| “ | Do you remember the story of the prophet Elijah, Alice? He was seized by a whirlwind and lifted up into the sky in a chariot of fire. Elijah ascended. And I will too. | ” |
— Edgar's last words[src]
| ||
Edgar Evernever was a recurring character on The CW's Riverdale. He was portrayed by Chad Michael Murray.
Edgar was the husband of Evelyn Evernever and the leader of the Farm, a cult that he had orchestrated as part of an elaborate scheme to manipulate vulnerable individuals and harvest their organs.
Character Description[]
A recent arrival in Riverdale with his daughter Evelyn, Edgar is a new-age health “guru” who has helped Alice get her life together after the events of Season Two. He's attractive, in a neighborly way, and charismatic — a wise, comforting presence.[1]
Throughout Riverdale[]
Season 3[]
Illuminating Cheryl[]
Edgar attends the school musical, Heathers. The musical ends with the students on stage singing "Seventeen (Reprise)". As the musical concludes, Edgar rises from the audience, clapping slowly and very dramatic-like. He is joined by over a dozen members of the Farm, who are all wearing white and join in on the slow clap.[2]
Edgar joins in on Evelyn's interview with Cheryl
Edgar takes over Evelyn's interview with Cheryl Blossom. Edgar asks if she’s ever lost someone. Cheryl admits that she has. Her brother Jason. Although, she doesn’t remember much of what followed his passing. She was in a dark place. Jason was her twin and when she lost him, she lost a piece of herself. She wanted so desperately to reunite with him that she found herself on the frozen bed of Sweetwater River. When Cheryl fell through the ice, she saw him and was changed. It was like her spirit had finally returned to her body. So much so that she burned down her childhood home. Hearing Cheryl’s story, Edgar realizes that Cheryl’s already been baptized and been reborn in fire. But yet the memory of her brother still hurts. While memories are often painful, Edgar doesn’t believe they have to be. He believes they can be a path to revival and that the Farm can help Cheryl see that.
Edgar wants to illuminate Cheryl
Edgar has another session with Cheryl, who asks why he records their sessions. Edgar explains that many of their members like to refer back to them occasionally, to track their growth. Cheryl then asks where they’re stored. Edgar only will say that they’re in a secure location, though he questions Cheryl’s suspicious concern in them. Cheryl claims that she’s just curious. Edgar wants to get back to the interview, but first he wants to show Cheryl something that he thinks she’ll find illuminating. He takes Cheryl to see their files. He then goes on to explain that tomorrow night they’re having a get together for new members and asks Cheryl to join them, to which she agrees. Cheryl and Edgar then seem to enter a room.
Edgar hosts the get together at the Farm as planned. Over the intercom, Edgar welcomes all in attendance, especially their newest initiate, Cheryl, who then gets on the intercom and says "May the one become many, and the many one." Edgar continues to say that they’ve all come together under great scrutiny and judgement from their friends and neighbors, and possibly ever their own family. But only through great sacrifice will their lives be full. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the bounty, Edgar says. He advises them to plant their seed in the earth and watch it grow.
Edgar meets Betty
Edgar agrees to meet Betty. They’ve both long awaited this meeting. He knows that Betty stole the recording of Polly and Alice's interviews. He could however always ask them to give their testimony again. There’s also the possibility that he already has copies. Edgar then asks Betty what she wants to know. Betty wants to know everything, starting from the beginning.[3]
Recruiting Betty[]
Betty questions Edgar's intentions
At the Farm’s compound, Edgar is practically interrogated by Betty. She claims that there’s no record of his existence, to which Edgar explains that he was a different man many years ago. His life was in shambles and so he left it behind and walked into the desert to die, until he stumbled onto a tree, on a hillside of a farm. Edgar knocked on the farm’s door and when he woke, he was being tended to in a white room by a kind, elderly farmer. Edgar repaid the woman by lending a hand around the farm. He watched the field grow into something beautiful and in the process, felt reborn. Thus Edgar made it his sacred duty to open his own Farm, where he could welcome lost souls. While this may be true, it doesn’t explain how Edgar has convinced Alice that she can see her dead son. Edgar claims that at the Farm they strive to create a safe place, where wounded people can heal and become the best versions of themselves. Though, this doesn’t answer Betty’s question, so she asks again how Edgar has convinced her mother that she’s seeing Charles. Betty suspects that maybe he has someone dress up like Charles.
