#that's a whole comic jughead vibe

[kraniumet]

wait. roberto aguirre-sacasa being a civil war (comic event) era marvel writer. i suddenly understand riverdale

#the insane pace and the lack of continuity between episodes. its because each episode is written as a comic issue. #the whole thing where . jughead reading peoples minds is pictured as him flipping comics (very ygo esqe but not the actual vibe) #just making cheryl become jean grey. the archie multiverse is really. comic universe reboot universe reset any% speedrun. ah. just like #flashpoint. house of m #like. it is truly and fully a bad comic run #inconsistent morals. jughead is depression era peter parker :(

[mejomonster]

Oh an FYI, for better or worse the Riverdale show is intensely inspired by Twin Peaks.

I feel like if you've ever seen twin peaks, this becomes immediately obvious within seconds of turning on Riverdale.

Like, on technicality, yes riverdale is "based on" Archie comics. And in a sense that's not totally wrong. It definitely plays with 50s aesthetics despite being set in 2000s (sort of like Twin Peaks lives in the "retro" even though it's technically not set in the past), and it uses the fact its based on a fun comic to really just have Fun going all out camp. It doesn't Care the bad guys name is Blossom like a fucking cartoon lol, it IS like one. It doesn't care the colors aren't about the realism like at all but about pretty colors, cartoons don't care if they're going for what pops. It doesn't care its calling stuff Jingle Jangle and the Serpents and the Black Hood and the Sugar Man, because hey that's exactly what a kids cartoon would do especially an older one having a fun time being ridiculous. So like yeah, in that way, you can see the comic vibe. And in a way I don't like really noticing at all and would rather ignore, it does in some ways try to keep some elements of those original core characters (which in some ways I Ah really wish Riverdale had nothing to do with an existing property because then I'd actually have no issues with it at all lol... but 1 we live in a time where almost everything is a remake adaptation prequel sequel and that's like the whole Industry top levels fault at the end of the day-.- and 2 for better and worse I think in some ways the show does actually care for the original material, which I did not expect and feel conflicted about and mostly want to avoid but it Is there if you look for it.)

Like. In a way Riverdale is if you made an Archie fanfiction Twin Peaks au. It's so Twin peaks. It screams Twin peaks for modern teenagers.

Like? Alice Cooper is the same actress that played the waitress with the abusive truck driver husband in Twin Peaks (they even use a Twin peaks image of her for the newspaper article of her younger self). Jughead's dad is one of the bad guys from Scream (and I feel like that on its own screams a LOT about horror and camp themes and references). So many shots in Riverdale (at least up to the season 2 I've watched) are direct shots from Twin Peaks. The color scheme reliance on red is Twin peaks, and the blue reliance is Riverdale playing with its own use of color the same way. The Riverdale town sign is a direct shot from Twin Peaks. Jughead and the biker gang in GENERAL and the Whyte Worm are like huge obvious parallels to the leather jacket wearing biker gang in Twin Peaks lol??? The weird dialogue, while not having the same effect at ALL of Twin peaks surreal shit, is likewise obviously trying to not be normal. Riverdale doesn't want to sound normal, it's happy to be weird as shit and whatever IT wants to be, and that's a very Twin Peaks attitude.

My dad said when Twin Peaks aired everyone thought it was so weird and interesting. And like. I'm not sure I can say I've got an opinion of Riverdale much yet, but I can say yeah... if you're used to media trying to be normal, like the other stuff, realistic, no surrealness in your media, then lmao of course Riverdale is weird. Yet if you've ever seen Twin Peaks or equally bizarre stuff, Riverdale is pretty tame and mundane and only in the shallow end of weird to be quite Frank (as of mid season 2 where I am). Like... I am DESPERATE for Riverdale to take off the training wheels for its "audience thats never seen Twin Peaks" and FINALLY go as weird as Twin Peaks! Or weirder! Give me weirder! It's still actually like... Twin Peaks episode 1 level weird, just with more camp. Riverdale hasn't even entered end of season 1 Twin Peak Bizarre levels yet.

Anyway back to my point. I think seeing it as a homage to Twin Peaks sort of makes obvious a lot of stuff that seemed... incomprehensible about Riverdale, tbh? Like... why have a biker gang, why act like you're in the past even though you're set in the present, why have a killer, why have an adult manipulating a student, why have fucked up rich people messing with the town, why have a weird bar that fights happen at, why have murders and a curfew no one listens to, why have random people hook up and have secret affairs and ties, why do people say weird shit, why are there sudden dance or singing scenes, why would a character show up doing a drug deal or hiding jewelry or trying to run away or... because Twin Peaks did. So MUCH of Riverdale is so clearly a homage to Twin Peaks.

I'm waiting for a log lady equivalent, a confusing dream sequence, a truly fucked up gambling club full of teen girls, a doppelganger, stuff Twin Peaks did that was bizarre that Riverdale hasn't even reached yet.

Tldr I just think like. It's neat. It's nice even. I like this aspect. I think a lot of early reactions I saw to Riverdale, a long long time ago back when they really were reacting to like "very ordinary plot" season 1? Was in part people reacting to a show doing some things like Twin Peaks, but they'd never seen a show do That before and so were just like wow WEIRD. And like. Fair. But also sometimes the weird feeling... is the point.

#riverdale #lb

[alaffy]

Riverdale, Ep. 7x05 - Tales in a Jugular Vain (spoilers)

Like last week, I had to take a break before I wrote this. Unlike last week, it's for a good reason. I'm going to be honest, the first fifteen minutes of this episode...I thought I was going to hate it. But this might be the best episode of Riverdale in a long time. And I think it should be mentioned, this episode literally ends with a to be continued; so the ending of the episode isn't the ending at all. Far from it.

So, I'm going to do this a little bit differently. I'm not really going to go into the four stories Jughead wrote (rather I'm not going to spend time writing about what they were about). They're clearly going for a Tales From the Crypt Vibe (although John Water's seems to get mixed in by story three). I didn't like the first two stories. I thought the third was pretty good. And I loved the fourth one.

Riverdale finally did the classic Archie story. Betty and Veronica fight over Archie as he strings them along. Then, they see him with another woman. But do they let him sting them along like in the comics? Fuck no. They dug his coffee and cut him in two (and it is the best scene ever. Betty and Veronica are just so happy). And, yes, there is some misogynistic tones in this story (ok a lot and in three of the stories). This is something I will get to in a minute. Just...I've always hated the love triangle and, to me, this was the best way it could end. So, just let me have my happy moment.

