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9As these examples can attest to, ''Riverdale'' is as full of HoYay as it is maple syrup.
10----
11!! Betty and Veronica
12* Veronica takes an almost instant liking to Betty after having just met her and instantly jumps to her defence, telling Cheryl they come as a "matching set".
13* Veronica's solution to Cheryl not liking their cheer audition? [[TheBigDamnKiss Lay a big smooch on a bewildered Betty.]] Betty herself looks a little stunned afterwards. It's also worth mentioning that the soundtrack that accompanies the kiss implies that the kiss is serious, right until the kiss stops and MusicalisInterruptus.
14* Veronica trying to make up with Betty after their fight at the end of 1.01 comes across as someone trying to get back together with their girlfriend. She even sends her a bouquet of apology roses and signs the card "XOXO, V".
15* Veronica's jaw drops at seeing Betty in lingerie in 1.03. There are two people there to see Betty like this: Veronica and Chuck. No one's pretending ''Chuck'' doesn't look interested. And his expression and Veronica's are ''exactly the same''.
16* If the above scene makes it sound one-sided, that is disproven by the way Betty looked at Veronica and Cheryl during their dance-off.
17* When Betty and Veronica are fighting, Veronica confesses to Archie that she feels like being Betty's friend is her ''destiny''. She even compares losing Betty to missing a train headed towards the rest of her life. Many, ''many'' viewers have pointed out that Veronica is basically calling Betty her soulmate.
18-->'''Veronica''': Even though I only just met Betty, it really felt like we were ''meant'' to be best friends, like... like it was our destiny. And now... ''[sigh]'' It's like there was this train that was heading to the rest of my life, and I just... missed it.
19** In episode 1.02, Veronica immediately proclaims she wants to pair with Betty to work on a science class project and then remarks to Betty, "Once again, fate has thrown us together," complete with a wide smile. This is after the above example of Veronica's flower apology. One would think Veronica wants to be with Betty far more than Archie, the boy she supposedly wants.
20** In a Season 4 episode paralleling the Soul Mate aspect, Veronica tells Archie that she would follow Betty to the ends of the earth.
21* The scene in 1.02 when Betty asks Cheryl to hang out after school to get back at Veronica, and then Betty and Cheryl walk away ''holding hands'', complete with Betty maintaining eye contact with Veronica the entire time and Veronica looking agitated. The whole scene looks like Betty is trying to make Veronica jealous by "rebounding" on Cheryl.
22** Later in the episode, after a football game, Betty invites Veronica to the local Shoppe to have milkshakes together and then when they're sitting, Veronica makes this remark, "Betty... Can we make a vow? That no matter what, no ''boy'' will ''ever'' come between us again?" with Betty sealing it saying, "Deal," and the two tapping milkshakes. It screams like a make-up date between girlfriends.
23* In ''A Night To Remember,'' Betty and Veronica repair their friendship by singing ''You Shine'' from [[Literature/{{Carrie}} Carrie: The Musical,]] which is a love song between [[OfficialCouple Tommy and Sue.]]
24* In the final episode of Season 3, Veronica's challenge requires her to choose her "closest companion," with Betty immediately volunteering over Archie and Jug. In the end, Veronica makes a decision and tells Betty she loves her, citing their best friend relationship, with Betty returning the proclamation of love to Veronica. Noteworthy that in the next scene, Archie declares his love to Veronica when the two are alone.
25-->'''Veronica''': No. *Grabs Chaucer*\
26'''Betty''': V! Why did you do that?\
27'''Veronica''': Because I love ''you'', B. You're my [[HeterosexualLifePartners best friend]] and...\
28'''Betty''': I love you too, V.
29* In Season 7, Betty starts having erotic fantasies about Veronica. By episode 12, she admits her attraction to Veronica and they come within seconds of kissing before [[AlmostKiss being interrupted.]]
30
31!! Archie and Jughead
32* When Archie meets up with Jughead at Pop's, there's this narration when taken out of context:
33-->'''Jughead''': ''(narrating)'' It was midnight when my old friend Archie Andrews arrived at the one place in town that was still open. He was looking for the girl next door. Instead, he found me.
