The Best Episodes of Riverdale Season 5
Every episode of Riverdale Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Riverdale Season 5!
Set in the present, the series offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends, exploring the surreality of small-town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade.
Season 5 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Riverdale" season 5 is "Chapter Seventy-Seven: Climax", rated 7.1/10 from 1308 user votes. It was directed by Pamela Romanowsky and written by Greg Murray, Ace Hasan. "Chapter Seventy-Seven: Climax" aired on 1/20/2021 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Preppy Murders".
7.1/10 1,308 votes#1 - Chapter Seventy-Seven: Climax
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 1/20/2021
Betty and Jughead's investigation into the auteur leads them to the discovery of a secret underground for red-band screenings. Elsewhere, in order to impress the visiting Naval Academy Commandant, Archie agrees to participate in a boxing exhibition against another candidate - KO Kelly. Meanwhile, as Cheryl prepares for prom, she stumbles upon a major secret that Toni's been keeping from her.
Director: Pamela Romanowsky
Writer: Greg Murray, Ace Hasan
6.8/10 1,138 votes#2 - Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Preppy Murders
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 1/27/2021
Betty and Jughead's investigation into the auteur takes a twisted turn after receiving a call from Bret. Meanwhile, Archie is forced to make an impossible decision when the person responsible for his father's death needs his help. Elsewhere, Veronica and Hermosa come up with a plan to force Hiram into early retirement, and Cheryl makes a business move.
Director: Gabriel Correa
Writer: Janine Salinas Schoenberg, Devon Turner
8.3/10 1,406 votes#3 - Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 2/3/2021
With Graduation Day around the corner, the gang consider their next steps beyond Riverdale High. Archie learns whether he will be able to graduate with his classmates. FP makes a difficult decision about his and Jellybean's future.
Director: Gabriel Correa
Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
7.3/10 1,256 votes#4 - Chapter Eighty: Purgatorio
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 2/10/2021
After spending seven years away from Riverdale, Archie returns to find the town is now under Hiram Lodge's grip and on the verge of becoming a ghost town. When Toni catches him up on what's been going on, Archie reaches out to the rest of the gang to return home.
Director: Steven A. Adelson
Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
7.3/10 1,597 votes#5 - Chapter Eighty-One: The Homecoming
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 2/17/2021
Toni, Alice, Archie and Kevin fight to keep Riverdale High's doors open after learning that its budget had been cut by Hiram Lodge. Veronica gets creative when she discovers Chad is having her followed. Jughead starts a new job after debt collectors show up in Riverdale.
Director: Steven A. Adelson
Writer: Michael Grassi
7.3/10 1,106 votes#6 - Chapter Eighty-Two: Back to School
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 2/24/2021
Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead prepare for their first day as Riverdale High's newest teachers. Veronica introduces her husband Chad to the group after he shows up unexpectedly in Riverdale. After realizing they are out of funds, Archie and Toni turn to Cheryl for help restarting the football and cheer teams. Finally, Betty, Kevin and Alice follow a lead after learning that Polly may be in trouble.
Director: Gabriel Correa
Writer: Ariana Jackson
6.6/10 963 votes#7 - Chapter Eighty-Three: Fire in the Sky
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 3/10/2021
Following in his Grandpa Artie's footsteps, Archie begins to recruit Riverdale's new volunteer fire department. Toni's attempt to lure Cheryl out of Thornhill and back into daily life in Riverdale leads to more tension between the two. Elsewhere, Betty, Alice and Kevin's latest investigation leads them into conflict with Hiram. Finally, as Veronica comes up with a risky plan to support Riverdale's local businesses, Jughead and Tabitha begin to unravel an old mystery surrounding some strange sightings in the town.
Director: Gabriel Correa
Writer: Ted Sullivan
5.9/10 1,158 votes#8 - Chapter Eighty-Four: Lock & Key
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 3/17/2021
A big announcement forces everyone to take stock of their current lives. Cheryl sets a risky plan in motion after learning some surprising news about Toni. Jughead tries to make sense of a strange encounter he had. Kevin and Fangs make a big decision about their future together.
Director: Rachel Talalay
Writer: Arabella Anderson
6.2/10 974 votes#9 - Chapter Eighty-Five: Destroyer
Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 3/24/2021
After the Bulldogs lose several football games, Archie and Veronica come up with a plan to boost school spirit. Jughead turns his attention to a student who he thinks might need his help. Betty seeks guidance from Cheryl after being faced with a difficult decision to make. Finally, Kevin is forced to face a dark moment from his past.
