O Riverdale! What have you done with my Jughead?!

[This post contains mild spoilers]

 I need to start off by saying I have always been a fan of the Archie comics. As a teen, I would spend every little dime I could save on the latest edition of Archie comics. I wasn’t above borrowing copies from friends too. So when I heard about Riverdale – based on the Archie Comics characters, I was stoked and ready to jump right on that train.

Watching the first episode, the first thing that stuck out was

Jughead Jones

There are several versions of the Archie comics and while the characters' looks changed over the years, they somehow managed to stay true to their core traits. But Riverdale didn’t do Jughead justice. In the comics, he was represented as tall, lanky, always-eating, lazy, (but smart) slouch. In Riverdale, we have Jughead Jones writing. ACTUALLY WRITING – and in the first couple of scenes, no less. I was not ready for that version of my favorite comic character.
Vulture


Riverdale’s Archie is an absolute f*ck boy

This may not stand out right away but as you slowly go through the thirteen episodes, you realize that Archie is a confused teenager who jumps from one bed to another in a bid to relieve his boredom and distract himself from his uncertain future. First there was Ms Grundy who I genuinely thought Archie loved, then there was Veronica, then Valerie (who is actually pretty awesome) then Veronica again. Plus the fact that he looked like he was about to confess his feelings to Betty when he was confirming if she was okay with he and Veronica. Now that she's happy, you suddenly think you two might have something?
 Is Archie a typical confused teenager or is he just a terrible person?

Plus why are all the parents so terrible?

There is also the disappointing fact that the show dumped more interesting storylines for the Who killed Jason Blossom mystery which clearly lacked all the prerequisites for a "mystery". I was more interested in other storylines like:

That Betty and Veronica kiss in “The River’s Edge”

That kiss, as interesting as it was, was completely unnecessary. How is kissing a girl supposed to get you on a cheerleading team? Except it's the 80s and the cheerleading team was a front for a Lesbian Support Group. I may be reading into things but it kind of looked like Betty enjoyed the kiss so I expected it to pop up again. As a conversation at least.



Miss Grundy

We know for certain that she only claimed to love Archie so he wouldn’t report her for statutory rape but I also want to know if she really is a predator. Does she go around sleeping with underage boys? What was she hiding in her former life? Why did she have a gun? Are we ever going to see her again?

 There’s also the fact that Ms Grundy was an old grumpy lady in the comics. How did they go from bitter old lady to middle-aged attractive predator?

Dark Betty

That episode where Betty went dark (Chapter Three: Body Double) was definitely my favorite. Are we ever going to see that again or would that just pop up when it’s convenient? I'm curious to see what happens when Betty doesn't clench her fists to stay in control.

 Another storyline that deserved a little more attention was the tale of what went down between Grandpappy Cooper and Grandpappy Blossom.

Overkill: The scene where Archie was punching a frozen river was definitely odd. I mean, he would have had a better chance stamping his feet on the ice but I see how the desperation plus blood was great for dramatic effect and the hero effect the show was definitely going for.

Verdict

Overall, the show was great but I feel like it would have been much better as a stand-alone. It could just have easily been about a small town called Monroe and how the death of a teenage boy changed the town. But I guess the idea of an already existing fan base was too enticing to pass on.

Have you seen Riverdale? What did you think of it – and that ending scene?

 Meanwhile, watch this adorable video of co-stars Cole Sprouse and KJ Apa - courtesy of E!