Do you remember reading Archie comic books when you were younger? Did you subconsciously assign yourself to either Team Betty or Team Veronica? Did you have a crush on Jughead only to now discover that your crush has intensified a thousandfold because Jughead is played in a new TV show by the one and only angel-on-earth Cole Sprouse? Did you attend high school? Do you love a good story? Are you intrigued by murder mysteries? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to watch CW's newest series, "Riverdale."

"Riverdale" is a television series that is based on the Archie comics and takes place in a high school setting, only there's something very dark about show's plot that the comics lacked.

The first episode begins with the mysterious death of Jason Blossom, a star football player at Riverdale High School. His sister, Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), was present at the scene of the crime and must deal with the reverberations of her brother's death each day.

In the midst of the turmoil that Jason's death is causing the town, Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), and Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) each endure their individual struggles and dynamic character growth.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of "Riverdale" is its portrayal of a seemingly perfect, sugar-coated American town. Although it seems as though Betty, Veronica, and Archie live idyllic lives in the golden high school age on the outside, they must come to terms with very difficult things. Betty and Veronica's friendship, like all friendships, faces threats and downfalls. Betty likes Archie who inevitably will never like her back, Betty's emotionally controlling mother always makes sure her daughter is taking her Adderall, Archie is caught in an affair with his music teacher, and Jughead exists in the shadows on the outskirts of the social hierarchy, enduring taunts and bullying from the jocks.

Each of these characters needs to overcome the struggles that accompany figuring out what to do with the rest of their lives, navigating the complex social strata of high school, and making the right decisions in the face of judgment. It's all extremely relatable, even though it definitely does have a sense of ethereal otherness and comic-book fiction.

Here's the thing about Jughead in this series. Cole Sprouse is a gift sent from above; yes, we've all known this for decades. But the character of Jughead serves as a lens through which the audience witnesses everything that happens in Archie's life. Jughead uses his artistic craft of writing to share what he has to say, which is plenty. He doesn't care at all about what anyone else thinks, he's clever, darkly sarcastic, slightly bitter thanks to his acute awareness to the realities of high school.

The soundtrack, too, is fantastic. A fan created a Spotify playlist , and I highly recommend it, especially for your newest gym playlist.

"Riverdale" most importantly, stands as a testament to the power of a good story. An enticing plot, an element of mystery, a seductive darkness--all of these factors contribute to why I eagerly look forward to the show each week.

To be able to temporarily escape the monotony and everyday stresses of reality and be transported to an entirely new and exciting dimension is what is so compelling about this show. It's distastefully indulgent. In the past, there has only been one other show that I've loved nearly so much: "The Carrie Diaries," also on CW. But that's worth an entire other article.

Watch Riverdale on Thursdays at 9 p.m. on the CW (or on www.cwtv.com).