So there are two things going on in this episode which, and I cannot express this enough, ends with a cliffhanger. The first is the very real history of comics in the 1950s; how they we're seen a threat to the "very decency" of the American way. That their stories are corrupting the youth; even though, as Jughead says, many of them were morality tales. But, even if they weren't, it's the age old story of blaming something for the issues in society instead of dealing with the issues of society (Or in this case, the psychologist says that comics are to blame for the death of Ethel's parents and they should be focusing on punishing the writers instead of, you know, actually finding the killer). And so, the psychologist is going to go on a crusade against the writers. And who's name is about to pop up on a list...well, one Mr. Jughead Jones. I wondered if he would end up in the Sister's and I have a feeling that may be the case. So, let's be clear, this episode touched on the whole Comics Code and the complicated history...but the point wasn't to deal with it in this episode; it's to set up for whatever happens to Jughead next. And, as strange as it is to write, I actually do have a feeling this might be the one topic Roberto may actually have a bit of knowledge on.

What the episode mostly focuses on, or the parts between the stories, is Jughead and Veronica. Veronica comes over and is hoping for a date with Jughead. However, she finds out he has a deadline to write four short stories. But, she's very supportive and asks him to tell her the stories. As he goes on, and as it becomes clear that he has used the people he knows in these stories, Veronica finds herself less enamored with him. She even points out that, the way he writes his female characters, is...gross. It is misogynistic. And so she leaves and that's the end of Jeronica. And, at first, it seems like we have another moment were we have the writers using the characters to call out the things that the fans have been complaining that the writers do (kind of like the Pussycat episode in season 5). Here's the thing...that's not completely inaccurate; but it's not what's completely happening here. When Jughead is confronted by Veronica about the way he has portrayed the people he knows as these...well, they're very unflattering views; Jughead gets defensive. He says their just stories. Later, Jughead tells his publisher that Veronica just didn't get his vision. And the thing is...this isn't new (well, the misogyny is new, but not the complaints). We have seen this since season 2. Jughead decides to use Toni's grandfather's story without his permission. He uses Betty's trauma as a way to keep a book contract. Apparently he really mischaracterizes the Serpents in his book (although we don't know exactly how). Hell, it can't be denied that Jessica might actually have stolen his story because she's afraid of what he's written (he does have a history). That fact is that Jughead Jones has never learned two things about writing. While it is true writers write what they know; good writers know not to mischaracterize their friends and, most importantly, good writers know that just because they are a part of a story, that doesn't automatically mean that it's their fucking story to tell. The writers have touched on this for years and never really dealt with it.

It seems like that writers are setting up for a really interesting juxtaposition here (if they can pull it off. Big if). On the one hand, we are dealing with this fascist belief that anything outside of what people considered the norm must be condemned and punished. On the other hand, we have a writer (Jughead) that doesn't understand that, while everyone should have the freedom to write without punishment, that doesn't mean that...how to put this, people have a right to be upset. Not everybody's going to like you write. And people have the right to be upset when you use them in an unfairly flattering light or use their story without their permission (or go off on tangents that make no fucking sense. Oh, and straight up lie). Now, whatever is about to happen to Jughead will far exceed what Jughead deserves (again, he doesn't deserve punishment; just needs someone to hit him with the brick of truth and tell him exactly how his writing has been hurting others). IF this is where there going (and IF they can pull this off...I really don't know if they can); this is an interesting debate. How do we make a society where writers are not punished for holding beliefs or writing things that others may considered outside the "norm," but still holding writers accountable for when their writings do harm others? And to what degree? (Because there's different levels of harm. There's what Jughead has done in the past and then there's JK Rowling). Look, the rest of the 1950s plots can jump off a cliff. But if the writers actually are dealing with censorship and Jughead's lack of self-censorship; I may not end up hating this season after all.

#riverdale #riverdale spoilers #jughead jones #veronica lodge #betty cooper #cheryl blossom #archie andrews

[rainbow-universe]

This is random but do you have any favorite aro characters in media? Or characters who give you aro vibes?

No pressure!!

Ack! Oooooh good question!

Ok so idk many canon aro characters (which is sad there needs to be more and i am finding more but alas we have not met yet) but i do know some!! as for headcanoning, honestly i need to headcanon more characters as aro lol. disclaimer,, i went around looking at other peoples headcanons and agreed with them and now i share them with you :)) but also like for these characters i just have vibes and no explanation, solely going off what headcanons i saw that made me go “oooh yes” with no solid reasoning

CANON

BOOKS/COMICS/ETC

Jughead Jones from the Archie Comics: an iconic aroace

Yelena Belova from the Marvel Comics: is canonically aroace afaik so go her, she’s fantastic

Georgia Warr from Loveless (Alice Oseman): is aroace!! 😭😭 her story devastated me in its relatability but it’s fantastic and i love her

Gwen from An Accident of Stars (Foz Meadows): an alloaro in a polyamorous relationship and has a kid. It’s canonically mentioned offhandedly but it’s NOT Her Entire Personality™️ !! Plus she’s a kickass character (And the whole book is filled with polyamory!!) i love Gwen, she’s a really cool character

HEADCANONS

BOOKS/COMICS/ETC

Garfield: i saw it. i liked it. fuck yah

Edmund Pevensie from the Chronicles of Narnia: yes. why not. yes. i saw the headcanon and just,, agreed with i.

Saiki K: haven’t watched the anime or read the manga but it’s on my list and therefore so is he. why not

Elatsoe from Elatsoe (Darcie Little Badger): canonically ace, not stated that she’s aro BUT THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN A FRIEND OF HERS WAS LIKE “you can bring a friend or a zucchini” or something AND I SQUEED BC QPR’S FOR THE WIN !! that little mention made me really happy. anyways yah she could totally be arospec

Bruce Wayne from Batman Comics/DC: i mean,,, the fact that im pretty sure he’d never give up being Batman for anyone, like sure he’ll have relationships and w/e but like,, idk it makes sense to me

Damian Wayne from Batman Comics/DC: yes. aro or arospec Damian just makes sense for some reason. i would also go as far as saying arospec Jason Todd as well ….

