Chapter Nine: La Grande Illusion

"Thicker than blood, more precious than oil. Riverdale's big business, is maple syrup. Since the town's founding, one family has controlled its lucrative syrup trade: the Blossoms. They were a part of the fabric of our daily lives. Rich or poor, old or young, we consumed Blossom syrup by the bucket. That sickly sweet smell was inescapable. The death of Jason Blossom precipitated a crisis, with the heir apparent gone, who would inherit the family business one day? Certainly not Cheryl. It was a question that brought the wolves to Riverdale, and now, the Blossoms were circling the wagons against possible attack, from within their own ranks."

- Jughead Jones

"Chapter Nine: La Grande Illusion" is the ninth episode of the first season of Riverdale. It premiered on April 6, 2017.

Synopsis
ULTERIOR MOTIVES — Archie reluctantly agrees to escort Cheryl to her family’s official start of maple syrup tapping because he gets an offer that could help his future. Archie starts to become skeptical of the real reason the Blossoms are so eager to help him, however he gets some helpful information for Betty about her sister. Veronica is trying to be nice and unbeknownst to her, befriends a classmate that her father’s illegal doings has hurt. Hermione is conflicted about telling Fred the truth. Meanwhile, Alice is ready to get revenge on the Blossoms once and for all with the help of her two daughters.

Plot

 * NOTE: THIS PLOT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The Episode, like any other, unfolds with a narration by Jughead as he talks about Maple Syrup-thicker than blood, more precious than oil, Riverdale's largest business has been maple syrup since the town's founding, and one family that has held a monopoly on this lucrative trade, is the Blossoms. Via flashback, Cheryl, Jason, Cliff, and Penelope sip delicious maple syrup from glasses, almost as if it is fine wine. Maple syrup has become an important aspect of everyone's daily lives, whether they be rich or poor, old or young, the Blossom Maple Farms label can be spotted in just about every fridge in town. The death of Jason Blossom precipitated a crisis. With the heir to the family business now gone, who would inherit the family business in Jason's place? One thing's for sure, it will certainly not be Cheryl. It is a question that brought upon the board of trustee's descendence upon Riverdale contemplating a hostile takeover, that made the Blossoms having to watch their backs from attack within their own ranks. The Blossoms await in the snow, along with Polly, for the arrival of the board of trustees. A fleet of ominous black Town Cars pulls up to the Blossom farm, out of which emerge some equally ominous red-haired strangers.

For reasons unknown, Polly has been ignoring Betty's calls and emails, she confides in Jughead, wondering what it is that she did that resulted in Polly giving her the cold shoulder. Just as they kiss, her mother comes barging into the room to inform her and Jughead that they had a big week ahead of them. The Blossoms and Coopers have been at odds since, according to Hal, great-grandfather Blossom killed great-grandfather Cooper. Alice decids it is finally time for someone to bring them to a stopping point. With the Blossom board of trustees in town, Alice hopes to discover the meaning behind their sudden arrival, and incorporate it into a tell-all exposé she was writing about the Blossoms and their corruption. The only thing she needs now is someone from the inside.

At the Pembrooke, Hermione explains that lawyers will be coming this week to take Hermione and Veronica's statement for Hiram's hearing since they both are going to have to testify on his behalf. Veronica wonders what she was to say if asked about her father's embezzlement charges, in which Hermione explains that they will have to stretch the truth. Between Hiram finding out about Hermione's secret love affair with Fred and the Blossoms still fighting for the land development, Hermione is under a lot of stress and pressure, not to mention that fact that Fred is still unaware that Hiram was the anonymous buyer. Veronica suggests that, with this small gossipy town, she tell Fred the truth before someone else does, even if it means risking the SoDale project.

Cheryl approaches Archie in the music room with an invitation to her family's maple tree tapping, as it is the week of the official start of the maple season. The tree tapping ceremony is an annual event, a ritual that honors the Blossom bloodline, it is extremely exclusive. The maple tapping is something special that she and Jason have done together ever since they could walk, but she is not sure she can face it alone this year, if Archie comes along as her escort, maybe she could get through it. Unfortunately, while Archie would love to help her, he has a girlfriend. While Archie suggests other people, Cheryl does not want anyone else to escort her, as Archie is like no other, he defended her even when her parents would not. Upon his rejection of her offer, she shrugs it off and apologizes for asking.

