Riverdale Flashback Episode: Watch the intense trailer for 'The Midnight Club'

25 October 2018, 17:43

Katie Louise Smith

By Katie Louise Smith

The trailer for season 3's long-awaited flashback episode is here and we're finally about to learn the complicated history between the parents of Riverdale.

It's time, the promo trailer is finally here! We've waited and waited and now we're finally getting it - a Riverdale flashback episode. The fourth episode of season three is set to dive head first into the backgrounds of all our favourite Hot Parents of Riverdale™ and finally spill the tea on that big dark secret that they're all desperately trying to keep quiet.

The episode is called 'The Midnight Club' - a reference to the iconic 1985 movie The Breakfast Club - and just like in the film, the gang find themselves in detention together where they appear to discover the sinister game 'Gryphons and Gargoyles'.

By the sounds of things, Alice Cooper is narrating this episode and retelling the story of her junior year at Riverdale High alongside the other Riverdale parents (yes, they all went to school together and then somehow all had children at the same time who also went to school together. Just go with ok? Don't question it.)

We've already seen the incredible transformations that the younger cast members have gone through to take on their roles as their on-screen parents, and now the trailer for the episode has just dropped and it looks like it's about to be one of the most memorable episodes of Riverdale to date.

Let's take a deep dive of the promo, shall we?

Riverdale parent flashback episode
Riverdale's parent flashback episode will air on Thursday November 7th. Picture: The CW

Here's KJ Apa looking more like a young Luke Perry than actual Luke Perry.

And of course, the straight-laced, probably-not-as-corrupt-back-then, catholic school girl Hermione Gomez played by Camila Mendes. Glasses and all. I think I love them both.

KJ Apa and Camila Mendes as young Fred and Hermione
KJ Apa and Camila Mendes as young Fred and Hermione. Picture: The CW

And then there's Lili Reinhart who clearly got the deal of the century when they told her she would be playing young badass South Side Alice Smith.

Next to her is ya boi Cole Sprouse who has channeled his inner young Skeet to become Riverdale High's BMOC, FP Jones. That visual of Cole in a letterman jacket? Whew! Jughead would never.

Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse as young Alice and FP
Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse as young Alice and FP. Picture: The CW

Gryphons and Gargoyles, anyone?

As we already know, the flashback episode will give us some background on what exactly went down when the parents all played Gryphons and Gargoyles back in junior year. Playing the game here is FP, Penelope, Fred, Sierra, Alice and Hermione. So far, there doesn't appear to be any Fresh Aid or Cyanide in sight. THANK GOD.

Riverdale Gryphons and Gargoyles
Picture: The CW

There's also a very subtle reference to Stephen King's IT on FP's arm cast.

Pretty apt considering the situation the town of Riverdale has just found themselves in... The big ol' villain from 25 years ago, come to terrorise the town again? The Gargoyle King is serving Pennywise realness and he ain't about to spare no one.

IT reference in the Riverdale parent flashback episode
There's a Stephen King 'IT' reference in the Riverdale flashback episode. Picture: The CW

Everyone shut up and look at young Alice and FP getting it in against the wall in the school bathrooms.

As we all know, Alice and FP have a very long and complicated history that goes all the way back to high school and it looks like we'll finally be diving into that a little more in this episode. When did they break up? Why did they break up? Where the fuck does Hal factor into this? Who cares about Hal anyway? How long were they together? Forget one episode, I need a full spin-off show to cover all the questions I have about these two.

Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse as young Alice and FP
Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse as young Alice and FP. Picture: The CW

Aaaaaaaannd, here's Fred and Alice having a little smooch. DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING!

(Fun fact: Back before season two even aired, KJ Apa revealed to PopBuzz that he low-key shipped Fred and Alice because he felt like something had gone on between them in the past. Guess he was right, huh? He spoke it into existence and I'll never forgive him.)

Again - where the HELL does Hal factor into this?

KJ Apa and Lili Reinhart as young Fred and Alice
KJ Apa and Lili Reinhart as young Fred and Alice. Picture: The CW

CAN 👏 YOU 👏 EVEN 👏 CALL 👏 IT 👏 RIVERDALE 👏 IF 👏 KJ 👏 APA 👏 IS 👏 NOT 👏 SHIRTLESS 👏 AT 👏 LEAST 👏 ONCE?

Even when he's not playing Archie, this damn show has still found a way to work in a shirtless KJ Apa. This time, with bonus Cole.

Cole Sprouse and KJ Apa as young FP and Fred
Cole Sprouse and KJ Apa as young FP and Fred. Picture: The CW

All the parents were in a band together? OK! WERK!

