10 tiny details and easter eggs you may have missed in the 'Riverdale' flashback episode
8 November 2018, 18:16
Riverdale's flashback episode was full of tiny details, hidden references, iconic cameos, and unbelievably spot-on hair and wardrobe moments. Here's what you might have missed during season 3 episode 4, 'The Midnight Club'
The latest episode of Riverdale, 'The Midnight Club', was full of revelations, costume changes, and iconic music moments. Alice Cooper narrated while the episode took us all the way back to the early 90s, when Fred, FP, young Alice, Hermione, Penelope, and Sierra were juniors at Riverdale High.
The episode itself was full of easter eggs, cameos, tiny details, and fun parallels. So, here's what you might have not have caught the first time around.
The Breakfast Club and The Midnight Club
Fans of the 1985 John Hughes film, The Breakfast Club (starring fellow Riverdale actress Molly Ringwald), will instantly recognise the inspiration for the episode and the title of the gang's G&G gathering - The Midnight Club.
The Breakfast Club is about an ill-suited group of students who connect during a particularly eventful Saturday of detention. The episode was full of references to the iconic film, right down to the visual parallels.
The Hamlet poem Hermione stands in front of is a time jump reference
In the first scene of the episode adult Hermione Lodge is standing in front of a chalkboard and on that chalkboard is a speech from Shakespeare's Hamlet ."Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrrow".
The inclusion of a speech about time and life being "but a walking shadow", is a clever nod to the episode's theme.
Here's more of the speech:
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
Sierra writing 'end apartheid' on the bathroom mirror.
The episode subtly tries to place us in the early 90s. From the various clues provided by Alice, we know that 'Midnight Club' takes place in 1991 or 1992.
Apartheid, which was an unjust and violent policy of segregation in South Africa, wasn't ended until 1994. Sierra is described as a "political animal" which gives way to her being portrayed as the 90s equivalent of "woke af".
The Breakfast Club's Michael Hall plays principal Featherhead
The Breakfast Club references keep on coming. Michael Hall, who played Brian in the original film, is principal Featherhead in the flashback episode!
KJ Apa's striking resemblance to his TV dad, Luke Perry, in the 90s is a highlight of the episode.
KJ Apa's on screen dad, Luke Perry, played the iconic Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills 90210. He was (and still is!) a true 90s heartthrob. While we're here, we cannot will not rest until we have thoroughly discussed the fact that KJ Apa absolutely crushed this. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
Mark Consuelos' IRL son played young Hiram in the episode.
Speaking of sons who look like their fathers, how handy is it that Mark Consuelos' real life son Michael was able to play a young version of the scheming mogul?
90s AF title card with Saved By Bell vibes
Any Saved By The Bell fans out there? This title card isn't 100% the same, but the vibe is strong. Just call this one a general 90s programming title card design.
There's a copy of The 'Red Circle' comics in the principal's drawer, which fans might remember from season 2
In season 2 of Riverdale, Archie starts a protection initiative called The Red Circle after his father is shot at the diner. The Red Circle didn't last very long, but definitely got a call back in the flashback episode.
Jughead's cast says 'Loser' but the 's' is crossed out to make it say 'Lover'
Fans of IT will recognise Jughead's crossed out cast from the movie IT. Eddie Kaspvrak's cast is emblazoned with similarly crossed out wording.
Looks like Penelope was the original OG brooch queen.
Cheryl is known for her various brooches and it looks like Penelope Blossom is no stranger to a well placed gold and red lapel accessory either. Like mother like daughter, huh?
While Cheryl favours a 'cherry' or 'spider' brooch...
Penelope appears to be a 'bouquet of roses' kinda gal.
