Welcome to Riverdale Queer Watch, where we look out for the LGBTQ+ folks on The CW’s Riverdale each week. Whether it’s a snuff film or prom night, we’re watching.
Last week’s Riverdale saw the illustrious Cheryl Blossom finally leave Thornhill after locking herself way to paint and silently cry for the last seven years. When she learned her former love, Toni, had resurrected the River Vixens, Cheryl was finally driven to act in the new era of Riverdale.
The show’s time jump seems to be having its cake and eating it, too, by keeping Archie and the gang in high school while having them be adult-aged.
As a result, it’s now perfectly normal on Riverdale to see 25-year-old Cheryl Blossom proposing a dance-off a la Bring It On to fight for her “HBIC” (i.e. Cheer Captain) role against Toni for the River Vixens.
Toni delivers a hard truth
A pregnant and generally “above all of this” Toni was nonplussed, leaving Cheryl to bust her best moves against a proxy likely 10 years younger than her. In case you’re wondering, Cheryl, yes, this is sad.
But Cheryl didn’t have to wonder for much longer. After practice, Toni gave her a harsh “come to Jesus” about her role in the current landscape of Riverdale. While Cheryl pouted and said that she had done a lot by helping to fund the school, Toni wisely pointed out that not all problems can be solved with money and that she needed to step up.
To say the least, Cheryl didn’t take it well. It’s frustrating to see where the arc with her character is going this season. Toni is absolutely right that Cheryl needs to be more active in Riverdale’s future. (She’s literally the only one of her friends not working or involved with the high school.)
But Toni shouldn’t have to knock sense into Cheryl, especially because Cheryl’s emotional state makes so little sense. In the closing moments of the episode, Cheryl’s art forgery scam came undone, too, so perhaps the episode will mark a turning point for her this season.
Fingers crossed because I’m not sure how much more self-pity I can take from the maple syrup maven.
What did you think about Cheryl and Toni’s confrontation this week? Tell us in the comments below!