'Riverdale' Season 4 Episode 18 Review: Gore videos to Barchie's blast from the past, 'Lynchian' is a great watch
Spoilers for 'Riverdale' Season 4 Episode 18 'Lynchian'
'Lynchian' does justice to David Lynch's elements of storytelling. There's a sense of surreal, horror, dread and a sense of confusion. The classic 'Twin Peaks' vibe heavily influences this chapter, which brings with it a generous dose of Barchie, tickle porn and a major throwback to some of the comics' finest storylines. By the end of 'Lynchian', it's not hard to marvel at the fact that 'Riverdale' has come a long way since the opening season, and this episode, in particular, sets up a humdinger of a finale.
Multiple storylines come into play that probably gives the impression the writers have jampacked as much as they could. But in some way, a majority of these points get a well-rounded closure. Hiram Lodge (Mark Consuelos) is a classic example of a skunk not changing his stripes. It's like his sinister intent outweighs his goodwill and for all the slick man image and the daughter-loving facade he puts on, guess the goon gene can never be flushed out.
The Maple partnership between Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) and Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) comes to an end when the Malloys come into town to "check out the competition" (read "destroying"). Jinx Malloy was a relatively minor character in the comics whose mere presence would cause the clumsiest and funniest of accidents. Trust 'Riverdale' to make him a liquor baron and it's safe to assume there will be more of Malloy in the upcoming season.
The Barchie plotline takes Archies comic fans back to the time when he was known as Lil Archie. And his simple, innocent and humongous aww-inducing love for Betty, who for some reason still has the exact perfect ponytail as she does now, is a significant throwback that would have had Stan Goldberg smiling from the heavens. Lil Archie with his henleys and the red tuft of hair with freckles is a fun sight and his moments where he holds Betty's hands or faces her wrath of being kissed by Lil Cheryl are some memories that make 'Lynchian' a good watch.
But again, the present-day romance is nothing more than the start of a dangerous affair, threatening to put their respective relationships and friendships in danger. Betty calls it off just when Red composes a beautiful song that takes us back to the Season 1 days where Archie was a musician before becoming a lot of things over three seasons. This isn't to say Barchie has ended as there is still some hope left. After all, cliched, but what's love and life without hope?
Now to the horror part. It may not be the 'Evil Dead' gore, but it is that horror that messes with your head. The primal fear that creeps up and closes in, and has something to do with a painful memory.
The videotapes seem to be the last mystery Jughead (Cole Sprouse) will have to solve before trotting off to college. And the Charles Cooper (Wyatt Nash) and Chic (Hart Denton) scheme is yet to be revealed. Mr Holden Honey (Kerr Smith) has a connection, so is it that moment when we start tying things together to see if there is anything between Charles and Honey? Far-fetched you say? "It's 'Riverdale'" we say.
'Lynchian' is one of the best episodes of Season 4 and there's no reason to sugarcoat it with adjectives. After a season that gave the core four enough, this seems to set the tone for a fitting end to Season 4.
Also, how in the gadzooks did Fangs Fogarty (Drew Ray Tanner) get a scholarship?
'Riverdale' Season 4 will air its finale on May 6 on The CW.
