Riverdale Queer Watch season 5 episode 17: Parental guidance

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 episode saw Cheryl attempt to perform three miracles in order to become a saint with the help of Kevin’s sideshow magic tricks. While Cheryl was not canonized, she did start to go through a proper religious experience, or so she said. Let’s dive into this week’s episode.

Riverdale Queer Watch:  The Serpent family unit

Now that Toni’s back, we’re getting some really great queer content on Riverdale again, and great stuff in general. With baby Anthony’s safe arrival, Toni and Kevin are experiencing the big life questions all first-time parents do, namely, Can we do this?

This is underpinned by one of Toni’s students, Britta, coming out to her, and asking Toni to help her come out to her parents. Toni happily agrees to support her, but it doesn’t go well.

Toni and Kevin sweetly talk through their baby’s future as he rubs her feet and they recall their own coming outs (comings out?). We know Toni had a bumpy road with her Nana and Fangs said his family didn’t take him being bi well, either.

Sidebar: Did we know before that Fangs was bi? Because now I just might be shipping him and Toni.

And then all hell breaks loose when Betty and Jughead’s Lonely Highway Killer investigation converges with Toni when Britta goes missing. Toni wants to go on a raid with Betty, Jughead, and Tabita to find her, but Fangs insists he goes, too, since they’re partners now.

The end results of the raid itself are pretty violent and upsetting, but Toni and Fangs both manage to have some pretty badass moments. Questionable parenting? Maybe. But it’s all par for the course in Riverdale.

Riverdale Queer Watch: Mother Gaia

As Cheryl falls deeper into the hole of her made-up religion, Kevin asks what exactly they’re praying to, a question she can’t answer. After a cleanse, she determines they’re praying to the elements, Mother Gaia, nature herself–isn’t this just witchcraft?

But Kev, thankfully, has finally learned the warning signs of a cult and backs out. This is one bridge too far.

It still isn’t clear what exactly is happening with Cheryl as Archie and Eric get trapped in her mines thanks to another one of Hiram’s dastardly plans. She calls on the elements and they get out, implying that maybe Cheryl does have some sort of abilities…

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