Ep 10. The Lost Weekend

The episode "The Lost Weekend" from season 1 of Riverdale revolves around the upcoming 75th anniversary of the founding of the small town. The event is to be celebrated with a gala hosted by the Blossom family, which gives them a chance to regain some of their lost social standing after the catastrophic scandal involving the death of their son, Jason. Amidst the preparations for the event, Jughead convinces Archie to spend some time with him and his dad, FP, over the weekend. Through his manipulations, Jughead gets a weekend full of booze, parties, and other forms of excess planned out, which draws Archie away from his responsibilities and influences a change in his behavior.

Meanwhile, Betty organizes a surprise for Archie through Veronica. She invites Valerie to come to the town and serenade Archie, hoping that some sweetness in his life will help him come back to the real world and stop him from going further down the path of self-destruction. However, tensions between the girls come out when Valerie realizes Betty may like Archie more than just a childhood friend.

The blossoming romance between Betty and Jughead is also explored in this episode. They share moments of intimacy and vulnerability, which reveal more about their troubled backgrounds and their loyalty towards each other. The episode also focuses on the division between the two high schools in the town. While the people from the north end (who belong to the richer part of the town) are preparing for the gala, those from the south side of the town have other things going on. This disparity is depicted through the differing attitudes of Betty's mother, Alice, and FP. Alice, who was once from the south side, is now part of the elite, while FP remains an outsider, having just been released from prison.

The episode balances the themes of identity, class, and loyalty effortlessly. Viewers get to see more of the characters, who are all multidimensional, filled with contradictions, and well-acted. The aesthetic of the show also adds to the experience. The somber yet beautiful scenes of the town, with its vibrant color palette, are all reflective of the mood of the characters. The narration by Jughead, who serves as the voice of the generation, adds a layer of depth to the show, making it easier to explore the issues that resonated with the viewers. Overall, "The Lost Weekend" is a fantastic episode that lives up to the hype of the show.