“Riverdale” is one of the CW's newest dramas and should be next on your summer watchlist.
It brings the Archie Comics characters to life in an intriguing mystery surrounding the murder of Jason Blossom. It's got love, lust, betrayal, and so much more.
It could’ve been your average teen drama, but it transcends that normalcy with its eerie uniqueness, seen and felt in the shots with almost too bright lighting, the unsettling musical theme, the illusion of the perfect family really brimming with darkness and fracturing by the second, and the stark color contrasts—such as the Blossoms' signature red and the fresh white winter snow. I was enraptured by the oddities and couldn’t stop watching because of them.
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Other than the great cast and the chilling creep factor, here are eleven other reasons why you should watch “Riverdale”:
1. The mystery
Whodunits are always fun because they keep you on the edge of your seat and constantly speculating on who the culprit is. I changed my own theories just about every episode. Don't worry, this show doesn't drag Jason's murder into the next season, thankfully you do find out who killed him by the first season's end.
2. Jughead and Archie’s bromance
3. Jughead in general
Smart, sarcastic, blunt, grey-hatted, and unabashedly himself, Jughead is an especially handsome breed of "weird." (As he calls himself.)
He is the show's narrator and is writing a novel about Jason's murder, making him a vital character. His kindness and resilience in spite of his difficult family life makes him admirable and triples his likability. Plus, I'm under the impression that his little grin could probably end wars.
4. Veronica and Betty’s friendship
Betty's the good girl with a bit of bad inside, and Veronica's the bad girl turned good, but still full of fire. Sweet vs. feisty, the two make an excellent pair.
5. Archie’s musical abilities
If you thought the dashing red-head couldn't get any more charming, you thought wrong, very, very wrong. Not only is Archie loyal, gorgeous, athletic, and incredibly thoughtful (like when he gathered up a group of friends to help his dad at work), he is also a talented musician. He sings, writes music, and plays the guitar. I know, he's basically everyone's dream guy. Lucky for us, you can listen to his songs on Spotify. My favorites right now are "The Song That Everyone Sings" by KJ Apa and "I Got You," a duet by KJ Apa and Hayley Law (Valerie).
6. The Blossoms
A prominent and affluent family living at the haunted-mansion-esque Thornhill estate, the Blossoms are the essence of creepy. Mr. and Mrs. Blossom are austere and primly made up like dolls in formal wear and even wigs, in the case of the father—what sane man has a closet full of identical red wigs?
Cheryl Blossom, the deceased Jason’s twin sister, is the classic queen bee with a proficiency in academics, cheerleading, flirting, and cutting down her “lowly” classmates with cruel insults.
7. Archie’s relationship with his dad
It is clear that family is important to Archie, as it should be, and he would do anything for his dad, just as his dad would do anything for him. His dad is unremittingly supportive and comforts Archie when he makes mistakes, one of them involving a certain music teacher that you'll meet if you watch the show.
8. The not-so-perfect parents
Every show could use a little crazy, and "Riverdale" has no shortage thanks to its duplicitous, belligerent parents. It's already been firmly established that the Blossoms are insane, but Betty Cooper's parents also go to scarily great lengths to keep secrets buried—like sending their daughter away for a particularly toxic secret. They also enjoy partaking in screaming matches, and Mrs. Cooper is a fan of smashing glass doors.
Jughead's dad is not a killer (or maybe he is, watch and see), but he wouldn't win any father of the year awards. He runs with a gang, the Southside Serpents, and has a major drinking problem.
Veronica's parents are the last slimy ones in town, her dad ruining lives through his corrupt business, and her mom being right there alongside him.
9. The humor
A show centered around a murder definitely needs some comic relief every now and then, much of which is brought on by Kevin and Jughead.
10. Pop's Diner
Pop's is an old-fashioned diner with black and white checkered floors, a neon sign, and red booths. The ideal place for sipping on milkshakes, going on dates, writing novels, and discussing possible suspects, of course. I don't think the main characters eat anywhere else.
11. The relatability
No, I’m not currently involved in any murder investigations, shockingly enough, but while that is the major plot point, it is not the only focus. This is a show about high schoolers dealing with all sorts of issues, familial, scholastic, and otherwise. Parents divorcing, getting bullied, feeling lost, trying to figure out a career, living up to parents' expectations, etc. Surely everyone can relate to at least one of those.
Here we get an idea of why Josie can be so controlling, as her unimpressed father leaves her performance
We were left with a cliffhanger—a deadly one at that—so season two can't come soon enough!
Catch the first 13 episodes on Netflix now!
