We’re six episodes away from the end of Riverdale, and only one member of the cast can be crowned best of the best! Or at the very least, on this week’s episode, one of the lovely ladies of the Town With Pep will be crowned Miss Riverdale Teen Queen as part of the annual beauty pageant hosted by Alice Cooper (Mädchen Amick) and Hal Cooper (Lochlyn Munro). But as you can see in Decider’s exclusive look at the episode, one of Riverdale’s teens isn’t allowed to participate.
In the scene, Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) is chilling in her room with Ethel Muggs (Shannon Purser), who has been living with the Coopers off and on since her parents were brutally murdered by a maniacal milkman. And that, it seems, is the reason she’s barred from competing.
“You heard what your mom said about Miss Riverdale Teen Queen,” Ethel laments after Betty tells her she’s beautiful. “She’s supposed to embody the best of the town. Be Riverdale’s ideal girl. That’s not me, Betty. I’m the girl whose parents were murdered. I’m the girl who’s quiet, and likes comic books, and draws creepy pictures. No one in their right mind would crown me Miss Riverdale Teen Queen.”
Betty isn’t having any of it, though. “I know what my Mom’s been saying, Ethel. But straight from the fridge, you– You’re such a wonderful, beautiful person. You’ve overcome so much adversity in your life. More than any other girl in Riverdale. And that is inspiring. You are inspiring. You have more pep in your little finger than the rest of us do in our whole bodies. Combined. And you have every right to be there competing. Just as much as the rest of us.”
It’s a lovely scene between two powerhouse actresses, both of whom have publicly and rightly supported the current SAG (Screen Actors Guild) strike which finds actors fighting for the compensation they rightly deserve alongside the WGA (Writers Guild of America), among other issues. Suffice it to say that you wouldn’t get a great, meaty scene like this without actors and writers; support the strikers, support the strike.
Back to the clip, though… Ethel still isn’t sure about participating, but when Betty gets an idea in her head, she goes for it no matter the cost. And we can tease that the stakes are high as the ladies of Riverdale team up to help Ethel win the competition… On the line are a car, a Hollywood screentest, a college scholarship — and the whole thing is being broadcast live on national television.
Add in that Betty has had a bone to pick with her mother Alice all season, and tensions going into Miss Riverdale Teen Queen are at their breaking point. It wouldn’t be an episode of Riverdale if things didn’t go wildly out of control, right? Well, you’ll just have to tune in to this week’s new episode at 9/8c on The CW to find out how they do.
Check out a full synopsis for the episode below, and watch the full clip, above.
Riverdale, Season 7, Episode 15 “Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Two: Miss Teen Riverdale”
AND THE WINNER IS… — It’s time for the town’s annual Miss Teen Riverdale pageant and Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes), Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and Toni (Vanessa Morgan) each have their own reasons for entering. However, when Alice (Madchen Amick) doesn’t allow Ethel (guest star Shannon Purser) to enter the pageant, the girls band together to make sure she has a fighting chance. KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse, Casey Cott, Charles Melton and Drew Ray Tanner also star. Michael Goi directed the episode written by Aaron Allen & Chrissy Maroon (#715). Original airdate 7/19/2023.