'Riverdale': First Look

[Captain Comics]

GET A FIRST LOOK AT THE CW’S RIVERDALE TV SERIES

Live-action series based on Archie Comics characters premieres January 26th at 9pm ET/8pm Central

You’ve waited patiently for this moment – and now it’s here.

We’ve got a sneak peek at ‘Riverdale’, the new one-hour live-action drama based on the classic Archie Comics characters premiering January 26th, 2017 at 9/8c on The CW. What more could you want?

‘Riverdale’ is written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and produced by Warner Brothers Studios and Berlanti Productions and has been described as a subversive take on the classic Archie mythos. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schecter, Jon Goldwater, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa serve as executive producers.

The live-action series offers a bold, compelling take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring small-town life and the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. The show will focus on the eternal love triangle of Archie Andrews, girl-next-door Betty Cooper, and rich socialite Veronica Lodge, and will include the entire cast of characters from the comic books—including Archie’s rival, Reggie Mantle, and his best friend, Jughead Jones.

‘Riverdale’ stars KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper, and Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge.

The show’s premiere on January 26th will be followed one week later on February 1st, with a special tie-in one-shot comic book written by ‘Riverdale’ showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and members of the show’s writing staff with art by Alitha Martinez. The RIVERDALE ONE-SHOT promises to reveal new secrets and stories from the summer before the eternal love-triangle debuts on television screens.

An ongoing RIVERDALE comic book series will debut in comic book stores and digital platforms in March by Aguirre-Sacasa and Martinez that will run alongside the show, expanding on the events of the series and diving deeper into the characters and their relationships.

For more information about ‘Riverdale’ and everything Archie Comics, visit the official Archie Comics website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

[Captain Comics]

Well, I'm hooked!

One thing I'm glad to see is that they are using the modern format of actually letting the story change, rather than have (in Stan's famous phrase) "the appearance of change."

For example, the Grundy thing could have been an ongoing secret that complicates everyone's lives. But no -- as soon as B&V find out, it comes to a crashing end (as it should). And Mr. Andrews started out as kind of a dick, and many shows would play the generational conflict out ad infinitum. But no, Fred's learning that his son's life is more complicated than he thought, and is adjusting his parental stance. I really appreciate that. The old TV norm of an unchanging status quo gets boring, and eventually makes the characters look stupid or like parodies of themselves.

Anyone catch that look when Grundy was leaving? I'm thinking "serial ephebophile." In other words: predator. Brrrr.

How about Betty's surprising skill sets? And where she learned them? Had me laughing. Turns out she's waaaaay more of a bad girl than Veronica. Especially that strange turn at the hot tub.

Is it wrong that I enjoyed Mrs. Cooper getting slapped in the face? She didn't learn anything, though. What a harpy, even though she's usually on the right side of things ... for all the wrong reasons.

And what's with Juggie living at the drive-in? Archie didn't know where he lived? Best friends since forever and he's never been to his "house"? Never asked? Never wondered?

I do like how it's a call-back to Jughead's early days, when he was clearly dirt poor (which apparently was played for laughs back then). Not at all surprised by the revelation concerning his parentage.

And it looks like Kevin's going to get a storyline. Hey, the gay kid is just as screwed up by his hormones as everybody else! That's equality, baby!

On a similar note, Chuck turns out to be a not-so-nice black kid. I'm surprised they do that to just about the only black kid on the show, but it was pretty organic. I've known plenty of jocks who feel like the rules don't apply to them, and race really isn't a factor. Plus, I don't think we're done with him, so he could he could return as a full-blown heel, or get a redemption arc.

But the main thing is that I love the main characters. I love "B&V," which was arrived at naturally. I love that the traditional romantic triangle isn't in effect, although they still have reasons to like each other and hang out with each other. And I love that Jughead is a terrible writer, as a teenager would be!

[Mr. Silver Age]

I'm liking it more, if only because the One Big Secret isn't driving every plot, so it's less Twin Peak-ish than I feared. I decided to go with their notion that Chuck was so narcissistic he didn't suspect a trap at the hot tub because it showed us that Betty in fact is as bugshit psycho as she hinted at. Apparently the nut doesn't fall far from the tree, and I like that in a girl.

The one thing that surprised me right from the get-go about Berlanti shows is that he resolves things and moves right along--to the point this year that they updated Flash's narration at mid-season to a totally different storyline and seem to keep adding different scenes into the montage all the time. That's good, because some of the season-long arcs get tedious (I'm looking at you, Damian). Legends has basically changed its entire raison d'etre, albeit within the same scope.