Bakugou Katsuki from My Hero Academia: aspec Bakugou just,, i love aspec Bakugou. it just makes sense to me. and i love it.

Todoroki Shouto from My Hero Academia: yes. he just has them aro/arospec vibes tbh

MOVIES/SHOWS/TV/ETC

Natasha Romanoff from the MCU: ive heard this before and i agree w aro or arospec Natasha. just yes.

Bruce Banner from the MCU: yes. not to mention the Hulk is green 👀 we love aro colours (and his purple shirts?? aroACE vibes !! 👀)

Loki from the MCU: absolutely. have y’all seen the amount of green he wears? and just his vibes. yes.

Tony Stark from the MCU: ya know now that im thinking about it, he’s got aro vibes.

The Doctor from Doctor Who: yes. never watched Doctor Who but i did read that one tumblr post about aro characters being passionate about their interests and i loved the headcanons from it so The Doctor makes the list

Enjorlas from Les Misérables: from that same post so yes

Newt Geiszler from Pacific Rim: again the same post, and yes i see it (kaiju!!)

Sherlock Holmes: as much as i love Johlock as a ship, aro or arospec Sherlock just Makes Sense™️ (and can still work with Johnlock heh)

Elsa from Frozen: aroace or wlw (or both 👀)

Merida from Brave: yes. totally aro. i love her.

Milo Thatch from Atlantis: The Lost Empire: from that one post lol. (and like,,, yes. yes.)

Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty: aroace icon. (we love villainous aroace’s lol /just as genuine as sarcastic) all that green and purple?? yessssssssss

Hiro Hamada from Big Hero 6: (i need to rewatch this movie lol) i saw headcanons for it and immediately agreed. i love aroace Hiro. it makes sense to me

Castiel and Dean Winchester from Supernatural: ya know, arospec Cas and arospec Dean just seem to make sense to me. idk why couldn’t tell ya but it does

