10 reasons Why Riverdale is addictive


Instead of writing my assignment, I just unintentionally binged watched 7 episodes of Riverdale and now I need to wait sixteen days for the next episode! I suppose in a way this wait will save my uni work (probably not) but still, it sucks.

Before watching Riverdale, I had no idea what to expect or what the plotline was. I was bored, flicking through Netflix and recently I’ve seen on twitter that people were loving this show. Admittedly I was hesitant, I thought that I would watch the first two or three episodes and I’d be like ‘nope, bored’. However, I was hooked.

Riverdale manages to subtly blend in societal, political and psychological issues within the show storyline which I think makes the audience feel a connection. Earlier, I saw a tweet which said: ‘I feel so emotionally attached to Riverdale characters, they’re real ok?’. That just shows how strong a character’s presents can be.

*SPOILER ALERT, SPOILER ALERT* EVERYTHING ON THIS POST IS FEATURING EPISODES UP TO NUMBER 7! PLEASE STOP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT ANYTHING RUINED. GO WATCH IT AND THEN RETURN.

The first episode begins with a popular jock (Jason Bloom) claimed as being dead, however something doesn’t quite add up? We get told the story by Cole Sprouse character ‘Jughead’. Not long after, a new girl who was extremely wealthy and from New York moves to Riverdale and things begin to change. The way I’ve described it, does not give it justice but here are my 10 reasons why I think Riverdale is addictive:

N U M B E R  O N E: H A P P I L Y  N E V E R  A F T E R?


We are introduced too Betty and Archie. In a rom-com they would more than likely end up together and have a happily ever after. They were literally next door neighbours since they were four years old and had practically grown up together. With the help of Veronica, Betty confess her feelings for Archie. Archie doesn’t love her in the same way and then kisses Veronica (Juicy stuff! – breaking the rules of feminism though V). Nevertheless, we cannot deny that in one point of our lives we have loved someone who has not loved as back. Or one of our friends we love but not romantically has expressed feelings for us but we just don’t feel the same way. I know for me personally, I have been in both Archie and Betty position. I think it’s pretty realistic way of representing relationships, instead of this happy ending bullshit. It makes it easier to connect with Archie, Betty and Veronica!


N U M B E R  T W O: S L U T  S H A M I N G


What great film brings up the issue of slut- shaming in schools? You guessed it right, MEAN GIRLS! It turns out the football guys kept a book of girls in the school and created a point system. Depending on who the girl was and how far they got with them resulted in a score. Veronica, goes out on a date with Charlie. He is the football Captain and is known for being a player. Regardless, on their date, he and Veronica kiss. The next day at school, an Instagram selfie of Charlie and Veronica goes viral with a maple syrup splurge all over her face. We see a shot of Veronica scrolling through the comments calling her a slut as where to the guys, it was just a game to them. Veronica being extremely pissed off, demands that Charlie takes the photo down but instead he just laughs in her face telling her that she is just making it worse for herself. Betty convinces Veronica that they will expose Charlie in her newspaper and later found out that the football boys have done this to a lot of girls but they felt the need to stay quiet as no-one would believe them. In their investigation, Betty sees her sister name their besides Jason and this is when she demands justice. The girls hatch a plan and end up drugging Charlie in a hot tub and get him to confess that he and Veronica did not go any further than kissing and recording it, sending it around the school. The book ends up being on the front cover of the newspaper and the coach is forced to kick his own son of the team. You could argue that the girls had their victory.

N U M B E R  T H R E E: T E A C H E R / S T U D E N T  R O M A N C E


Admittedly, a teacher and student romance is an overused cliché but yet it’s so scandalous and dramatic that I kind of dig it. Archie and his music teacher are at the scene of the crime doing naughty things there. They hear a gunshot which is important to the Jason bloom investigation. His teacher does not want him to come forward as she would then lose her job. Archie is conflicted, but he knows that he needs to do the right thing and in the end comes forward, but lies about the reason he is there. Jughead sees the pair making out in the music room but tells Archie he would not tell anyone. Later, whilst Jughead and Betty were investigating their story. The individual who shot the gun, for exchange for their silence tells them that they saw her car at the scene of the crime, yet no-one else was aware that she was there. Betty puts 2 + 2 together and writes it down in her diary. She later confronts Archie when seeing Archie, Archies Dad and His teacher at the diner, and begins to investigate her. It was unclear if the teacher was in fact in-love with Archie, or if she was playing mind games. Nevertheless, the romance was cut short when Betty’s mum read her diary and threatens to go to the police. The teacher is allowed to run away, leaving Archie broken hearted.


