Riverdale season 4: 5 most bonkers moments from Fast Times at Riverdale High

Riverdale goes back to school for a wild senior year, and Cheryl’s already made a new enemy. Plus, Jughead transfers and Veronica performs All That Jazz.

After two seasons of dark mysteries complete with serial killings and haunting gargoyles, Riverdale wades back into the lighter side of the teen drama genre. Following the tribute to Luke Perry in the premiere, season 4’s second episode heads back to school for the gang’s senior year, and free of the threat of the murder and monsters, it’s the most energized the series has felt since its first season.

“Fast Times at Riverdale High” finds the crew grappling with the threat of the future while still living with the demons of high school. Archie’s return to football uncovers Reggie’s struggles at home, Veronica gives us another musical moment and Betty goes full FBI-lite.

Meanwhile, Jughead’s transfer to a new school could shine a light on the season’s mystery. Let’s break down the start of senior year with the craziest moments from the latest episode.

1. Jughead goes to prep school

It was only a matter of time before Jughead rubbed elbows with scholars. When Stonewall Prep’s headmaster, Mr. Chipping (guest star Sam Witwer), takes notice of Jughead’s writing, he recruits Riverdale’s resident writer to join the elite school. How else will he finally get this novel published and turned into a movie?

He’s hesitant at first, but after some pressing from FP and Betty, Jughead jumps ship to the prep school to talk Moby-Dick with privileged students in challenging salons. (Although, that discussion would have Rory Gilmore drifting off to sleep.) Incidentally, FP briefly mentions an MIA Forsythe the First, and by spring break, Jughead’s the one MIA. A connection?

2. Cheryl declares war on Mr. Honey

Day one of senior year, and Cheryl’s already drawing lines in the sand. This is why she’s our problematic fave. As student body president, Cheryl thinks she runs the show, but Riverdale High’s new principal, Mr. Honey (guest star Kerr Smith, another yesteryear teen drama veteran), isn’t having what she’s serving.

He cancels her kickoff dance, which prompts Cheryl to throw a rager at Thistlehouse. When FP arrives to break up the party, he informs her Honey was the rat. The next day at school, he finds an active beehive on his desk. Game, set, match. Oh, and Cheryl’s still talking to her dead twin brother’s corpse… so, that’s normal.

3. Reggie destroys his dad’s car

And guess what? He had it coming! Last season, Reggie’s dad physically abused him and no one caused even remotely a fraction of a stir. Thankfully, Riverdale circled back to this story to give it the attention it should have been paid. But… it ended on a weird note. Should we have expected anything less?

Reggie’s dad screams at him from the sidelines of football practice when he so much as fumbles the ball. First of all, to quote Demi Lovato, “Get a job! Stay away from her!” When Archie gets involved, Reggie takes out his jealousy of Mad Dog and shame about his dad’s abuse out on his friend. Archie later accompanies Reggie to attack his father’s car with a baseball bat, which Reggie claims opened up a conversation with his dad. Do we believe his story?

4. Veronica makes a statement

Somehow, the paparazzi hounds Veronica like she’s Paris Hilton in 2007. They show up at school and outside of her hotel room, begging the question: Who are the gatekeepers allowing photographers and reporters to stalk a supposed minor? Nevertheless, when a story in a tabloid alleges she’s responsible for Hiram’s crimes, she must take either her father or her mother’s side, both of whom are rotting behind bars.

After a gratuitous but incredible performance of “All That Jazz” at La Bonne Nuit, she holds a press conference and announces she stands only for herself. Who else would perform show tunes at an underground speakeasy before addressing the public regarding a headline-grabbing scandal?  Veronica Lodge (make that Gomez): feminist icon, queen of pop, future Harvard grad.

5. Betty plays detective with Charles and Kevin

Even though Charles isn’t too concerned about Alice being off the grid, Betty’s Scooby ear are at attention. She talks to Kevin at school, who applies for the Blue & Gold and apologizes for falling under Edgar’s spell. (“You mean when you dragged me by my ankles to get a lobotomy?” Greatest. Line. EVER.) But when she peeks at Charles’ files, she learns he’s tracking Kevin.

Before long, she’s developing Kevin as an asset into the investigation thanks to his continued communication with Fangs. Betty drops false information about the case on Kevin, and he quickly meets Fangs in the woods to spill. However, he vehemently swears he’s no longer loyal to The Farm and simply misses Fangs. Betty believes him and trusts him with more information, which proves successful when Fangs hands over The Farm’s location on a silver platter. Edgar’s armed and ready to fight.

What did you think of the latest episode? Sound off in the comments!

Riverdale airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.