Riverdale Season 6 Episode 10 Review: Chapter One Hundred and Five: Folk Heroes

Percival Pickens is a pesky little pest. (Try saying that five times quickly!)

The new Big Bad on the block stole another win on Riverdale Season 6 Episode 10. This time it was Pickens Park glory and a bloodied Archie.

Brace yourself, Riverdale fans. This chapter was a great day to be a villain.

“Chapter One Hundred And Five: Folk Heroes” was the epitome of two steps forward, three steps back.

This theme was not about the quality of the chapter or the story itself. Everything was a big improvement from previous weeks, making this episode a strong push overall. And it was a fun time full of superhero intrigue and witchy spells.

That’s only in the case of Percival himself and his evil plans.

Cheryl: Nana, poor Darius burned it all down. It’s nothing more than a pile of ashes! I’m sure Abigail does it.
Nana Blossom: This doll… she didn’t shake all night.
[Cheryl touches the doll]
Cheryl: It’s cold to the touch. What new malaise is this?

Just when we thought Archie and his friends had the chance to defeat Percival, the evil mastermind was three moves ahead. He toys with the heroes and outwits them before they realize what he’s doing.

If Percival wasn’t a supervillain, he’d be perfect on Survivor or Big Brother. Imagine him plotting on a reality TV show. He would ride and handle like a pro!

Riverdale Season 6 Episode 10 did well, teasing us with a few moments of Percival losing his grip. These are the few moments where we show hope that the Big Bad might lose it all.

Like, Jughead finds the answer to stop the mind control.

Focusing on something else is a small and subtle tactic when done right. Archie being the one who managed to pull it into action was surprising as he’s Archie of them all. It’s a level of self-awareness that we never thought he had.

His release from Percival’s control proved that it was possible. If only he had done it before the cutter shattered on his arm, Percival would never have known he was super-powered.

Although Veronica, Tabitha, and Toni team up to stop Percival’s schemes, this was the real superstar moment. They needed no power except the power of business, reasoning, and pettiness.

I loved it when he had to stand in Veronica’s office knowing he had been foiled. You could feel his ego seething!

His plan would have worked if the ladies hadn’t talked to each other and if he had a better business plan to get past the restaurant and Whyte Wyrm.

Seriously, a firebomb? Did he think it was a video game?!

The big question was, why did he invest in destroying Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe and the Whyte Wyrm?

A few weeks ago, he had plotted to shut down Babylonium and eliminate the company. Now he rents the champagne room and offers to invest/perform at the casino? This is a massive departure from his previous projects.

Percival’s plan could have been for the three companies to destroy each other, as mutually assured destruction. If Toni, Tabitha, and Veronica were working against each other, they wouldn’t be friends and would create schemes to ruin businesses.

This result could be why Percival went out of his way to remove Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe from the town billboard or why he backed Babylonium on the billboard. He made Veronica the great enemy and fanned the flames to retaliate.

Veronica, Toni and Tabitha made the right decision to talk to each other. The truth will always trump the assumptions and business plans they have made due to revenge.

Plus, they came up with a smart deal that benefited them all, and it wouldn’t change their aesthetic.

More stripper dances at the Whyte Wyrm. No alcohol/bar shenanigans in the restaurant. No theft of patrons from the casino. A good deal that brought out the best in each of them.

Toni: I could take it up a notch. There is an old tradition that needs to be reinvented in the Cirque du Soleil way.
Tabitha: What tradition?
Toni: It’s a little thing we call “The Snake Dance”.

Now let’s hope Percival fails in his plan to kill Tabitha.

On Riverdale, Tabitha is a tall, level-headed character who showcases the common sense people need to hear. It would be a great loss to lose her, and the group will need her to stop Percival.

Speaking of losing, Archie and Jughead were so close to stopping Percival. If he didn’t have the palladium in his glove!

Jughead’s plan of local strongman exploits might have worked; it’s a lot of flashy little acts that all look great together. Where they got it wrong, they agreed to have the boxing match with Percival as a replacement.

Percival Pickens: Alright, let’s try again, alright?
Archi: I don’t think so. You fired and you missed!

Haven’t they learned by now that Percival can’t be trusted?

Percival tried to kill Archie before the match, and he tried to kill KO Kelly by running him into traffic. Percival had a plan up his sleeve for the boxing match; he wouldn’t have offered to compete if he didn’t think he wouldn’t win.

Jughead and Archie’s thirst for justice has come back to haunt them. They should have taken a second to think about it before agreeing to the deal.

Was Archie’s fight with Percival the most brutal match Riverdale has ever had?

There have been a few dangerous fights, like Archie in the secret prison fights or his boxing match against Hiram. These games got pretty bloody, but they were stacked evenly with hits on both sides.

Percival knocked Archie out in a bloody mush.

Let’s blame it on the palladium. Archie must have been in a weaker state than before; it’s the only answer to why Percival has taken over at every turn.

You can’t help but feel sympathy for Archie. He didn’t deserve this level of pain in the boxing ring.

“Chapter One Hundred And Five: Folk Heroes” opened up the world of Riverdale to another surprising superpower. This time it was pyrokinesis for Cheryl.

I liked this twist because it gave Cheryl an ability that was both witchy and powerful. And, if Riverdale is now using superpowers, arming the main cast opens up theories as to why they get those specific powers.

Burn it, Cheryl! Burn your mother. Alright, concentrate! Visualize it and make it pay for all the pain it has caused you. Set his ass on fire!

Betty

Could it be needed for the fight against Percival? Does it revolve around their inner desires?

Fortunately, Cheryl overcame the side effects of her new fire ability. It would have been terrible if she burned from the heat, but Cheryl is an unstoppable fighter. Darius wasn’t so lucky, but now she’s in control.

If we learned anything from American Horror Story Season 3, it’s that a witch with pyrokinesis can deliver a major punch. Percival better not mess with our favorite flower queen!

Final thoughts from Sweetwater River:

• Reggie should have told Veronica about the dealer slots. He ruined his business and his relationship because he couldn’t communicate.

• KO Kelly loves visiting Riverdale, and we love having him come back for those random visits.
  
• Hope Britta comes back soon. She had so much growth and a comforting character arc about her sexuality. It was a sweet start for his story if this is his last chapter.
  
• Cheryl reading a copy of Firestarter was the kind of campy nod that could make anyone smile.

Now to you, Riverdale fans.

What did you think of “Chapter One Hundred And Five: Folk Heroes”?

Who will be the next person to discover their super power? How will Cheryl use her pyrokinesis? What is Percival Pickens’ next plan for Riverdale?

If you missed the latest episode of Riverdale, you can watch Riverdale online through TV Fanatic. Come back here and share your thoughts below.

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justin carreiro is an editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.