"Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the American television series Riverdale and the thirty-first episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Jason Stone and written by Arabella Anderson and Tessa Leigh Williams and choreographed by Heather Laura Gray. It centered around the stage musical Carrie by Lawrence D. Cohen and Michael Gore, which is based on the 1974 book of the same name by Stephen King.
| "Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember" | |
|---|---|
| Riverdale episode | |
 Promotional poster | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 18 |
| Directed by | Jason Stone |
| Written by |
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| Featured music |
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| Cinematography by | Brendan Uegama |
| Production code | T13.20818 |
| Original air date | April 18, 2018 |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
The episode was first screened at the PaleyFest LA Spring Season in March 2018.[1] It originally aired on The CW on April 18, 2018,[2] and according to Nielsen Media Research, was watched by 1.10 million viewers.
It is also the first musical episode in the series. It is followed by six other musical episodes in the series, with some of them also based on stage musical: "Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun" (season 3; on Heathers: The Musical),[3] "Chapter Seventy-Four: Wicked Little Town" (season 4; on Hedwig and the Angry Inch),[4] "Chapter Ninety-One: The Return of the Pussycats" (season 5; on Josie and the Pussycats),[5] "Chapter Ninety-Four: Next to Normal" (season 5; on Next to Normal),[6] "Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos" (season 6; on American Psycho: The Musical)[7] and "Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One: Archie the Musical" (season 7; on Archie the Musical).[8]
Plot
editKevin asks Jughead to make a behind the scenes documentary for the school's production of Carrie: The Musical, the students come to school and start to rehearse ("In"), before introducing themselves to the fellow cast members. Betty is still at odds with Veronica and angry that she lied to her. Cheryl then tries to prove that she deserves the role of Carrie ("Carrie"). Afterwards, it is revealed that Kevin got a letter asking for the role of Carrie be recast, but believes it's too small a threat to be the Black Hood. Betty, Veronica, Archie, and Chuck later rehearse ("Do Me a Favor"), and afterwards, Archie asks if he can keep the Firebird at her house as his father is still unaware of it.
Jughead tells Betty about the letter and they believe it might be Ethel, who disputes their claim. Alice visits FP at work, but he seems disinterested in her. Cheryl and Josie rehearse, which causes Cheryl to apologize for her actions ("Unsuspecting Hearts"). During rehearsal ("The World According to Chris"), Betty accuses Veronica of being an embodiment of her character, but later apologizes to her ("You Shine"). Archie and Fred are working on sets for the play when Hiram mentions the Firebird, which upsets Fred. Betty discovers her mother blames herself for kicking Chic out.
Kevin receives another letter telling them to recast Cheryl, which he is about to do when Cheryl's mother tells Cheryl she doesn't have permission, nor the personality to play Carrie. Kevin informs everyone that Carrie was recast, with Midge taking over. Toni goes to comfort Cheryl and encourages her to stand up to her mother. Alice and Midge rehearse ("Stay Here Instead"), but Alice becomes upset and runs off stage, with Betty running after her and comforting her. Archie realizes how much he's hurt his dad and goes to Hiram, telling him not to get in between him and his dad before returning the keys to the Firebird.
On opening night, Betty arranges for Hal to come to the house and he and Alice reunite. Archie buys a beat up car from the junkyard so he and his dad could work on it together, touching Fred. The cast is in the dressing room ("A Night We'll Never Forget") getting ready, while Cheryl goes over to Thistlehouse. Cheryl confronts her mother and threatens to burn the house down, wanting emancipation, the house, and for her and Claudius to leave. FP arrives at the play but leaves after seeing that Alice and Hal made up.
Veronica notes to Chuck how she's noticed his behavior has changed while he's been in the play. Chic enters the dressing room, surprising Betty. As the play starts, Alice begins her part ("Evening Prayers") and cues Midge, who doesn't appear. When the curtain lifts, she's revealed to be pinned against the walls by knives and with a message from the Black Hood. The crowd bursts into screams upon realizing this was not part of the play.
