Riverdale Season 3, Episode 18 recap: G Is for Gargoyle King, and he’s back

Archie steps into the ring against an opponent on a bad batch of fizzle rocks, but Riverdale’s greatest fights are still to be fought against The Farm and the Gargoyle King.

Did you miss the Gargoyle King? Well, he has returned to haunt Riverdale some more, but it’s none of the copycat killers that have been framed as the ringleader. Finally, the original king, in all his horrifying tree-like glory, comes back for one last game. But his won’t be the only game needed to win, as Archie boxes an opponent drugged up on the tainted batch of fizzle rocks that FP and Jughead investigate to startling discoveries and Betty battles against The Farm’s twisted regime. Can anything or anyone stop this town from being swallowed whole by darkness?

Let’s dig into the four most shocking moments from the latest jaw-dropping episode of Riverdale. (Warning: It’s about to get real spoilery in here.)

1. The drug trade goes out with a fizzle, not a bang.

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FP and Jughead (whose entitlement has him acting more like a sheriff than FP) dive into Baby Teeth’s murder. The violent nature of his death, in which his teeth were removed and a Maple Club matchbook was lodged in his throat, leads them to believe they are dealing with the real deal.

While questioning Penelope, they run into a man foaming at the mouth, high on a tainted batch of fizzle rocks known as G. As the laced drug runs through town, FP and Jug set up a sting to bust Kurtz, who offers up harrowing tidbits about the Gargoyle King’s motives. (More on that later.)

2. Archie might have killed someone?

But for real this time. If only he wasn’t so damned invested in this boxing career of his. Did he forget he was once torn between football and music?

Anyway, Archie catches wind about a boxing tournament called the Gilded Gloves and asks Veronica to use her pull to get him in. Veronica goes into business with his El Royale boxing club and also helps her ex move up a weight class to satisfy Elio’s demands. However, Elio drugs Randy with the feral run of fizzle rocks during the match, forcing Archie to fight harder. One solid punch knocks Randy out… maybe too out?

3. Betty forfeits to The Farm.

Enter Bart Simpson with the “at least you tried” cake. You have to admit, Betty put up her dukes and really gave Edgar Evernever a run for his money. (Or her money, since Alice drained her savings and handed it to The Farm.) She does everything to snap Alice out of her belief that she can talk to her dead son, even fabricating a gravestone and chaining her in the bunker. Nothing works.

Betty lets go of Alice once and for all, but not without listening to Edgar’s interview tapes and believing her mother’s fear of Betty’s inherited darkness. The kicker? Hal tells Betty he wants to come home. Thank you, and I can’t stress this enough, next.

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4. Varchie vs. Jarchie hits a low boil.

Let’s lighten the mood around here, shall we? Tucked into the recesses of this energetic episode is some good, old-fashioned relationship drama. While Archie and Veronica work together on the Gilded Gloves match, including Archie’s new boxing outfit sponsored by Pop’s, the former couple has a moment and almost kiss.

And on the sidelines of Archie’s match, Josie stands with Veronica and subtly notices V’s renewed interest in Archie. The Varchie vs. Jarchie ship war could heat up to more intense heights than Riverdale’s fizzle rocks drug war.

5. Jellybean meets the Gargoyle King.

Once FP and Jughead apprehend Kurtz, the fallen drug cook and dealer reveals that Baby Teeth was a mere warm-up for the Gargoyle King’s final game. What does that “final game” entail?

Earlier in the episode, a non-sequitur scene featuring Ricky, the little kid who stabbed Archie, and Jellybean playing Gryphons & Gargoyles. Ricky seemed to have plans for Jellybean and later leads her into the woods to meet the Gargoyle King himself. Now, if only someone would confirm that the G of the tainted fizzle rocks stands for Gladys.

Odds & Ends:

• Toni also isn’t successful in ridding Cheryl of her ties to The Farm. Distracting her with sex doesn’t even do the trick. When The Farm makes Cheryl choose between Jason and Toni, Cheryl chooses Jason. However, she invites Toni to join, and she does… as a secret mole.
• “Do you think these Louboutins are too flashy for kombucha brewing?” That’s it. That’s the greatest line that’s ever left and will ever leave Cheryl Blossom’s mouth. Even under The Farm’s spell, Cheryl’s gotta Cheryl.
• Hiram and Hermione were noticeably absent this week. Of course, it was noticeable because there wasn’t a dramatic air of mobster madness wafting about. What a treat. Soak it in!
• Also missing in action was miss thing Gladys Jones. Funny, she’s nowhere to be found (on-screen, at least) just as the Gargoyle King wanders back into town. Makes you think…

What did you think of the latest episode? Sound off in the comments!

Riverdale airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.