Ethel Muggs

This article is about Ethel Muggs, who resides in Riverdale. You may be looking for her Rivervale counterpart, Ethel Muggs (Rivervale).

“	But that’s just it! None of you ever think—not about anything but yourselves! And for years, I’ve had to live in your shadows. We all have. You’ve initiated gang wars and provoked serial killers, you’ve attacked people and started shoot-outs, but while you always come out on top, the collateral damage just piles up! Me, Midge, Dilton, my mom—it never stops!	”
	— Ethel to Betty^[src]

Ethel Muggs is a recurring character on The CW's Riverdale. She is portrayed by Shannon Purser.

Ethel was a student at Riverdale High School who teamed up with Betty and Veronica for a revenge plot against Chuck Clayton. Seven years after graduation, Ethel became a published author.^[1]

When Archie and the Gang are sent back in time to 1955, Ethel is a junior at Riverdale High who aspires to work as an illustrator for Pep Comics and who is accused of having murdered her parents. She later moves to Hollywood.

Early Life[]

One day at school, she and Chuck Clayton had a brief discussion in the library, Ethel assisted him with a math problem, and that was all. However, Chuck began to spread a rumor that he and Ethel engaged in sexual acts. Following that, someone wrote "sloppy seconds" on Ethel's locker.^[2]

Throughout Riverdale[]

Physical Appearance[]

Ethel has pale skin with lots of freckles, light ginger hair, and hazel eyes. She is tall and a little on the heavier side, being labeled by the Riverdale Bulldogs as "big girl." She usually wears a blouse, paired with a thin sweater and a long skirt, and always wears a headband with a bow on it.

Personality[]

Ethel is a shy and quiet girl, the type to avoid problems and controversy. She keeps to herself and is heavily focused on school work. Beneath all that is a depressed and lonely young lady. The troubles that her family is currently facing certainly do not help. Despite her generally positive attitude, Ethel isn't afraid to get even. She is known to be quite underhanded and rude under the right circumstances, such as when she dumped a milkshake on Veronica, and later teamed up with Josie to ruin Veronica's chance of being school president.

Relationships[]

Ethel and Veronica

Appearances[]

Season 1[]

"Chapter Three: Body Double"
"Chapter Nine: La Grande Illusion"
"Chapter Ten: The Lost Weekend"
"Chapter Eleven: To Riverdale and Back Again" (mentioned)

Season 2[]

Season 7[]

Trivia[]

Ethel is of Dutch descent on her father's side. Their family name was originally spelled "Mugggs" but lost the third "G" when Ethel's grandfather, Manfred Mugggs, immigrated to the United States.^[3]
- Outside of The CW's Riverdale, Muggs is not a traditional "Dutch" surname, as the word, either spelled Muggs or Mugggs, has no meaning within the Netherlands. Mugg(s), however, is of English origin,^[4] originating from Somerset, England.^[5]
In the Archie Comics, Ethel is infatuated with Jughead to different degrees depending on the story, which has been reflected in the series since Jughead saved her from the Black Hood.