Top 10 Cringiest Riverdale Moments
In case you haven’t noticed, Riverdale is weird. They don’t “fit in” and they don’t want to fit in. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Cringiest Riverdale Moments.
For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the moments that really made us question where the writers and producers were going with this beloved CW show.
#10: Tickle Me Kevin
Many viewers weren’t quite sure what the show was trying to accomplish by inserting Kevin into the tickle fetish world, but then again, “Riverdale” is known for its occasional forays into strange subplots. While Kevin should be able to freely explore his sexuality, the show has frequently put him into questionable and sometimes even dangerous situations for the sake of a few flings or dalliances. The fact that Kevin’s still in high school also brings another element of concern, considering he’s underage. But let’s be real, age has never really been a factor in “Riverdale”’s plots.
#9: Dark Betty: Cam Girl
“Riverdale” takes a very loose approach to adapting the original “Archie” comics. Therefore, it makes sense that this modern take involves a more multi-dimensional version of Betty rather than forcing her into the stereotypical perfect “girl next door” mould. However, rather than making her rebel in a more subtle manner, the show decided to create “Dark Betty,” an alter ego with a black bob haircut. This alter ego first appears when Betty and Veronica decide to get revenge against Chuck, but the real shocker is when Betty decides to become a cam girl.
#8: Kissing Cousins
Polly and Jason’s love story started out as being a sweet albeit tragic tale of star-crossed love. Their affair ended with Jason’s abrupt and gruesome murder but their story maintained a certain air of romance. From their forceful separation to their engagement to Polly’s pregnancy, the two certainly appeared to be dedicated to the relationship. However, everything changed when Hal revealed that the Coopers and Blossoms were actually related, meaning that Polly and Jason are actually blood relatives. This information tainted Polly and Jason’s love story and suddenly they went from tragic sweethearts to distant cousins.
#7: The Red Circle
Archie’s desire to restore justice is undoubtedly a good trait, but his attempts are often a little misguided. In season two, Archie forms a vigilante group called “The Red Circle” to track down the murderous Black Hood. While this plan seemed at least decent in concept, it fell flat in its execution. Apparently, Archie’s idea of intimidation includes a room full of shirtless men in red ski masks. Archie’s monologue doesn’t do much to improve The Red Circle’s image either. The group was ultimately more humorous than it was intimidating. But that didn’t stop Archie from his desire to be a saviour as in Season 4, where he continued to play the part of vigilante superhero.
#6: Prison Yard Football
Archie’s love of high school football is well established throughout the series, but he takes his passion a little too far in this infamous scene. While in prison, Archie meets an inmate with a tragic background. He tells Archie that he dropped out of school in 4th grade to sell drugs and support his grandmother. While this information was probably a lot to process, Archie’s immediate response made no sense as he blurted out a tacky line about missing out on high school football - because apparently, there’s nothing more tragic than not participating in school sports. This moment definitely undid some of the show’s attempts to make Archie appear more complex than just an archetypal jock.
#5: Veronica Saying "Daddy" & "Archiekins"
It’s well established that the dialogue in “Riverdale” is neither the most realistic nor the most natural and yet, Veronica’s constant use of words like “Daddy,” “Daddykins,” and “Archiekins” might take the cake for being the most off-putting. Every time Veronica says “daddy” or “Archiekins,” it sounds as though it’s an afterthought, which only makes it even more awkward. It’s especially cringe-inducing when Veronica calls her dad “daddy” even when she’s incredibly mad at him - it just never seems to fit the mood of the scene.
#4: All the Singing
While some of the singing on Riverdale is well done and the actors have decent voices, there are certain moments that just make us ask...why? A prime example of this is when the River Vixens sing a cover of Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock” in front of Archie’s Juvenile detention center. It kind of makes sense, “Jailhouse Rock” at an actual jail? (Or at least, a juvie where all the teenagers somehow look mid-20s.) The connection is obvious. But the scene is also completely unnecessary, and another example of how the show loves to overly sexualize its teen characters, even when it makes no sense.
#3: Betty's Serpent Dance
Everything about this scene is jarring and a little bit ridiculous. In an attempt to prove her love for Jughead, Betty decides to take part in a serpent gang initiation and performs a striptease to the sad tune of “Mad World.” While the underlying sentiment of Betty’s acceptance of Jughead’s new life is sweet, the logic is somewhat questionable. Betty is a minor, but it gets even more cringe-inducing when you realize that both her mom and Jughead’s dad are present to witness her dancing. Her mom’s shocked look and JP’s awkward clapping really seal the deal.
#2: "We're Endgame, Archie"
The phrase “show don’t tell” doesn’t appear to be something that “Riverdale” follows closely. Veronica and Archie’s breakup scene is actually quite heartbreaking, and the actors do a great job of conveying their emotions during a difficult situation. The audience really feels for them. However, the writers just had to shoehorn in THIS phrase, tainting an otherwise moving moment: [broll: “We’re Endgame, Archie”]…. While many of us were rooting for Archie and Veronica to stay together until the end, hearing the sentiment worded like that definitely took some romance out of the whole ordeal.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.
Chad Michael Murray Is the Leader of a Cult
Veronica & Jughead Kissing
Paul ‘Poppa Poutine’ Boucher & Small Fry
The Cabin Party
FP & Alice Cooper Getting Together
#1: Jughead's "I'm a Weirdo" Speech
Even if you’ve never seen an episode of “Riverdale” before, you’ve probably seen at least a snippet of this speech floating around the internet. This is a scene that is so cringe-worthy that it transcends the boundaries of the show. The whole monologue appears to be an exercise in the misunderstood loner trope. Rather than letting the audience come to their own conclusions about Jughead's character through his actions or more nuanced dialogue, the writers decided to tell its viewers point blank that Jughead’s a misfit, and that he’s not like other teens.