Edgar claims that he's helping Alice
Betty barges into Edgar’s office demanding to know what he did to her mom and how he got her to say such horrible things about Betty on those tapes. Edgar claims that everything Alice said on those tapes were her own words. Betty refuses to allow Edgar to turn this on her, not while Edgar continues to feed her mother lies about Charles. Edgar sees Charles as a wound that needs to be healed. Alice is on a journey and she is making tremendous progress in finding her truest self, but Betty argues that her mother could’ve done that from home, without giving up Betty’s money or her childhood home and everything else. Edgar believes that Alice needs the Farm in order to heal from the pain inflicted upon her. Whether Charles is real or not, he fulfills her in a way that no one else can. So, Edgar asks why in Betty’s mind is that a bad thing. Betty does not answer, simply exiting Edgar’s office.[4]
Alice, Edgar, and Evelyn welcomes Betty
Edgar leads Cheryl, Toni, Alice, Polly, Evelyn, Kevin, Weatherbee and the other Farmies in setting a trap for Betty, who they seek to recruit into the Farm. Betty reveals that Edgar is already married to Evelyn, but everyone is well aware. There are no secrets at the Farm. They’ve all come together to get Betty to join them. Edgar explains that everyone Betty cares about is in the room, her mother, sister, best friend, cousin and sister. In unison, the Farmies recite "Join us." If only for a second, it seems that Betty begins to consider the offer, but she declines it nonetheless and takes off running, with Cheryl, Toni, Kevin, Evelyn, and the other Farmies just behind her. Betty just barely makes it to her car and pulls off.[5]
Edgar prohibits Cheryl from running for Prom Queen
Edgar calls Cheryl into his office to confront her after learning from Evelyn that she is campaigning for Prom Queen. Cheryl explains what it would mean if she’s Prom Queen. She could use that platform to spread the Farm’s message. Edgar asks Cheryl if she likes being a member of their community, to which she replies she does. In that case, Edgar tells Cheryl that standing with them requires sacrifice, though if she can’t let something as trivial as Prom Queen go, then he can’t allow Cheryl to speak with Jason anymore. Cheryl understands and immediately drops her campaign.
Edgar reveals that he doesn't have a back tattoo
During one of the Farm’s meetings, Edgar tells them that many tribes consume the bodies of their elders when they die to absorb their wisdom. Betty and Jughead then interrupt and accuse Edgar of being the Gargoyle King. He invites Betty to join them so that they can unpack her obsession with the Gargoyle King. Betty instead tells Edgar to take off his shirt so that she can see his tattoos. Edgar claims that he only has one tattoo. An infinity symbol on his wrist, like many members of the Farm. Betty's talking about the runic symbols she believe are on his back. With nothing to hide, Edgar takes off his shirt, revealing a bare back with no tattoos, asking if Betty is satisfied.
Edgar offers Betty a safe haven
Betty rushes to the Farm’s compound to inform her mother of her father's return. He survived the crash and attacked her at Prom. Alice tries arguing against Betty, but she has to deal with this. The Black Hood is back, and Betty suspects that the Farm may be his next target because Betty told him about her mother’s engagement to Edgar, and how he plans to adopt Juniper and Dagwood after the marriage. Alice questions why Betty was even talking to her father, to which Betty admits that she was fooled, and now she has no idea what they’re going to do. Edgar, having listened in on their discussion, tells Betty to stay at the Farm. Their walls are strong and their members are stronger. He wishes to protect both Betty and Alice. With very few options, Betty agrees to stay at the Farm.[6]
Harvesting Organs[]
Polly, Edgar, and Alice tell Betty that she has the serial killer gene
Edgar has brought Betty, Polly, and Alice together as they have something to tell Betty. Alice reveals that when Betty was 8 years old, she spent some time in the hospital after falling of her bike and getting a concussion. While she was there, the doctors ran test and discovered that Betty has what is commonly referred to as the serial killer gene. They tested the rest of the family, though Betty was the only one who had it. She has a predisposition to violence. But now that she knows, Edgar can help her heal. Edgar wants to start by talking. And so, he and Betty adjourn in his office for a private session. Edgar explains to Betty that the gene she was born with doesn't have to define her. Edgar then proceeds to hypnotize Betty with Newton’s Cradle. Destiny, by his account, is a false notion. Betty can either give into her proclivities or fight it. He wants to know her fears. Betty, solely focused on the clanking magnetic balls, reveals that she’s always felt like there’s another person inside of her. A person capable of doing dark, terrible things. And Betty doesn’t know how to get rid of her. Edgar tells Betty that the first step in ridding herself of this darker version is confrontation.
Edgar offers to help Betty
Betty now finds herself in a dark, bare room, though she is not alone. Betty sits in a chair, and just a few feet ahead of her stands her darker self. She’s all the dark deeds that they did in their youth. Betty goes back and forth with her darker self, before snapping back to reality. He tells her that it’s normal to feel disoriented during the first few sessions. He wonders what else she feels. Betty tells him about the stabbing pain she feels in her forehead. Edgar says that this means her body has located her trauma. He takes her hand and tells her that together, they can heal and discharge Betty’s pain.
During Betty’s second session with Edgar, she uses ear plugs made out of candles wax to block the sound of the clanking magnetic balls. Edgar asks why Betty has returned. She tells him that she wants to see her other half again, to gain a better understanding of what she wants. This time around, Betty is much more conscious as Edgar escorts her to the dark, bare room and sits her down in the chair.
