Riverdale Queer Watch season 5 episode 11: Can I get an amen?

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.

After a months-long hiatus, Riverdale is finally back with an episode that was all over the place – or, in other words, completely on-brand.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of queer content in this week’s episode as the story mostly focused on Archie and Veronica rounding up escaped convicts and Betty and Tabitha searching for a missing Jughead, but we can still examine what we saw of our favorite characters.

Riverdale queer watch: Kevin and Fangs

When we last saw these high school sweethearts, they were in a rocky place. After preparing to get married and raise Toni’s baby together, Kevin admitted he was afraid of the commitment.

While Cheryl ushered in their demise due to her jealousy, she eventually tried to get the two back together, but as of now, we don’t really know where the couple stands with their engagement or Toni.

This week’s episode saw Kevin and Fangs unite to rescue Sheriff Keller from a gang of escaped convicts. While it was nice to see them work together, it was fully unclear whether they are simply on good terms or actually together.

Riverdale queer watch: Cheryl

In keeping with her story this season, Cheryl stayed out of the main drama this week, and instead welcomed home her long-departed criminal mother, Penelope, who has now seen the light and started a church devoted to Cheryl’s murdered brother, Jason.

While Cheryl was skeptical at first, in a random musical number (truly the gayest moment of the episode) she saw Jason and felt called to join her mother’s movement.

It’ll be interesting to see where this takes Cheryl the rest of the season, particularly with Toni and her baby. We’ll have to tune in to find out what happens next.

What did you think of Riverdale’s midseason premiere? Tell us in the comments below!