Luke Skywalker & Rey from Star Wars: they just have aro vibes. even if Rey’s in a polycule w Finn and Poe, she’s still aro or arospec imo

~~~

That one tumblr post in question:

#oak answers things #oak txt #anon <2 #aro characters #aromantic characters #aromantic headcanon #jughead jones #yelena belova #georgia warr #garfield #edmund pevensie #saiki k #elatsoe #bruce wayne #damian wayne #bakugou katsuki #todoroki shouto #natasha romanoff #bruce banner #loki #the doctor #enjorlas #newt geiszler #sherlock holmes #elsa frozen #merida #milo thatch #maleficent #hiro hamada #castiel

[thatiranianphantom]

Having watched the s6 finale I can agree it did seem very final, biases aside I don’t see why jabitha would get a whole flashforward of them growing old with kids if that was just to be rehashed the next season same with the rushed barchie engagement. I know they changed the s6 ending to send them back to the 50s and with the story of the 3 Jugheads, narrator Jughead writing what was the season for comic books in vale and with a lot of the s6 storyline never answered I’m assuming it will just be continued into the 50s AU/timeline whatever it is. I have no idea what to make of the season with how those writers are but my best guess is after the 50s crap it’s them going back to sometime maybe before the supernatural or them forgetting entirely.

That's the vibe I got from my dash. People were saying it felt very much like "this is over now" in the finale.

And yeah, agreed. I don't see why they very much crammed the Happily Ever After montages in last minute and then implied the universe was gone if they planned on going back to that. That feels like the way you bookend a story, not keep it going.

This does now mean that we're in the 50s, and to that a big 😐 , but they will eventually have to get back to RD Prime, which means they will have to reset to ~some point, and they could literally reset to any point.

Bringing them back to high school is hilarious because none of these people look anything like they could be in high school. God this season will be sad. But my point is, that means that theoretically they could reset to the end of high school in early s5 and kill all the idiocy that came after it. Will they? I doubt it, because they would render two seasons pointless. But hey, they should. They'd get rid of the stuff nobody, not even the BAs liked, and get them back to a good place in the end.

#answered #The fact that the network was rumored to be pissed seems like good news #they have to turn a profit this season #and they won't do it with a meandering plot and the vale couples #Riverdale

[thetaoofbetty]

Cheryl saying that she'll open a path for Archie again just like 517 just keeps proving that it was the explosion at the mines that created the universes. The universes might have started on 517 so everything from 518/519 are not real, or at least not from our real Riverdale.

that is interesting.

i'm not married to any one theory tbh but i do think it's interesting that the bomb under the bed isn't a set point. and in 6x05, jughead wakes up in two different places, right? which gives off loop vibes.

while rivervale is on an endless time loop because of vale jughead writing stories in the bunker, the bomb in riverdale still goes off. with interference from jughead in some way (allegedly). i know betty says her life flashed before her eyes and she knew she needed to go to archie's when she and jughead are talking but she also didn't seem to really know that rivervale shouldn't exist so is that time loopy too? i don't know because i'm currently very tired.

what's always stuck out to me and why i've always side eyed the whole thing about the dale verse not being right is that in 6x01 archie is the one who has the dream about the explosion with the bomb under the bed and then in 6x05 he denies knowing anything or remembering anything when jughead shows him the comic until betty reminds him that he had a dream about it.

but...betty was there? in the comic and in the dale? jughead's whole theory about fixing it has betty with archie in the explosion but she never has any memories or knowledge of it in 6x05. if archie was there at the point of creation, then so was betty so why doesn't she remember it?

so, you know, i have questions.

#besos! #anonymous #riverdale spoilers #riverdale speculation

[deacblues]

I'll admit I know next-to-nothing about Archie comics, but have you ever imagined particular Archie characters' classpects or if they'd read/like Homestuck? (Somewhat related to the "Peter Reads Homestuck" comic that is so perfect XD)

I never really thought about it before! I'm not much of a classpecting guy so it's not really something I think about when I read other stuff. In theory, it should be pretty easy for Archie comics since the characters have so few consistent character traits, just roles they fill out in each story.

Archie - Heir of Blood. Archie is kind of the hardest character to classpect because he's the most fluid out of all of his friends. He can be a klutz or a star athlete, he can be charming or boorish, caring or callous, depending on the needs of the story. But generally, he's a guy that things happen to; he doesn't propel the plot forwards. That makes him a perfect candidate to be an heir, I think! And, of course, the central conflict of most all Archie comics is that he can't choose between Betty and Veronica. Blood is all about love! The bonds you have with others, and Archie is always at the center of his friends, his family, and the town of Riverdale. So I guess he's an Heir of Blood.

Jughead - Bard of Breath. Jughead is a weird guy. Kind of a weirdo. Have you ever seen him without his silly hat? -- But really, Jughead is a weird guy in Riverdale. Disinterested in dating, fearful/hateful of women, and yes he wears a weird cap. All the characters in Archie are comic relief, but Jughead especially; it just makes sense to me that he would be a bard. And of course, his oddball status screams breath to me. He's isolated from his peers-- purposefully so! He's free from their Earthly hungers... figuratively, of course; And he uses that fredom/isolation to cause trouble! Sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. He wanders through life with a disinterested squint and a unique perspective.

Reggie - Prince of Mind. Reggie is a schemer! That's pretty much his thing! There's this one panel of him rubbing his hands together (evilly), and his thought balloon only reads "evil plot", or something like that. So I think mind is a fitting aspect for him! Mind is also about the consequences of your actions, and oftentimes the consequences of Reggies tomfoolery blow up in his face. Usually it's Big Moose clobbering him for flirting with Midge, or Archie occasionally getting some payback (often with Jughead's help). Reggie is a prince because, well, he is kind of princely. You don't call yourself the Magnificent Mantle unless you have a high opinion of yourself! And what are evil schemes if not plans to destroy things? Usually to destroy Archie, or ruin his dates with Veronica. It just fits neatly.

Betty - Maid of Hope. I always thought of maids as people who tend to their aspect. Betty, of course, is a hopeful girl. You'd be hopeful too if you were competing with Veronica Lodge for dates with Archie! And that's pretty much Betty's big thing: she's head over heels in love with Archie, and he doesn't like her as much as Veronica. This is a pretty weak reading on my part, I'm pretty much just running off of general character vibe. Sorry Betty!

Veronica - Thief of Life. One reading on Life is character agency, and yeah, Veronica has a pretty big grip on character agency! Of course, she has Archie wrapped around her finger, and by taking Archie on dates she limits who Betty can go out with. There's actually this whole comic centered around Veronica using her resources to try and dissuade Archie from taking Betty out on a date, publishing phony news articles and putting up billboards and stuff like that. Speaking of resources, there's a bit of a connection between life and wealth. All the life players are heiresses of some sort, and so is Veronica! She's set to inherit Lodge Industries from her father. There's also life and doom as the highs & lows of a character's arc (respectively), and yeah Veronica takes plenty of joy away from Betty when she hangs out with Archie.

