Hood.

Bre: I know the popular theory was that Chic is FP and Alice’s son, but it seems like that is not the case by Betty’s reaction, “Who are you?” So the results probably say that he is not a Cooper at all. If that’s the case, I have no clue who he actually is then. Maybe an actual FBI agent looking into Hiram after all? Ha, though that would be a great plot twist and comics reference.

Candace: I had a feeling all along that he wasn’t really her brother, but I have no inclinations of who he actually is either. He clearly has something sinister in mind.

4. The Andrews men disagreed on whether they would join Hiram after he revealed his business plan. If you were in their shoes, who would you have sided with (Archie or Fred) and why?

Yari: Fred. He knows what the Lodges have always been capable of. He knows that what Hiram said most likely isn’t the whole truth. Fred is a stand-up guy. When his business was going under he wanted to fix it himself. The right way. Being shady is not the Fred Andrews way.

Stacey: I would’ve sided with Fred. He knows that you have to be careful with Hiram. He can’t be trusted. Archie is naive. I think he’s in way over his head. Regardless of his motives, Archie isn’t smart enough to win. He should go back to football and music.

Jess: Fred Andrews for sure based on the sole fact I don’t trust the Lodges at all.

Bre: Fred, for sure! Archie is crazy for making his blood pact with the Lodges, knowing that they have their capos kill unarmed people as they’re running away. Meanwhile, Fred is just working his hardest for his family and wants to see Riverdale be a safe place. The Lodges are just going to abuse the mayor position the same way they will censor The Register and how they bribed Mayor McCoy. This is just one act of Fred standing up to the Lodges, and I think it is foreshadowing more of that to come. Can’t wait!

Candace: Definitely Fred. He has a dream for Riverdale. One that he has wished to cultivate since he was a kid. I think he’s still going to run for mayor because there’s no way he’s going to see that dream destroyed by Hiram Lodge. Archie…I think he’s in so deep with Hiram that he can’t see which way is up anymore. Bughead is right, Veronica has him wrapped around her finger so tightly he would do anything she asked if she was persistent enough. I give him credit for defending his father, but clearly, when it comes to himself, his moral obligation doesn’t run that far.

5. Riverdale High’s investigative duo, Bughead, made strides in uncovering Hiram’s plan, with a little help from Alice. Do you think they’ll be able to get their story out another way?

Yari: I was yelling at my T.V. “Blog you two, put it out that way. Hello”. Isn’t it what they had done in the past. There are so many avenues to get that story out. Why didn’t they do it? Now, where can I get that article so I can read it?

Stacey: I do not doubt that Jughead will find a way. He’s one of the smartest characters on the show. The town will learn what they’ve discovered one way or another.

Jess: Of course they can. They’re Bughead, they always figure things out.

Bre: Yes, it’s called a blog. But honestly, Jughead should just submit the story to a New York City paper. In a deleted scene from season one, Hermione was in the tabloids coming back from visiting Hiram in jail with tears down her face. Now the elusive Lodges, scandalized by fraud and embezzlement, are hiding away in a podunk town, eating up land for cheap to build a for-profit prison as their big comeback? Tell me The Wall Street Journal wouldn’t want that!

Candace: If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the Bughead duo, it’s to never underestimate them. They are creative and very motivated by their desire to uncover and distribute the truth. If they have to print that story on their own paper and single-handedly knock on every door in Riverdale, they will. With the help of FP, Alice and probably even Fred, they will come up with a plan and it will surprise everyone.

6. Chic keeps getting rid of the Cooper family members one by one. First with Hal, and now with Polly. Do you think he’ll stay with this family of three, or will he try to push out another family member?

Yari: I’m not sure who Chic is really trying to get rid of. For sure he wanted Polly gone. He had his mother’s undivided attention for all this time and Polly shows up. That is why he took the twins out for a stroll he knew Polly would want out of there as soon as possible.

Stacey: I don’t understand his motives at this point. Alice gave him a family and a beautiful, safe place to call home. I don’t get why he’s doing these negative things. It’s not like he has any other options. I’m very intrigued by his storyline.

Jess: I definitely think there’s something evil about Chic and he’s going to ruin this family. Part of the reason why I think he’s the Black Hood.

Bre: I’ve been wondering this ever since I saw promos of him cutting Polly out of the picture. I think to answer that, we need to know what Chic’s game is, and I’m not sure what it is. Hopefully what the DNA test reveals will provide a glimpse into that. If he were the Black Hood (though he’s too young to be), he could be trying to get to Betty. But based on him calling Betty crazy in the 2×16 promo and his push to remove Polly after Alice was paying attention to the twins, it all suggests that she is the one he is after. But why?

