| Attack of the 50-Foot Veronica | |
|---|---|
| Season 1, Episode 5 | |
| |
| Air date | October 30, 1999 |
| Written by | Jymn Magon |
| Directed by | N/A |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous "Invisible Archie" |
Next "The Haunting of Riverdale" |
Attack of the 50-Foot Veronica is the fifth episode (fourth in production order) of the first season of Archie's Weird Mysteries. It premiered on October 30, 1999.
Plot[]
Opening Narration[]
"Attack of the 50-Foot Veronica! She's big, she is beautiful, and she's deadly. This babe is taller than King Kong in heels! Is Archie man enough to handle the brazen brunette with her Size 60 shoes? Attack of the 50-Foot Veronica!"
Full Summary[]
Archie confronts Veronica over her callousness towards Jughead.
One evening at the Riverdale High science lab, Archie is interviewing Dilton about his new growth ray, with which he intends to increase the size of fruits and vegetables in order to end world hunger. However, the ray seemingly does not work when tested; Archie escorts a saddened Dilton out of the room to treat him to Pop Tate's, both of them unaware that the ray managed to increase the size of a beetle that had climbed onto the produce. The following day, the gang is having lunch at Pop's, as Veronica busies herself picking her guest list for an upcoming pool party at Lodge Manor. She is quick to disinvite Jughead, fearing that his weirdness might upset the other guests, much to Archie's disbelief.
Veronica gets hit with Dilton's growth ray.
Jughead takes this setback in stride, deciding to pay a visit to Betty, who is making a cake for the party, and wowing her with his food expertise. However, the two are confronted by the same giant beetle from last night, who ruins the cake amidst his rampage. Betty calls over Archie, who is busy inflating balloons at Veronica's; he hurries over, with Veronica assuming the call was a prank and tagging along with him. After getting all the details he needs, Archie asks Dilton about the phenomenon. As the boys talk things over, Veronica, who once again tagged along, fiddles with Dilton's growth ray out of boredom and accidentally gets zapped. However, she shrugs off the incident and urges Archie to take her home, after the latter concludes that the growth ray had nothing to do with the beetle.
Veronica makes her public debut as a giantess.
Later that night, Veronica is preparing for a formal date with Archie, but has trouble fitting into any of her clothes due to a slight size increase. With no other choice, she dons her father's tracksuit and goes on the date, noticing that Betsy feels more snug than usual. Archie points out that she appears taller than usual, but Veronica writes off his comments as fat-shaming. After the date, during which Veronica breaks Betsy's roof and blocks the screen at the Revival Theater, Archie asks Dilton if there's a connection between the giant beetle and his giant girlfriend. Dilton responds with the revelation that his growth ray only works on animals, also noting that he found it left on. After putting two and two together, the boys rush off to warn Veronica, just as her pool party is kicking off. Soon enough, they realize that Veronica has grown to about fifty feet tall, wearing a swimsuit composed of all her existing ones sewn together.
Veronica, back to her old self, drives away the police.
Despite the obvious change in physique, Veronica remains oblivious to others' comments and, angered by their new fear of her, goes on a rampage, destroying Fresco Fashions and causing enough destruction to where the National Guard is called. Before they arrive, she breaks down over her condition, ashamed at how she's become the very thing she claimed not to be. However, this allows her to bond with Jughead, who happens to be out on one of his "Evening Thinks". Jughead cheers her up by explaining the importance of being oneself, and vows to help her return to normal, their first stop being at the lab. There, Archie and Dilton struggle to come up with an antidote, but with some help from Jughead's unique way of thinking, Dilton manages to build a shrink ray that turns Veronica back to normal before the cops can apprehend her. Veronica thanks Jughead for his assistance, and promises to never snub him again, even wearing his clothes in public as a sign of her newfound respect.
Archie's Closing Monologue[]
Archie: "And so all's well that ends well! Dilton returned the giant beetle to normal size, Veronica returned to her closet full of clothes, and Jughead returned to his true love."
Jughead: "Arch, do you think Dilton's ray could make a fifty-foot hamburger?"
Archie: "(laughs) Without Jughead's oddball thinking, Veronica would still be a giant today. I wonder if she'll think twice before she pokes fun at someone who's different. Hmmm... probably not."
Veronica: "So! What do you think of my new fashion statement, guys?"
Archie & Jughead: "Well, it's different."
Archie: "So big problems are little. Life goes on... in a little town called Riverdale."
Continuity[]
- When the giant Veronica approaches the science lab, one of the vials that get knocked down by the tremors resembles the visibility potion from the previous episode.
Trivia[]
- This episode's plot references two 1950's monster movies, Attack of the 50-foot Woman (1958) and Godzilla (1954).
- This is the first episode of the show in which Archie's closing monologue is interrupted by other characters.
- It is also the only episode in which Archie writes his entire closing statement outside of his home.
- This is the first episode in which Reggie Mantle is absent.
- The title card shows Archie and Jughead encountering giantess Veronica at the same time in the suburban area, even though she encountered them separately and in completely different spots in the actual episode.
- When Betty tells Archie about a giant beetle, he mentions the English singer Paul McCartney, and Betty refers to the English rock band The Beatles briefly.