#questioning #classpecting #archie comics #archie andrews #jughead jones #reggie mantle #betty cooper #veronica lodge #tagging all the characters because i want to dethrone riverdale from the archie hashtags

[jupitermelichios]

ive never seen riverdale but im here from ur post and listening... can u explain how the characters use "old-timey tech" or what that means

short answer: imagine if people in 300 years time threw a '20th century' themed party, and you've got 20s flappers standing next to 70s punks next to someone cosplaying paris hilton. that's riverdale.

long answer: despite appearing to be pretty much just another vampire diaries, or pretty little liars, or even smallville (seriously, this show wants to be smallville so bad), riverdale is made with a kind of aesthetic verve usually only found in Wes Anderson movies. Whole sets are perpetually bathed in neon light, camera work is suprisingly inventive, characters are very carefully colour coded, its a visually pretty interesting show

and a part of that is the tech. the show-runners were going for a kind of timeless americana vibe, and one of the main ways that mannifests itself is that (after season 1, which is fairly normal) technologies from 1901 to 2021 all exist simultaneously in the town, and the general rule seems to be to only ever go as modern as you absolutely have to.

telephones are a good example of that. if a character recieves a phone call while in a physical building, it will come through on a chorded landline. (the only chordless phone exists in betty's bedroom, because they like to have her lie on her bed and talk, ala early 90s teen romcoms.) people will phone the diner and ask to speak to a patron rather than just calling that patron directly. the phones used are often rotary dial ones, rather than push button, and in the case of the high school, a candlestick phone (the ones where the speaker and microphone are two sepperate parts)

but characters have modern cell/mobile phones. if someone needs to make/recieve a phone call when they're in their car or outside, they'll use a mobile phone. (I have a feeling there is one instance of an 80s car phone, but don't quote me on that)

jughead has a laptop, because that was introduced in season 1, but he basically stops using it and starts writing on a typewriter from season 3 onward, and the laptop only comes back when it's needed for a plot point.

the fbi uses paper files and microfiche, and when they tap someone's phone it records onto a cassette tape. the highschool computers are from 1995, people are surprised that a video rental store is still in business but not that it only rents VHS tapes, tvs are almost all 1960s wood pannelled ones except when they're early 80s countertop ones, betty's dad is about 40 but his childhood home movies are reels of film that have to be played on an vintage projector rather than vhs tapes.

for season 3 and 4, all the tech works on this same logic. occaisionally it's a nod to the comics (archie drives a 1915 ford model T tourer, which is a comics reference, but everyone else drives cars from between about 1950 and 1975, which isn't. any modern cars are ones introduced in the first season), mostly it's just the designers having fun.

season 5 does something slightly weirder, where specific sets and characters seem to exist in different timezones, like jughead's flat exists in the 1970s and archie's military service exists in the 1910s. (hospitals have always only existed in the 1950s and the nurses wear those weird white pointy hats that make them look like the flying nun.)

i don't think it works for what they were going for; the diner definitely has a timeless feel, but the rest of it just feels weird, honestly. but that actually works in the show's favour, because the plots get so insane that combined with time not working properly you just have to conclude that this either takes place on an alien planet where everyone is trying and failing to cosplay 20th century humans, or in some kind of time sinkhole where a century of time is all happening simulataneously and also mothman is here. (that's not a joke. mothman is here)

#7sun #riverdale

[raymondebidochonlifechoices]

An overall rant about this season’s misery porn (and then, upwards!)

Darkness and shipping surprises have always been Riverdale’s m.o.

S1: it’s dark and we won’t do the Archie comics triangle!

S2: it’s dark and here’s Toni who might cause Bughead trouble!

S3: it’s dark and Archie goes to jail! What will become of Varchie?

S4: it’s dark and watch out for those resurfacing b*rchie feelings!

S5: our heroes are in a dark place, also: here’s b*rchie!

S6: it’s going to be dark and we have new couples!

The recycling method has been applied to the plot as well, with each season’s story line going absolutely nowhere: there is a mystery in the first episodes, followed by irrelevant filler material, followed by the denouement in the penultimate episode. By the end of the season, everyone is back where they started, since there is no real character development. The Riverdale protagonists are archetypical characters more than anything. And the supporting cast is bent to each new story line’s needs.

Shipping aside (although shipping has been Riverdale’s most attractive feature), these plots have been at least somewhat engaging.

In s1 we were discovering the characters (who were quite different from their counterparts in the comics) and their parents’ secrets. In s2 there was that dreadful gentrification b***s*** and Veronica gaslighting her friends (still salty about that) but, at least, there was the whole underdogs (Serpents) vs The Man (Hiram) vibe. In s3 we had a serial murderer who wore sticks on his head and a cult leader harvesting organs who wanted to ascend via rocket ship. Serial murderers and cult leaders should not be funny, but these ones were absolutely hilarious! S4 gave us Bret and Donna, Villains Extraordinaire, both wanting to kill and bone Jughead and Betty respectively. Those were the times!

And then, there’s season 5. Where everyone is severely traumatized and murders are happening by the f***ing bucket (both TBK and the Lonely Highway killer being active for years). And what is happening exactly in the Town Formerly Known As Riverdale is this: the situation is so bad that a lot of the town’s women (but never the men) have to become sex workers. And then, they get tortured and brutally murdered (off-screen so that it won’t matter). But -and this is very important- never raped. (Small -albeit hypocritical- mercies).

And how do our heroes try to remedy that? Archie saves dogs, Veronica prints monopoly money, Cheryl manifests the stigmata of the holy wounds of Jason, Jughead has a (what turns out to be) completely unrelated storyline about rabies and Betty, more invested in her own sister than anyone else, is a complete mess, because, evidently, Yale and FBI training made her forget how to sleuth.

I didn’t think there would be a more offending storyline than the gentrification one in s2 and, yet, here we are.

What is the premise of this astounding plot?

There is a family. One daughter has enough money to go through Yale (student loans and all but still). The other daughter is so destitute, she becomes a sex worker. Why? Well, it’s either because she doesn’t have enough money for her two children, whose super doting aunt is one of the wealthiest people in Riverdale (well, rich enough to keep a whole school up and working for a whole year) or to feed her drug addiction, because, you know, she couldn’t have done that on a waitress’ salary (although Jughead did manage to fend off loan sharks by becoming a busboy).

This. This is the premise of season 5. This is how sixteen professional writers plotted their season.

