Riverdale Season 6 Finale Review – Taking It Back to Simpler Times

In the wise words of Cheryl Blossom, Riverdale Season 6 Episode 19 is “cuckoo bananas.”

While Sabrina Spellman’s arrival was a pure delight, as was the update on the realms, the dark magic just hits different in Greendale.

In Riverdale, however, it still feels out of place no matter how bonkers this season has been thus far. 

Sabrina arrived in town to help Cheryl, Betty, Veronica, Tabitha, and Heather resurrect the fallen following Toni and Fangs’ wedding. 

There’s strength in numbers, and they need everyone on board to defeat Percival if the final battle.

Before they began doing anything, Sabrina explained that she needed a coven of six witches, which meant that Betty, Veronica, and Tabitha had to cross over to the dark side. The plan included signing their names in the dark book, pledging allegiance to Hecate, a dance party (which was cute but questionable), and shots of Veronica’s absinthe (liquid courage, duh). 

Once that was accomplished, Sabrina was able to move forward with Plan A, which involved attempting to lure back one soul from the Sweet Hereafter. She chose Jughead as the first test subject, but the comic book lovin’ hero wasn’t interested in returning to Earth. He seemed to understand, more than anyone, that he was living in a false reality but the allure of his perfect Riverdale — with all the hamburgers he could eat — was enough for him. He wasn’t even swayed when Sabrina informed him that Tabitha missed him because he knew he’d “see her soon.” Obviously, his hopes for his friends winning the battle against Percival were rather slim. And truthfully, who would want to go back to a world where they were stuck in an underground bunker with no hearing and a losing battle staring them in the face? You can’t really blame Jughead. Did I mention all the hamburgers from Pop?

Sabrina realized two things: she wasn’t strong enough to bring back the loved ones because she has no emotional pull with them. And secondly, with Jughead’s permission, she resurrected Nick Scratch in Jughead’s body. The decision was partially selfish and partially to do with her first realization because in order to convince these souls to return to Earth, she needed Nick’s powers of necromancy to help temporarily kill Cheryl, Veronica, and Tabitha before bringing them back to life along with all the others. Betty was going to be Archie’s anchor, but Sabrina picked up a darkness in her energy because of the whole “Harlot of Babylon” thing, which may prove that what happened in Rivervale is affecting them in Riverdale.

This was also a good time for Sabrina to fill in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina friends about what was going on in Greendale. Sabrina may specialize in necromancy, but those who watched the Netflix show know she died at the end, so how is she still here able to help the witches of Riverdale (also, if they made this into a show, I would absolutely watch it). Well, the secret is that Sabrina was resurrected. Remember when Nick Scratch sacrificed himself and met Sabrina in the Sweet Hereafter? It was only so to take her place while she was sent back to earth to be there for her aunties, the covens, her friends, etc. 

So, naturally, when Sabrina stumbled upon the opportunity to reunite with her lover for a brief moment, she jumped at it. Cole Sprouse does a hell of a job as Jughead (in all the iterations of the character) but he’s no match for Nick Scratch. He attempted to give off the effortlessly cool vibe but Gavin Leatherwood simply worked miracles to bring that warlock to life. The duo had a mini-date while the trio of newly anointed witches stepped into the afterlife to find their loved ones.

Veronica took one for the team, briefly dying in hopes of saving her ex-boyfriend, Archie, whose perfect world was living a simple life with Betty and their children, little Polly and little Fred. I mean, I thought it couldn’t get cuter, but then I saw them both wearing wedding rings as Archie informed Ronnie that he was never going to leave this utopia to go back to a lesser version of Riverdale. That poor man just wants peace and love, can everyone just leave him alone?!

Cheryl ventured in for her T.T and Fangs (she had no choice, okay?) who also weren’t easily convinced as they were living up the married life along with an adult baby Anthony, which was odd considering Fangs and Toni barely aged. Cheryl then went to find Nana Rose, but stumbled upon a bustling Thornhill with Jason Blossom, Polly, and the twins. The happy couple, who finally got their shot at a real relationship, were also expecting triplets. The genes in that family, right!? 