Edgar plans to perform surgery on Betty
Betty wakes up in the infirmary, tied to a stretcher by Edgar. Betty has caused too much trouble, leaving Edgar with no other choice as she has gone around the Farm, accusing him of harvesting organs. Betty saw the truth and knows that he’s harvesting organs. However, Edgar states that Betty doesn’t know what she saw. Regardless, Betty is certain that Jughead and his dad will come for her. Betty is then given an anesthesia as she is prepped for surgery, helpless to stop Edgar as she is buckled onto the stretcher, her entire body restrained.[7]
Edgar prepares Betty's procedure
Evelyn interrupts Edgar just as he is about to begin his procedure on an unconscious Betty, to inform him of Penelope’s arrival. Penelope makes it known that she’s fully aware of Edgar’s harvest program, and while she has no interest in exposing his illegal activities, she does however want Betty.
With the Farm now compromised and the outside world encroaching upon them, Edgar informs Alice and Evelyn that it’s time to ascend. Alice appears worried, asking if either Edgar or Evelyn have seen Betty. Evelyn lies and tells Alice that Betty escaped with Toni. Edgar states that they’ll ascend without Betty as she was never a true believer. Cheryl eavesdrops on this conversation from the corner, unbeknownst to Alice, Edgar, and Evelyn.
Edgar comes clean to Alice
Uneased with the fact that she can’t get in contact with Betty and the harvesting rumors that she’s being hearing, Alice visits Edgar, who offers to address her concerns. Unfortunately, he can’t say where Betty is, but about the rumors, he admits that he hasn’t been entirely truthful about all the Farm’s activities. Before he can continue, Cheryl barges in to confront him on digging up her brother. Edgar reasons that Cheryl had a void and that it’s his job to diagnose how to fill it. Evelyn enters with two orderlies who restrain Cheryl and are ordered to confine Cheryl to her room. Edgar then asks that Alice and Evelyn help him gather the flock into the chamber so that they can ascend.[8]
Season 4[]
Building a Rocket[]
The Farm have moved into a derelict motel, where unbeknownst to them, they are under investigation by the FBI. They have been getting pizza deliveries everyday at the same time. So, the FBI sends an agent in disguise to make the delivery. Evelyn answers as the under cover agent knocks on the door. She immediately makes him. A scuffle can be heard before several rounds are fired off. Edgar finds the wire on the undercover agent’s body and taunts Charles Smith.
Edgar gives Betty a list of demands
Edgar calls Betty from Alice's on phone. He suspected he had a pretender in his midst. When he started cutting people’s fingers off, Alice admitted it was her. As for why he's calling, Edgar has a list of demands. He needs $250,000, passports for each of his followers, food, water, and a bus for transport. He gives Betty five hours. Betty then calls Charles and tells him about Edgar’s demands.
Edgar calls Betty back and asks if she was able to get what he asked for. Charles coaches Betty through the call. She tells Edgar that he first has to release a hostage as a sign of good faith. In anticipation that Betty and Charles wouldn’t take his demands seriously, Edgar has already released a hostage. He hangs up, and Polly arrives moments later with a bomb strapped to her chest.
Edgar greets Betty
Having met all of Edgar’s demands in gathering the $250,000, food, water, fake passports, and a school bus, Betty meets him at the motel. She asks where her mother is, but Edgar doesn’t answer. He knew Betty wouldn’t fail him. It’s a shame she didn’t accept the simple truths he tried to instill in her because without those truths, all Betty is left with is pain. Evelyn then hits Betty in the back of the head with a gun and knocks her unconscious.
Edgar with his rocket
Edgar watched from the stairwell as Alice and Betty load the Farmies on the bus. Alice takes Evelyn's gun from Betty and hunts him down. Alice holds Edgar at gunpoint on the roof as he prepares to take off in his rocket. Edgar asks if Alice is familiar with the story of the prophet Elijah. He was seized by a whirlwind and lifted into the sky in a chariot of fire. Elijah ascended, and Edgar intends to as well. He reaches for the gun hidden in his back holster, but Alice shoots him before he can shoot her.[9]
Physical Appearance[]
Edgar was a handsome, middle-aged man with a lean toned body who wore fashionable clothes and accessories. His style was often inspired by the look of oriental gurus to accentuate his role as a cult leader.
Personality[]
Edgar was a charismatic man. Edgar used his mental manipulation skills to take advantage of vulnerable people and recruit them in a cult masked as a new age support group, calling himself an inspirational guru. Behind this false mask, however, hid a dangerous and delusional man whose purpose was to harvesting human organs among other criminal activities. Edgar ended up a victim of his own twisted mental games, deluding himself to ascend to heaven.
Appearances[]
Season 3[]
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Season 4[]
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Season 5[]
- "Chapter Eighty-One: The Homecoming" (mentioned)
Gallery[]
- See also: Category:Images of Edgar Evernever
