Riverdale (TV Series) Chapter Eighty-Eight: Citizen Lodge (2021) User Reviews

Was Not Expecting This At All!

[lukesc-88805 · 8/10 · 21 August 2021]

This episode of Riverdale was a pleasant surprise considering what we've gotten for the past few seasons. The episode was extremely well written. I was actually for once interested in seeing an episode unfold rather than watching simply to switch my brain off for forty minutes.

From the beginning of the series, Hiram Lodge was a mysterious character who always my curiosity but in my opinion was also never given much substance besides being a stereotypical mobster douchebag. This episode however gave Hiram that substance he has been lacking all these years and added a sense of humanity to him that I was surprised to see conveyed in such a compelling way.

Overall, this has to be one of Riverdale's most surprising episodes yet, and from a writing and acting standpoint is easily one of the show's best. I really hope to see more Riverdale episodes like this in the future!

It's a good episode, probably the only truly good one of this season

[jpismyname · 8/10 · 29 November 2021]

This episode mainly focuses on Hiram Lodge and his past, and also we see a bit of Reggie's relationship with his dad.

It's a truly well-done episode, in my opinion. Acting by some of them is good. The teen Hiram is really great, he really looks a lot like the adult Hiram and he even sounds like him. I'm amazed!

I love Hiram's backstory. Of course there are still a few illogical stuff that didn't make sense, but at this point of Riverdale, who really even cares anymore? The ending made me really sad for him, especially when he said that if only he could go back just to shoeshine with his dad again, he would.

This is definitely one of the few good episodes of Riverdale.

Undeserved Second Chance

[aquabuzz08 · 8/10 · 20 August 2021]

This episode did a good job at proving that there are some people on the Riverdale writing team that can actually write... Right up until they had Hyrim convincing Reggie to return to his abusive father??

Hyrim's story was sad and surpringly well done but unlike his opening statement, his relationship with his father is nothing like the one between Reggie and his so using that as a connection felt tenuous at best. I would sort of understand if the abuse was a one time incident but Reggie's dad absolutely did not deserve the second chance given to him.

That being said, now it's been given to him I'd hope that the writers will use it well - but it's Riverdale so we all know they won't.

Also turning Hyrim into a sympathetic villian at this point in the show feels like a reach. Well done but iffy considering he's the overarching Big Bad. Hyrim Lodge redemption arc incoming??

WTF? RIVERDALE WRITERS CAN ACTUALLY WRITE!

[dajkhalidani · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

I'm surprised how good this episode was. And this episode proves what the show lacking: a whole complete storyline written by just one writer - and focussing on only a fraction of the characters per episodes (like FTWD does).

The general problem with the show is: too many simultanous storylines, too many writers for ALL storylines, bad connection points between episodes (where each of them is written by a different writer) due to lack of communication between writers. I hope this is the last season we'll see Hiram as the villain, so it can open new storylines for S6. I hate that I'm sorta feeling sympathetic for Hiram, which was probably intended. I loved this episode so much like I didn't expect wow the writers really did that. Damn Riverdale! Keep it up for the rest of the season and your fanbase will be back! Or so I hope!!

An actual good episode of Riverdale

[Splarke22 · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

Every once in a blue moon, Riverdale throws us a great episode out of nowhere. This is one of them. While a Hiram backstory episode sounds pretty unappealing on paper, it turned out to be really great! Loved the episode & I think it's easily the best of Season 5 so far.

Who could have guessed that an episode entirely devoted to Hiram Lodge

[ldamena · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

Be so good? One of the best of the serious imo. This episode proved that when the writers want to write goo episodes they can. Marc Consuelos was excellent this ep and it was great seeing his son play a young Hiram/Jaime Luna.

P.s who knew the Kingpin of Riverale had a soft spot?

Wonderfully Written

[autumnkeely · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

Wonderfully written which begs the question : WHY aren't all the other episodes like this?? Why are all the other episodes so cringey? The cinematography was excellent as well as the music. This Hiram-based episode did not disappoint as I thought it might. Cannot wait to see new dynamics on the show and (hopefully) a budding Veronica/Reggie and a Betty/Archie romance.

Good origine story. Until it's wasn't.