By the way, this is a list of the characters who were introduced in s5, and who -ultimately- had no actual impact in the storyline:

Eric

Chadwick Gecko

Glen Scot

Jessica

Cora

Samm Pansky

and, yes, I’m sad to say: The Pussycats

I’m positive that 5x18 and 5x19 will give rise to many a negative comment but I’ve decided that this will be my last negative post for the season. Enough is enough.

I’m not going anywhere though: there are funny summaries to be written, wonderful fics to be read, incredible art and gif sets to delight in, lovely people to discuss the things we do like about Riverdale, . Or, one can take a break. As @thepointoftheneedle once very sagely commented: this is not compulsory viewing. 

#Riverdale writers negativity #that's it #that's the tag

[wesleycrushers]

no i AM looking for answers about that gifset. i know there was a time jump and they're living together but why does jughead wear polo shirts now. nikki please i need answers

Finally, my useless garbage knowledge comes in handy aslkdfj he looks like that cause he’s a whole ass hot mess. Like, moreso than before. Basically after the time jump we find out he had best selling book (based on his life and the lives of those around him, I think they compared it to the outsiders? but don’t quote me, they say a lot of things on this show) and he was like, highly sought after because of this book or whatever but now he has writer’s block and he can’t produce anything new so he’s pretty much a hasbeen at like. 20something. also he has “debt collectors” after him cause he’s like close to ten thousand dollars in debt, but they got big loan shark vibes. Also he’s got a bunch of tattoos, including, but not limited to, a giant ass chest tattoo that like. i haven’t seen it clearly, i tend to look away when he takes his shirt off cause it’s still c*le at the end of the day, but I think someone pointed out in the tags that it resembles his infamous comic book hat with roses or some other kind of flowers sticking out of it :)))

and he’s an english teacher at riverdale high now while moonlighting as a waiter at Pop’s to start paying down some of his debt. so it’s less “father of two” vibes and more “hot mess gay english teacher” vibes

#acknowledged #which kudos to him he almost pulls it off #i'm sorry i said all this #my mind saw the opportunity to ramble about jughead and JUMPED on it laskdf #it ruins my reputation on zackmartin but #i love him so much your honor #actually more now that he's like this but I feel like that's an unpopular opinion slkdf #knowwheretolook #like he's still a pretentious asshole but he's self aware now and he owns up to it #also he really leans into the spiral and I admire and respect that #i need to stop i'm about to go on a whole tangent LKSDJSKDF

[mrsreinhart]

Lili Reinhart Tells AD the One Thing You Won’t Find in Her Home

When it comes to interiors, the young star is still figuring out her personal style

The blockbuster success of Hustlers last month undoubtedly took Lili Reinhart to a new place in Hollywood. But the 23-year-old, who starred (and pole danced!) alongside the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Keke Palmer, and Cardi B in the strip club heist film, still has a day job starring as Betty Cooper on the beloved Archie comics–inspired show Riverdale. This keeps her in Vancouver, British Columbia, for nearly 10 months out of the year, and the temporary nature of her living arrangement has her dreaming about the day she can put down more permanent roots.

“Vancouver is my home base right now. That’s where I have an apartment. I don’t have a place anywhere else,” Reinhart told Architectural Digest at an event celebrating the relaunch of the American Express Green Card on October 24. “To be honest, I have to say that I don’t really make it homey. I really want to live in L.A. That is the goal. That’s where I want to settle down and buy a house.”

Instead of sprucing up her space, Reinhart says she spends her downtime exploring her adopted city and reading books—quite voraciously. Below, she tells AD about the few touches she has added to her Vancouver apartment, and about her wish list for her future home.

Architectural Digest: You said you don’t have much in your place in Vancouver, but do you have any fun items from the sets of Hustlers or Riverdale lying around?

Lili Reinhart: I didn’t take anything from Hustlers. From Riverdale I don’t think I actually have anything, because I’m not even allowed to take anything since we’re still filming it. I do have a lot of [Betty’s] hair bands. I'd maybe like something from [the diner] Pop’s, like a souvenir of a menu or something that I could frame.

AD: Your book of poetry, Swimming Lessons, is coming out soon. What do you have on your bookshelf at home?

LR: I really enjoy reading on set. When you’re in a world of make-believe all day, it is nice to kind of distract yourself. When you’re working at the same place for 16 hours a day, you need something to keep you busy in your downtime. So right now I have been watching a lot of Dragons’ Den on Netflix—which is the Canadian equivalent of Shark Tank, but then I’ve also been reading a lot lately. Right now I’m reading We Are Lost and Found by Helene Dunbar. It is about a teenager living through the AIDS epidemic in the ’80s. And this past year I read Educated by Tara Westover, My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward [by Mark Lukach], which was a memoir. I just read My Year of Rest and Relaxation [by Ottessa Moshfegh].

AD: You're a huge bookworm!

LR: Conversations With Friends [by Sally Rooney]. My Sister, the Serial Killer [by Oyinkan Braithwaite]. I’ve got a good bookshelf going on!

AD: Do you have any art or trinkets on there as well?

LR: I do have a piece of art that a girl I met on Instagram made for me. She is really talented. Her name is Kyra Kendall and her username is @kendallkyra. She does really cool portraits and I have one of those framed. I also have a Jughead Funko Pop doll on my shelf.

AD: So when you do settle in to a permanent home, do you have any idea what your interior design style will be like?

LR: That’s a great question, because I have no idea. All I know is, I don’t like that whole rooster theme. You know when people have like roosters all over their house? I’m not about that. I don’t like that. My mom is really good at decorating, so I feel like she will help me a lot. I kind of want the aesthetic of Anthropologie.

AD: Your character in Hustlers has sort of a bohemian apartment. Is that your vibe?

LR: That’s a little too rustic for me. But I love an open floor plan.

AD: Any other big must-haves when you’re looking for a place?

LR: Balcony, bathtub. I love taking baths. That’s part of my self-care regime. Oh, and a big closet!

#lili reinhart #Architectural Digest

[veronicalodgeoutfitanalysis]

Chapter Seven: In a Lonely Place

I have been buzzing to comment on a certain look in this episode for a while now, you can probably guess which one....

This is one of my favourite Riverdale scenes ever, I just love the costumes and the music and just the overall vibes, A++. Anyways, Veronica’s outfit here is 50s comics perfection. She’s wearing a satin purple button up with the pearl collar necklace we previously saw in 1x04. I also love her straight hair and headband. Unironically I would love to see more of V with straight hair. 

The top is paired with a checked pencil skirt, and an amazing bow deatil on the back. It’s a shame that we never got to see it in the show. I also love Jughead’s hat, all around great detailling for this scene!

Real life Veronica starts out the episode in the dress that I really love. 

It’s a lovely indigo with lace floral detailing and a ruffled neckline, and a slightly shorter hemline than we usually see on V. She’s also wearing a gold bow belt which has become a Ronnie staple. Note the lack of pearls, she’s feeling a severe disconnection from her family right now. 

