Hey Teen Outlander!
The first episode of The CW’s new series, Riverdale, aired this week. The new series is based on the Archie comics, and the network has certainly given the original content a good shake-up.
In true CW style, the music is brilliant, the acting is decent and the actors all fit the CW look. It definitely seems as though The CW is trying to gain their Vampire Diaries fans since the series is ending this year, and perhaps they are trying just a little too hard. The high school melodrama isn’t as bad as some other shows, but it’s definitely toeing the line of cheesiness. If you watched season 1 of TVD, you’ll know what I mean.
Riverdale follows the main trio: Archie, an all-American teen; girl-next-door Betty, who is best friends with Archie; new girl Veronica, who is classy and has an air of mystery about her. Then of course you can’t have a high school drama without an outsider and that bitch of a character and so we add Jughead Jones, who is a bit of a loner and a sort-of friend to Archie; and Cheryl, who is the school’s queen-bitch. Riverdale has also incorporated the fantastic Josie and the Pussycats into the show, which has rumours circulating of a spin-off series.
Now let’s get into the first episode.
The show opens with Jughead Jones narrating us through the event that turns the small town of Riverdale on its head. Over the summer, the Blossom twins head out on a boat ride, with the two throwing off some serious twincest vibes. The high school golden boy somehow dies, and this sends the town into shock.
At first the narration feels off, but it fits a little better by the end of the episode, after the gritty undertones of the show have become more prevalent. Jughead’s character feels a little Veronica Mars-ish with the narration and observing the town, but instead of investigating, he is turning it into a novel.
Archie got hot! He’s got abs now. Six more reasons for you to take that ginger bull by the horns tonight!
We then meet Archie, who somehow got hot over the summer by working at his dad’s construction company. Best friend Betty has been crushing on him for a long time, and is trying to get herself out of the friend zone, but alas, new girl Veronica turns up and there is your crucial teen-drama love triangle.
However, Archie has his eyes set on someone else—Ms. Grundy, Riverdale High’s music teacher. The two had a seriously hot fling over the summer, and good thing the CW changed her character because in the comics she’s an old lady. Perhaps a little too much ‘sexy-teacher’ if you ask me. The two were at the river on the day Jason was killed and they heard a gunshot, but they can’t come forward for obvious reasons. Archie has decided to become a musician over the summer, and now seeks the guidance of Ms Grundy on his new career path. Can you see the scandal already?
Like any show set in a small town, everyone seems to have dated everyone. Archie’s father Fred and Veronica’s mother Hermione dated whilst they were in high school, until she chose the rich kid over him. Cue tension between the two causing an awkwardness between Archie and Veronica (see Gossip Girl, The Secret Circle.. Shall we add more CW shows to that list?).
Veronica helps Betty to try out for the cheer squad, and their faux-lesbian kiss seemed like a necessary move to help them get in. After a chilling and sassy speech, Veronica convinces queen-bitch Cheryl Blossom to take them both. The two then proposition Archie into taking them as his dates to the dance, where Betty chats to Archie about the two of them becoming something more. Unfortunately Archie doesn’t really respond to that and makes poor Betty feel rather awkward.
After the dance, there’s the most important part of the night, the after party. Evil Cheryl creates a game of 7 Minutes in Heaven, and Archie and Veronica end up in the closet together. They share a sweet kiss and find Betty has left the party. Archie quickly heads off to look for Betty where she pulls out the L word, but Archie tells her he will never be good enough for her. Is there any teen character that will ever be good enough?
The episode ends with Jason’s body being discovered and Jughead tells us the first arrest will be made very soon. Who could it be?
Overall, the episode was decent, but not anything to really rave about. Shows like these sometimes take a few episodes to find their rhythm, or sometimes they just need to make it through the first season for it to get better.
Riverdale will be back next week with ‘A Touch of Evil’, but if you haven’t watched it, you can check it out on Netflix!
Did you watch Riverdale? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
