How could the series possibly adapt a raucous, highly sexualized musical – one of the most acclaimed productions of our time – without bowdlerizing it? The answer: By not even attempting to adapt it. Well, not really. The mature subject matter of Hedwig is wisely transformed into a plot point here with Mr. Honey (Kerr Smith at his smarmy best) refusing to let Kevin perform a number from the musical at Riverdale High’s upcoming variety show. Instead of a traditional musical number, the show takes a cue from The Magicians, and sister series Katy Keene for that matter, and embeds the showtunes into the fiber of this special episode.
The defiant Hedwig is something of a kindred spirit to Kevin. They are both LGBTQ+ icons, and story-wise there’s some common ground. (Listen closely and you can hear my fellow critics racing to compare the trauma of Hedwig’s “Barbie doll crotch” with Kevin attempting to regain his mojo after The Farm brainwashed him and stole his kidney last year). There’s some accuracy there, but I personally feel that what connects these characters is a shared desire to truly be themselves in a world that wants to go out of its way to ignore, or worse, invalidate them.
Kevin truly sees himself as Hedwig. When he sings “Tear Me Down” you feel that this is more than a cover version of an anthem, but Kevin is ultimately singing a rallying cry to himself. Not mention all those who feel unfairly maligned by society.
The rest of the episode is full of re-imaginings of other classic Hedwig songs. “Wicked Little Town” and its reprise are now about the angst of our leads; “Random Number Generation” becomes a rumination on high school conformity; “Wig in a Box” is transformed into a “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee” moment for Kevin; “Sugar Daddy,” showcases Cheryl and Toni at their Choniest; “Exquisite Corpse” is used to soundtrack game-changing arguments for the show; “Origin of Love” bonds Betty and Archie together; and “Midnight Radio” undercuts the song’s cathartic nature by delivering the smash-cut shocker that has become the hallmark of each Riverdale musical episode.
While most of the singing here ranges from passable to great, the spirit of Hedwig and the Angry Inch lives on here, despite the compromises needed to bring the show to CW primetime. The ultimate success of this episode is that it will introduce a new audience to the musical. To any outsider watching this it will be a flicker of hope that could, not to be overly sentimental but give me a break as I’ve been inside for a month, ignite into a voyage of self-discovery. Television still has the power to change lives, even goofy, glorious shows like this one. We need to cling to truths like this in the days ahead.