Cast and characters
editStarring
edit- KJ Apa as Archie Andrews / Tommy Ross[9]
- Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper / Sue Snell[9]
- Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge / Chris Hargensen[9]
- Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones / The Beak[9]
- Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge
- Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom / Carrie White[9]
- Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy / Miss Gardner[9]
- Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge
- Casey Cott as Kevin Keller[9]
- Skeet Ulrich as F.P. Jones
- Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper / Margaret White[9]
- Luke Perry as Fred Andrews
Guest starring
edit- Nathalie Boltt as Penelope Blossom
- Jordan Calloway as Chuck Clayton / Billy Nolan[10]
- Martin Cummins as Tom Keller
- Hart Denton as Chic
- Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz / Norma[9]
- Lochlyn Munro as Hal Cooper
- Shannon Purser as Ethel Muggs / Helen[9]
Co-starring
edit- Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs Fogarty[9]
- Emilija Baranac as Midge Klump / Carrie White[9]
- Cody Kearsley as Moose Mason[9]
Music
edit| Riverdale: Special Episode – Carrie: The Musical (Original Television Soundtrack) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | April 19, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 2018 | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 26:38 | |||
| Label | WaterTower Music | |||
| Producer | Leonard Jay Jackson Ryan Petersen | |||
| Riverdale Cast chronology | ||||
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| Riverdale soundtracks chronology | ||||
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| Carrie soundtracks chronology | ||||
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On April 19, 2018, WaterTower Music released the musical soundtrack from "A Night to Remember" episode performed by cast members.[11] A vinyl edition was released at Urban Outfitters stores on July 13.[12] The episode features music from a score of Pino Donaggio's "Bucket of Blood" on the Carrie (1976) soundtrack and Dan Auerbach's "Up on a Mountain of Love" are heard, but not included in the soundtrack.
All tracks from Carrie: The Musical were written by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford, respectively.
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In" | Riverdale cast | 3:18 |
| 2. | "Carrie" | Madelaine Petsch | 3:18 |
| 3. | "Do Me a Favor" | KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes and Jordan Calloway | 2:52 |
| 4. | "Unsuspecting Hearts" | Ashleigh Murray and Madelaine Petsch | 2:55 |
| 5. | "The World According to Chris" | Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan, Shannon Purser and Lili Reinhart | 2:07 |
| 6. | "The World According to Chris (Reprise)" | Camila Mendes | 0:38 |
| 7. | "You Shine" | KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes | 1:55 |
| 8. | "You Shine (Reprise)" (Bonus Track) | Vanessa Morgan and Madelaine Petsch | 1:46 |
| 9. | "Stay Here Instead" | Mädchen Amick and Emilija Baranac | 2:08 |
| 10. | "A Night We'll Never Forget" | Riverdale cast | 2:51 |
| 11. | "Evening Prayers" | Mädchen Amick | 2:48 |
| Total length: | 26:38 | ||
Reception
editRatings
editIn the United States, the episode received a 0.4/2 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 0.4 percent of all households, and 2 percent of all of those watching television at the time of the broadcast. It was watched by 1.10 million viewers.[13]
Critical response
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2018) |
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating for the episode, based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 9.23/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "In "A Night to Remember", an uneven second season comes to a head as Riverdale's first—and hopefully not last—musical episode gloriously weaves the show's many wandering threads back into its central murder-mystery yarn".[14]
References
edit- ^ "A special screening of Riverdale's Carrie musical episode at PaleyFest". Twitter. March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ Highhill, Samantha (April 18, 2018). "Riverdale recap: 'Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ Stack, Tim (January 17, 2019). "Riverdale to tackle Heathers: The Musical". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ Swift, Andy (January 28, 2020). "Riverdale Sizes Up Hedwig for Season 4 Musical Episode — See Who's Singing". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "Riverdale to Rock Out with a Josie and the Pussycats Musical Episode". August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ "RIVERDALE Releases Songs from NEXT TO NORMAL Episode". Broadway World. September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- ^ Nemetz, Dave (April 9, 2022). "Riverdale: Kiernan Shipka to Return as Sabrina – Plus, Season 6's Musical Episode Will Tackle American Psycho". TVLine. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ Nemetz, Dave (June 21, 2023). "Riverdale: Final Season Musical Episode to Feature All Original Songs Get Details and an Exclusive First Look". TVLine. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Stack, Tim (January 24, 2018). "The Riverdale cast will sing in an adaptation of Carrie: The Musical". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ Dominick, Nora (April 20, 2018). "13 Side-By-Side Pictures Of The "Riverdale" Musical Episode Vs. The Original "Carrie" Movie". BuzzFeed. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Riverdale: Special Episode – Carrie the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)". Apple Music. April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Riverdale's Carrie: The Musical Soundtrack Is Now Available". denofgeek.com. April 19, 2018. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ Porter, Rick (April 19, 2018). "'Empire' and 'The Voice' adjust up: Wednesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Riverdale – Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 20, 2018.