Riverdale, an Archie Comics adaptation on the CW

Cheryl is legit my favorite. It doesn't hurt that she's sex on legs, then again so are the other girls.

Cheryl gets to be more fleshed out because she's a main character while Chuck is just a guest star.

Also, its been mentioned that Jason's killer will be revealed in episode 12, though given what we've seen so far it'll probably be in the last few minutes. Plus with their being talk of another murder in the finale, my guess is that it will probably be the murderer themselves.

Very true, but knowing that doesn't make him any less offensive or help with the show's issues regarding diversity or representation of those that are non-white/straight. Apart from Veronica (who can be considered dangerously close to white passing), none of the minority characters really do anything. Reggie barely shows up and lacks development, Valerie rarely had screentime after she was paired with Archie, Josie's been missing for four episodes, Chuck is a tool, Pops and Weatherby are irrelevant, Trev does nothing, Moose does nothing, and Kevin is just the GBF.

My point is, it feels like the showrunners want "points" for having a diverse cast (and the show might actually get some with time), but they don't actually do any with the characters. I want Season Two to do better because I'm loving the show, but this is one of the few things that really holds it back at the moment.

As far as Cheryl is concerned though, she is a very confusing character to me. One minute, she's the Queen Bee Alpha Bitch of Riverdale who constantly antagonizes the main gang and the next minute she's this sympathetic weirdo who wants to be best friends with and help the same people she keeps manipulating. Those two qualities don't have to be mutually exclusive, but they are played to such extremes that it makes her character seem rather inconsistent. The only problem is: is that what the writers are going for or is it just a misstep?

edited 14th Apr '17 5:53:37 PM by deuteragonist

You're right. Even though they have diversified much of the supporting cast, most of the leads are still white. Everyone in the core 4 is light skinned, Veronica less so, but like you said very close to white passing. Chuck has had more screen time than any other black male, and I feel like black men get stigmatized enough without being sexual predators.

Also Cheryl is basically a vulnerable Regina George with more quirk. She captures that mean girl essence, and like how Cady from Mean Girls explains Regina George she's a bitch, you want her approval. At least, I can see how people would want to be her friend. She's funny and witty, and like Arthur said sex on legs. Hell, Betty must want her approval in some way, because why else would she have tried out for cheer leading? Then she's given the vulnerability of being an unstable product of her shit environment, and it's hard not to feel bad for her having lost her brother. That all said, she's still a bitch.Like while I really like her in scenes, she pisses me off a lot too. I've read a post elsewhere that said "oh this is an episode where I hate Cheryl."

The thing is, I really like Cheryl; I just wish the writers knew what kind of Mean Girl they want her to be. Is she the "Sadie Saxton" of the show: the ultimate Mean girl who relentlessly, and hilariously, humiliates the main characters and makes their lives a living Hell; or is she Cordelia/ Lydia of the show: the sympathetic Alpha Bitch with hidden depths who undergoes a hell of a lot of Character Development?

Either one is fine and I'm guessing they're leaning towards the latter, which is great. And believe it or not, Cheryl is nowhere near as cruel as Sadie from "Awkward." could be.

edited 14th Apr '17 6:56:27 PM by deuteragonist

Ooh, I gotcha. Yeah, the show seems to want it both ways. They have to decide eventually though, because while you can sustain that for a while it gets messy.

Would have been nice if Chuck got such a luxury.

Chuck's not a series main, and Cheryl is, so its not likely.

That being said, there could always be changes in Season 2.

Reinhart has said the next season's big mystery will involve Betty more directly, so i'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping they don't kill Polly, but i think they might-along with most of the parents (probably not Fred) she's a good pick i think for the next death.

Googled just Riverdale to check the episode list and saw these 4 very different articles, one of which apparently has finale spoilers.

http://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/news/a46482/cole-sprouse-really-wants-riverdale-fans-to-stop-asking-him-this-one-question/

http://www.polygon.com/2017/4/20/15373148/riverdale-jughead-weird-meme

https://www.bustle.com/p/riverdale-queer-baiting-how-one-tweet-exposed-the-fan-conversation-we-need-to-pay-attention-to-52319

https://spoilertoday.com/2017/04/22/riverdale-finale-spoilers-first-news-on-archie-veronica-more-new-cast-photos/

Even the news it generates is divisive XD

One of the things I like about this show is how a lot of the characters can cycle between antagonist and protagonist. Cheryl and Alice are two of the big examples, but even FP seems to want to be a genuine good dad to his son-he just happens to be a hard drinking criminal.

I agree but I'm still trying to figure out who the actual protagonist of this show is. I mean, I get that the initial reaction would be to say Archie, but Betty has more development and depth and Jughead is the narrator with a more interesting story.

Isn't the obvious answer all of them?

None of them are the "main" character, so to speak, but along with Veronica I'd say they're the big 4, essential to the plot.

Whoever ends up getting killed in the last 2 episodes, I doubt it'll be one of them, for sure.

