| “ | The year is 1955. Number one on the Billboard charts is "Rock Around The Clock," an earworm if I've ever heard one. Now, some random fun facts. In 1955, a hamburger with a side of fries set you back 30 cents. A comic book, a dime. A pulp novel, a quarter. It's been two days since Bailey's Comet almost decimated us, and we were somehow zapped back to the 1950s. I'm not sure how that happened exactly. I'm not sure if we're merely in the past, or in the past of an alternate universe. But things are different here in Riverdale. For starters, I live in an abandoned train car with Hot Dog, which actually tracks. And at Riverdale High, we're all juniors again. Betty and Kevin aren't merely friends, they're dating. Cheryl's twin brother is alive, but he's not Jason. He's Julian. No sign of a Reggie yet. But Archie exists, and he's still pretty much a teen Charles Atlas. None of them remember our lives from before we became teenagers again, and I haven't tried to remind them yet. I've been waiting to reconnect with the one person who might be able to shed light on our predicament, because she was both chronokinetic and the town's guardian angel, my girlfriend, Tabitha Tate. | ” |
— Jughead
| ||
"Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen: Don't Worry, Darling" is the first episode of the seventh season of Riverdale and the one hundredth and eighteenth episode of the series overall. It is premiered on March 29, 2023.[2]
Synopsis[]
RIVERDALE 1955 — After coming together to stop Bailey's Comet, the gang find themselves transported back to a simpler time – Riverdale 1955. While Archie attempts to impress the new girl Veronica, a Hollywood starlet, who has just arrived at Riverdale High, Cheryl sees her as a threat and formulates a plan to take her down. Meanwhile, Toni, Tabitha and Betty take a stand against Principal Featherhead after he stonewalls their attempts to write about the murder of Emmet Till. Finally, Jughead attempts to convince the gang that they're from the future.[3]
Plot[]
Jughead details their time in the 1950s
The town of Riverdale has been sent back in time to 1955. It's been two days since Bailey's Comet almost decimated the town, and they were somehow sent back in time, Jughead remarks. It's unclear if they're stuck in the past or in the past of an alternate universe, but one thing is for certain, things are different in this version of Riverdale. Jughead lives in a train car with Hot Dog, they're all juniors at Riverdale High again, Betty and Kevin are dating, and most notably, Cheryl's twin brother is alive, but not Jason, rather Julian. As for Archie, not much has changed with him.
Toni and Tabitha return from Mississippi
None of the gang have any memory of their lives from before they were teenagers except for Jughead, who has been waiting for Tabitha at Pop's given that she is both chronokinetic and the town's guardian angel. Pop Tate then announces that the bus from Mississippi is coming in. Tabitha, Toni, Clay, and some of Riverdale High's other students of color were in Mississippi for the trial of the two men who murdered Emmett Till for supposedly whistling at a white woman. When Tabitha enters the diner, Jughead tells her that the verdict made him sick to his stomach and offers his assistance in any way possible. She appreciates his offer, but they're still trying to figure out their next move.
Before heading out for school, Archie is called into the kitchen by his mother, who is distraught over James Dean's death and reveals they've printed out more photos from the accident. Fearful that Archie may also get into an accident, Mary demands that he hand over his car keys and ride his bike to school instead.
Toni asks for Betty's help
Toni shares her report of Emmett Till with Betty at the Blue and Gold. While she is moved by Toni's writing, she explains that Principal Featherhead keeps vetoing their attempts to tell the story. Toni recalls hearing Emmett Till's mother give an inspiring speech after the verdict was delivered and how she got the chance to interview people who knew Emmett Till personally. It was those individuals who she promised she would tell his story. And so Betty agrees to make an appointment with Featherhead.
Veronica arrives in Riverdale
Principal Featherhead introduces Veronica to the class, having just arrived in Riverdale from Los Angeles. For the foreseeable future, she'll be living with her aunt and uncle at the Pembrooke to take a sabbatical from Hollywood. Veronica takes a seat next to Archie, to whom she winks.
Veronica makes the acquaintance of Archie, Betty, Kevin, Julian, and Cheryl, who are discussing James Dean and how Cheryl is the president of his fan club. However, the group, with the exception of Cheryl, seems more interested in Veronica, who claims to have known James Dean personally and to have gone skinny-dipping with him. She also reveals that James was bisexual, which enrages Cheryl, who accuses Veronica of spreading lies.
Jughead learns from Mr. Doiley that Bailey's Comet will make its next appearance in two years' time.
Archie offers to walk Veronica home, but she's already secured an escort home through Julian, who tells Cheryl to walk home.
Betty and Toni meet with Featherhead
As planned, Betty and Toni meet with Featherhead, who claims that Toni's story on Emmett Till is not suitable for publication, and Dr. Werthers arguing that the details of the case are too violent and detailed for young and impressionable minds. Toni argues that people need to understand the gravity of what happened so that it doesn't happen again, perhaps in Riverdale next time, though Featherhead claims that no such thing would every happen in their town and reminds Toni that Riverdale High was one of the first schools in the country to integrate, though they don't have any black teachers or study black authors, Toni points out.
