| “ | The year is 1955, and nothing like this had ever happened in Riverdale. One of our own, Ethel Muggs, had stumbled into the sock hop, covered in, we would soon find out, her parents' blood. Both were dead, stabbed multiple times. | ” |
— Jughead
| ||
"Chapter One Hundred and Twenty: Sex Education" is the third episode of the seventh season of Riverdale and the one hundredth and twentieth episode of the series overall. It premiered on April 12, 2023.
Synopsis[]
THE BIRDS AND THE BEES — After a lesson in sex education leaves the gang more confused than ever, Veronica decides to organize a make-out party at the Pembrooke. Elsewhere, Jughead attempts to help Ethel out of some trouble only to find himself in hot water as well.[2]
Plot[]
Ethel is questioned
In the wake of the brutal murders of Ethel's parents, who have been stabbed multiple times, Ethel, still covered in their blood, is taken to the sheriff station, where she is questioned by Sheriff Keller and Principal Featherhead. She claims that the milkman killed her parents, but as Betty reminds them, Willie is 70 years old. With this in mind, Sheriff Keller will contact him tomorrow after he's done his deliveries.
Feeling sympathetic for Ethel, who has nowhere else to go, Alice brings her home, much to Hal's dismay, telling Alice to think about how this will affect Betty. Alice retorts that all she ever does is think about the well-being of the family, which is more than she can say for Hal.
Betty comforts Ethel
Betty makes up Polly's old room for Ethel. She brings her some fresh towels and says for Ethel to come find her if she needs anything. Ethel doesn't know what else the police want her to say. It's almost like they suspect her as the culprit. Betty asks if she has an alibi or witness to the crime, but unfortunately, she was alone. Betty gives her condolences and tells Ethel to rest and that they're there for her.
At Thornhill, Penelope comes across a painting of Cheryl's, depicting a half naked woman. So she encourages Cheryl to find a boyfriend. After Cheryl storms off, Penelope instructs Julian to find a nice, normal boy at school for Cheryl to date, as she's worried that Cheryl is developing unnatural proclivities.
Veronica asks Archie out
Veronica approaches Archie in the hall at school, recalling the final moments at the sock hop with Ethel. She asks if Archie knows her, but he doesn't, as she tends to keep to herself. Pivoting to her and Archie's relationship, Veronica suggests they try again, but he doesn't think they're a good match. Admittedly, she's too much of a handful for him.
Principal Featherhead and Dr. Werthers discuss how they're going to address the murder of Ethel's parents. Dr. Werthers believes the best course of action it to carry on with the week's pre-approved lesson plans, with Ms. Bell confirming that the juniors are scheduled to have their PTA-approved sexual education lesson, which Dr. Werthers offer to give himself.
Julian tells Archie to ask out Cheryl
Julian tells Archie that it's probably for the best that things didn't work out for him and Veronica, as Cheryl is available. While she's gorgeous, Cheryl has always been a bit standoffish, and Archie's never even seen her with a boyfriend, to which Julian retorts that all her previous boyfriends have been college guys and that girls who like older men are a lot more open-minded than most high school girls.
Toni invites Cheryl to the Dark Room
Toni invites Cheryl to the Dark Room, where she'll be putting on a performance, however, Cheryl claims that she isn't interested. Lizzo finds humor in Toni's defeat and constant urge to go after straight-laced square girls. She remarks that there's no future between Toni and Cheryl, and offers herself to Toni, but she's not interested in a territorial high school dropout.
Kevin hides from Betty in the music room, where he runs into Clay, who invites him to an open mic at the Dark Room.
Archie asks Cheryl out to see The Seven Year Itch with him at the Babylonium, but she's already seen it and found the film overrated. However, Cheryl recalls being invited to the poetry reading at the Dark Room and asks Archie to escort her.
Julian invites Veronica to the Babylonium to see The Seven Year Itch. When she turns him down, he tells her that Archie is going with Cheryl to a poetry reading at the Dark Room, leading Veronica into wanting to attend.