At school, Ethel reads a poem in class. Several classmates are disturbed by Ethel's reading of an exceptionally dark poem, specifically Kevin and Veronica, which results in Veronica taking a personal interest in the matter. While Veronica is moved by Ethel's poem, she can also tell it is coming from someplace dark, leading her to question if everything is alright with Ethel. Ethel admits that everything is not okay within the Muggs household as her parents have been constantly fighting, but they won't tell her why. She feels as if something really bad is happening, and there is nothing she can do to stop it, like watching a slow-motion car crash. In an effort to cheer her up, Veronica invites Ethel to lunch and pampering with Veronica at the Pembrooke, and sneakily includes Kevin sitting not so far away from them, to which Ethel accepts.

Following her chat with Ethel, Kevin catches up with Veronica, who explains that Ethel's poem is a cry for help, the likes of which she vowed she would never ignore. This is brought on after an incident that happened last year at her old high school, where Veronica and her best friend Katy, terrorized another girl named Paige, which subsequently led to Paige transferring schools and going into therapy. Veronica feels that if she could make Ethel's life even a little bit better, then that's what she is going to do.

As Archie takes a drink in the hall, Penelope appears behind him, as she confronts him about his invitation by Cheryl to the tree tapping ceremony. Penelope who was aware of Archie's passion for music, and capable of getting him into the Brandenburg Music Academy, which is a school for the musically gifted, though hard to get into. Penelope recalls how Archie brought her Jason's football jersey during his memorial, that was a gesture of kindness during a moment of despair for her family, making Archie a good person in her eyes. Penelope insists that Archie escort Cheryl, it will only be one afternoon and it would mean the world to Cheryl, which Archie finally comes around to agree to. In the lounge, Archie celebrates with his friends over the possibility that he would be accepted into the exclusive summer music program. Jughead and Veronica question the validity of Archie's agreement with the Blossoms, but Betty thinks it is a great idea, then asking if Archie could check on Polly while he is there.

The next morning, as the tree tapping ceremony is ready to commence, all Archie has to do was hold the bucket steady, Cheryl would do the rest. As they are walking toward the gathering, Cheryl informs Archie that everyone else in attendance is her father's board of trustees, they are concerned that Cliff is losing his grip on the company and they are looking for a way to take over, and they can if they all vote together. Jason's death was a PR debacle, and Polly being pregnant and unwed certainly does not help the situation. As they arrive, Cliff holds his speech with Penelope standing next to the maple tree. In Jason's place, Cheryl is called up by her father to stake the tree, noticeably nervous, as she's only seen Jason do it. Archie, who holds the bucket, gives Cheryl a pep talk, telling her she could do it in her sleep, and just like he said, she does it without a hitch. Everyone applauds Cheryl and her parents smile as well.

As promised, Ethel has lunch with Veronica, Kevin, Betty, and Hermione, however, due to all the stress she has been undergoing at home, Ethel doesn't feel hungry. Her living situation hasn't gotten any better, as her parents are still fighting, and after some bad luck with their savings, they are going to have to sell the house. At this very moment, Veronica realizes that she and Ethel have more in common than she originally thought because the Lodges lost their place at the Dakota, and having your life ruined is a terrible experience, but Veronica reminds Ethel that she still has her family and friends' support. Unbeknownst to either Ethel or Veronica at the time, Veronica's father, is responsible for the Muggs' recent misfortune. So upon learning that Ethel's last name is Muggs, which the third "G" was removed from when her grandfather moved to Riverdale, Hermione becomes fairly concerned.

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
 * Madchen Amick as Alice Cooper
 * Luke Perry as Fred Andrews

Guest Starring

 * Casey Cott as Kevin Keller
 * Shannon Purser as Ethel Muggs
 * Nathalie Boltt as Penelope Blossom
 * Barclay Hope as Cliff Blossom
 * Hayley Law as Valerie Brown
 * Lochlyn Munro as Hal Cooper
 * Tiera Skovbye as Polly Cooper

Co-Starring

 * Arabella Bushnell as Aunt Cricket
 * Jenn MacLean-Angus as Mrs. Muggs
 * David Pihlainen as Tailor
 * Trevor Stines as Jason Blossom
 * Gina Williams as English Teacher
 * Alex Zahara as Uncle Bedford

Quotes
"Archie, if music be the food of love, play on. Play on."

- Cheryl Blossom

"Winter had come early to Riverdale. Brutal, and unforgiving... But it would be nothing compared to the storm that was gathering. A storm of chaos named Cheryl Blossom."

- Jughead's narration

Trivia

 * The title for this chapter is named after the 1937 Jean Renoir film.
 * This episode marks the end of Archie and Valerie's relationship and Fred and Hermione's rekindled relationship.
 * This episode marks the last official appearance of Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle.
 * This episode marks the first time Archie & Cheryl kiss

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