34* During their falling out, it was pointed out that the way Archie and Jughead acted around each other was less like two people who have stopped being friends and more like ex-boyfriends. After the reveal as to why Archie and Jughead had a falling out ([[spoiler: F.P., Jughead’s father, was stealing supplies from Fred Andrews’s construction company, so some harsh words being exchanged between Archie and Jughead]]) the behaviour is justified: They didn’t just ''outgrow'' their friendship, but were two people who ''wanted'' to remain friends but didn’t know how to move past the unpleasant circumstances. In hindsight, this doesn’t make HoYay vibes lessen.
35* The HoYay between Archie and Jughead has only increased since they've mended their friendship.
36-->'''Jughead''': ''(laughing)'' We're not gonna hug in front of this whole town!
37* On his birthday, Jughead intended to go to the movies with Archie rather than his girlfriend. He also wasn't enthused when Archie insisted he takes Betty instead.
38* Canonically, Archie refers to Jughead as his brother, and at times their behaviour does resemble that of siblings rather than that of friends.
39* In 2.07, Archie tells Jughead he fantasises about living together in New York City. To ''really'' ramp up the HoYay, Archie says that in this scenario, their girlfriends ''aren't'' living with ''them'', but instead with ''each other''--a la ShipMates.
40-->'''Archie''': You know, I had this stupid idea. After graduation, instead of going to college, we'd both move to New York. You were this writer, and I'd be this musician, and we'd both live in like the East Village or something. Just doing our thing.\
41'''Jughead''': Pretty sure the East Village doesn't exist anymore. ''[beat]'' Where are Betty and Veronica in this scenario?\
42'''Archie''': They're roommates on Park Avenue.
43** In the same episode, Cheryl refers to them as [[Series/SesameStreet "Bert and Ernie,"]] a pair memetically famous for their HoYay.
44** In episode 6.01, Tabitha tallies the pancake eating competition between Jughead and Archie, which Archie wins by three pancakes, a total of 119. Jughead then looks at Archie and says that he's like a brother to him and that he loves him.
45
46!! Josie and... several girls
47Josie seems to have subtext with all the girls she has any kindness toward.
48* '''Cheryl''': Cheryl seems to be the only one able to ask for Josie and the Pussycats to perform at the drop of a hat, and in 1.02, the Pussycats perform a rather sexual rendition of "Sugar, Sugar" while keeping she/her pronouns. In the extended version of the performance, Cheryl even comes up on stage to sing the song with Josie. After that, it's only because of Cheryl that Josie will give Archie a chance with his music, with Josie even calling her "my girl".
49** Josie is very physical in her comforting Cheryl after her [[AttemptedRape experience of nearly being raped by Nick.]]
50** Goes into {{Yandere}} territory in 2.07, where it's hinted that [[spoiler: Cheryl was the one who left the threatening note and pig's heart for Josie out of jealousy that she went on a date with Chuck]]. And in the following episode, Cheryl is ''very'' quick to offer Josie a rubdown to untense her back muscles in the girls' shower room. And she accepts.
51* '''Veronica''': Veronica and Josie have a quite sensual dance in "In a Lonely Place", which Kevin even calls "going ''Film/BlackSwan''."
52* '''Valerie''': Josie and Valerie are also very close.
53** Let's not forget that Valerie is the songwriter and [[RecursiveAdaptation possibly]] wrote the song "Sugar Sugar", which is essentially a song about how attractive another girl is, one with long legs and brown eyes... hmmm...
54* In Chapter 20, Josie is working on the song "Spooky". The song is originally by Chris Montez, and in his version, the line goes "a spooky little girl like you." Josie is shown singing it as ''both'' "spooky little girl" ''and'' "spooky little boy." If she sang it the original way, that wouldn't mean much, because it's just a song. And if she changed it ''all'' the time, that would suggest straightness. But to change it ''partway'' but not ''all the way'' seems odd, deliberate, and bi.
55
56!!Veronica and... several girls
57* '''Betty''': See the "Betty and Veronica" heading
58* '''Josie''': See Josie's heading
59* '''Cheryl''': There's Veronica comforting her in 1.03, all of their interactions in 1.05. Veronica [[spoiler:is the only one to 1) notice Cheryl's odd behaviour in the days leading up to her suicide attempt, 2) figure out almost immediately what "be with Jason" means, 3) stay with Cheryl for more than five minutes after she tried to kill herself]]. And she seems to enjoy touching Cheryl's hair.
