| “ | Guys like us are just cannon fodder for scumbags like Hiram. That guy you pulled out of the building, Earl, he's one of us. A vet. Another grunt who got chewed up and spit out by corporate greed. Man, what the hell are we fighting for over there if this is what happens to us when we come home? | ” |
Eric Jackson is a recurring character on The CW's Riverdale. He is portrayed by Sommer Carbuccia.
Jackson is a corporal in the U.S. Army who arrived in Riverdale after being discharged and moved in with Archie, who he assisted with his many attempts to save Riverdale. However, after nearly being killed in the mine explosion, Eric decided to move back home.
Throughout Riverdale[]
Season 5[]
Recovering at the VA[]
Corporal Jackson awakens just at the VA Hospital just as Archie is preparing to leave for Riverdale. Archie looks over to Jackson and apologizes for his injuries, though he’s grateful to be alive, thanking Archie for rescuing him. Before parting ways, Archie gives Jackson his card and says to look him up once he checks out the hospital.[1]
Visiting Riverdale[]
Jackson declines Archie's offer to be a firefighter
Corporal Jackson shows up at Archie’s doorstep unexpectedly. He reveals that he signed up for therapeutic housing to transition back into civilian life. He figured he’d take Archie up on his previous offer before leaving. Archie brings Jackson to the Wyrm and introduces him to Kevin, Fangs, and the Serpents. Archie’s hoping to assemble a volunteer fire department to replace the one Hiram disbanded, however, Jackson, Kevin, and Fangs turn him down, as they know little to nothing about being a firefighting.
Jackson shows his leg to the RROTC cadets
Archie brings Jackson in to speak with his class. Corporal Jackson was a cavalry scout before being selected for sniper school. They ask what Archie was like in the army. Jackson shows them his fake leg, which he got from a grenade in the battle field. If not for Archie, he’d be dead. Archie is a man who never stops giving back. When Jackson mentions that Archie is attempting to revive the fire department, several of the cadets volunteer to help.
Day one of Riverdale’s volunteer fire academy has begun, led by Archie and Jackson, who has brought in Bernardo to train the volunteers. He reveals that the most important lesson they will ever learn is to always work as a team and to never run into a burning building alone. He then proceeds to train the volunteers through various exercises.
Jackson tells the story about how Archie tried to feed a rabid dog
Jackson tells Bernardo and the other volunteers about the time Archie tried to feed a stray dog outside one of their outposts. A homeless man enters the community center searching for refuge. Archie reveals that the community center has been resurrected as a volunteer fire department. Earl, the homeless man, says that they haven’t had a fire department in a long time and a lot of businesses have burned down because of it. Archie explains that he intends to change that.
While training the volunteers, Archie, Jackson, and Bernardo get word that the pool hall is burning down. They learn that Earl is trapped inside, and Archie goes rushing into the burning building after him.
Jackson and Sheriff Keller visit Archie in the hospital
Archie lies in a hospital bed with minor burns after rushing into the pool hall to save Earl. Jackson and Sheriff Keller sit at his bedside. Jackson reminds Archie that rule number one was to never go into a burning building alone. Archie inquires about the source of the fire. Tom suspects that the building was intentionally burned by Hiram. Jackson is upset to learn that Hiram is just another wealthy businessman looking to pad his pocket by bleeding the town dry. Jackson reveals to Archie that Earl is also a vet and that he was discarded like nothing after serving. Jackson questions what they were fighting for if they come home to madness.
Jackson plans to kill Hiram
Jackson is headed out with his rifle to confront Hiram when Archie returns home and stops him. He wants to make Hiram pay for Earl’s death. Archie orders Jackson to drop the rifle and slams him against the wall before explaining that killing Hiram is not worth ruining his life. Jackson replies that his life is already ruined. He lost his leg fighting in a war that didn’t matter. To make matters worse, they cancelled his slot at the VA home. Admittedly, Jackson is lost, as is Archie, who is only managing to maintain his sanity by pouring all his efforts into saving Riverdale. Jackson looks to Archie for answers as to what they should do next. For a start, Archie tells Jackson to stay in Riverdale and become the fire commander. They’ll figure out the rest along the way.
