The success of season one of “Riverdale” is as surprising as it isn’t. Over the years, The CW has created a litany of popular shows, especially for a certain demographic, while also spreading their net to less familiar genres. For every “Arrow” there’s a “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” and for every “The Originals” there’s “Jane the Virgin.” They all follow the familiar beats that we’ve come to know from romantic comedies to dystopian science fiction (and even zombies) but add to it a fresh, youthful take.
“Riverdale,” based on the characters of the longstanding “Archie” comics managed to bridge the old and new sensibilities of its fans. The iconic characters star, but in this iteration, Archie has got a six-pack, the famous love triangle remains (for now) dormant, Jughead’s crown is turned into a beanie and he might be joining the local gang the Southside Serpents. It’s ridiculously woven together, messy, and enthusiastically addictive. It’s that need-to-keep-watching thrill which made it such an instant hit. Who cares just how convoluted or soaked in melodrama the show was if it could provide such juicy cliffhangers and straight-faced absurdism?
Season two kicks off with a sharper and stronger edge. Having learned to trim the fat of the series (coughGrundycough), it breezes through its hour time slot, leaving viewers eagerly awaiting next week’s episode.
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Tell me more about Riverdale!
Season one got off to a rocky start, with fans and critics alike vocally against the Archie and Ms. Grundy romance plot. It was a sour storyline that should’ve from the beginning played up the ick factor of it all. Archie, a teenager, hooking up with his adult music teacher wasn’t sexy or alluring. It was bad television as fans instantly gravitated towards the more relatable Betty and Jughead. It also didn’t help that they began the season with Jughead and Archie arguing, putting us at a further distance to the character who was supposed to be our lead. Of the four leading actors, Lili Reinhart as Betty was easily the most natural, while it took the rest of the core four a moment to find their rhythm.
The show picked the pace up once they axed those plot points. It focused on the kids and their search for Jason Blossom’s killer. We learn that the town of Riverdale, though picturesque from a bird’s eye view, appears much more insidious once we get a closer look, both on an intimate and widescale level. Family feuds date back centuries and are so toxic that it could even lead to a father killing his son. A dark twist on a comic series that appealed to wholesome, middle America and anyone who frequented the comics section, one of the shows greatest assets was that in its own, over the top way, it was showing the underbelly of the ideal of perfection.
There’s got to me more than that?
Deep breath.
Betty also finds out she has a secret brother, and her sister carries the baby of the deceased Jason. Fred finds his business under attack by Hermione Lodge, Veronica’s mother. Her father, Hiram Lodge, is getting out of prison early. Jughead’s dad lands in prison for crimes he didn’t commit. Cheryl has burned her family home to the ground after learning the truth, which follows Archie saving her from almost drowning in a frozen lake by punching through the ice. The show stands by its commitment to the “Archie can sing and play football” narrative and Betty and Jughead tell each other that they’re in love with one another. And then, when Archie goes to Pop’s to meet his dad in the finale, things go to hell when a masked man comes inside to rob the place and shoots Fred, leaving him to bleed out in his son’s arms.
First and foremost, is this show actually like “Twin Peaks”?
The short answer? No. Or at least not really, though it’s clear that show creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has leaned into that comparison. It’s true that some aesthetics and bare-bones plot points have been borrowed from David Lynch’s masterpiece. It’s also a show about a dead body in a picture-perfect small town. Despite leaning pretty heavy on music and atmosphere, the comparisons end there. Instead, the show dips its Lynchian atmosphere in neon, adopts a sped up version of the opening music to “Friday Night Lights,” shamelessly hams it up with early “Gossip Girl” like dialogue and never tries to be anything different then what it is; it’s a pulpy high-school drama with some darker forces at play.
And people love this show?
So much.
…but why?
Because while you can debate the necessity for “high” and “low” brow television, there’s always room for the real want for escapism which “Riverdale” supplies. It might not be as timely or as critically adored as others, but it provides ample excuse to escape for an hour into a world that resembles ours if you really squint, and it reminds us why its fun to watch a series week to week rather than binge, as the anticipation and lead up make for a more satisfying show.
Do you think, perhaps, that since you’re predisposed to like shows on the CW, that this one may not be for everyone?
I am a CW defender through and through and, admittedly, watch almost everything that’s currently airing (minus the new shows such as the “Dynasty” reboot which, honestly, seems short-lived). It’s also fair to say that “Riverdale” won’t be for everyone as the flaws are apparent. While the season two premiere smoothed out some of its rougher edges, the series would be hard pressed to take away every weak spot. However, the channel a series is on shouldn’t dictate whether someone watches and, if someone has been deterred only because of its branding, it may be worth giving the first episode a try – or the fifth, if you want to skip past all of the initial nonsense. It’s trashy entertainment at times, but isn’t that what we once in a while crave?
So I don’t have to worry, Grundy isn’t long for the series?
She makes her long overdue exit early in season one. There’s a chilling moment in season two that strikes ice into your heart with the threat of her return. Don’t worry, the show quickly squashes that fear down.
How was the season two premiere, did it live up to the hype?
More than I might’ve imagined. Oftentimes, when season one of a series builds such a tremendous amount of buzz and fan excitement, the sophomore season can be a letdown. While it’s way too early to tell if season two will end up being a disappointment or not, they’ve started the proceedings off strongly. KJ Apa as Archie has clearly grown into himself as an actor, playing the terrified and guilt-ridden version of the character with more confidence than the wholesome, heart of gold one we’ve come to know.The show finally utilizing its lead character to his strengths could offer some needed course correction.