Chapter Sixteen: The Watcher in the Woods

"Chapter Sixteen: The Watcher in the Woods" is the third episode of the second season of Riverdale, and the sixteenth episode of the series overall.

Synopsis
TAKING A STAND — Frustrated by the lack of progress made in catching his father's shooter, Archie takes matters into his own hands in order to send the gunman a message. Meanwhile, Veronica is thrilled when Hiram's attempt to start fresh means she gets to introduce him to her friends, including Archie. Elsewhere, Jughead starts his first day at Southside High and is befriended by a Southside Serpent named Toni, while Kevin's attempt at having a little fun causes Betty to grow concerned for his safety. Finally, an unexpected turn of events leads the town to realize their darkest chapter may be far from over.

Plot
SPOILERS AHEAD


 * NOTE: PLOT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Betty arrives home, and Alice and Hal Cooper has received a threat in the mail, and it's from the Black Hood, the prevailing shadow above the town. He claims that he was responsible for shooting Midge Klump and Moose Mason, Miss Grundy, and Fred Andrews.

To the family's shock, Polly Cooper wants to leave Riverdale, in fear of the Black Hood probably targeting her, due to her being unwed and with child. She said she will run off to the cabin where Jason and Polly were to run off to before the plan was foiled, causing Jason's death.

At the hospital, Moose is recovering after being shot by the Black Hood. Kevin Keller visits him.

In Veronica's house, she can be seen polishing the silverware, perhaps for the "civilized dinner" with Archie and her parents. Hermione says that she is playing with fire, and Veronica fires back by saying that "it's in her agenda". Hermione follows by saying that it wouldn't be in her father's agenda however.

Betty surprises Jughead at the Red and Black, the Southside High's newspaper. They share a tender kiss when Toni Topaz, a fellow Southside Serpent, and a co-worker of the Red and Black.

Back at the apartment, Hiram and Hermione prepare for the dinner. Hiram says that he could hear Archie sneak into their apartment.

At Pop's, Cheryl is just sitting in the booth, and sees Kevin taking a run.

Ethel Muggs is seen walking the foggy streets of town, and she sees a pair of headlights. She becomes concerned, and prepares to make a run for it.

Reggie and Archie are starting their first day as watchers, protecting the neighborhood, and receives a call from who is probably Ethel Muggs.

At the park, a pair of people walk past Kevin, and he follows, somewhat attracted to the pair.

Cutting back to Archie and Reggie driving, they stop at a field, and are armed and ready to fight. The van that was possibly following Ethel. Ethel pops out of the field, and said that the driver was not making any attack towards her, but was circling around about three times.

Kevin is caught by Betty and Cheryl, and Kevin attacks Betty for not accepting him for what he's doing and refers to her "BDSM fantasies" as Dark Betty, and says that if she can't accept what he's doing, then they are not truly friends.

At Southside High, Jughead is walking away from the newspaper room. He hears a bang, and the lights go out. He tries to escape the campus, but the doors are locked. Jughead tries another attempt, but runs into the unknown assailant, and is beat.

Starring

 * KJ Apa as Archie Andrews
 * Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper
 * Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge
 * Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones
 * Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge
 * Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom
 * Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge
 * Casey Cott as Kevin Keller
 * Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper
 * Luke Perry as Fred Andrews

Guest Starring

 * Martin Cummins as Sheriff Keller
 * Robin Givens as Sierra McCoy
 * Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle
 * Lochlyn Munro as Hal Cooper
 * Shannon Purser as Ethel Muggs
 * Tiera Skovbye as Polly Cooper
 * Peter Bryant as Mr. Weatherbee
 * Major Curda as Dilton Doiley
 * Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz
 * Jordan Connor as Sweet Pea
 * Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs Fogarty

Trivia

 * The title for the sixteenth chapter comes from the 1976 Florence Engel Randall novel, "A Watcher in the Woods" which was adapted into the 1980 film "The Watcher in the Woods".
 * According to the original tweet by showrunner, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Kevin Keller should not go into the woods. The context behind this warning was not elaborated upon.
 * Moose Mason and Midge Klump survived the attack from the Black Hood. Moose shielded Midge from gunfire, taking the brunt of the attack, while Midge was left physically unharmed.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of Toni Topaz, Sweet Pea, and Fangs Fogarty; all Southside Serpents members. Toni also acted as a guide to Jughead Jones.
 * This episode features some Red Circle Comics issues, an imprint of Archie Comics Publications, Inc., launched in the late 1970s as a fantasy/horror imprint but switched over to superheroes in the 1980s. This is the iteration featuring a reboot of the Black Hood.
 * Sheriff Keller's first name is revealed to be Tom.

Images

 * -|Promotional=

Promotional Images

 * -|Screencaps=

Screencaps

 * -|Videos=