Fan theory suggests Hiram Lodge is hiding something beneath the canvas folds of his portrait gift to Veronica. Here are four infallible reasons why it’s a camera, or a microphone, or both! Keep reading for the latest Riverdale gossip...
The Portrait Says It All...
It’s no lie that the portrait of Veronica - once hung in her father's study, now resting in her Speakeasy - is an eye capturer; a head turner like Veronica herself. But what if there's more to this painting than meets the eye? A fan theory I’ve run across recently has made me double back, take a look at the bigger picture (pun intended) and question everything, as Riverdale so often makes us do.
“I think something is hidden in the painting… Not sure what. Just a hunch.” - says Tina.
I myself have found this painting to stand out, in a way little, nonsensical, things do not. But hunches, thoughts, and random musings are not theories. Theories need facts and suspicious actions to back them up. Here are my four major reasons for finding this theory highly possible, and perfectly reasonable.
1. Hiram Lodge - Hiram is, well, Hiram. A corrupt, evil, manipulating, puppet master. He has to be in control, and when it comes to Veronica, he never is. And as they say, extreme situations call for extreme measures (not that this would be extreme for Mr. Lodge.) And what better way to gain control, than to have eyes and ears on the inside?
2. Motives - A perfectly unwell behaved business man would never do anything without an ulterior motive. Giving Veronica a self-portrait out of the kindness of his heart, is not a Hiram Lodge action. Giving his uncontrollable daughter a “gift”, with a camera hidden inside, to keep an eye on her? Definitely in Hiram’s playbook.
3. Symbolism - In Hiram’s study you will find he has replaced his photo of Veronica with a photo of himself. Now, this seems like a message to me. A sign, if you will. He once had a photo of his daughter, his world, in his study, his most important room. Now, he has a photo of himself, signaling to me that he has replaced her not only physically but emotionally. She isn’t his world anymore; he is. It’s suspicious. Add onto that, the fact that Veronica now has a photo of herself in her own sanctuary, it seems to be depicting the battle between father and daughter. And I feel like, with this message, comes an even greater one. These photos are more than photos, and may easily play a hand in the war they symbolize.
4. A reward for blackmail - Hiram gifts the portrait to Veronica, on opening night of her Speakeasy, directly after she blackmails him with a bunch of photos of his drug lab. Hiram does seem like the person to be proud of his daughter for blackmailing someone… But not when that someone is him. He was about to be one upped by his daughter, so it would only make sense that he would react in a way that would ensure the possibility of her blackmailing him again, would be nearly, if not completely, impossible.
What do you think? I’ve seen several fans theorize this as well, but I’d love to hear directly from my fellow Riverdale Addicts; Is this feasible? If you think so, are there any other reasons you have to back this theory up? Send them to me via email! And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a fix!
- Roxanne, TheRiverdaleAddict
Who I quoted - Tina
(all photos and gifs found on Google, I own no rights to them)