Director: Rob Seidenglanz
Writer: Ace Hasan
6.4/10 896 votes#10 - Chapter Eighty-Six: The Pincushion Man
Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 3/31/2021
While preparing for the school's Parent-Teacher night, Archie is caught off guard when his former Army General shows up in Riverdale with some unexpected news. Cheryl pushes back after hearing that Hiram and Reggie have expressed interest in taking over the Blossom maple groves. Jughead's unconventional way to get through a case of writer's block causes Tabitha to be concerned for his safety. Finally, Betty and Alice receive some unexpected visitors.
Director: Gabriel Correa
Writer: Chrissy Maroon
6.1/10 793 votes#11 - Chapter Eighty-Seven: Strange Bedfellows
Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 8/11/2021
In the aftermath of the prison break at Hiram's jail, Archie leads the charge to round up the remaining convicts on the loose. Tabitha reaches out for Betty's help when she realizes Jughead is missing. When Penelope re-enters the fold, Cheryl becomes suspicious of her true intentions.
Director: Tessa Blake
Writer: Aaron Allen
7.8/10 971 votes#12 - Chapter Eighty-Eight: Citizen Lodge
Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 8/18/2021
Hiram shares with Reggie his origin story and how he went from a young Jaime Luna to the powerful kingpin of Riverdale. Elsewhere, Reggie reflects on his relationship with his father.
Director: James DeWille
Writer: Brian E. Paterson
6.3/10 701 votes#13 - Chapter Eighty-Nine: Reservoir Dogs
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 8/25/2021
While helping Eric deal with his PTSD, Archie is forced to confront his own past trauma in the Army. To find the Lonely Highway killer, Betty and Tabitha come up with a way to lure truckers to Pop's. Cheryl extends an invitation to Kevin and Veronica gives Reggie a shot to prove her wrong.
Director: Gabriel Correa
Writer: Evan Kyle
6.5/10 716 votes#14 - Chapter Ninety: The Night Gallery
Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 9/1/2021
Cheryl enlists the help of Archie, Kevin, Fangs and Reggie after she learns there is palladium underneath her maple groves. Meanwhile, Betty and Alice confront a trucker who may have been involved in Polly's disappearance. Elsewhere, Jughead and Archie each confront events from their past.
Director: Mädchen Amick
Writer: James DeWille
4.3/10 1,038 votes#15 - Chapter Ninety-One: The Return of the Pussycats
Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 9/8/2021
After going MIA during the middle of her world tour, mega-star Josie McCoy returns to Riverdale unexpectedly. But it's not until she reunites with her former bandmates Valerie and Melody, that she opens up about the real reason why she's back. Elsewhere, Veronica gets creative after a surprise visit from her old friend Alexandra Cabot. Finally, Toni steps in to help Tabitha and Veronica land a deal.
Director: Robin Givens
Writer: Ariana Jackson, Evan Kyle
5.7/10 596 votes#16 - Chapter Ninety-Two: Band of Brothers
Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 9/15/2021
After hearing some unexpected news about his former commanding officer, Archie opens up to Uncle Frank about his time in the Army. Veronica comes up with a clever way to raise funds after Chad calls the SEC on her. Finally, Cheryl and Kevin attempt to take control of the ministry, and Jughead goes on an apology tour.
Director: Robin Givens
Writer: Janine Salinas Schoenberg
6.9/10 691 votes#17 - Chapter Ninety-Three: Dance of Death
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 9/22/2021
After learning that a friend has gone missing, Tabitha enlists help from Jughead and Betty to investigate the disappearance. Penelope plants doubt in Kevin's mind, which leads him to confront Cheryl about the ministry. Finally, an explosion at the mines leaves several lives hanging in the balance.
Director: Nathalie Boltt
Writer: Devon Turner
3.3/10 1,344 votes#18 - Chapter Ninety-Four: Next to Normal
Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 9/29/2021
Refusing to accept what's going on around her, Alice creates an imaginary musical fantasy world in which the Coopers are one big happy family again. But as her mother continues to spiral, Betty does her best to pull her back to reality.
Director: Ronald Richard
Writer: Tessa Leigh Williams
6.3/10 866 votes#19 - Chapter Ninety-Five: RIVERDALE: RIP (?)
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 10/6/2021
As the gang pick up the pieces after a rough year back in Riverdale, an incident at Pop's forces them to make a difficult decision about the future of the town.
Director: Gabriel Correa
Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Murray