Josie McCoy is leaving Riverdale for bigger and better things. Here are her 10 best performances from her time on the show.
Josie McCoy has been an important presence in Riverdale since the show began. While she rarely got a taste of the main storyline, she was always there to punctuate a moment with an incredible performance, or to serve as a voice of reason for the less self-assured characters around her.
Whether she was leading a power girl group, starring in a Riverdale High musical, or taking center stage at La Bonne Nuit, she always hit all the right notes for the scene. Now that she’s moving on to the Katy Keene spinoff, we’re ranking her best performances from Riverdale.
Here are our picks for Josie McCoy’s best Riverdale performances.
1. ‘Candy Girl (Sugar Sugar)’ — Chapter Two, ‘A Touch of Evil’
Josie and the Pussycats performed “Candy Girl (Sugar Sugar)” in episode 2 of Riverdale, but it’s still one of their most memorable performances. It could be the song’s connection to The Archies’ band, the fact that Cheryl is singing with them, or just the overall fun vibe of the pep rally, but this will always be one of my favorite Josie and the Pussycats performances.
2. ‘Back to Black’ — Chapter Fifty-Four, ‘Fear the Reaper’
“Back to Black” served as Josie McCoy’s Riverdale curtain call. Her final set at La Bonne Nuit was one of her best, as she delivered a haunting rendition of the Amy Winehouse song. Unbeknownst to her, her father watched from the back of the bar, and after hearing her performance, he invited her to come on tour with him. With that, Josie’s time on Riverdale faded to black, and possibly foreshadowed a reunion between Archie and Veronica with the “you go back to her,” line.
3. ‘Fear Nothing’ — Chapter One, Chapter Six, and Chapter Fifty-Four
“Fear Nothing” is the song that first made Riverdale fans fall in love with Josie and the Pussycats, and it’s been repeated several times throughout the show, including in Josie’s final episode! It’s a powerful anthem about boldly being the unstoppable forces that they are, and one of the best (and only) original songs to come out of the show.
4. ‘Milkshake’ — Chapter Fifteen, ‘Nighthawks’
A Riverdale fundraiser would not be complete without a performance from Josie, and the night that Pops needed saving was no exception. The Pussycats, including Cheryl, took to the rooftop to deliver a super fun ode to Riverdale’s favorite beverage.
5. ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ — Chapter Twenty-Five, ‘The Wicked and the Divine’
Josie joined Veronica during her Confirmation for a gorgeous performance of “Bittersweet Symphony,” which is definitely our new favorite version. Although the night got pretty dramatic, this amazing performance was still the highlight of the event.
6. ‘Out Tonight’ — Chapter Eighteen, ‘When a Stranger Calls’
One of Josie’s most powerful performances just happens to coincide with one of the most powerful Riverdale scenes. As she belts out the iconic Rent hit, Jughead finally earns his Serpents jacket, while Nick pays the price for what he did to Cheryl.
7. ‘Jailhouse Rock’ — Chapter 37, ‘Fortune and Men’s Eyes’
Only in Riverdale would the cheerleading squad show up to perform “Jailhouse Rock,” outside of the Juvenile Detention Center, and that’s why we love it. Things aren’t great for Archie inside the fence, but a glimpse of his girl and his friends raises his spirits before things get really crazy. And of course, Josie carries the performance!
8. ’Fight For Me’ — Chapter Fifty-One, ‘Big Fun’
Josie’s relationship with Archie was certainly brief, but it was sweet while it lasted. The pinnacle of this was their performance of “Fight For Me” during the Heathers episode. After their classmates found out about their relationship, they decided they were really going to try to make it work, rather than call it quits.
9. ‘All Through the Night’ — Chapter One, ‘The River’s Edge’
Another Josie and the Pussycats classic underscored a crucial moment for the Riverdale series. Betty and Archie danced to the tune of “All Through the Night,” before hopes of Barchie were nearly dashed forever.
10. ‘Spooky’ — Chapter Twenty, ‘Tales From the Darkside’
One of Josie’s best Riverdale episodes was the one in which we learned of Cheryl’s feelings for her. The reveal of the creepy stalker drawings and Mr. Svenson lurking around the classroom were way more effective with Josie singing “Spooky” under all of it.