[S4E18] Friends With Benefits
Earl's attempt to give Joy the hot tub she's always wanted backfires and she is forced to stay in a makeshift bubble because of a flesh eating toe infection. While she is out of commission, Earl must fill in as the new Joy. Between gossiping with the ladies at the salon and shopping for meat out of some guy's trunk, Earl learns about the Turner family. This includes the fact that Dodge and Earl Jr. might have a social disorder that causes them to have no friends. Can Earl fix this problem too?
[S4E18] Friends with Benefits
She and Jordan slept together at some point in time, allowing her to trick Jordan into thinking he got her pregnant, since her child's actual father is unreliable. She and Jordan have a friendship throughout season 2 until he confesses his love for her in the finale, and they subsequently start dating. In season 3, she gave the kid up for adoption. In the seventh episode of season 3, it is revealed that Simone and Jordan got married in Las Vegas over the summer, unbeknownst to anyone other than Spencer and Olivia, who were in attendance. They later had their marriage annulled. They stay together through long-distance relationship until late in season 4, when she returned to Los Angeles and South Crenshaw when she realized that Jordan and Layla became closer than ever, while in the meantime: His friendship with Spencer drifted apart.
Archie and Betty have been next-door neighbours since they were 4 years old and become best friends. Their bedroom windows face each other, from which they wave to each other. One day, Betty falls in love with Archie. She writes about it in her diary and describes Archie and his dog, Vegas. Later on, Betty writes in her diary that she had the best day, because Archie invited her over to listen to records. They were lying on the floor, listening to an LP, dancing and laughing.[2] In 2nd grade, Archie has trouble reading and the school suggests to his parents that he be held back a year. Betty refuses not to be in the same grade as Archie and tutors him until he learns reading. Archie, reciprocating Betty's feelings, kisses her and proposes to her. Betty tells him that they're too young and that Archie should ask her again when they're 18 and she will say yes.[3]
Archie's condition worsens after the body is found. He can't sleep and texts Betty if they can talk, but she doesn't want to after what happened between them. Betty's told her mom what happened after the dance and Alice tries to use it to keep Betty from spending time with any of the people at school. Betty's responds by going to Archie's house and ask if he will walk her to school. She tells Archie that she's trying to discern what she wants, separate from her mother's demands, and confesses that she still wants them to be best friends, despite Archie's rejection. Archie apologises for hurting her and tries to formulate his reasons, but Betty cuts him off quickly. At school, Betty has to endure Veronica's attempts at making amends with her, while Archie tries to learn what the police know in order to alleviate his conscience. At lunch, Kevin makes a reference to the closet in front of Archie, Betty and Veronica, prompting awkward silence. Veronica asks Archie to play to combat it, and he hesitates, until Betty says she'd love to hear him play.
The next day in the student lounge, Reggie's antagonising Kevin over being questioned by Sheriff Keller and Betty's supporting Kevin. Archie comes in as Reggie starts on Jughead and moves in between them as Reggie advances on Jughead. Betty watches horrified as Reggie starts fighting Archie and punches him in the face. At the Pep Rally, Archie bumps into Betty accidentally on the field, him in his football uniform and her in her cheerleading one. Betty sees his bruises and gentle touches a finger to Archie's wounded eye, at which he subtly flinches, looking at her intensely, almost as though seeing her differently. The players run into Archie and he's flung away by the horde as Betty looks after him. After making amends with Veronica, Betty invites her to Pop's where Archie, having made amends with Jughead, arrives. Archie and Betty lock eyes, and she decides in the moment to try and truly be friends, inviting both boys to join them in their booth.[3]
It's only been a week since Jason's body was found. Betty's wrestling with whether Archie and Grundy where at the river together, writing about it in her diary. In the evening, she goes to Pop's with her friends, but is absent-minded while they discuss the drive-in closing, telling Veronica she's fine when asked. Archie walks in with his father and Grundy, and Betty turns to see them together, it seemingly cementing for her that Archie and Grundy are together. Despite Jughead's protests, she gets up and walks over to their table, asking to talk to Archie outside, to which he complies. Betty asks if there's anything he wants to tell her and Archie is unsure what it's about, saying he doesn't think so. Betty then tells him that Grundy was at the river and shock immediately paints Archie's face, prompting Betty to ask if they're together. He tries to refrain from telling the truth, but can't lie to her and Betty asks again if they're together as Veronica walks out and hears, prompting Archie to answer Betty's question affirmatively. Betty is completely shocked, and horrified, she immediately points out to Archie that it's wrong. She's hurt and scared that Archie lied to her and to the police and asks defiantly if he did it to protect her. Archie responds that Grundy 'believed in him when no one else did', displaying the effects of having suffered predatory treatment by Grundy: intentionally distancing the victim from the people they love. Betty takes his words like a shot through the heart and is at a loss for words. Archie tries to get her to talk, as her mom drives up. Betty is just crestfallen and gets in the car at her Mom's demand, with Archie staring after her, pained. At home, Betty writes about it in her diary and is so angry that she breaks her pencil, getting the inkling to start researching Grundy.
