GayTV Recap: Riverdale (Episode 3x12)

Episode 12 of Riverdale's third season was a rare one, putting the show's gay & lesbian characters at the forefront, with major developments in Kevin's life, including his secret relationship with his classmate Moose (played by Cody Kearsley). The episode began with Kevin (played by Casey Cott), alongside his pal Josie, as they reacted to their parents, Sierra & Tom, announcing that they were going to have a courthouse wedding, with no big celebration given all of the dangerous happenings in Riverdale related to the mysterious Gargoyle King. They appeased the teens by agreeing to have a sizable reception, happily leaving planning to them.

The group was interrupted by the arrival of Kevin's secret boyfriend Moose, and his military dad, Major Mason (played by Simon C. Hussey), who greeted Sierra & Tom awkwardly. Sierra invited the two to their upcoming reception, but the Major appeared uncomfortable and declined, walking away with Moose in tow. Kevin & Moose shared a moment of eye contact before parting ways. Sierra & Tom then revealed that Tom's high school friendship with the Major fractured due to jealousy as the Major had feelings for Sierra back then but she only had eyes for Tom.

At school, Kevin & Moose were dressed for RROTC training but stole some time alone for a major makeout session. Kevin put the brakes on, encouraging Moose to come out to his father so that they could go public with their relationship and he could be his date to the wedding reception. They were then interrupted by the Major and the other RROTC cadets. The Major urged them to remain focused as a recruiter was on the way. Moose agreed, leaving Kevin alone after telling him that he couldn't face his father with the truth.

Left down in the dumps, Kevin consumed junk food, catching the attention of Cheryl. She inquired about what was bothering him. He spoke in generalities about a boy he was seeing, but Cheryl revealed that she had already deduced he was secretly seeing Moose. Kevin confided in her that he was feeling like he wasn't special enough to Moose for him to come out. Cheryl assured him that wasn't the problem. Attempting to show solidarity with her fellow gays, she encouraged Kevin to look for love online. Seeing he was only interested in Moose, she wondered if Moose might just need a little nudge out of the closet.

While conducting morning announcements to the school, Cheryl announced a new club to support gay students, closing with a blind item about a closeted jock who needed support to come out so he could be with his RROTC love. Moose and Kevin both instantly knew she was referring to him. Moose confronted Kevin, wondering if he was behind Cheryl's blind item, but he swore to Moose that he would never try to publicly out him. He wondered if people were already putting together that it was him and Kevin left him with an ultimatum. Moose could either come out to his father, or their relationship would have to be over.

Later, Kevin was surprised in the hallway when Moose walked up to him, kissing him openly in front of other students. He happily told Kevin that he came out to his father. Kevin was proud of him, but wondered how it went. Moose told him that it was scary and awkward. The Major was silent for a while, but they ultimately had a meal together, so Moose thought it would all be okay. Moose thought they should celebrate by having sex together for the first time, leaving Kevin thrilled.

While grabbing food for their night together, Moose ran into Cheryl at Pop's Diner. She took the opportunity to apologize to him for her blind item meddling at school. Moose accepted her apology, revealing to her that it all worked out in the end, with him coming out and soon consummating his relationship with Kevin, as they were planning to meet in the teens' bunker. Cheryl warned him that the bunker was well-used at this point.

Moose arrived to find Kevin lighting candles, despite how cheesy it was. When Moose revealed he actually brought candles too, the two shared smiles before getting to the kissing, as they undressed one another. Meanwhile, Sierra & Tom had joined the other notable Riverdale parents at the high school, lured by the Gargoyle King. When they realized it might be a trap to get them together, they all frantically called their kids, managing to reach everyone but Kevin. Cheryl's mother wondered if she might know where Kevin was.

Down in the bunker, Kevin & Moose laid together after sleeping together, happy next to one another. They shared another kiss, but were interrupted by the sound of the bunker opening. Kevin was shocked to see a group of masked Gargoyles at the entrance. Moose joined him and they attempted to fight off the thugs, only to be dragged away by them.

They were forced out into the woods, where the Gargoyle King was waiting, with a deadly game. Kevin realized they were being forced to flip a coin for their survival. Moose refused to play along, despite being held at knifepoint by the thugs. Kevin flipped the coin but before he could drink from one of the chalices, Cheryl arrived with reinforcements, including Kevin's dad Tom. They unmasked the thugs, who Kevin instantly recognized from RROTC. The Gargoyle King was then revealed to be Moose's father, Major Mason, shocking them all.

Major Mason was arrested by Jughead's dad FP, who questioned why he would terrorize his own son and Kevin. The Major revealed that he had gone into an emotional spiral after learning of Sierra & Tom's marriage, and his son revealing to him that he was involved with Tom's son, who reminded him so much of Tom in high school. The Major revealed that, like his son, he was in the closet back then too and was actually in love with his best friend, Tom, not Sierra.

Flashbacks showed teen Mason (also played by Cody Kearsley) plant a surprise kiss on teen Tom (also played by Casey Cott), only to be rebuffed by Tom who was not gay. FP deduced that the Major was trying to destroy what he couldn't have back then. The Major explained how his family sent him to the nuns to cure his homosexuality. They used the Gargoyle King myth to scare him straight. FP then realized the Major wasn't the Gargoyle King terrorizing the town after all. He was just using the imagery to attempt to scare Moose.

With the Gargoyle King mystery still unsolved, life began to get back to normal, with Tom & Sierra getting their quiet courthouse wedding. Back at school, Moose revealed to Kevin that he was leaving Riverdale, taking him by surprise. Kevin urged Moose to let him and their friends help him cope with what happened with his dad and give him a place to stay, but Moose told him that he couldn't stay in town, at least not right now. The two shared a goodbye kiss and a teary farewell, as Kevin watched him depart.