Riverdale Queer Watch season 5 episode 12: Moose, is that you?

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 last week’s capsule episode following the origin story of Hiram Lodge, we finally got back into some classic Riverdale storytelling, including catching up with what exactly happened to Kevin and Fangs.

Riverdale queer watch:  Kevin’s rude awakening

In an attempt to recruit members to her new church (cult?–more on that later), Cheryl caught up with Kevin and the two chatted about his relationship with Fangs and her role in the mess.

Though we had never really seen a clear resolution with them, apparently Kevin and Fangs did call it quits, sending Kevin back to cruising in the woods, even though he still wanted to be with Fangs, just not married to him.

Cheryl encourages Kevin to try one more time, because then at least he’ll know he’s done everything he can to fix things, and she definitely isn’t talking about her and Toni.

So Kevin knocks on Fangs’ door and begins the heartfelt romantic speech, completely missing every red flag (like the hundreds of burning candles) that there’s someone inside with him.

Lo, and behold–it’s Moose, looking beefy and dad bodded up with his luscious quarantine hair and beard. Poor Moose is as confused as Kevin, standing there with a baguette as Fangs tries to explain that nothing is happening.

But, of course, something is very much happening. They’re dating because there are only three gay men in all of Riverdale, and Kevin is rightly traumatized, though he ultimately gives Fangs his blessing.

Kevin’s storyline this week seemed to hint at a deeper core for his character and please let it actually play out. As he met up with Cheryl after, he explained that while it was hard to see Moose and Fangs together, the whole thing was really just more indicative of his being stuck in life and in Riverdale.

Kevin’s quarter-life crisis is highly relatable and also will hopefully tie back into the emotional depths we saw for his character that led to his breakup with Fangs in the first place. But considering how the episode ended, that’s unlikely…

Riverdale queer watch:  Cheryl’s sermon

With Toni still on maternity leave, Cheryl is officially a holy roller and has recruited Kevin to the cause. After he expressed resentment at being a high school theatre teacher (even after winning teacher of the year), Cheryl offered him a role with her church choir–because that will somehow bring more fulfillment?

The Blossoms’ church scheme feels like a rehash of The Farm storyline, and we know how easily Kevin was seduced by that. Seeing Cheryl with the power of the pulpit could certainly be interesting. But when Toni finally returns, Cheryl will likely have a difficult choice to make.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Riverdale? Tell us in the comments below!