Whether or not this is the world renown band called 'The Fredheads' remains to be seen. In season one, FP states that Fred started the band in senior year - not junior year, in which this flashback takes place - but then again, this is Riverdale and sometimes details can be easily forgotten. We'll take it either way. Alice on the keyboard? We stan!

The Fredheads band
Picture: The CW

Here comes Hiram, Mr Steal-Yo-Girl.

Buying pearls for Hermione from the get go? Poor Fred didn't even stand a chance, did he? (Young Hiram is of course played by Mark Consuelos' real life son Michael Consuelos so we're expecting the charm levels to be off the charts here.)

Michael Consuelos and Camila Mendes as young Hiram and Hermione
Michael Consuelos and Camila Mendes as young Hiram and Hermione. Picture: The CW

WHY DOES MARTY MANTLE LOOK LIKE HE'S PART OF THE HANGOVER CAST?

Not much is known about Reggie's dad, Marty but we do this know this: Charles Melton is a gift.

Charles Melton as Mr Mantle
Charles Melton as Mr Mantle. Picture: The CW

Sheriff Keller and Mayor McCoy go WAY back.

Awwwww, who knew Tom Keller and Sierra Samuels' love for each other went all the way back to high school?! A couple! A team! We stan!

Ashleigh Murray and Casey Cott as young Sierra and Tom
Ashleigh Murray and Casey Cott as young Sierra and Tom. Picture: The CW

PENELOPE HAD BRACES.

Yes, the apocalyptic bitch Penelope Blossom was somewhat of a nerd in high school - and also friends with all the parents. Wonder if her and Alice were still at each other's throats back then?

Madelaine Petsch as young Penelope Blossom
Madelaine Petsch as young Penelope Blossom. Picture: The CW

Alice and FP? Alice and Fred? WHY NOT HAVE SOME FP AND HERMIONE TOO.

Remember in season one where FP and Hermione had that little interaction at the Drive-In and we all shipped it for like 0.5 seconds? Well, it looks like they're teasing that dynamic again. But given the nature of their younger selves, it looks like FP is just intimidating Hermione a lil' bit. And besides, FP wouldn't steal Fred's girl, WOULD HE?

Camila Mendes and Cole Sprouse as Hermione Lodge and FP Jones
Camila Mendes and Cole Sprouse as Hermione Lodge and FP Jones. Picture: The CW

WHO IS THAT RANDOM GUY?

There's 10 people in this picture. Penelope, FP, Tom, Sierra, Alice, Fred, Hermione, Hiram, Marty... and some random guy on the right. Is he the one that dies? Is he Dilton's dad? He looks like Dilton's dad. WHO IS HE?

The Riverdale cast as the younger versions of their parents
The Riverdale cast as the younger versions of their parents. Picture: The CW

The two future Mayors of Riverdale are GAGGED!

Don't know what they're gagged about but same. Probably.

Ashleigh Murray and Camila Mendes as young Sierra and Hermione
Ashleigh Murray and Camila Mendes as young Sierra and Hermione. Picture: The CW

Young Alice Smith could punch me in the face and I'd thank her.

That's all.

Lili Reinhart as Young Alice Cooper
Lili Reinhart as Young Alice Cooper. Picture: The CW

MOODY JONES STRIKES AGAIN.

Who is FP talking to in this scene? The principal? His dad? Is this when he gets kicked out? Are we gonna find out how and when we joined the serpents? I NEED ANSWERS!

Cole Sprouse as FP Jones
Cole Sprouse as FP Jones. Picture: The CW

Issa Blossom family reunion.

Yes, that is our beloved Trevor Stines back back BACK again but this time, he's playing a young Clifford Blossom opposite Madelaine Petsch as Penelope and honestly, it just looks weird. Sidenote: Penelope's surname back in the day was still Blossom... so like, are they related, right? We been knew!

Madelaine Petsch and Trevor Stines as young Penelope and Clifford
Madelaine Petsch and Trevor Stines as young Penelope and Clifford. Picture: The CW

The biggest plot twist of the show so far: The Hot Parents of Riverdale™ were all nerds.

The next time you think about giving Ethel shit for cosplaying as Princess Etheline and hiding out in an underground bunker, remember that the parents of Riverdale also did the same thing.

Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart as young FP and Alice
Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart as young FP and Alice. Picture: The CW
Madelaine Petsch and Ashleigh Murray as young Penelope and Sierra
Madelaine Petsch and Ashleigh Murray as young Penelope and Sierra. Picture: The CW

The Midnight Club will air on Thursday November 7th at 8/7c on The CW, as always. See you there, and don't forget to bring your chalice of choice with some chilled Fresh Aid.