| “ | To all the subscribers of The Teenage Mystique, something happened to me. And I've read your stories and watched so many people be wronged, so I can't hold back any longer. All I wanted to do was understand my authentic self, my desires, my place in the world. Because of that, I was forced to be a cheerleader, I was put into therapy, my private diaries were read, I was demeaned. And then I was... slapped. Well, I'm finally going to tell the truth. This is my manifesto, my book, The Collected and Expanded Teenage Mystique. Every thought I've ever had, uncensored. Only the truth will be allowed in these pages. The truth about being a teenager. Our stories. And if it burns this small-minded town to the ground, well, so be it. | ” |
— Betty
| ||
"Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Four: A Different Kind of Cat" is the seventeenth episode of the seventh season of Riverdale and the one hundredth and thirty-fourth episode of the series overall. It premiered on August 2, 2023.
Synopsis[]
TAKING THE TOWN BY STORM — Betty enlists help from Cheryl and Toni after deciding she's going to publish her own book. Veronica, Kevin and Clay host Hollywood movie star Josie McCoy, who is in town to screen her latest film. Finally, Archie's attempt to take his poetry to the next level doesn't go as planned.[1]
Plot[]
Betty writes to her subscribers of The Teenage Mystique. She can't hold back any longer. All she's ever wanted to do was understand her authentic self, her desires, and her place in the world. Because of that, she was forced to be a cheerleader, put into therapy, her private diaries were read, she was demeaned, and she was slapped by her mother. This is her manifesto, every thought she ever had, uncensored. Only the truth about being a teenager will be allowed on the pages. And if it burns Riverdale to the ground, so be it.
Veronica and Jughead arrive at Riverdale High, hand in hand, gaining the attention of their many classmates, as they make their way to their lockers, where Veronica remarks that she hasn't felt so many eyes on her since she came to school as a sexy witch, which gives Jughead an idea for a comic. She's glad to have inspired him and kiss him goodbye.
Archie asks Mrs. Grundy to read his latest poem, and to her surprise, it is so much more mature than his earlier work, as if he grew overnight. She asks him what changed, to which Archie replies that he watched the sun rise as she suggested, among other things, such as having sex with Twyla Twyst, which he keeps secret from Grundy. Meanwhile, Cheryl and Toni gather their negative photos from their shoot, whilst Jughead draws a sketch of his Veronica inspired witch.
After class, Reggie reveals to Julian that he and Archie had sex with Twyla at the same time. Julian asks Archie if Reggie's claims are true. However, Betty overhears their conversation and rushes out the lounge and into the hallway, where she bumps into Cheryl and causes her to drop the risqué photos of herself and Toni.
Betty follows Cheryl to the courtyard to inquire further. Tired of lying, Cheryl reveals that she is going steady with Toni. Betty then reveals that she's the Girl Next Door, which excites Cheryl, so much so that she shakes Betty's hand. Betty asks what she intends to do with the pictures. Cheryl was planning on submitting them to the Femme-and-In magazine and come out in the most unexpected way to blow the lid off of her parents' world. This is precisely what Betty is trying to do with the book version of The Teenage Mystique. And a story like Cheryl and Toni's would be swell to include. Cheryl agrees, barring that Toni is willing. Lastly, Betty asks if she and Toni can take photos of her for her book cover. Cheryl agrees to the photo session and even offers to turn Betty's favorite photo into a luxurious oil painting.
At the Babylonium, Veronica compliments Jughead on his witch drawing. He believes that this could be the thing to save Pep Comics, as Mr. Fieldstone is looking for a fresh new character to bring in new viewership, and Jughead is hopeful that it could be Veronica the Teenage Witch. Clay interrupts, and along with Kevin, takes Veronica to meet with the newly minted Tony winner Josie McCoy, whose been working on a major motion picture. Her Broadway smash Going Uptown is being turned into a movie musical, which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. However, Josie is a perfectionist and with this being her first motion picture, she needs to know how it plays out with a real audience, far away from the prying eyes of her partners at Pasadena Pictures. She doesn't need suits second guessing her every choice, at least not until she has proof positive, such as filled out questionnaires from a test screening at the Babylonium. But first, Josie allows Veronica, Kevin, and Clay to watch her film.