Next up we have Veronica’s search party outfit, fitted black trousers and a double breasted purple coat. While the coat is definitely in Veronica’s wheelhouse, I believe this is the first time we’ve seen Veronica in trousers, apart from sleepwear. I love the black gloves and beret, and the fur sleeves on the coat. Note her pearl choker from 1x06, she’s back in her pearls this time. 

I love the Blossom’s outdoor wear, very English country club.

I don’t have a whole lot to say about this look, although it is pretty cleavage-y for our girl (especially at school, damn), because we see it for literally one minute. She is back in her black pearls though. 

I love this fluffy coat, it’s Veronica’s party coat and it looks very cosy. 

Capping this look proved to be pretty difficult, so excuse the low quality, but this is a party lewk! The black skirt is pretty classic and this sequined cami is great, Ronnie truly is ready to dance until she drops. It’s incredibly different from Veronica’s usual look, highlighted by her choice of a black choker rather than her pearls, she’s completely at odds with Hermione here. 

This is our first, but not last, time seeing Veronica in a full jumper, and it’s only fitting it’s in this charcoal grey. This is a pretty basic outfit but note the double pearls as she decides it’s time to catch Hiram up on what’s happening. The pearls are representative of her relationship to her father, especially in season one, so it;s only fitting she’s wearing a bracelet and this double strand on her neck in this scene. 

Total: Six outfits.

Cape Count: Another episode with no cape passes by...

Favourite outfit: It’s a toss up between the blue dress and the clubbing look.

Till next episode!

#riverdale #riverdale style #riverdale outfits #veronica lodge #veronica lodge style #veronica lodge outfits

[bettycooperoutfitwatch]

4x05 Chapter Sixty-Two: Witness for the Prosecution

Be forewarned: Sweater discourse. 

(I merely include this moment because Betty is technically in the frame.)

But contemporary Betty begins the episode in a pink-and-white knit top with short sleeves. She’ll end the ep in a pink-and-white knit with short sleeves, too, but standby.   

Betty wore this knit top to help Jughead torch the trailer-turned-Fizzle-Rocks-lab. We get a better glimpse this time around (glad to know it survived all that soot and ash and car sex.)

Love the little two button-detail on the rear-sleeves.

Ten Little Boy Scouts. 

Well! I guess you gotta dress the part. 

Off the top of my head, I can’t recall another instance of Betty in this very true-blue shade. It’s more of an Archie color. But the FBI has a brand, so. 

(It’s delicate. But potent.)

We get such extreme and vivid close-ups during Betty’s serial-killer-savant moment that I felt compelled to include them. Love the eyeshadow.  

She pairs the Junior FBI polo with a dark skirt (possibly high-waisted shorts, but I’m leaning skirt.)

The Legend of the River Witch. (In red.)

(Bret wears black crew socks, he’s the worst.)

Purple and green! Betty’s all over the range in this episode, fittingly. The ribbing and the scalloping of the pink collar are all motifs we’ve seen before. It reminds me of the scalloped and ribbed top she wore in 219.

Purple pants though, that’s new!

This is the first we’ve seen the bag, but it is a cousin of sorts to the one that appeared during the Stonewall tour in 402. 

The existence of a Dr. Patel in the Riverdale universe leads us to conclude, logically, that somewhere out there in the greater Maple State there exists a Raj Patel. (But when was Riverdale ever logical?)

Betty’s the only girl in this Junior FBI Program (so Kevin’s odds of finding a gay guy here are decent-ish?), but she seems to be the only one with a kid size polo. 

Girl zooms right outta there in her white tennies. 

I love old yearbooks. I cannot tell if he is épée or foil, fencing squad pls come thru (I actually think it might be inconclusive given so much of the diff is in the weight of the weapon, no?) 

FPJ I could get it. LOOK at that James Dean curl. That Jones fam furrowed brow. The out-from-under gaze. 

(Also, these names.)

Betty’s subconscious! We haven’t really been here since 209? Lots of visual 209 connections in this episode... Betty spent 209 trying to hunt down and stop the Black Hood, and when she and Archie seemingly finally did...she felt like it wasn’t the end of the story (and she was right.) 

Anyway—short overalls are a Betty classic at this point, and she’s paired them with a pink t-shirt and her pink low-tops. 

405.

209.

I’m not going to engage with the fact that she’s wearing a bra/lette to bed (this is such a network TV thing)—but these two shirts are really similar. Their color difference might just be slightly too disparate to be down to a difference in color grading—but I do think we’ve all noticed a difference in the color and light in season 4 versus season 2. (Oh how I long for the clear tones of season 1, if only for the clarity of screen caps.)  

I love this whole party scene, but doesn’t it feel like it might end up being significant beyond this episode? 

Anyway, back to Betty the Serial Killer Whisperer. 

It’s a good thing she didn’t burn them when Alice suggested it. 

Yellow Keds. 

Heart earrings 💙 Or triangles, idk. 

Little Betty! At one point, pink-and-red seemed to be connected to Betty’s relationship with Archie, but here I’m honestly not drawing those kind of conclusions. This scene has a different purpose. 

Little Betty’s wardrobe is consistent between Teenage Betty’s dream and her retelling of the Caramel Incident to Kevin. Of course, it’s simply easier to have a single wardrobe for these things, but Riverdale’s made the decision to mix it up before (albeit on higher budget episodes.)

Let’s interpret this costuming consistency as the narrative giving Betty the benefit of the doubt. She’s able to see some things clearly, even if she’s repressed some deeply upsetting shit her father forced her to do. I’m having Old Yeller flashbacks. 

I don’t even know if I’m implying anything, I just really like the visual parallel and that I’m being forced to think about it. 

The Haunting of Maple Manor.

👀

Again with the 209 echoes. 

The Secret of the Old Windmill.

(only $1.95!)

“Lil Forsythe III”

It perhaps takes a special kind of zeal to take your half-brother’s confidence that he, too, possesses the serial killer genes and decide not that it means you’re gonna be just fine—but that instead, he’s sus. 

But I dunno, gotta break some eggs in order to make an omelette, etc. 

I’ll just repeat that genes are not destiny.

Stripes, ribbed knit, short sleeves, pinks and blues—all very Betty. 

However, not sure we’ve ever seen Betty in a baseball cap before, even in previous investigation modes! 

I think this might be her purple non-investigation jacket that we first saw in 213 (and most recently in 314.) It’s the sturdy jacket she wears when she finds herself in...less savory efforts, shall we say. 

But! Another flash-forward!

Poor Archie.

“What’s happening?”

“Wait are we getting up?”

“Okay okay I’ll get up too.”

This sweater is, apparently, divisive. I’ve actually already talked about it a bit in response to an ask. It reminds me of something a Sweater Girl would wear, and I find it really interesting to consider Betty in that context. A sweater is ‘wholesome,’ but a Sweater Girl is seen as sexual—and therefore as something dangerous and corrupting. A patriarchal society fears nothing greater than a woman with some agency. FP storms into this classroom and declares Betty—this whole trio—to be under arrest for murdering Jughead.

This sweater is a bit like Archie’s dial television, or his rotary phone. It’s almost so anachronistic as to be noticeable. 

To be brief—there’s something about this sweater and the context of this scene that gives this whole flash-forward a very strange vibe. 

Everyone is so shifty-eyed, they have no poker-faces. FP barges in here with two goons behind him, shot Wes Anderson-style. There’s a comics vibe to it. Coen-esque. 

But also I just think it’s something Betty would wear: it’s pink, it’s got a Peter Pan collar, it’s got some lace trim. It’s Betty Cooper in disguise as Betty Cooper, and it’s not the first time she’s tried that. 