Betty asks her parents for help
Betty has shared Toni's article with her mother and father, who admit that while it was well written, they cannot read it on the air. Alice elaborates that they have to run every story through their sponsors for approval, that being the Blossoms. And should they lose their support, the station will go under, though Betty suspects her father is only actually concerned with giving himself a raise. When asked why she is so fixated on the matter, Betty explains that what happened to Emmett Till was a grave injustice and a crime emblematic of everything wrong with the country.
Jughead digs up the time capsule
Archie confides in Jughead about his feelings for Veronica, who he will never get anywhere with so long as he's stuck with a bike, though Jughead was more concerned about finding a way back to their time. However, he'd need help and to first make his friends remember through some kind of tangible proof. This leads Jughead to recall the time capsule they buried graduation weekend, which the items inside may trigger their memories. And so, Jughead borrows a shovel from Archie to dig up the capsule. However, unbeknownst to Jughead, he's being watched.
Jughead tells the gang that they're in the wrong time
Veronica arrives at school to find Archie waiting outside with his car. He was hoping to give her a ride home today, an offer she gladly accepts. Jughead then gathers Archie, Veronica, and the rest of the gang in the music room, where he gives each of them their own item they added into the time capsule. However, none of them recall burying the time capsule, which Jughead explains they buried 67 years ago in the future. He goes on to explain how a cataclysmic event sent them all back in time. Archie asks about Jughead's buried object, but for some reason, his yarn beanie wasn't in the time capsule. They first ask Jughead what the future is like before asking about themselves personally. Jughead reveals that Archie joined the army, Betty was in the FBI, Veronica and Toni were business owners, and Kevin..., he directed some musicals and was in an organ harvesting cult. Lastly, Cheryl was possessed by her ancestor and became a witch. Short of waiting for Bailey's Comet to return, the only other way to get back to their time may be to have Archie and Betty make out on top of Archie's bed, and then blow up a bomb underneath them. Unfortunately, none of them believe Jughead, with Archie warning Jughead that he sounds crazy and to stop his ramblings.
Toni tells Betty about her new plan
Betty apologizes to Toni, as her parents aren't able to get her story past the Blossoms, though Toni isn't surprised. When Emmett Till was first murdered, no one wanted to talk or hear about it. It took his mother publishing the pictures of his disfigured corpse for people to finally wake up, triggering a desire to see the photos in Betty.
Penelope inquires about Cheryl and Julian's foul moods, to which Cheryl replies that Julian is upset Veronica ditched him for a date with Archie, whereas Cheryl's mad because she's not the most beautiful and interesting girl at the school any more by Julian's account. Anyway, Penelope delivers Cheryl's movie magazines that came in the mail for her, in which Cheryl discovers a truth about Veronica.
Cheryl accuses Veronica of lying
Archie takes Veronica to Pop's, where Archie tells her a few things about himself, such as how he enjoys fixing his car and going to Sweetwater River. He also reveals to Veronica that his father died in the Korean War. It's just him and his mom, who works part-time at the dress shop. As for his romantic life, Archie never had a serious girlfriend, as he never met the right girl, that is, until Veronica arrived in Riverdale. Unfortunately, their date is interrupted by Cheryl, who accuses Veronica of lying about why she's in town after learning that she's not starring in an upcoming movie, as she previously claimed. Cheryl suspects she was banished by her parents for her poor behavior.
Veronica admits she was banished
Archie returns to the Pembrooke with Veronica, who reveals that Cheryl is right about her. She was, in fact, banished by her parents because she's a problem child. In a way, she feels as though her parents have been wanting to get rid of her since she was born. She began acting out to get their attention, but they didn't ship her away until she got in a convoy crash with some other girls. Additionally, Veronica doesn't have an aunt or uncle and is living alone. Her parents care more about their show than they ever have about her.
Mary confronts Archie after learning that he took his car out without her permission. She overreacts and grounds him, expressing her concern that one day she'll get a call in the middle of the night telling her that he wrapped his car around a telephone pole. As a compromise, Archie says he'll have Betty un-soup his car.
Veronica gets a call from her mother
Veronica gets a call from her mother, who heard that Veronica had a boy over at the Pembrooke, though Veronica insists that Archie is just a friend and then asks her mother about Thanksgiving plans, but Hermione is busy. She tells Veronica to fly right and keep clear of boys, and they'll see about the holidays.
Betty enters her room and looks at a photo of Emmett Till's corpse. She then reconvenes with Toni at the Blue and Gold, where Betty announces her plan to publish Toni's article despite Featherhead's disapproval. However, Toni has come up with a new idea. Instead of her story, she wants to read a poem about Emmett Till during the morning announcements, which is operated by Cheryl.
Tabitha approaches Jughead at his locker, revealing that the NAACP asked Emmett Till's mother to travel around the country to speak about what happened to her son. And Tabitha and her family are joining her. She's hoping Jughead will help her stay on top of her school work.