I think B&V work better on TV than in the updated comic, possibly because they want the comic to be closer to what used to be. That "used to be" was totally unsupportable in any series that didn't reset after every story, which everyone recognizes. I find Veronica more believable on TV than any other version.

I still find the idea that the cheerleaders are called the River Vixens to be their nod to the fact that we should turn off our brains as soon as we hear the theme music. Done!

-- MSA

[Richard Willis]

Captain Comics said:
 
One thing I'm glad to see is that they are using the modern format of actually letting the story change, rather than have (in Stan's famous phrase) "the appearance of change."

I remember Peter David being pleasantly surprised when his first Babylon 5 episode didn’t have to end with the status quo restored.

For example, the Grundy thing could have been an ongoing secret that complicates everyone's lives. But no -- as soon as B&V find out, it comes to a crashing end (as it should).

There was a preview scene where they showed a photo of the real Geraldine Grundy, whose identity she stole. The photo looked a lot like the Grundy from the comics. Did I miss it or did they not use this scene in the show?

Anyone catch that look when Grundy was leaving? I'm thinking "serial ephebophile." In other words: predator. Brrrr.

Yep, I caught that.

How about Betty's surprising skill sets? And where she learned them? Had me laughing. Turns out she's waaaaay more of a bad girl than Veronica. Especially that strange turn at the hot tub.

I got the impression she was imitating her missing sister’s attitude, but maybe I’m wrong.

And what's with Juggie living at the drive-in? Archie didn't know where he lived? Best friends since forever and he's never been to his "house"? Never asked? Never wondered?

Yeah, that came out of nowhere. Maybe they knew but it didn’t come up in the story until now.

Not at all surprised by the revelation concerning his parentage.

I was a little surprised, but Fred Andrews did say Jughead’s father was a thief.

And it looks like Kevin's going to get a storyline. Hey, the gay kid is just as screwed up by his hormones as everybody else! That's equality, baby!

Nothing is more boring than having a gay character (or a black character) automatically be perfect. I was pleased that Chuck wasn’t perfect, either, and look forward to more character development for him. It makes sense that a star football player at a young age could think his $&!@ didn’t stink, having been told how wonderful he is by almost everyone.

On a similar note, Chuck turns out to be a not-so-nice black kid. I'm surprised they do that to just about the only black kid on the show, but it was pretty organic.

If they’re smart (and they are) I think there will be more black characters added along the way. They have spotlighted Reggie and Dilton after starting them out as cyphers.

But the main thing is that I love the main characters. I love "B&V," which was arrived at naturally.

They seem like very natural characters. Neither is perfect but they are believable. Veronica is great.

[Richard Willis]

Variety: ‘Riverdale’ Renewed for Season 2 at The CW

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/riverdale-renewed-season-2-cw-netfl...

[Captain Comics]

Jeff of Earth J said: "There was a preview scene where they showed a photo of the real Geraldine Grundy, whose identity she stole. The photo looked a lot like the Grundy from the comics. Did I miss it or did they not use this scene in the show?"

They did use it. Poor ol' Miss Grundy has finally kicked the bucket. And Mr. Weatherbee turned black, is thinner and has more hair!

[Ronald Morgan]

Afterlife one of the original ideas pushed for the show. Could the zombies be coming in a later season?

[Joe Sherrod]

So no more interest in Riverdale? I think that it is currently up to episode 8?  I need to re-watch a few episodes and then I will make a few comments.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

We're an episode behind, but still really enjoying it. I think the season 1 finale airs on Thursday. 

[Richard Willis]

Still enjoying it. A lot of twists and turns.

[Joe Sherrod]

Good thing that Riverdale got renewed for Season 2.  Not sure if they could wrap all of the loose ends in just one more episode?  If Riverdale did get canceled, that would be like Season 3 of Gilligan's Island, where they left us hanging for 15 years to find out what exactly happened to the 7 castaways. 

[Captain Comics]

According to imdb.com, there are four more Riverdale episodes still to go: April 13, April 27, May 4 and May 11. I don't know why they're skipping April 20, but all the CW shows I follow have skipped weeks this year here and there. And I've learned not to trust imdb.com more than a few weeks in advance, so use this info with caution!

[Richard Willis]

According to Wikipedia's Riverdale page, which seems real researched, the season has 13 episodes.

It says episodes 10 and 11 will air on April 13 and 27 and that episode 13 will be on May 11. I infer this to mean that episode 12 will be on May 4.

This matches what Cap got from IMDB.