Jughead agrees to help Ethel
As Sheriff Keller walks milkman Willie out, Jughead sneaks into his office to speak with Ethel, who says that the milkman didn't kill her parents, or at the very least it wasn't Willie. She's scared and fears that she will soon become a suspect, reminding Jughead of the pretend comic covers she's always drawing, specifically the meat grinder cover, in which she's shoving her parents' dismembered body parts into a meat grinder. It was a goof, but she believes Sheriff Keller will find it and misinterprets it. It's currently in her hope chest, which Jughead offers to recover.
Betty finds Ethel's book
Before Betty leaves for the Dark Room poetry reading, Alice tells her to head over to Ethel's to bring her back another change of clothes. Unbeknownst to Betty, Jughead has arrived first. He enters Ethel's room and finds her meat grinder drawing, along with the Pit of Perverse comic. Upon Betty's arrival, Jughead sneaks out the window. Betty then enters Ethel's room, and while grabbing some clothes, she finds a book titled Human Sexuality.
Jughead hides Ethel's story under his bed
Jughead has finally realized why Ethel's milkman story sounded so familiar. It reminded him of the Pit of Perverse comic that Pep Comics had published about a lunatic who escaped from an insane asylum, dressed up as the town milkman and began murdering people. Surely it was a coincidence, but it wouldn't look good for Ethel to be caught with it, so Jughead hides it under this bed.
Toni performs at the Dark Room
Archie, Cheryl, Betty, Kevin, Veronica and Julian attend the poetry reading at the Dark Room, where Clay performs first, but Betty and Archie are rather unimpressed. Toni then takes the stage and recites her poem about the immoral Aphrodite whilst performing a dance to match, which evokes an uncontrollable lust in Cheryl, who flees the Dark Room shortly after Toni's performance.
Betty and Archie sex dream
Archie walks Cheryl to her door, where she kisses him and asks him to walk her to school tomorrow. She then heads inside, where she proceeds to cry. Meanwhile, Betty begins reading Ethel's Human sexuality book. All throughout town, the young residents of Riverdale have powerful sex dreams of one another — Betty with Kevin, Archie with Cheryl, and then Veronica. Cheryl with Toni, Kevin with Clay, and lastly Betty with Archie.
Cheryl and Archie dating
The following day, Betty and Kevin reminisce about the previous night in the Dark Room. Kevin can't stop thinking about Clay's poem, whilst Betty is still reeling from Toni's dance, remarking that it was pretty sexy. Just as she says how jaw dropping it was, Archie walks into school with Cheryl, much to Betty and Veronica's disbelief.
As planned, Dr. Werthers gives the sexual education lecture. Before answering any questions, he shows them a diagram of plant reproduction, whose sole function is pollination/reproduction.
Veronica intends to host a make-out party
Betty reveals that she got her hands on a copy of Kingsley's Guide to Human Sexuality and how informative it has been. If they truly it want to learn about sex, Veronica says they have to stop talking about it and start doing it, informing the gang of her intentions to host a make-out party. They're all invited, but Jughead declines, reasoning that he's a germaphobe. She looks over to Archie and says that nothing will ever be the same again.
Betty's a bit nervous about the make-out party
Betty's a bit nervous about the make-out party, but Veronica informs her that it essentially boils down to boys thinking they're in charge, but it's all about the girl's pleasure. Given Betty and Kevin's inability to connect on a romantic level, Veronica advises her to be as direct as possible for Kevin. She botched her chance with Archie, but she will make her desires crystal clear at the party. Unbeknownst to Veronica, Cheryl has overheard their entire conversation and barges out of the stall.
Cheryl tells Toni to leave her alone
While leaving school, Cheryl is approached by Toni, who asks if she enjoyed her performance last night. Cheryl claims that it was a bit avant-garde for her sensibilities. She then reveals that she and Archie are going steady, though Toni doesn't seem convinced and says that Cheryl doesn't have to go to a make-out party to pretend to be someone she's not. Cheryl insists that she's not pretending and says that Toni is worse than her mother.
