Riverdale: Live Recap with Spoilers: La Grande Illusion

The episode begins with the Blossom family tasting their maple syrup product. It turns out, the entire town uses it - meaning that the family business is a huge thing to inherit, in the wake of Jason's death.

The Blossom family, accompanied by Polly, welcome members of their family to their mansion.

Betty complains to Jughead about Polly not contacting her since moving in with the Blossoms. Alice barges in, promising to run a scathing article about the Blossoms to convince Polly to come back to live with them.

Hermione explains that she and Veronica are going to need to testify at Hiram's embezzlement hearing. Veronica says that she doesn't want to lie about it. Hermione tells her that Hiram now knows about her and Fred, and that Fred doesn't know that the Lodges are the mysterious buyers of his land. Veronica tells her she needs to tell Fred the truth.

Cheryl walks in on Archie practicing in the music room. She invites him to be her date to the Blossom's tree tapping ceremony, saying that he will give her emotional support in the wake of Jason's death. She gets embarrassed and leaves.

Ethel recites poetry for the class. Later, Veronica approaches her about her poetry in the student lounge. Ethel reveals that her parents are fighting, but that she doesn't know what about. Veronica invites her for lunch at the Lodge household tomorrow, saying that Kevin will be there too.

Kevin confronts her about it in the hallway. Veronica reveals that she used to bully a girl at her old school, leading to her transferring schools, and she feels awful about it. She wants to help make Ethel's life better as a sort of retribution.

Penelope confronts Archie about Cheryl's invite in the hallway. She reveals that Cheryl's relatives sits on a fancy music board, and that the Blossom family could help get in him. Penelope says this would be thanks for Archie giving her Jason's jersey on the day of the memorial. Archie accepts.

Archie tells his friends the news in the student lounge. Jughead gets suspicious, wondering what Archie will really have to do in return. Betty asks Archie to speak to Polly for her, and he agrees. Archie reassures the group that he can take care of himself at the Blossoms' ceremony.

Cheryl and Archie arrive at the tree tapping ceremony. Cheryl explains that Clifford's board of trustees are all there, wanting to find a way to snatch the Blossom fortune out from underneath Polly.

Clifford introduces the tree tapping ceremony. He lets Cheryl lead it, with Archie's help. She successfully taps the tree.

Veronica, Ethel, Betty, Kevin, and Hermione sit at dinner. Ethel explains that her family might lose their savings and have to sell their house. Veronica comforts her, but Hermione is taken aback when she recognizes Ethel's last name.

Archie confronts Polly, telling her that Betty is worried. Polly tells her that Betty shouldn't worry.

Hermione pulls Veronica aside, and reveals that Ethel's dad invested with Hiram, and probably loss their money once Hiram was arrested.

Archie and Cheryl hear some of Clifford's trustees gossiping negatively about Cheryl. Archie confronts them about it, defending Cheryl.

Hermione tells Fred that she and Hiram are the anonymous buyers of the property. Fred gets upset. Hermione reveals that Hiram sent the thugs to ruin Fred's stuff.

Clifford pulls Archie aside, explaining that his family will only recommend Archie for the academy if he accompanies Cheryl to another event - a fancy banquet. Archie is hesitant.

Betty and Alice ask Archie about Polly. He tells them that Polly is okay, but Betty doesn't believe it.

Betty and Jughead confront Cheryl about Polly in the hallway. Betty thinks that the Blossoms are brainwashing Polly, but Cheryl distracts them by saying that the doctor confirmed that Polly is having twins. Betty asks Cheryl to pass a message onto Polly, and she agrees.

Veronica offers Ethel some of her old clothes. Ethel is hesitant to accept them, but Veronica explains that they were gifts from Hiram to make up for things he did wrong. Ethel says that she doesn't need any gifts from Veronica - just her friendship.

Cheryl arrives at the Andrews household, with a fancy guitar in hand. She offers it to Archie, as thanks for him attending the banquet tomorrow. She kisses him on the cheek and leaves. Fred suggests that Archie give the guitar back, but Archie doesn't think he needs to. Fred thinks that the Blossoms are continuing to use the Andrews family.

Alice and Betty arrive to the Riverdale Register, where they tell Hal about Alice's expose about Polly's relationship with the Blossoms. Hal doesn't want to publish Alice's story, but she attempts to do it anyway. Hal fires Alice from the paper, and she and Betty leave. Alice turns back, breaking the Register's door with a large rock.

Clifford joins Archie in his suit fitting for the Blossom's dinner. He asks Clifford if the Blossom family would be willing to help Fred's company instead of helping Archie into the music school. Clifford is impressed by Archie's character. He tells Archie that they've already put in a good word for him at the music school, but that they can negotiate things about Fred's company during the dinner.

Betty complains to Jughead about her parents' feud, saying that it distracts from Polly being trapped by the Blossoms. Betty worries that her family is falling apart, but Jughead tells her that her strength keeps her family together.

Valerie confronts Archie about how close he's been getting with Cheryl. Valerie criticizes Archie for selling out against the Blossom family.

Kevin tells Veronica and Betty that Ethel's dad attempted suicide. Veronica gets upset and storms to the bathroom, crying. She breaks off her father's string of pearls. Betty rushes in and comforts her.

Clifford toasts the Blossom's dinner. He pulls Archie aside and offers to help Fred's company. Archie tells Clifford not to feel the need to do favors of him, but Clifford explains that he's doing so because Archie can help groom Cheryl into being a better heir of the fortune. Polly cuts in, asking Archie to dance.

Polly tells Archie that Betty needs to stop worrying about her. She explains that she's staying at Thornhill because she believes the Blossoms had something to do with Jason's murder, and she wants to investigate. Archie sees Cheryl and Clifford arguing, followed by Cheryl storming off. Archie follows after her.

Veronica and Betty arrive at the hospital, offering flowers for Ethel and her family. It turns out that Ethel's dad survived his suicide attempt and is going to be okay. Veronica reveals her full name to Ethel and her mom, and apologizes that Hiram's actions led to Ethel's family being ruined.

Archie finds Cheryl standing out by the Blossom's pool. She asks about his and Clifford's conversation, and explains that people - including her own family - hate her. Archie comforts her, and the pair share a kiss. Archie gets confused by the kiss and leaves.

Archie spies on Clifford and Penelope, talking about how they're going to steal the drive-in back from Fred and Hermione.

Veronica returns home, and tells Hermione what happened with Ethel's dad. Veronica vows that she will stop lying for her father.

Cheryl follows Archie as he tries to leave the Blossom house. Cheryl threatens that if he leaves now, all of the benefits the Blossoms have given him will go away. Archie apologizes and leaves anyway.

Betty and Jughead tell Alice about Polly's true motive for staying with the Blossoms. Alice begins crying, explaining that she was worried that Polly wouldn't come back to her family. Jughead offers for Alice to come write her story for the Blue and Gold, and she accepts.

Archie runs after Valerie, telling her she was right about the Blossoms. Valerie accepts Archie's apology, but breaks up with him anyway.

Hermione tells Fred that she's willing to sell the property to Clifford. Fred says that he will stay on the project either way, as long as he does so legally and gets a share of the project. He also tells her that they need to keep their relationship professional instead of romantic.

Veronica approaches Ethel, apologizing to her. Ethel accepts her apology, saying that she's appreciated Veronica's help in the past.

Archie tells Betty and Jughead that Clifford helped send Hiram to jail. They speculate whether or not this led Hiram to order Jason's death as revenge.

Cheryl, while crying, crosses Archie and Polly's faces out of the photo from the tree-tapping ceremony.