Toni reads Langston Hughes' poem
Betty and Toni approach Cheryl in the girl's restroom about her parent's control of RIVW. While the powers that be have silenced Toni's article on Emmett Till's murder trial, Cheryl can fix this by allowing Toni to read a poem over the morning announcements. Cheryl agrees to help, entering the main office, where Ms. Bell reveals that Tabitha passed out on the football field and that Featherhead is currently tending to her. After Ms. Bell exits to lend a hand, Cheryl invites Toni into the office, allowing her to read a poem about Emmett Till from the poet Langston Hughes. Toni hopes that his words will inspire dialogue and change. Unfortunately, Betty, Cheryl, Toni, and Tabitha are called into the principal's office and scolded for their actions. Featherhead explains that all poems read through on the announcements must go through him.
Mrs. Thornton urges his class to speak on Emmett Till
Just as Toni had hoped, Langston Hughes's poem has inspired dialogue at Riverdale High. It made Archie feel angry, whereas Betty felt upset, and Veronica hopeless. Midge inquires about his age, to which Toni reveals he was only 14 years old, younger than all of them when he was taken out of home in the middle of the night, tortured, and beaten, with his body thrown into the river, Tabitha and Clay add. Toni, Tabitha, and Clay were all in Mississippi and Mrs. Thornton offers them the opportunity to speak about their experiences.
Veronica exits the school to find Archie and Julian waiting by their respective cars, both offering a ride, but Veronica decides to walk home.
Tabitha makes Jughead forget
Jughead is joined in a booth at Pop's by the version of Tabitha from the present day, who loves Jughead and remembers everything. Jughead asks her to use her powers to take them home, but she can't. At least not yet. Their last-minute gambit to stop the comet from destroying Riverdale didn't work. It hit the town and triggered an extinction level event. Tabitha enacted her plan b. She used what was left of her life force to send them back to the past, a point far enough back that might give them the necessary run way to make it back to a present where Riverdale isn't destroyed by a comet. However, she has to explore and untangle the various timelines that became knotted when the comet hit. They all have to do their best to fall in line in the 50s and ensure that the moral arc of this universe bends toward justice, so that way when she finally does untangle the timelines, they can make it back to a Riverdale that isn't on the verge of collapse, but it could take a while given the number of universes and timelines, which brings her back to Jughead. Him asking questions is creating ripples that drew her there; she was the one watching Jughead dig up the capsule. His memory is an anomaly that she's come to fix by making him forget so that he doesn't go crazy or further corrupt the timeline. However, this also means forgetting about Tabitha, who kisses Jughead and makes him forget as she disappears. As the memories of his past life begin to fade, Jughead rushes home and attempts to write down what he can remember before it dissipates. However, all he's able to write is the phrase "Bend. Towards. Justice." Jughead then finds his yarn beanie sitting on the desk, though he no longer remembers what it is.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
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Soundtrack[]
- Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around the Clock
- Scene: Playing on the jukebox at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe.
- Johnnie Ray - Cry
- Elvis Presley - That's All Right
- Scene: Archie gazes at his hot rod and turns to his rusty bike.
- Billie Holiday - Lady Sings the Blues
- Scene: Veronica makes her entrance at Riverdale High School.
- Peggy Lee - Bye Bye Blackbird
- Bill Haley & His Comets – See You Later, Alligator
- Scene: Archie and Veronica's date at Pop's.
- Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
- Scene: Betty sits down to looks at images of Emmett Till and his murder.
- The Moonglows - Baby Please
- Scene: Julian and Archie waiting Veronica outside school to drive her home, but she decides to walk instead.
- College - A Real Hero ft. Electric Youth
- Scene: Tabitha from the present meets with Jughead at Pop's and takes away his memory with a kiss.
Trivia[]
- The title of the episode shares its name with 2022 film directed by Olivia Wilde, Don’t Worry Darling. Like the film, the heroes find themselves in a 1950s-like scenario, having been sent there from the 2020s.
- The Lodges' sitcom and its repercussions on the family behind the scenes are inspired by CBS 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy.
- In one scene, Jughead uses the phrase about them needing to "Go back to the future." This episode takes place in 1955, the same year that Marty McFly accidentally time traveled to in the 1985 film "Back to the Future."
- Elvis Presley's "That's Alright Mama" is played in the scene when Archie has to ride his bike to school. Presley recorded the song a year prior to when this episode took place. Presley would become a national celebrity a year later in 1956.
- The episode contains references to the first episodes of the show's first season:
- Cheryl wears heart-shaped glasses like the ones worn by Ms. Grundy.
- Archie being grounded by Mary parallels Archie being grounded by Fred.
- The lunch is interrupted by Cheryl in "Chapter One: The River's Edge", and here by Veronica.
- In the pilot, Archie and Betty's diner at Pop's is interrupted by Veronica. Here, Archie and Veronica's diner is interrupted by Cheryl.
- Also in the pilot, when Betty is giving Veronica a tour of the school, Veronica says "I feel like I'm wandering through the lost epilogue of Our Town". In this episode, Veronica falsely claims she's been cast in the film adaption of Our Town.
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