Riverdale's Archie Andrews will be faced with an "impossible" choice in Season 5, Episode 2, "The Preppy Murders."
The CW recently released its synopsis which reveals Archie will have to make an "impossible decision" when the young man who accidentally killed his father, Fred, requires his help.
The character Fred was killed off in Riverdale's Season 4 premiere, "In Memoriam," after actor Luke Perry suddenly died in 2019. In the episode, Archie confronted the man he believed responsible for Fred's death, only to discover he had taken the blame to protect his son, who was really responsible for the accident, from potentially being sent to jail.
The rest of the synopsis revealed Betty and Jughead's investigation into the mysterious "auteur" -- who's been sending increasingly disturbing videotapes to Riverdale's residents -- will take a "twisted turn," after the pair receive a surprise call from Jughead's former Stonewall Prep schoolmate Bret (Sean Depner). Meanwhile, Veronica and her sister Hermosa will conspire to try and force their father Hiram into retiring early, even as Cheryl makes a "business move."
Both the Riverdale Season 5 premiere and "The Preppy Murders" will take place when Archie and his friends are still seniors in high school. The show will then jump ahead seven years in the fourth episode of Season 5. Said time jump was originally meant to happen at the start of this new season before the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced production on Riverdale Season 4 to shut down early.
Season 5, Episode 2's official synopsis reads,
GAME CHANGER — Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Jughead’s (Cole Sprouse) investigation into the auteur takes a twisted turn after receiving a call from Bret (guest star Sean Depner). Meanwhile, Archie (KJ Apa) is forced to make an impossible decision when the person responsible for his father’s death needs his help. Elsewhere, Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Hermosa (guest star Mishel Prada) come up with a plan to force Hiram (Mark Consuelos) into early retirement, and Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) makes a business move. Mädchen Amick and Vanessa Morgan also star. Gabriel Correa directed the episode written by Janine Salinas Schoenberg & Devon Turner (#502). Original airdate 1/27/2021.
Riverdale stars K.J. Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge, Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle, Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz, Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper and Erinn Westbrook as Tabitha Tate. The series returns for Season 5 on Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.