Betty wants to talk to Kevin about the make-out party. He wants to ditch it, but Betty insists that they go. He claims to love her, and this is his chance to prove it.
Jughead denies breaking into Ethel's place
Jughead is called into the Principal Featherhead's office, where Sheriff Keller questions if he broke into Ethel's house yesterday, because a neighbor reported someone matching Jughead's description exiting a window. Dr. Werthers refers to Jughead as a loner, much like Ethel, and asks if they're dating. Jughead claims they're just friends. Nevertheless, Keller and Werthers suspects that Jughead may be protecting her, but Jughead insists that he wasn't at Ethel's house and that he's not a loner, as they claim. In fact, he's going to a party tonight, but Dr. Werthers isn't convinced.
Kevin in the locker room with Clay
Kevin crosses paths with Clay in the locker room, where he can't help but notice his bare upper body wrapped in nothing but a towel. He asks if Clay is going to the make out-party, but he's not, revealing to Kevin that he likes boys. Most people don't know that about him, and Clay trusts Kevin to keep this to himself.
Archie asks Betty if he can read her sex book to brush up before the make-out party. He thinks he understands it after a read but wonders how to initiate such an exchange. Betty coaches him through a scenario, which results in Archie getting a bit too excited and exiting hastily.
Make-out party
As planned, Archie and the gang attend the make-out party at the Pembrooke, where Veronica has planned a warm-up game of "Post Office." Each boy is holding an envelope with a number, which corresponds to one of the girls. They must deliver that envelope to the girl along with a kiss. Fangs kicks off the game by kissing a reluctant Cheryl, who flinches at the last moment and only allows Fangs to kiss her on the cheek. Kevin follows up Fangs with an awkward kiss with Midge, who has to forcefully hold his head still. Jughead is up next and kisses Betty, whom he first greets. Archie follows up Jughead and shares a passionate kiss with Veronica, much to Julian's dismay, who then kisses Toni, which doesn't go unnoticed by Cheryl. Now that they've all kissed, it's time to pair off. Cheryl sneaks off with Archie, whilst Betty and Kevin, and Midge and Fangs follow their lead. Julian hopes to lead Veronica back into her room, but she surprisingly chooses Jughead instead, referring to him as Holden Caulfield, leaving Julian and Toni, who, rather than hooking up, head home early.
Alice informs Hal that she's called Social Services and that Ethel is going back to school tomorrow, for which he thanks Alice.
Jughead and Veronica get to knowing each other
Alone with Veronica in the living room, Jughead confesses that the only reason he decided to attend her party was because he doesn't want people thinking he's a miscreant that helped Ethel murdered her parents. Veronica assures Jughead he can relax, as she just needed someone to help her get away from Julian. He then asks her about her Holden Caulfield reference, given that not many people in town can name-drop literary anti-heroes. Veronica admits to doing a bit of reading herself and then asks Jughead who is he dating, to which he replies that he doesn't have time for dating, as they're too many comics to read, burgers to eat, and monster movies to watch. Veronica, too, likes monster movies and offers to tell Jughead her favorite movie if he tells her his. To their surprise, their favorite movie is Creature from the Black Lagoon, with Jughead comparing her to Julie Adams.
Whilst alone in one of the rooms, Betty grabs Kevin's thigh and jumps on his lap, at which point, they proceed to kiss, but given his lackluster reaction, especially in comparison to Archie's, she can tell that he's not excited or aroused. Kevin proposes they keep kissing, but Betty fears he's not truly interested.
Archie and Cheryl make out in the den
Meanwhile, Archie and Cheryl are making out in the den, where she encourages Archie to move his hand higher, but not too high. He's admittedly excited, but also nervous given that she's far more experienced given her past with college guys, which Cheryl says isn't true despite her brother's claims. Archie reveals that Julian is the one who suggested he even ask Cheryl out. Cheryl reveals that she's never been with any guy, but she pushes Archie on his back, climbs on top of him, and says they can figure it out together.