Summary: I think I’ve got a count of 9—that includes 3 separate instances of the Junior FBI uniform, Teenage Betty’s dream outfit, and the flash forward—but doesn’t include Little Betty. So let’s make it 10. 

Is Betty a River Vixen??: Again, just on Jug’s wall 

That backpack?: Yes, multiple appearances of Backpack 2.0.

The floggingink Memorial Peter Pan Collar Count: The Sweater!

Best outfit: u know wut I’m gonna be staunch and say The Sweater. (I also really love V’s floral crop top in that scene.)

#4x05 #s4 #riverdale #betty cooper #betty cooper outfit watch #long post

[towsers]

compilation of frank pics from the archie comics and th cowboy au that was out of left field but we needed it nd subsequent rankings/opinions:

like 90% of this comic is just ppl saying hes hot and you know what? im inclined to agree. 10/10 they left the dumb frontal curl in and it’s cute

again just literally the same thing 10/10, frank big sexy

the definition in these thighs...the archie comic artists know. 10/10

to quote jason: “they had to shade his ass full black because otherwise the fatness of it would kill us all instantly“ 10/10

again: muscle definition. i dont even have to rate this really we all just know. 10/10

lovingly entitled did you fuck my grandma mr punisher.jpg 10/10, it’s a sweet forehead kiss :/

big motherfucker.png or maybe jughead was right about this whole gay thing.jpg, 10/10

cowboy time. literal first page, i’m not joking. this is such a bizarre au but the homoeroticism is palpable and only gets worse as we go on. 10/10

literally no reason for him to be this large. big motherfucker part 2. still NOT the most homoerotic part of this comic. we will get to that soon. still 10/10

cowboy hat. big motherfucker. spaniard oppression. 10/10, really good image.

what is it to see frank in a cowboy outfit, if not huge? large? easy: make it an upwards crotch shot angle. perfect composition. love it. 10/10

the dramaticism....the sheer gayness of it all. really loving the vibes this gives off. 10/10

FINALLY the ass definition we deserve. still not as homoerotic as we can go but we’re getting there. 10/10, could bounce a quarter off it

i forgot to mention the fact they draw frank so huge here that every horse he rides looks like a pony despite it being a fully developed adult horse. pony. love the rolled up sleeves, very very nice touch. 10/10

i’m including the whole page here cause well, you know. too much to comment on for me to give an accurate assessment of it. just know i approve. thank god for this comic. 10/10

including the entire page here again cause You Know. this is it. this was the peak homoeroticism of this comic. i literally cannot fathom the sheer amount of heat this page is giving off because of all the rapidly charged homolocules. not gonna lie, almost went bonkers over this one. 15/10

they did NOT have to make the shirt that tight and yet they did. amazing. 10/10, again.

10/10

including the whole page we know why. anyway, this is the end. big motherfucker part however many times i’ve said that. ending on a solid, unsurprising 10/10. thank you for reading.

#ooc #almost started crying while typing this because im very passionate #long post

[tuxedomarz]

Some Riverdale Thoughts...

*Possible Spoilers*

So Now that I’ve seen the finale:

I lowkey wish Jason was actually still alive?? It would be interesting how different the show would be. I kind of think if Polly wasn’t his suggested lover that he would have probably ended up dating Veronica at one point and or tried to pursue Josie? Sure The Farm is a weirdo cult and can’t be trusted (now that we know they harvest organs n shit) but it would be a nice plot twist if Jason was somehow magically alive.

I also REALLY hope they don’t make Archie cheat on Josie to get back with Ronnie. That would be so foul. It would assassinate Archie’s character after he did a good “redemption” arc. And would be highly disrespectful to Josie AND Reggie’s character. This was when I didn’t catch up yet but moving on...

Umm Charles is fine af Don’t mind me,I’m just a lil thirsty~

Ok!! I did not expect Penelope to come back and be a villain so that was actually really interesting!!

I’m sad Josie left so soon like wtf they could’ve went to prom n shit I highly doubt she would miss prom AND miss a chance to perform at it??? Like??? Helloooo

The lack of Sweet Pea was a disgrace...what u can’t show Sweet Pea scenes AND Fangs? Like I’m sure he misses his bro like wtf

Some of you may dislike me for this but I will say Betty and Jughead are way more likeable when they’re not together. I never thought I’d like Betty so much more this season —alone—than in previous seasons. Her character flourishes better alone to me when she’s all Nancy drew and her and Jug don’t give me a romantic vibe it’s more like business chemistry a “just because” type thing??

Also, the more they say Ronnie and Archie are endgame the more they’re most likely not 😐 I looooove comic Archie and Veronica but the show threw it out the window for me I used to not like Archie (well I’ll say consider him a fav) but this season after his redemption arc I can honestly root for him. Pls don’t go back to how u were early on plssss.

Ok I’m really gonna need the writers to go to writing camp cause its news to me Betty and Veronica are BFFS they BARELY interact at all majority of the time they’re either with their boos or doing something else. They do not cross paths or anything. I don’t think Betty has been to the speakeasy more than once or barely twice not even a text to one another like?¿ best friends???? Yes I know comic wise they are but the show has barely proven that lol

OH but the biggest not so biggest thing was Alice!!! I knew she was too skeptic to be a real farmie :’)) I’m so glad she helped Cheryl it would be against everything she stood for and has shown us if she became a real farmie. The Farm is just a whole mess. It kinda gave me sci*nt*logy vibes with the ball clackers/sound thing since they use metronome or some shit. Weird culty “you can’t leave” type mess.

Choni. That’s it, that’s the point.

Umm I don’t think I have anymore points but if you wanna discuss feel free to message me lol I may have forgotten some things too but eh.

#riverdale #riverdale cw #archie andrews #betty cooper #jughead jones #veronica lodge #jason blossom #cheryl blossom #alice cooper #josie mccoy #sweet pea #fangs fogarty #choni

[ao3feed-choni]

by anotherfuxkingcoconut

Cheryl smiles softly as she reaches a tender hand up to run her fingers along the bruising of her jaw, thumb rubbing gently against the dark patches on her neck, relishing in the goosebumps that appear on tanned skin. She watches a slim throat bob as she runs her fingers up to Toni’s cheekbone, cupping her cheek as she does so.

  No-

No no no-

Fuck.

Your gloves, Cheryl.

You’re not wearing them-

  Before she can stop herself, Cheryl’s palm makes contact with Toni’s cheek and the visions quickly take over, consuming her whole body.

  Or

 Cheryl has the ability that Theodora Crane has in the Haunting of Hill House.

Words: 1969, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Riverdale (TV 2017)

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F

Characters: Cheryl Blossom, Toni Topaz, Veronica Lodge, Archie Andrews, Josie McCoy, Betty Cooper, Jughead Jones, Sweet Pea (Riverdale), Fangs Fogarty, FP Jones II, Penelope Blossom, Cliff Blossom, Southside Serpents Gang, Ghoulies Gang (Riverdale), Alice Cooper (Archie Comics), Jason Blossom

Relationships: Cheryl Blossom/Toni Topaz, Cheryl Blossom & Toni Topaz

Additional Tags: Haunting of Hill House vibes, Eventual Smut, AU, Romance, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Cheryl is gifted if you wanna call it that, Angst, Fluff, deep, connection, they need each other, Theodora Crane, Cheryl has the same gift as Theo basically, And she’s struggling, no sci fi, It won’t be supernatural

#ao3feed #fanfic #choni #cheryl blossom #toni topaz #madelaine petsch #vanessa morgan #wlw #riverdale #nr #multi chapter