RIVERDALE: “Chapter-Fifty: American Dreams” (S3E15): The Illusion Of The American Dream

The American Dream is the goal of all Americans, each one of us with the same basis of its foundation, only deviating slightly from the norm. We want money, a home, and family. Security and the chance to change one’s station. For Riverdale, it is a frame used to shape the illusion of Gladys (Gina Gershon) attempting the dream, its cover hiding from preying eyes her attempt to restart the drug trade (the “candy shoppe”) in Riverdale.

As her talons sink further into power and security in Riverdale, many will miss the stronghold she has forming, as they are distracted by their own lives that seem to be finding their own turmoil in the crossroads they now face.

Lovers Rock is far from solid

Riverdale is forever in a constant state of change. Relationships are built down and constantly altered. “American Dreams” was no exception, with the newly formed couple of Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Reggie (Charles Melton) and fan favorites Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and Toni (Vanessa Morgan) finding that together they may not be on the same path or have the same expectations.

Cheryl and Toni seemed to be heading for rocky territory for the last few episodes. The murky waters of personality and control blinding them to see the strength their relationship was built on. The catalyst one could say was their expulsion from the Serpents, the loss of identity for Toni giving Cheryl the need to protect and care for her. Cheryl was then able to guide, Toni falling under her wing of control and decision making. Yet, with the introduction of the Pretty Poisons, Toni has found a new identity and form of individuality. She does not want to take what is not hers and does not want to relinquish her newfound leadership. Cheryl, at the root of it all, just wants to feel as though she still matters. While there are each striving for their own goals, they lose a sense of each other.

Veronica and Reggie have displayed a solid loyalty to one another over the last few episodes; however, more in a financial and business sense rather than romantic. This off-kilter relationship finally found its own value in each of the characters, their desires and ambitions unaligned with one another. What had made them strong has now weakened them – a vulnerability Veronica cannot afford to showcase. At Veronica’s side through the entire tumultuous opening of the La Bonne Nuit, Reggie now asks that their business relationship grow, requesting Veronica make him a partner. Veronica, ever the Lodge, is not ready to hand over a share to another individual, bound to them through legality. Though the question is, in a moment of true transparency, which will finally show their true colors, and which has always been truly honest.

Alice (Mädchen Amick) too, who has found her destiny following her baptism with The Farm, displays her final crossroads on the journey to full devotion. She has given everything, the latest her home to an anonymous buyer, who turns out to be the Gladys Jones. While she is ready to part with the material in her life, there is still one person holding her back emotionally – F.P. Jones. She is okay with Gladys buying the house, but not with F.P. returning to her as a husband. F.P. is the last thing Alice is clinging to, the one thing that was her connection outside of The Farm. Whether it was her decision or not, the relationship between her and F.P. needs a path chosen.

“Kill the Red Paladin”

While Gryphons and Gargoyles may be far from over with its players in Riverdale, the players have learned to outwit the game master. The Red Paladin challenge, one that had found Archie (KJ Apa) at home last episode in the form of a small boy with a knife, has become the primary concern for Archie, Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Jughead (Cole Sprouse), ending it and protecting Archie from further unseen evils waiting for the right moment to strike. Realizing that there are more cards in play than just the one Warden Norton had, Archie reaches out to Hiram (Mark Consuelos) to ask if he was the one behind the making of the cards and how many were in play. With Hiram’s help, Archie discovers there are 12 cards in play, and with game master Jughead at his side, realigning the constraints of the quest suddenly work to their benefit. It is not an easy end to the challenge, but a satisfying one, especially as this storyline has gone on for some time.

To note, it is interesting that Hiram mentioned he had 12 cards made specially for the game, with the intent of targeting Archie. Interesting not for the fact that Archie was being targeted, but more so as last week Hiram was entertaining a potential client for the prison. Trying to entice the business of a man, whose name was not revealed, who headed the manufacturing of playing cards – a potential 1 million dollar client I might add. While his schmoozing may have been disrupted by Veronica kicking her father and Gladys out of the La Bonne Nuit, for the partnership in question it is interesting to note the coincidence these small details reveal. Though with Riverdale, it is not all coincidence.

It was also really great to see Jughead, Betty and Archie reunited, fighting for a common goal. Friends since childhood, the bond between them showcased as pure and resilient as ever. While we NEED to have Veronica fall back into the fold, there was a raw image the three characters working together created, a bond from childhood showcasing the deepest roots that no one could ever unearth.

Keeping up with the Joneses

Can you keep up with the Joneses? Well someone needs to. As Gladys seems to be making plays every episode in her attempt to take over the town and restart the drug trade, it seems the deeper she digs in, the harder it will be to get rid of her. While she had begun in the last week by bringing the gargoyles into the Serpent gang, she has expanded to ensnaring herself a sheriff and an image. She has made her husband feel as though he has everything – a wife, kids, a job that can support them all, and finally a home on the North Side. He has done what everyone dreams they can achieve – the American Dream. And his presumed achievement of the American Dream gives her a clean image.

When Jughead finds out what Gladys is up to, he is faced with tearing down his father’s current mental and psychological image of success. He does not know yet how deep her influences go, thinking his sister, who is in on the game, needs protection, but he is in for a rude awakening. And as he has decided to leave his father out of it to prevent his fall from sobriety, deciding to bring his mother down on his own, the battle may shape up to be more difficult than he thinks.

At a Crossroad

Promoted as a crossroads between Cheryl and Toni, “American Dreams” was really an episode featuring a crossroads for everyone. Veronica and Reggie, Hiram and Archie, Archie and the game, FP Jones and Alice, Jughead and Gladys – crossroads whose decisions may drastically change the landscape of the series and the interactions of characters going forward. There was much to take in this week, a variety of pieces setting themselves up for what could shape up to be a satisfying season finale, as well as the setup for season 4.