Veronica and Josie head to her office after the screening to further discuss the movie, which Veronica believes is a hit. She wonders who Josie even bothers with a screening when she could just do a Red Carpet Premiere, but she's still tinkering with the film. Before agreeing any further to hosting the screening at the Babylonium, Josie needs to be assured the seats won't be filled with rubes and blue hairs; she needs to get a lay of the land. Veronica offers to show her around the following morning, but Josie laughs at the notion of getting up at 8:00 AM and tells Veronica that they will meet at dusk, and not a moment sooner. Rather than staying at a hotel, Veronica invites Josie to stay at the Pembrooke.
Archie visits Twyla in hopes of seeing her again. However, she doesn't do long term. Archie pleads with her, explaining that he needs the experience, but she encourages him to find an older woman elsewhere, but not before taking the flowers he brought her.
As planned, Cheryl and Toni head over to the Cooper house, where they have a photoshoot for Betty's book cover.
The following day, Toni and Fangs approach Veronica in the student lounge after hearing that Josie is in town and that Veronica is bringing her to the Dark Room's open mic tonight. And if that's the case, Fangs will perform for her in hopes that it will be his big break, one that Josie might be able to provide. While Veronica can't speak for Josie, she assures Fangs that Josie recognizes talent.
Archie brings Mrs. Grundy an apple and asks if she can come to the Dark Room tonight to hear the poem he wrote. She agrees, referring to Archie as her favorite student.
Jughead pitches Veronica the Teenage Witch to Mr. Fieldstone, who tells Jughead they may have to sand the edges a bit. Perhaps, they make her a half witch, take away the cleavage, make her a blonde, and come up with a new name, as Veronica is too sexy. If his comic is to be received well by the tribunal, it has to be something less provocative.
Cheryl develops Betty's photos and tells her to pick which one she wants to use as a cover, though she appears a bit hesitant. Betty's glad to be coming out, but she feels like a fraud to be dressed in lingerie and writing about sex when she hasn't experienced anything sexually satisfying herself. Everyone she knows is having sex, but can't find anyone to go there with her. Cheryl informs Betty that a woman doesn't need anyone to be sexually satisfied and gifts her an issue of Femme-and-In to help guide Betty, explaining that all she needs is a bathtub, a bathroom with a lock, and a helping hand.
Jughead tells Veronica how Veronica the Teenage Witch was too sexy for the tribunal. He has to come up with a more magical name, leading Veronica to suggest the name "Sabrina."
It's open mic night at the Dark Room, and Archie performs his poem whilst Mrs. Grundy listens from the bar. Realizing that the poem is clearly about herself and Archie, Grundy abruptly leaves. Toni then escorts Archie off the stage and brings Fangs on board to perform in front of Josie. Meanwhile, Betty locks herself in her bathroom with the magazine she got from Cheryl and pleasures herself whilst Cheryl, still at Riverdale High, paints Betty's book cover.
Although rock and roll isn't her genre, Josie admits that Fangs has a touch of star quality that most people lack and asks Veronica how is he on the bongos. Veronica replies there's no better bongo player in Riverdale. And so, Josie invites Fangs to play the bongos as she performs a poem of her own on stage, remarking that she's a different kind of cat.
Following her performance, Veronica asks if Riverdale is hep enough for a screening of Josie's film, which she admits it is. At the risk of over steeping, Toni and Clay ask if she could attend a meeting of Black Athena, which is a literary society Toni started for the black students at Riverdale High.
The next day, Archie waits in class for Mrs. Grundy, who claims she left abruptly last night because her husband was expecting her for a late dinner. Grundy believes they need to switch gears and tells Archie to branch out with his poetry. She wants him to write about his most painful experience.
Cheryl shows Betty her oil painting, which Betty is pleased with, saying that it's beautiful. Cheryl adds that Betty is beautiful.
Jughead takes his revised comic idea to Mr. Fieldstone, now titled Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He is pleased and intends to send it off to the tribunal. Fieldstone believes that it could save Pep Comics obscurity.
As agreed, Josie attends the Black Athena meeting at Riverdale High. Tracey asks if she had to compromise herself along the way for her success. Their experience as black people are multifaceted and vary, but none of them should have to compromise themselves for anything. She cannot help but give her whole self to the performance, because the world deserves every facet of her being. Jeremy then reveals that a while back, on his trip to New York City, he saw her as Lady Macbeth. Her performance has stayed with him. She was fierce and commanding, while also vulnerable. She then asks where did the idea of the club come from. Toni started the club because she was tired of the town telling her who she was and tired of the Caucasian sea of opinions. They all needed a haven and were tired of being told no by the gatekeepers.
