Riverdale kicked off its first night by introducing us to the new versions of characters many of us grew up with (though maybe not quite how we remember them) and setting up the murder mystery that will likely cover the entire season. There was drama, a tragic backstory or two, and bonding between new friends. “Chapter One: The River’s Edge” was written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Lee Toland Krieger. Here is what went down in the series premiere.
NEW GIRL IN TOWN | After introducing us to the tragedy of the Blossom twins, the show picks up the night before the first day of school as Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) arrives in town with her mother, Hermione (Marisol Nichols), and they work on wrapping their heads around their new lives. Elsewhere in Riverdale, Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) readies herself to see her best friend and now crush, Archie (K.J. Apa) for the first time all summer. Her friend Kevin (Casey Cott) is her personal hype man and encourages her to just go for it. At Pop’s Chocolate Shop, she and Archie tell each other about their summers. Betty is about to broach the subject of feelings when Archie is distracted by the entrance of Veronica, who was tasked with getting burgers by her mother. After checking on her order, she makes her way over to Betty and Archie they all introduce themselves. Veronica recognizes Betty’s name as the girl who is supposed to give her a tour the next day at school and Betty seems less than thrilled about this (mainly due to the puddle of drool on the table where Archie’s dignity used to be).
The next morning, Betty’s mother (Mädchen Amick) gives her the “be perfect at everything or it’s all ruined” talk. Her mother is worried she will turn out like her apparent disappointment of an older sister, Polly. At school, Betty takes Veronica on the grand tour, meeting up with Kevin who immediately makes it awkward by asking about Veronica’s dad. Apparently the gossip about her accused embezzler dad arrived in town as soon as she did. When Veronica shows interest in Archie, Kevin states that Betty and Archie are endgame. If Veronica is disappointed, she hides it well and tells Betty to ask Archie to the semi-formal. When the three are at lunch, Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) senses new meat and comes over to introduce herself. When she brings up cheerleading, Veronica tells her that she and Betty will be trying out. Betty is less than optimistic about her chances given Cheryl’s hatred for her but Veronica promises to help her get ready.
At the tryouts, Cheryl is unimpressed by the pair, telling them there is no “heat” or “sizzle”. Veronica’s solution to this problem is to pull Betty in for a kiss because reasons. Cheryl is unfortunately still not having it and torments Betty by talking about her sister Polly, who had a breakdown after dating Cheryl’s recently departed twin, Jason. Veronica notices that Betty’s fists are clenched so tight that she broke the skin. When Cheryl welcomes only Veronica to the team, Veronica informs her that she and Betty are a package deal and that while the rest of the school may fear Cheryl, Veronica plans to be her reckoning. Betty and Veronica try on their new uniforms and take a walk around the track where they confide in each other about their families. Veronica talks about her father and all the horrible things people said about her whole family when he was arrested. She wants to use moving to Riverdale as a chance to be a better version of herself. Betty tells her about Jason and Polly and how even though Jason hurt Polly, it was their mother that really broke her sister. At that moment, Veronica spots Archie and calls him over for Betty to ask him to the dance but somehow that ends with Betty asking both of them. Betty’s mother is furious about both the cheerleading and spending time with Hermione Lodge’s daughter but Betty stands up to her and defends Veronica.
The trio arrive at the dance and when Archie and Betty have a moment alone, she confesses how she feels about him much to his surprise and discomfort. Cheryl senses the awkwardness like a shark with blood in the water and takes it upon herself to torture Betty at her after party. It’s Seven Minutes in Heaven time and she nominates Archie for the maiden voyage. The bottle lands on Veronica and even though she doesn’t want to hurt Betty, goes into the closet with Archie lest Cheryl take her place. Awkward small talk to pass the time leads to smooching and when they emerge they find Betty gone. Veronica tells him they messed up and they both leave separately. Archie tries to find Betty at Pop’s but runs into his old friend Jughead (Cole Sprouse) instead, who tells him to just go talk to her. He goes to her house to talk and admits to her that he doesn’t feel that way about her.
MUSIC MAN | Archie spent the summer working for his father (Luke Perry) on a construction yard and the only way he was able to stay sane was by writing song lyrics in his head. He decides that music is what he wants to do with his life and confides in Betty about it at Pop’s. He tells his dad he can’t work because he has football and tells the coach he can’t play varsity because of work. He goes to see Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and The Pussycats (who’s harmonies make my heart soar) and asks them if they would be willing to play something he wrote. They turn him down, telling him they are cultivating a brand of their own and only play their own music. At the assembly, Archie can’t stop making eyes at Ms. Grundy (Sarah Habel), the very young, very attractive music teacher and a flashback reveals she was way more than just his teacher that summer. After the assembly, he corners her and asks her if they can talk – just about music of course. He shows her one of his songs and while she is impressed, she doesn’t think them being alone together is a good idea. After getting a call from the football coach, Archie’s dad comes to him and asks him about why he is using football and the job as excuses to not do either. He admits to his dad that he wants to study music and while his dad isn’t thrilled about the idea, he tells Archie he would never force him to work for him. At the dance, Archie finds Ms. Grundy again and pitches an independent study in the mornings where she works with him on his music. She agrees but only as long as it’s just about the music, nothing more. He agrees with his words but not his eyes.
TRAGEDY ON THE FOURTH | The show begins by introducing us to the Blossom twins, Jason and Cheryl, and the tragedy that befell Jason on the Fourth of July. Narrated by Jughead, we watch as the twins row out onto Sweetwater River together. Not long after, a troop of boy scouts come across Cheryl, soaking wet and crying, alone on shore. According to Cheryl, Jason slipped over the side of the boat when he was trying to rescue her glove. The police drag the river but cannot find Jason’s body so the family is forced to bury an empty casket. Once the school year begins, Cheryl puts everyone on edge and they would pity her if they didn’t fear her so much. Not everyone thinks as highly of Jason as Cheryl does, mainly the Cooper family. Details about that day start to come out in Archie’s flashbacks of his breakfast date with Ms. Grundy. They both heard a gunshot but, because they couldn’t admit to being together, never reported it. Moose (Cody Kearsley) and Kevin, on a skinny dipping expedition post-dance, stumble upon Jason’s body by the river’s edge with a bullet hole in his head. The episode ends with the police removing the body with the whole town there to watch and Jughead’s narration informing us that the first arrest would be Tuesday during fifth period.
OTHER THOUGHTS:
• I hope the nicknames are a recurring gift because “Justin Gingerlake” and “Teen Outlander” made me ugly laugh.
• I could have gone my whole life without knowing the song Jason and Cheryl Blossom were conceived to, thank you very much.
• I would like to listen to an hour long rant about “The Hoe Zone” and tragic gay bar, “Innuendo” from Kevin.
So what did you think? Who is your favorite character so far? Who do you think is going to be the “first arrest” Jughead mentioned? What are you looking forward to seeing this season? Let us know in the comments below!
Riverdale airs Thursdays at 9pm on The CW.