N U M B E R  F O U R: T H E  N A R C I S S I S T I C  M O T H E R


Both Blossom’s and Coopers seem to have mothers who want to control their children. One particular scene stands out for me. Betty put on her sister's red lipstick and her mother stood behind her in the mirror and vigorously wiped it off and told her pink suit her better. Both mothers are blinded by their own selfish motivates and are oblivious to see how they’re behaviour effects their daughters. Cheryl Blossom mum even tries to prevent her from speaking at her own brother funeral in case she embarrasses the family. Yet, even though these women make my skin crawl. You can’t deny you do not know someone who is similar to this? Not as extreme. But at one time I’m sure a parental figure has to have things their own way.


N U M B E R  F I V E: L G B T  R E P R E S E N T A T I O N


Who did not fall in love with Kevin Keller? He’s an amazing character and appears to be a good friend too Betty and Veronica. He’s openly gay and he’s chilled about it. There wasn’t a big reveal. It was subtle. He is also the Sheriff son and I think the Sheriff is one of the only parents (apart from Fred) who isn’t a dick to his child. He even talks about his son pulling a lad and warns him about being careful with men. There wasn’t a big emphasis on him being gay, it was a part of him which he was proud of but it didn’t define him as a person and I think it’s an important message to send out. So well done Riverdale

N U M B E R  S I X: D E A T H 💀


A morbid reason really. But the show portrays a really clear picture about how things change and are never quite the same after someone you know passes away. And I think, most human beings who have lost a loved one can connect and relate to that.


N U M B E R  S E V E N: M E N T A L  H E A L T H  S T I G M A


Polly, who is Betty's sister is believed that she had gone away to a ‘safe’ place after she tried to kill herself. This was a cover story invented by Bettys parents to be able to hide her pregnancy. Nevertheless, people in school were still mean to Betty and would often tease her about her sister’s mental state and then her own. In episode six, Betty even starts to question her own sanity which Jughead responds ‘we are all crazy’. Sadly, mental health was seen as a weakness.

N U M B E R  E I G H T: A L C O H O L I S M


In episode seven, it’s revealed that Jughead dad is an alcoholic. He turns to drink and becomes aggressive or manipulative to Jughead. Blaming his circumstances on other people, instead of himself. And falsely promising his son that he will get a job and he will win back his wife. However, he fails to do so. Jughead stated to Archie that he will not leave his dad. But, the episode is emotional. Here we see a parent and child roles reversed. And sadly, this happens to a lot of people. Jughead gets called in to the police station and is questioned through his circumstances. The sheriff even says that children who grow up with a ‘dead beat dad’ and have a record like him are often guilty. Luckily, Archie’s dad (Fred) saves the day and gives Jughead an alibi to protect him. His dad later turns up to police station drunk, shouting about how unfair it was for the police to try and pin the investigation on him. This is truly powerful stuff which allows you to empathise with Jughead and sort of want to save him. But at the end of the episode we see Jason jacket in Jugheads’ dad wardrobe. Let’s pray there is a good reason why it’s there and that none of them are the killer!


N U M B E R  N I N E: T H E  S O U T H S I D E


The ‘bad’ crowd. The ‘them’ vs ‘us’ scenario. The people who have transgressed from society and are a menace. The type of group you should avoid. The rebels who do not stick to rules. In Riverside, these are people who have low socioeconomic status. Throughout the series we see a misrepresentation of rich vs poorer. And we can all fit in one of the categorise.


N U M B E R  T E N: A T T R A C T I V E   C H A R A C T E R S


Lastly, I mean just look at the above and tell me that isn’t a reason to watch Riverside?
   

Question: Who do you think killed Jason Bloom? xo

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