After the Black Athena meeting, Josie returns to the Babylonium, having reconsidered her previous decision for a screening and now deciding to have a Red Carpet Premiere. But if Going Uptown isn't a hit, she will disappear along with her film, as it cost her everything. She financed it herself. When Going Uptown became a Broadway hit, they wanted to turn it into a movie, but her part was being reconceived for Lana Turner. It was a slap in the face, as the power that be thought the silver screen wasn't ready for Josie's black beauty. So she scrounged up every penny she had and mortgaged her brownstone to buy the rights from under them and made the movie herself. She put everything she had into the film, meaning the surveys weren't part of her process, rather they were intended for her to give to the studios. If they tested well enough with black and white audiences in the sticks, she thought maybe she could convince one of the majors to distribute her film. Making Going Uptown and risking everything for it is the most terrifying thing she's ever done. It will have to explode like an atomic bomb. Veronica promises that after her premiere, she's going to have a bidding war on her hands.
Fangs calls Midge at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy to reveal that he performed with Josie and that she's going to hook him up with her music producer in New York named Alexander Cabot. Midge is thrilled, and Fangs promises to get her out so they can be together.
Mr. Fieldstone reveals to Jughead the tribunal rejected Sabrina. He came up with something fun and whimsical, but all they saw were witches, satanism, hocus-pocus, and human sacrifices. Admittedly, they never should've tried to launch a comic about a witch during a witchhunt.
Veronica is saddened to hear that Jughead's comic has been scrapped. She tells him to give it a few years and let the hysteria die down. If he's not in the mood for a premiere, she'd understand, but Jughead refuses to miss what will likely be the only Hollywood premiere he will ever attend. However, he doesn't have a suit, but luckily, Veronica has already taken some precautionary measures and presents Jughead with a tailored suit.
Archie returns home to write about his greatest pain, choosing his father as the topic.
Premiere night has finally arrived. With cameras flashing and paparazzi everywhere, Josie places her hand in the cement to solidify her presence. She and those in attendance then make their way into the theater for the premiere of Going Uptown, however, the film cuts off abruptly. Veronica and Josie confront Kevin and Clay, who explain that the film got caught on the split and that they need to splice it back together and re-thread it. Veronica fears that they're going to lose the audience and critics. Panicked and upset, she takes her frustrations out on Kevin and Clay, firing them as projectionist and her friends, but Josie tells her to calm down. When Clay reveals they need five minutes to fix the film, Josie seeks Fangs assistance on the piano while she performs on stage to keep the guests entertained. Her song concludes and the film resumes.
After the premiere, Veronica returns to her office, where she reveals that she greased the wheels of one of the critics before sending him off, gaining a taste of what he's going to publish in the Journal. The headline reads, "A Star is born." The critic refers to her movie as an atomic bomb and says that Josie is deserving of all Oscars and is a glorious force. Josie is in disbelief, though Veronica insists this is all real. She also thanks Josie for putting Riverdale and the Babylonium on the map. The two of them make a good team. Josie wonders if Veronica isn't just treading water by managing a theater, when what she should be doing is making movies.
Archie returns home to find Uncle Frank reading his poem about his most personal pain. Frank is disappointed with Archie, accusing him of exploiting Fred's sacrifice. He exclaims that Archie won't sully his memory and rips up the poem, telling Archie never to write about his father like that again.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Special Guest Star[]Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
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Soundtrack[]
TBA
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the return of Josie McCoy since "Chapter Ninety-One: The Return of the Pussycats".
- This is the third episode to reference Josie through a cat. The others are "Chapter Six: Faster, Pussycats! Kill! Kill!" and "Chapter Ninety-One: The Return of the Pussycats".
- The title comes from Eartha Kitt's song I'm a Different Kind of Cat that Josie performs at The Dark Room.
- Veronica inspires Jughead to write about a "sexy teen witch."
- Since Veronica the Teenage Witch is too provocative and reminiscent of Veronica Lake, Al and Veronica suggest changes that lead to Sabrina The Teenage Witch, named after Audrey Hepburn's movie of the same name.
- The comics are drawn in the style of Dan DeCarlo.
- Chuck Clayton performed as Macbeth opposite Josie in New York City, and Alexander Cabot gets mentioned as a music scout by Fangs Fogarty.
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