Betty’s Gonna Throw A Mean Right Hook When ‘Riverdale’ Returns Next Year
by Rachel Bellwoar
Who’s Betty (Lili Reinhart) punching? Hard to say, but whoever the guy is we won’t know for sure until Riverdale returns from its midseason hiatus.
In the meantime, while Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) cursing her friends isn’t news, it’s telling that the most exciting scene from the trailer was seeing Betty and Veronica (Camila Mendes) hugging. Not that there was any blowout between them. Maybe Betty dating Archie (KJ Apa) is a little weird, but their friendship has not been a priority on the show lately and it would be nice to see that again. Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Archie are basically strangers, but there’s still hope for Betty and Veronica.
As expected, it looks like the show is going to proceed like Rivervale never happened, but Rivervale could’ve been destroyed. Jughead had a plan that would’ve just kept Riverdale going, but nooooo. Had to keep it in rotation so the show could always bring it back.
Also not cool? Rivervale was supposed to be a five-episode event, but this week’s episode basically negated the last four, just to start over and break continuity for an episode that’s not going to have any lasting effects either.
The Jughead doppelgänger stuff was confusing (so Rivervale Jughead’s the one doomed to write in isolation?) and a missed opportunity, given Cole Sprouse has a twin.
That so many actors were willing to come back speaks again to the loyalty this show inspires in its cast, especially if you consider Covid protocols, and quarantining to make such a small appearance. Ross Butler showing up as Reggie Prime and getting to do scenes with Charles Melton was a stroke of genius, but had the show pared back on some of the cameos, there could’ve been more time to enjoy them. Jason (Trevor Stines) showing up for a scene is another cameo in a long line of cameos but what if the show had made him a part of all five episodes and let fans grow to love him the way Cheryl does? Rivervale could’ve made a lasting impression, by making him a character we wouldn’t get to see when Riverdale’s back to “normal” again.
Same goes for Archie being the villain. It’s a clever idea that happens too late in the episode to really register.
Riverdale will return in 2022 on The CW.