60** Veronica seems to be [[DistractedByTheSexy checking Cheryl out]] [[EatingTheEyeCandy for a moment during their dance-off.]] The dance-off itself being very sexual and sexually charged.
61** In 2.06, it's revealed that Veronica let Cheryl sleep over after the [[AttemptedRape traumatic experience]] Cheryl suffered the last episode, and, judging by the colour of the silk pyjamas Cheryl's wearing, even let Cheryl borrow some of her pyjamas.
62*** Also, in 2.06, Veronica refers to Cheryl as "Cherry Bombshell."
63** In 1x10, there's a scene that can only really be explained by Cheryl [[OperationJealousy trying to make Veronica jealous.]] To wit, Cheryl starts dancing erotically with Moose and ends up making out with him, all while staring right at Veronica and making sure to be in her line of sight. For extra gayness, Veronica does seem to be a little jealous.
64** In 2x17, many fans pointed out the fact that Veronica chose to wear a [[NavelDeepNeckline very revealing]] top for her and Toni's mission to [[spoiler: rescue Cheryl.]]
65** They even kiss in Season 6 finale [[spoiler: so that [[AllYourPowersCombined Veronica can transfer everyone's powers to Cheryl.]]]]
66* '''Ethel''': Veronica being very protective and caring towards Ethel, and Ethel, in turn, even puts aside [[spoiler: what Veronica's father did to Ethel's family]] in favour of their friendship.
67* In 3x15, Toni and Veronica sing “Call Your Girlfriend,” a song wherein the narrator urges the listening to break up with their girlfriend to date the former, while Cheryl looks on with jealousy and seems threatened.
68
69!! Cheryl and... several girls
70Cheryl is no different from Josie and Veronica in this regard, except that she can do subtext even while being mean.
71* '''Josie''': See Josie's heading
72* '''Veronica''': See Veronica's heading
73* '''Betty''': She doesn't respect Betty's personal space and is happy to straddle her lap to put makeup on in 1.02. They also ''held hands'' in the same episode and seems to make Veronica jealous at that. There's also the extremely LesYay locker room scene in 2.02, which practically looks like the opening scene of a lesbian porn film—not helped by the fact that Cheryl is wearing lingerie the whole time and gets relatively close to Betty's face, almost like they are about to start making out.
74* '''Polly''': Cheryl went as her date to Homecoming and campaigning for them to be co-queens of homecoming. (She says that it's because it's the next best thing to Polly and Jason being king and queen together, but still.) Cheryl playfully calls her "naughty!" She even nicknames her "Pollykins," which, of course, evokes Veronica's nickname for Archie, "Archiekins." [[spoiler: She even cried when she sees Polly and Jason in the afterlife, telling Polly she misses her in an obvious romantic sense.]]
75* Cheryl arguably had some of this with her GirlPosse Ginger and Tina before she "fired" them as her minions.
76
77!! Betty and... several girls
78Betty has some moments of pure LesYay.
79* '''Veronica''': See the "Betty and Veronica" heading.
80* '''Cheryl''': See Cheryl's heading.
81* '''Ethel''': The fact Betty jumped to come at her rescue when Chuck comes to her looks like a protective girlfriend in 1.10. Also, some of their moments in Season 3 between {{Yandere}}-like obsession and team-up.
82* '''Toni''': There was a ton of moments between Betty and Toni in early season 2. Toni noticeably checked Betty out in their first interaction and looked rather intrigued by her serpent dance. And after that, she said to Jughead before she's more into girls in 2.06.
83* With Evelyn in Season 3. She is utterly obsessed with Betty and relentlessly attempts to court her friendship, even after Betty repeatedly makes it more than clear that she wants nothing to do with Evelyn or The Farm. Evelyn also goes out of her way to touch a noticeably creeped-out Betty in the musical episode, and then there's the scene in 3x19 where Betty pins Evelyn against a wall and gets right in her face while threatening her.
84* Also with Donna in Season 4. They're antagonistic for each other, but their meetings look like dates as they talk at Pop's and in the woods. As Betty said: "People will say we're in love".
85* And again with Agent Drake in Season 6. She's even flattered when Drake reveals she has a crush on her.