Since the Jason Blossom murder will be wrapped up this season, i do wonder if Jughead's narration will still be a thing in season 2.

I was thinking of the protagonist problem the other day. If you define the protagonist as the character that is pushing the momentum of the story forward, then it would definitely not be Archie. I think Jughead is the protagonist. The show certainly has been banking on our emotional investment in Jughead the past coupe of episodes too.

A bit of casting news, we're getting a new Reggie in season 2 because his actor is too busy with 13RW, which is almost assuredly getting a second season at this point.

Also, Mark Consuellos might be playing Hiram Lodge (so we won't see him this season)-if his show Pitch doesn't get picked up for another year. If it does, Hiram will have to be someone else.

Hmm...casting for Reggie is interesting considering his ethnicity. Also, does 13RW actually need a third season. I can't bring myself to watch it for multiple reasons, but I do know the story well enough to know that its kind of mini-series material.

Second season, not a third.

I do wonder if they'll go for a non-Asian Reggie, it would probably not go over too well right now. Still, more Reggie would be good for making Archie more central since Reggie is supposed to be Archie's rival.

I did enjoy the early episodes with the two of them, both with Reggie not wanting Archie to get hurt, and yet still making fun of Archie's singing.

I knew plenty of people like that in high school- "I don't want you to be physically harmed, but I'm gonna mock you till the cows come home."

I liked how Reggie showed Jerk with a Heart of Gold tendencies with how he treats Archie. I hope they will cast a good replacement for Reggie.

I'm sad to see the current Reggie go.

The news at least makes me happy that they intended for there to be a lot more of Reggie, but the actor was so busy doing other things they didn't get to use him more. It's sad that he got recast, I think the actor is charming, but I guess it means the character will have more to do. It would be nice if they stuck to a minority for Reggie's casting. Preferably another Asian-American, but I'm always wanting to see more Latinx representation.

Lol Thanks Arthur, that's what I meant.

Hate to say it, though, but I found Reggie to be kind of a one-note character. He didn't really add anything to the cast. At least I could hate Chuck and Ms.Grundy; Reggie just made feel extremely indifferent to his character. It didn't help that his only real spotlight episode was him interacting with Archie. However, I'm happy that the actor is getting more opportunities.

But then again, I kind of hate bully characters. They're just so boring and cliche, even after they're redeemed. The exception, of course, is if they're of the hilarious Mean Girl variety.

edited 3rd May '17 4:54:22 PM by deuteragonist

I want to have Ludi Lin from the Power Rangers reboot to take over the role of Reggie, since that character has been played by an Asian actor.

Also, I'm not really sure who could play Sabrina Spellman, so I posted a list of actresses who could play her on the WMG subpage for the show.

Finally, I dislike this show's version of Josie and the Pussycats so much, I'm hoping they'll leave town in the season finale.

edited 4th May '17 3:53:30 PM by AmourMitts

Calling it now before the reveal, it's Veronica's mom. Or maybe Jughead.

Or not.

edited 4th May '17 7:02:14 PM by Mullon

I only caught the second half but...this episode was disturbing.

Edit: Okay so now that I have watched the whole thing: this was easily the best episode of the season. The acting was wonderful. So many bombs were dropped and secrets revealed.

Speaking of reveals, I didn't see the identity of Jason's killer coming at all. With that said, the actual murder scene was surprisingly heartbreaking and horrifying. And...that...ending.

Man, I love this show.

edited 4th May '17 8:26:57 PM by deuteragonist

I kind of thought that Clifford would kill himself when he was caught. I even correctly guessed how he killed himself.

I also thought that FP was going along with being accused of murder to protect his family in some way. That's something I'm pleased to be right about.

So much wham in one episode. What do they have left for the season finale?

edited 4th May '17 10:04:01 PM by BearyScary

Witches.

Wait, then what was the point of that scene where Mrs. Blossom drags Cheryl to the barn? Because that looked like it was (somehow) suppose to disprove that idea that Mr. Blossom was up to something shady, that's why she dragged Cheryl there in the first place.

I think it was just supposed to act as some form of foreshadowing, but I think it was also because Penelope was in the dark about what was really in the barrels. Or maybe it was just a warning for Cheryl to stop looking, I don't know.

Either way, I heard that there's going to be a bit of a genre-switch in the season finale (which is typical Archie comics), so I guess the introduction of Sabrina and witches will be perfect.

I don't think mama Blossom really knew what was going on.

She thought the problems and intrigue of her family would be best summed up by the money involved in the maple syrup business (which is pretty true to life-it doesn't matter if its maple syrup or cars or porcelain dolls, if there's enough money crime is sure to follow) and didn't really realize what was going on.

Last episode, she seemed entirely sure FP was guilty and broke down to Clifford.

Also that close-up shot of Cheryl crying when she gets the news was just Madelaine tearing up prepping for the scene and the camera operator just turned it on and began to film it.