The following day, Betty writes in her diary that the make out-party was unsurprisingly a disaster. She wants Kevin to desire her, as Archie seemingly did. She's not sure how much more of this she can take, insisting that something change.
Cheryl reveals she and Archie had sex
Penelope asks for an update with Cheryl, to which Julian reveals that he set her up with Archie and that they're going steady. Just as she congratulates Julian for a job well down, Cheryl enters the dining room, flaunting a hickey on her neck and revealing that Archie "pinned" her last night.
Betty confronts Kevin at school and hands him the Guide to Human Sexuality. She instructs him to think of it as his own sex education and that it's time to start cramming for finals.
Toni tells Veronica that she likes someone
Toni tells Veronica that her party was fun, but the reason she had to cut out early is because she's playing the long game, though she doesn't reveal it's Cheryl who she's pursuing. As for Veronica's night, she and Jughead spent the entire time talking. Toni questions if she's making a play for Jughead, to which Veronica replies that she's not ruling it out.
Jughead and Ethel are called into the principal's office
Jughead arrives at Riverdale High with Ethel in tow, though the entire school is looking at her as if she's a murderer. Jughead assures her that it will eventually blow over once they found the real killer and to take it slow for the time being. However, the two of them are then called to Principal Featherhead's office, where Sheriff Keller reveals that they searched his train car after he left for school this morning, where they found his graphic comics, as well as Ethel's meat grinder drawing stuffed under his mattress.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
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Soundtrack[]
- Gene Summers - Taboo
- Helen Humes and Her Orchestra - Woojamacooja
- Scene: Toni invites Cheryl to the Dark Room.
- Tab Hunter - I Wish I Didn't Love You So
- The Teen-Clefs - Hiding My Tears With A Smile
- Scene: Archie escorts Cheryl to her door.
- Jayne Mansfield - Little Things Mean A Lot
- Scene: Archie and Cheryl hold hands and walk down the hall at school.
- Jerry Fuller - A Certain Smile
- Scene: Betty shows Archie what might happen on his date.
- Jack McVea and His Orchestra - Taquila Hop
- Scene: Post Office kissing game at Veronica's make-out party.
- The Pied Pipers - Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet
- Al Hazan - I Don't Want Your Kisses
- Scene: Veronica and Jughead bond at her make-out party.
- Bobbie and The Boys - To Tell the Truth
- Scene: Betty tries to get Kevin to have sex.
- Roy Milton Orchestra with Mickey Champion - I'm A Woman
- Scene: Archie and Cheryl kiss.
- Jack McVea and His Orchestra with Christine Chatman - Hoo Doo You Baby
- Scene: Betty gazes longingly at Archie through her window.
Trivia[]
- The episode title comes from Sex Education, a 2019 British comedy-drama on Netflix. Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa teased it on social media as "Sex Education, 1950s style..." [3]
- The book Betty finds in Ethel's drawer, Kingsley's Guide to Human Sexuality by Alfred Kingsley is a play on Alfred Kinsey's Kinsey Reports.
- Jughead and Veronica share the same favorite horror film, Creature from the Black Lagoon. They both agree that Veronica looks like Julie Adams.
- The episode makes several callbacks to previous seasons.
- Veronica calls Jughead 'Holden Caulfield', the protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger. She did this is "Chapter Seven: In a Lonely Place".
- Cheryl surprise kissed Archie outside Thornhill after a date in "Chapter Nine: La Grande Illusion".
- Make-out parties happened after the semi formal in "Chapter One: The River's Edge", and a key party in "Chapter Eighty-Four: Lock & Key".
- Jughead and Betty awkwardly familiar kiss despite being strangers in 1955 is a nod to them having been in a relationship once.
Gallery[]
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