It was easy for Cheryl and Veronica to understand why their loved ones didn’t want to return. Even Tabitha didn’t have the heart to pull Jughead away from his adoring fans as he signed comic books at Pops. She did, however, have an interesting heart-to-heart with Raphael, her angel, and though we weren’t privy to the full conversation, she did reveal some of the most notable things to Toni and Fangs later on. For starters, baby Anthony did not die when all the first born’s did because he’s immortal. The “how” and “why” is still out on that one. Secondly, Tabitha is Riverdale’s guardian angel, which is sweet, but part of me thinks it should have been Heather, who blew into town and has been aiding in the fight against Percival despite having no stake in the battle. She hasn’t even flinched when Cheryl has made it abundantly clear that there’s residual feelings for Toni there. 

When all the three witches returned home empty-handed, Sabrina moved into plan C, which was informing Cheryl that she’s a Phoenix who can tap into her own powers of necromancy to help the deceased rise from the ashes. Again, it’s far-fetched, but at this point, why not? It’s weird that Sabrina, who knew that they were running out of time, didn’t just try plan C to begin with. I know it’s risky since the subjects might return incomplete, but it would’ve saved them all so much time and energy.

By the time Cheryl unleashed her Phoenix powers, those in the Sweet Hereafter seemed to be on board with returning to Riverdale. Archie, clad in uniform for battle because he’s the purest of hearts, kissed faux Betty goodbye and told her he has to heed Veronica’s warning, while Toni found no pictures past her and Fangs’ wedding, alluding to the fact that Cheryl was likely telling the truth. 

Cheryl was a natural reciting the spell and bringing home those who died too soon, but she also may have upset the delicate balance between life and death when she chose to resurrect Polly, Jason, and their children — both born and unborn. It’s not entirely clear how Cheryl was able to complete the spell without their bodies (if it was possible, don’t you think Sabrina would do it?), but it’s also Cheryl, the woman who visited her brother’s corpse that she kept in her house, so are we really that surprised?

For now, Cheryl lives in a delusion thinking she gave herself and her family a second chance, but I’m going to assume this is going to turn rotten rather quickly. At the very least, it’s a fun way to incorporate the C-level characters and allow Cheryl to finally get a chance to exist alongside her brother. Maybe she’ll finally be whole if she gets a proper goodbye.

Sabrina’s warning about death not taking kindly to being cheated came a bit too late, but hopefully, it won’t cost them the final battle.

Because as it stands, Percival has no clue that the witches have managed to resurrect their army, which is giving them the upper hand.

Not only that but Jughead returned with his hearing in-tact alongside the ability to hear a person’s inner thoughts. Archie has something to fight for if he ever wants to make his perfect life with Betty a reality. Tabitha has been given some fun-facts that will aide in their efforts, and even Veronica is likely rejuvenated by the revelation that Archie’s “endgame” is up for grabs. Personally, I’d be deterred that he chose a future with Betty as his heaven, but there was once a time where Archie only loved Veronica, so anything is possible. Could we see #Varchie resurrect once again before the final battle? Especially if the teaser alludes to Betty being “bad” and “dark” against her wishes.

There’s also the “other Jughead” in the bunker that will likely give them even more ammunition.

And Percival may have his old, powerful trinkets, but he doesn’t have that many allies in town. Aside from Tom Keller and Frank, both of whom seem to be under his spell still, he lost the devotion of Reggie Mantle, his final right-hand man. Reggie was the last person that was being mind controlled, but when Percival ordered him to behead Kevin for betraying him, no money, power, or even a new heart for his dying father could convince Reggie to go through with it. At the end of the day, free-thinking and a conscience forced Reggie to plan an escape, which was unsuccessful. Reggie, his father, and Kevin are all locked up at the moment, but I think they’ll be just fine! 

What did you think of the episode? Is all the magic and colliding world’s, realities, and realms just a bit too much to keep up with?

I’m hoping that the upcoming final season hits reset and we get back to the odd Riverdale that also just makes sense. Like maybe we’ll just go back to right before that bomb went off and this season will become a distant memory?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!