Later, he accompanies Archie to the community center, where Chief Russell agrees to join them, and Veronica brings a fire truck.[2]
Cheryl's Key Party[]
Eric, Veronica, and Archie take a pic
Eric and Archie are in the process of reconstructing the Pembrooke when Veronica returns home. She suggests taking a photo to document the journey and post to her social media. Veronica and Archie then get a message from Cheryl, calling them both to the Whyte Wyrm for drinks. Eric joins Archie at the Wyrm and inquires about his relationships with Betty and Veronica. He noticed Archie’s interactions with both. Archie insists that he and Betty are simply casual, whereas Veronica is married. Cheryl then gets up on top of the pool table and announces that she's hosting a key party.
Archie admits that Eric was right about his feelings for Veronica
Archie returns home the following morning and prepares breakfast for himself and Eric. Archie tells Eric how Betty called him over for emotional support as opposed to a booty call. It didn’t feel great, and Archie admits that Eric was right about his feelings towards Veronica.
Eric and Archie attend Cheryl's key party. The guests gather and Cheryl says that tonight’s key party is a bold rejection of death and reveals the house rules. Whatever happens must be completely consensual, and because they’re all a progressive, fluid, and inclusive group, there will be no redrawing of keys. Cheryl calls Eric up and he draws Minerva’s keys. She asks him how well he is at following orders and leads him away.[3]
Prison Break[]
General Taylor and Eric sit in on Archie's class
Eric and General Taylor sit in on Archie’s class with his cadets. When he asks them what they should do when issued an order they don’t necessarily believe in, General Taylor interrupts and says that they follow the orders. No questions asked. Archie replies that anyone is capable of making the wrong call, even a General.
Eric joins Archie and his Uncle Frank in the kitchen. Frank intends to stay with them for the time being while Archie’s mom talks to the parole board about how Frank helped them during the escape. If all goes well, he may be released.[4]
PTSD from War[]
Eric turns his gun on Archie
Eric's PTSD from war manifests as nightmares and flashbacks. One night, he grabs a rifle, breaks a window, and begins shouting commands. Archie approaches him and attempts to bring Eric back to reality. However, he knocks Archie to the ground and holds him at gunpoint until Frank intervenes and places Eric in a chokehold.
Eric and Archie return from the VA, disgruntled after waiting for six hours, though Eric is used to it. Frank calls them into the living room to reveal that he's brought home a dog.
Eric awakens Archie from his sleep after discovering that the dog is missing. Fortunately, Frank finds him in the bathroom.
The dog bites Eric
Archie returns home to find the new dog in attack mode, growling and barking at Eric and Frank. Eric took the dog for a walk, and they ran into a bigger dog, during which their dog freaked out and bit Eric's arm. Archie goes to call the shelter, but Frank begs him not to, revealing that this is all his fault as the woman at the shelter told him that based on his injuries, their dog was likely part of a dog fighting ring in Riverdale, which started popping up a few years ago, after everyone started moving away and leaving their pets behind.
Eric, Archie, and Fangs arrive at the ring leader's home
Eric and Archie learn from Fangs that there is indeed a dog fighting ring in Riverdale. Once a month, guys from as far north as Montreal meet at 1867 Dubois to bet on dogs. The address is where the ring leader lives, but the next set of dog fights aren't for another couple weeks. Fangs wants to loop in Sheriff Keller, but Archie refuses. Archie doesn't want the ring leader arrested, he wants him hurt. Eric reminds Archie that their objective is to rescue the dogs. Archie agrees, but he also intends to teach the ring leader as well. The three of them head over to the ring leader's home. Eric and Fangs free to the dogs while Archie drags the ring leader from his house and beats him with a set of brass knuckles until Eric and Fangs intervene.
Eric reveals that Bingo was a soldier
Eric and Archie return home. Archie heads upstairs, and Frank confronts Eric with his suspicion that they went after the dog fighter, which Eric admits is true. Frank wishes Archie wouldn't have done that, but he's not surprised after what happened to Bingo. However, Eric reveals that Bingo wasn't a dog, he was a soldier.
Eric and Frank arrange a pet adoption event at the community center for the dogs they rescued. Eric then decides to name their dog Bingo, hoping that it's not disrespectful to their fallen comrade.[5]
Digging for Palladium[]
Eric, Archie, and Frank agree to help Cheryl
Archie thanks Eric for recommending him to Dr. Winters, who is treating him with EMDR. Frank asks if Eric is also doing EMDR with her, but she has him on a drug regimen instead, and he claims that the side effects are nothing too serious. The vets then recieve an unexpected visit from Cheryl, who has discovered that the largest deposit of palladium in Riverdale sits beneath her family's maple groves, so now she needs Andrews Construction to open the mines and harvest the palladium before Hiram steals it. Archie initially turns her down given his lack of experience, but given Frank's experience, as he ran a crew in Alaska for a spell, Archie eventually agrees to help run the operation.