86
87!! Reggie and Archie
88* Reggie's very first scene in the first episode is complimenting Archie's new physique and acting as his hype man for the rest of the episode. Given the theory from the old comics that he was a closeted bisexual with a crush on Archie...
89* Reggie also immediately (and very enthusiastically) seconds Cheryl's vote for Archie to be the first player in Spin The Bottle. Almost as if Reggie wanted the bottle to land on himself.
90* After this, the two settle instead as rivals, butting heads thanks to Reggie antagonising Jughead, however despite their competition to become quarterback, the two end up treating one another as a WorthyOpponent, Reggie going as far as to make sure Archie isn't damaging his health and Archie subsequently dropping out so Reggie could take it.
91* After Reggie's recasting in the second season to allow the character more screentime, his HoYay with Archie has massively spiked, with him regularly making physical contact, affectionately teasing him, and being his Number Two within the Red Circle.
92
93!! Archie and other boys
94* Some fans have picked up on a certain tension between Archie and Sweet Pea.
95* Archie and Dilton seem to have picked up a habit of [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace getting very physically close to each other,]] speaking in hushed tones and maintaining eye contact way longer than necessary.
96* Archie's Red Circle video is infamously homoerotic.
97* In the outtakes, apropos of nothing, KJ Apa (Archie) starts holding Casey Cott's (Kevin) hand after finishing--or rather, thinking he's finished--a shot.
98* Archie and Hiram may have some tension going on, particularly in "The Wrestler" and "The Hills Have Eyes." Some fans even think they have better chemistry than Varchie, which is all kinds of Freudian NoYay weirdness.
99* Archie and Mad Dog.
100
101!! Jughead and other boys
102* There was a lot of tension between Jughead and Sweet Pea early in the second season, with Sweet Pea showing absolutely no respect to Jughead's personal space and almost harassing Jughead into joining the Serpents. Toni even lampshades it by suggesting Sweet Pea "take the hint" that Jughead "just isn't that into you." After [[spoiler: Jughead officially joins the Serpents]] mutual respect starts to grow, although there is still some animosity and just as much sexual tension.
103* There was arguably some tension between Reggie and Jughead early in the series, with Reggie going out of his way to harass Jughead and putting a lot of thought into creating particular insults for Jughead coming off almost as if he [[LovingBully had a crush on him.]]
104* In the early episodes of the series, fans picked up on Jughead's habit of either remembering or imagining instances of him and Jason [[HeldGaze gazing into each other's eyes from a distance for longer than necessary.]]
105
106!! Other HoYay
107* Fred and FP in season one gave off a lot of ex-boyfriends vibes. Their reconciliation, at times, comes off as a romantic one. In [[Recap/RiverdaleS3E04Chapter39TheMidnightClub Chapter 39: The Midnight Club]] they even [[ItMakesSenseInContext streak together!]]
108* Penelope comes off as having a crush on Sierra in [[Recap/RiverdaleS3E04Chapter39TheMidnightClub Chapter 39: The Midnight Club]]. In particular, fans noticed that Penelope never reprimanded Sierra for drawing on the mirror, nor did she demand a hall pass as she did from Alice and Hermione, despite Penelope being a rule pushing “teacher’s pet,” the way Penelope perked up when Sierra suggested playing Truth or Dare, the way she and Sierra walk down the hall with their arms linked together just like [[OfficialCouple FP and Alice and Hermione and Fred do,]] and the fact that she expressly set up the pairs for the scavenger hunt so that she and Sierra would be alone together.
109* There’s a lot of tension between Alice and Penelope. They tend to lack respect for each other’s personal space and have great chemistry. In the flashback mentioned above episode, Alice even responds to Penelope slapping her back by ''grinning and licking her lips.''
110* Sweet Pea and Fangs are rarely seen apart, and the way they seem to constantly look out for and protect each other, along with scenes like Sweet Pea's reaction to Fangs getting kicked out of the Serpents by Jughead, give off more than just a little bit of HoYay.
111* At Cheryl's key party in season five, Reggie ends up picking Fangs' keys--and rolls with it, kissing him before the two left. It's mitigated at the end with Fangs saying that Reggie is "100% straight", but the fact remains that Reggie initiated the kiss and was willing to fool around.

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