Betty's words stay with Archie, however, and he asks Grundy about her fake name, to which she feeds him a story about being on the run from an abusive former spouse. Unbeknownst to both Archie and Betty, Betty's parents go to Fred and ask that he help enforce that Archie and Betty can no longer see each other, which Fred balks at. Archie and Betty take a walk as Archie fills Betty in on what Grundy said, and Betty is steadfast that Grundy is hurting Archie and cutting him off from everyone he knows, but Archie is unable to see what's happening to him. While sorting the laundry, Alice finds Grundy's gun in one of Betty's drawers, panics and starts reading Betty's diary to find out what's going on. When Betty gets home from her walk, Alice confronts her and orders her to get in the car. Alice gets Fred and brings them to catch Grundy and Archie together at the school. Fred is horrified and Betty is incredibly upset at her mother's intentions to have Grundy arrested. Alice admits that she wants Betty to think that Archie is a bad person and Betty responds by saying that she will never stop being friends with Archie. Archie puts the responsibility of what happened on himself, saying that he sought out Grundy and that it's all his fault.
Betty throws herself into the investigation of Jason's murder, with help from Kevin and Jughead, while Archie wholeheartedly throws himself into football, unable to find rest after what Grundy did to him. Betty warmly calls Archie on trying to give up music after what happened and encourages him to keep pursuing his dreams. Val suggests to Archie a contact to be his music tutor and when Archie hesitates, Betty jumps in saying he will definitely meet with the music professor. Betty's support seems to make Archie feel better as he smiles for the first time in a while. Later, they both attend the funeral for Jason Blossom at Thorn Hill, along with the rest of the town. Archie gives Jason's football jersey to Mrs. Blossom, and Betty tells him it was really nice of him to do.[8] While talking about the Variety Show with his friends, Archie notices that Betty and Jughead are having a serious conversation and, concerned, asks if he can help. Betty looks at him like she wants to say something, but Jughead veers Archie off, saying it has to be just the two of them, but not letting Archie in on what it is. Betty goes through a lot trying to find Polly and dealing with her parents, but Archie doesn't know this. While they are looking for Sheriff Keller at the school during the Variety Show, Betty hears Archie's voice on the speakers as he performs.[7]
Once Betty and Jughead start dating, Archie starts exhibiting signs of jealousy. He tries to get both Jughead and Betty to tell him what's going on between them, but gets no real answer, which leaves him even more jealous as it may be serious between his two childhood friends. Archie starts focusing on music and gets help from Valerie, and the two start dating.[9] They have fun until Archie gets swept up in courting Cheryl around and Valerie dumps Archie[10], who soon starts a fling with Veronica. All the while Archie tries to signal to Betty that he wants to be there for her[11] and sticks up for her, such as when Chuck tells everybody about the hot tub torture.[12]
In spite of the fact that he cares about Veronica, Archie is seen yearning for a chance with Betty, although he denies as much, most of all to himself. It's clear Archie and Betty share a close bond and a history, which has both Veronica and Jughead worried that they may be second choices. With Betty and Archie both in relationships with other people, they find their way back to a friendship, although it's underpinned by subtext, mostly from Archie's side.[13]
Although the couple is reunited, Betty keeps her sleuthing to herself and doesn't tell Jughead while Archie is still keeping an eye out for Betty in his friendship with Jughead. When Archie helps Jughead transport drugs, he's hurt to see how far gone his friend is, but puts his foot down once Jughead suggests getting help from Betty. They're both dumped on the same night by their partners and they stare out each other's windows at each other, hinting that their old feelings for each other have returned. They continue tracking down the backstory of Janitor Svenson when the Black Hood seemingly holds Svenson hostage. A visit with Rose Blossom informs a shaken Betty of her murderous family history and she's overcome. Archie tries to ground her and comforts Betty with how close they are to saving Svenson and ending the horror of the Black Hood. In the intensity of the moment, Betty kisses Archie who responds. 041b061a72