[m-47826 · 6/10 · 28 August 2021]

I liked it, if it wasn't for those minor details proving me I was still watching Riverdale. The part following Jaime/Hiram's father murder, was exactly what you would expect of the show. Hermione's dig at the funeral, which I hope wasn't supposed to be taken seriously, was annoying. If Hiram really wanted to take care of his family, he should not have put them in a situation, that might have gotten them killed. Tracking down Vitto all these years, was weird and random. There should've been hints at this in previous episodes, and seasons even. Or maybe there were, and in that case, I don't even remember. Reggie making amends with his abusive father? No thank you. And the highly predictable last second twist, is another one of those things showing how lacking the writing in this series can be. Still, it's the first episode that really drew my attention, since a really long time following the show. With good acting and believable characters, so it's not one of those bad episodes that make you give up on the show, and get back to it later. Like I already did a lot so far. Only it was still too flawed to enjoy throughout.

Amazing episode!

[wallsjordan · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

We really needed Hiram's origin episode I actually like the character better now. Also Reggie was awesome in this episode.

Extremely Surprised

[jaimeechristie · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

This was the greatest episode of Riverdale ever made. I was so surprised that a Hiram lodge origin story was enjoyable. Michael Consuelos.was great I hope to see him appear in the show again, Hirams secret son???

Why should I care?

[gacsogergely · 1/10 · 24 November 2021]

We are 5 seasons deep in this. If you could not characterize your core characters, you failed and shouldn't try anymore.

The writers also created many contradictions with this one if you payed close attention.

I also have to point out, Young Hiram did what exactly? Delivering cargo? Somebody arrest Amazon. Or bringing in money? So what? And why do we play the 50s in the 90s? This is stupid. The same kind of stupid an entire maffia working in such a small town as Riverdale! And aside that, aside that a maffiaboss just ran form a 17 years tugh - how did Hiram take over? Even qithout the problem of authority he'd have to know what was delivered at the places, how to produce them etc. He had nothing of such knowledge.

The corruption of Hiram Lodge

[dtucker86 · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

All right Riverdale is technically a lousy show with far fetched plots and often cringe worthy writing, however it is good campy fun like Batman or Walker Texas Ranger. You are consuming junk food but loving the taste. Tonights episode was on a more serious vein then most, at least for me, because it showed how Hiram Lodge, the main villian of the show was corrupted from an early age. Yes his father shined shoes for a living but at least it was an honest living. Hiram disgraced his family name and indirectly caused.the death of his father in a drive by in front of Pops. Jughead in the opening narration compared Lodge to Charles Foster Kane and the comparison is accurate. Both of these men became wealthy and powerful but at the expense of their mortal soul. That is the chilling part.

A surprisingly good episode!

[balumbibelo · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

After the last few not very good episode I was very skeptical about the rest of the season, but boy was I wrong!

The best episode post time jump and easily at the top 5 best episodes of the series.

Holy crap, not just decent, but excellent

[dreamingskychild · 10/10 · 24 August 2021]

So I'm going to be honest, I am someone who usually finds Riverdale's delivery disappointing, but I watch the series anyway. This episode however, was excellent, and one of the best made in my opinion. I think it was a smart move to explore Hiram and Reggie's backgrounds, the show did something new with the writing in this regard, whereas it often can fail to deliver because of recycling a lot of old material. If you are a fan of Riverdale, or just watching it for a bit of entertainment, I believe this episode will surpass your expectations.

Yo this was soo good

[jam_eminem · 10/10 · 22 September 2021]

Caught me off guard after taking gummies. Wow 10/10.

Great episode but..

[CassC0821 · 8/10 · 9 September 2021]

Very well done episode but it was pretty much a ripoff of a Bronx tale so it isn't really an original idea, but well done none the less.

Meh

[zombiemockingbird · 1/10 · 5 September 2023]

I really dislike Hiram Lodge. I know, that's the whole point of a villain, but he's just gotten tiresome. He does the same old thing, over and over, and it ceased being entertaining a long time ago.

So, we have this whole backstory that's supposed to make us feel sympathy? I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. He has regrets about not giving his father a second chance, and gives Reggie this whole song and dance about giving his father a second chance, while being the most ruthless, uncompassionate, uncaring person on the face of the earth. He pursued a TEENAGER, relentlessly, trying to KILL him because he what...disrespected him? Please...this was a pointless, totally unbelievable and BORING episode,