Riverdale – Chapter One Hundred Twenty: Sex Education

As Ethel (Shannon Purser) ended the sock hop by entering the gym covered in the blood of her parents, she has now become the prime suspect in their murder. But Ethel’s story seems quite far-fetched, especially when she claims to have seen a man dressed as a milkman snuff out her parents. When Sheriff Keller (Martin Cummins) realizes that there is no other lead, they halt the investigation for the night. Later, Alice (Mädchen Amick) convinces Hal (Lochlyn Munro) to have Ethel come stay at the Cooper residence for the time-being. Helping set up Polly’s old room for Ethel, Betty (Lili Reinhart) offers to help however she can. 

Meanwhile, at the Blossom residence Penelope (Nathalie Boltt) becomes unnerved by a painting of a pinup that Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) had done. At breakfast, Penelope questions Cheryl and is met with claims that it is Cheryl’s homework. Not satisfied with Cheryl’s answer, Penelope turns to Julian (Nicholas Barasch) to have him try and set Cheryl up with a boy from Riverdale High. 

At Riverdale High we see Veronica (Camila Mendes) decide to take the high road and approach Archie (KJ Apa) for a bit of small talk. Still smarting from being rebuffed last night at the sock hop, Veronica hopes to make amends and start over with Archie. However, Archie tells Veronica that he feels she is too much for him and rejects further advances. Later in the locker room, Julian uses the opportunity to get Archie out of the picture so he can pursue Veronica sans competition. Remembering his mother’s words that morning, Julian tells Archie that he should try asking out Cheryl instead and spins a story about Cheryl’s prior dalliances with college boys to pique Archie’s interest.  

Still deciding on how to handle Ethel’s plight, Dr. Werthers (Malcolm Stewart) and Principal Featherhead (William MacDonald) try to forge ahead with the health class topic of the week: sex education. Dr. Werthers makes the decision to lead the class himself, feeling that his expertise is just the thing that Riverdale High needs to put the sock hop behind them. Featherhead backs him on this decision.  

With an open mic night coming up at The Dark Room, Toni (Vanessa Morgan) takes the chance to invite Cheryl to come see her performance. Cheryl rebuffs the invite and walks away, but Toni is not deterred. Even when fellow serpent Lizzo (Alyssa Watanatâhk) tries to offer herself up, Toni has no interest in anyone but Cheryl. 

Attempting to avoid Betty at school, Kevin (Casey Cott) ends up hiding in the music room. Coincidentally, Clay (Karl Walcott) happens to be practicing in the music room and uses the chance to invite Kevin to his performance at The Dark Room. While Kevin admits he will be taking Betty to the movies that night, he decides to change their plans and promises Clay that he and Betty will be there. 

Remembering Julian’s pep-talk, Archie decides to find Cheryl and ask her out. While disinterested, Cheryl sees a chance to get her family off her back and tells Archie to accompany her to The Dark Room. Archie agrees and a date is set. Meanwhile, Julian uses his plan to ask Veronica out and informs her of Archie’s plans with his sister. Not wanting to be upstaged and get a chance to see Archie, Veronica agrees to go. 

With Ethel’s milkman alibi put to rest by Sheriff Keller, Jughead (Cole Sprouse) asks Ethel if anyone had seen her that night. Ethel says she has no alibi but will need help as one of her sketches depicting a gruesome death of characters that look like her and her parents is still in her house. While she does not want to return to her house, Jughead offers to go procure the picture for her. Coincidentally, Betty is also asked by Alice to head to the Muggs residence to get Ethel some extra clothing.  

In Ethel’s room, Jughead locates the drawing in Ethel’s hope chest…he also stumbles upon a gruesome milkman comic that eerily sounds like the story Ethel gave to Sheriff Keller. Hearing someone entering the Muggs residence, Jughead grabs the picture and comic before sneaking out the window. Upon his departure, Betty heads into Ethel’s room for some clothing. In Ethel’s drawer, she stumbles upon a book about human sexuality by Albert Kingsley and takes it home with her.  

On open mic night, tensions begin to rise. For Kevin, he is enraptured by Clay’s poem about America…despite Betty’s confusion over the meaning. For Cheryl, Toni’s poetry seems to awaken her in a sexual nature during her date with Archie. Embarrassed by her reaction, Cheryl tells Archie that they need to leave immediately. Archie takes Cheryl home and upon saying goodnight, Cheryl kisses him before asking him to take her to school tomorrow and heading inside. Archie seems smitten, but Cheryl’s inner turmoil is apparent when she starts crying after closing the door.  

Curious about Kingsley’s book, Betty decides to open it and begins reading the chapter about arousal. In a dream, the various current and potential couples begin to make out and explore their sexuality. Initially the couples seen are Veronica and Julian, Cheryl and Archie, and Betty and Kevin. Slowly, those couples morph into Toni and Cheryl, Veronica and Archie, and Kevin and Clay. For Betty, she imagines being with Archie before she awakes from her dream.  

The next morning, Cheryl and Archie make their relationship public by holding hands and walking down the hallway. While Kevin and Betty look confused, Veronica and Toni are even more perplexed by the turn of events. However, no time to dwell as the class on sex education with Dr. Werthers is set to begin. Unfortunately for the students, Werthers uses the metaphor of plants to explain the reproductive process. Later in the lounge, Veronica decides that for everyone to get a proper education she will host a makeout party at the Pembrook. Initially, Jughead declines to attend but the others are interested.  

With the party on the horizon, Kevin tries to invite Clay and he declines…despite Kevin’s growing attraction. Betty asks Veronica for advice on how to make Kevin notice her. And ever-persistent Toni continues to rattle Cheryl in an effort to win her over. For Jughead, after being questioned about potentially breaking into Ethel’s home…he decides to go to the party to throw Keller, Werthers, and Featherhead off his scent.   

That night at the party, all bets are off! Veronica decides to start the night with a kissing game to loosen the group up. As each gentleman is given a number, they must kiss the girl with the corresponding number. While it leads to some strange kisses like Cheryl and Fangs and Kevin and Midge (Abby Ross), Betty and Jughead and Archie and Veronica lock lips within the first round. By the second round, Veronica suggests the couples heading off to separate corners. Grabbing Archie, Cheryl starts off the game. And as the regular couples pair off and vacate the room, Julian sees his opportunity to spend time with Veronica. Unfortunately for him, Veronica decides to pick Jughead to spend her time with. Toni being the only option remaining, she cuts Julian off and decides to have him take her home.  

With Betty trying to coax a reluctant Kevin into the next steps and Cheryl taking charge after hearing about Julian’s plan for Archie to ask her out, Veronica and Jughead start off to an awkward start. But when Veronica starts sharing her love of literary works and horror movies with Jughead, the ice is broken. The conversation begins to flow freely and Veronica has an enjoyable, non-sexual night with Jughead.  

The next morning, Cheryl’s plan to mess with her family works, especially when she comes downstairs sporting a rather noticeable hickey. Fed up with Kevin’s reluctance, Betty forces Kevin to take Kingsley’s book and begin reading it. At Veronica’s locker, both Toni and Veronica talk about their end-game goals for a relationship….Veronicaactually turning her sights to Jughead. Unfortunately for Jughead, with Ethel now back at school and the students wary….their luck gets worse as both are called to the principal’s office. When Sheriff Keller produces the materials that Jughead tried to help Ethel hide, it is now the both of them that are under investigation.