Candace: I can’t decide if Chic actually has a plan or is just some crazy stalker that is obsessed with Alice or Betty, or maybe both. I think it might be Alice since he completely has her under his thumb. Perhaps she crossed or betrayed his real family and he is seeking revenge for something. Either way, I’m sure it will be part of the big season finale that is in store for us.

7. For a brief moment, we thought Fred was going to run for mayor. But he declined after finding out about Lodge Industries’ plans for the private, for-profit prison. What do you think of Hermione running for mayor?

Yari: I think that is great and terrible all at the same time. Hermione’s conversation with Veronica is an indication of what she wants to do. She wants to be her own woman in a world where men are usually in charge. Now I wonder if Fred will run against her?

Stacey: She’s running to help her business. Having control over the Mayor’s office certainly makes things easier for her. But I think she’ll have competition. When Fred looked lovingly at those campaign buttons, it made me feel like he’s still going to run. It would be entertaining to see him compete against Hermione. Andrews versus Lodge would create plenty of conflicts.

Jess: I’ll say it again. I don’t trust the Lodges. I really do think Fred would make a good mayor though if he decided to run.

Bre: Hermione will allow for a corrupt administration that allows Lodge Industries to pretty much get away with whatever it wants, especially since the Lodges also own The Register. But even though Fred is refusing to work with the Lodges, I interpreted the final scene of him looking at the election buttons as he still is planning to run and take on the Lodges. I’m all for it. #Fred2018!

Candace: Oh, I think Fred is still going to run for mayor. He’s not going to let something like this ruin his town and the dream he has had for Riverdale. He is well known and widely loved in the town, and Hermione will have to pull out all the stops to defeat him in an election. If I’m right, and he does still decide to run, the Lodges will definitely be in trouble. Because not only will he have some of the North Side on his team, but with the help of the Serpents like I predict, he will have the South Side as well. It’s going to be an all-out political war and Bughead and Varchie are on opposite sides. Jughead was right, all it took was one thing to get in the middle, and it could destroy everything. In other words, it’s about to get real in Riverdale.

Final Verdict: The Lodge family takes a stronger hold in Riverdale

Surprises are revealed all throughout Riverdale 2×15. Archie has second thoughts and snitches on Hiram to Jughead. With Archie’s tidbit of information, Jughead, FP, and Betty uncover enough information to force Hiram into revealing his business plans. Jughead writes the expose on Hiram, but the principal won’t allow them to take down a student’s parent in The Blue and Gold. But have they never heard of a blog? Fred doesn’t agree with the for-profit prison in Riverdale’s future and he withdraws his interest in running for mayor. That leaves a spot open and Hermione (Marisol Nichols) runs for mayor, putting the Lodge family in power in all aspects of Riverdale and its politics. Clifford’s twin brother makes a surprise visit and plots with Penelope against Nana and Cheryl! Chic drives Polly out of Riverdale, and surprises are presented in regards to Chic’s past. If Chic’s DNA sample tested for Blossom blood, then it suggests that he’s not a Blossom. So could he have a different father, other than Hal?

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The Riverdale writers have the very difficult task to balance multiple characters and storylines in such a large cast. This episode was relatively well rounded in terms of how much focus was on each character. Some series regulars fell through the cracks, with little focus on Kevin and Josie. Additionally, a lot of information was set up in this episode to explore the major families in Riverdale. The writers did an amazing job with the hour-long show they had. Although a few things have fallen by the wayside. Whatever happened to the mysterious drug dealer that died in the Cooper household? Is he gone for good, or will someone come looking for him? Mysterious circumstances tend to lay low for episodes and then come back to haunt them. So maybe it’s not the last we’ll see of the consequences. And whatever happened to Archie’s theory that they didn’t catch the real Black Hood?

In next week’s episode, Hermione gets a shining endorsement for mayor by a new face. The Andrews household is in turmoil over Archie’s decision to work with Hiram. Veronica (Camila Mendes) deals with backlash from her parents’ actions. Betty is determined to uncover all of Chic’s secrets. Cheryl doesn’t feel safe in her own home. And did you catch the punch that Veronica threw at Reggie (Charles Melton)? Luckily we only have to wait a week until the drama unfolds on Riverdale.

Riverdale returns Wednesday, March 21st at 8/7c on The CW