Eric, Archie, Frank, Fangs, Kevin, and Reggie begin immediately on the mining for palladium. However, Archie cuts out early after having hallucinations.
Eric tells Archie to keep seeing Dr. Winters
Archie returns home and warns Eric to stop seeing Dr. Winters, as she's dangerous. He claims that she's using them as guinea pigs. However, Eric has no plans to stop seeing her, and he doesn't think Archie should either, as he has more baggage than he lets on. Losing as many men as Archie did at war is not easy to cope with. Eric is glad it didn't break him.
While working in the mines, the guys are exposed to carbon monoxide and begin to hallucinate and have violent outburst, none worse than Eric, who chokes Frank while claiming he's a devil. Archie intervenes and knocks him out with a single punch.[6]
Manipulated by General Taylor[]
General Taylor is retiring with honors
Eric, Frank, and Archie discover in the morning paper that General Taylor is retiring with full honors, despite the fact that he sent them on a suicide mission. They recall that General Taylor was under investigation by a reporter from the Times. However, the editor informed Archie that her boss killed the story, as she lacked evidence. Eric suggests simply moving on, but Archie refuses.
Eric is reluctant to join Archie in his crusade against General Taylor, as the trial would reopen a lot of old wounds for the families of their fallen comrades. That said, Archie agrees not to go after the general without the approval of the families.
Eric reveals that Taylor pulled him to the side ahead of their mission and offered him a promotion
When Eric learns that Archie's going to call General Taylor out before a tribunal, Eric reveals that Taylor pulled him to the side ahead of their mission and offered him a promotion. All he would have to do is find a clear line of fire and take out the warlord. General Taylor said that the target was all that mattered, but Eric regrets not putting the platoon's safety first. And when Archie went out to call for support, Eric left their unit unprotected to carry out Taylor's order. Part of Eric believes that losing his leg was punishment for betraying their unit. However, Archie insists this isn't Eric's fault, as he was simply manipulated by the general.
Eric plans to testify
The next day, Eric decides to join Archie at the tribunal to back him up. He couldn't sleep last night, thinking that he left his brothers high and dry once, and he refuses to do it again, even agreeing to testify to Archie's claims.
Later that night, they get a call from the JAG officer, revealing that the tribunal has determined that Eric is not guilty of any wrongdoing and remains in good standing with the army. Frank then asks about Taylor, whose actions were determined to be reckless and of poor judgment. He's been discharged without honor. To celebrate, the three of them go to the Wyrm.[7]
Trapped in the Mines[]
Eric is buried
Eric and Archie are trapped in the mines when Hiram set off explosives to get back at Veronica. Archie finds Eric buried under a pile of rubble. He warns Eric to take shallow breaths and conserve as much oxygen as possible.
Archie attempts to dig his way out, but the rocks are heavy, and he is low on oxygen, not to mention that Eric is wounded from the collapse. Archie says that he has no idea how they're going to get out, but he ultimately manages to make his way out and exits the mines with Eric on his shoulders.[8]
According to Archie, Eric moved back home after recovering from the mine collapse.[9]
Physical Appearance[]
Corporal Jackson has brown eyes, fair skin, and a shaven head. Due to injuries sustained at war, Jackson is without his right leg.
Appearances[]
Season 5[]
- "Chapter Eighty: Purgatorio"
- "Chapter Eighty-Three: Fire in the Sky"
- "Chapter Eighty-Four: Lock & Key"
- "Chapter Eighty-Six: The Pincushion Man"
- "Chapter Eighty-Nine: Reservoir Dogs"
- "Chapter Ninety: The Night Gallery"
- "Chapter Ninety-Two: Band of Brothers"
- "Chapter Ninety-Three: Dance of Death"
- "Chapter Ninety-Five: Riverdale: RIP(?)" (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Corporal Jackson is not a character from the Archie Comics. He's an original character, created specifically for the series.
Gallery[]
- See also: Category:Images of Eric Jackson
