Riverdale Season 2 Episodes 1-6 Reviews: Black Hood, I'm Just Not That Into You

Season 2 of "Riverdale" picks up with last year's cliffhanger. Archie's father Fred was shot at Pop's Diner and clung near death. Luckily he recovers but now there's a serial killer on the loose. He's known as the Black Hood and targets "sinners". Seems a big vague but no one asked me. BH also killed Archie's previous love interest Miss Grundy. Archie vows to stop him and starts a group called the Red Circle.

In relationship news, Betty is forced by the Black Hood to break up with Jughead (is #Bughead no more?) and with BFF Veronica. Betty, you're smarter than this. Sharing secrets with a serial killer is no way to end up final girl.

Newcomer Nick St Clair tries to roofie and rape Cheryl. Luckily the girls stop him in the nick (no pun intended) of time and proceed to beat the crap out of him. To add insult to injury, Penelope is taking hush money from the St Clairs in order not to press charges. No one is going to vote the woman Mother Of The Year.

Veronica finally admits that Nick tried to do the same thing to her. Cheryl's mother eventually believes her. The St Clairs are run off the road by someone. Nick has serious injuries but will recover. Karma's a bitch.

Betty's next assignment from BH is to find out the identity of Sugarman (who is supplying drugs to the kids). Remember the previously supplier was Cheryl's father. It didnt take long to crack the case thanks to Cheryl. It's none other than Jug's high school English teacher/newspaper editor. That wasnt very hard to figure out. Is he dead or did Black Hood just mame him? Meanwhile the Lodges (Hermione and Hiram) continue to act shady. Who knows what they're really up to.

Grade: 3 3/4 Monsters (out of 5). "Riverdale" is not in my typical wheelhouse so that might be part of the reason I'm not loving this year. It's not that season 2 is bad. All the players are acting their pants off. It's just that this story is not as compelling as season 1's Who-Killed-Jason-Blossom. The very first episode really hrabbed the audience. The cinematography and color palette were excellent. The Black Hood just doesnt carry the same punch. Cheryl remains my favorite though. I'll continue to check in from time to time to behold her awesomeness.