Top 10 Ways to Fix Riverdale for Season 5
#10: Enough with the ‘Dark Betty’
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This was an interesting concept in the beginning, but handled poorly. We all have light and dark inside us, but Betty is the last person you might expect to have this kind of darkness in her. So this could have been a story about her discovering and dealing with her inner demons or it could have developed into a story about mental illness. But instead, Dark Betty is treated as if she is a completely separate entity or another personality that needs to be eradicated. And now, that entity is trotted out any time some filler is needed. If they can't figure out where they want to go with this, they should just end it already.
#9: Make a Decision About Music Already
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Music was a huge part of this show from the beginning. Archie wanted to be a musician and Josie and the Pussycats had a major role. But now, the Pussycats are gone and Archie seems to have given up on music a long time ago. So what's with all the musical episodes? Just because the actors can sing doesn't mean they should. Not that the musical episodes aren't fun, but they seem out of place. The series needs to decide whether or not music is going to continue to play a crucial role. While it seems to be making a comeback with the appearance by The Archies in season 4, we'll have to wait and see if that stands in the future.
#8: Balance the Storylines Better
Some storylines are introduced and resolved in a single episode and some go on agonizingly long. For instance, Archie was attacked by a bear and was pretty much fine the next day, but the Black Hood storyline transcended seasons. Of course, not every storyline needs equal attention, but there should be some kind of consistency. One way to rectify this problem might be to simply tone things down a bit. Each season just gets darker and more detached from reality. The extreme plots can be interesting, but more often than not, they devolve into pure madness. Shorter seasons might also be a simple solution. With fewer episodes in the season, the storylines won't have to drag out for so long, and filler storylines won't have to be introduced to cover the gaps.
#7: Bring Back the Southside Serpents & the Pretty Poisons
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These gangs were a lot of fun. They always had pretty interesting stories despite not having distinct roles, but they were practically nonexistent in season 4. Why? Why weren't the Serpents part of Jughead's plan to take down the Stonies, and where did the Poisons even go? The Serpents were deputized, so shouldn’t they be working with the Sheriff? And the Poisons were created so that Toni could have a family, but now we really only see her with Cheryl. They started as enemies, but eventually worked together in protecting their friends and it was epic. We want to see more of that in season 5.
#6: Do Away with the Love Triangle
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Fans seemed disappointed that Jughead's asexuality did not translate from the page to the screen, but pairing him with Betty seemed to make it clear early on that the show was not interested in diving into a love triangle. Love triangles are a staple of teen dramas, but it was a relief that this series seemed to be switching it up. However in season 4, Betty and Archie suddenly start to explore their feelings for each other. It would be one thing if this happened earlier on, but for this to start up now, then it may completely tear the group apart. One of the greatest things about this show is how loyal the main 4 seem to be to each other. No one wants to see them break up.
#5: End Hiram Lodge’s Reign of Terror
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Who knows if he actually is sick? Knowing him, it could all be some kind of elaborate plot. Veronica’s dad Hiram Lodge was a terrifying villain early on, but it's just kind of getting annoying now. Especially because people just keep forgiving him. He is a mobster and a criminal that keeps outsmarting everyone - or more accurately, everyone is just too stupid to end his plots effectively. He has tried to kill on multiple occasions - Archie especially - but the teen still keeps going back to him. WHY?! Mr. Lodge clearly still has evil plans, but hopefully he can finally get his comeuppance in season 5. We’ve been waiting for it for so long.
#4: Don’t Ruin Cheryl Blossom
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Cheryl is one of the best characters on “Riverdale” hands-down. She is well written, well performed, and is a total undercover badass. But in season 4 her story devolved into talking to her brother's corpse, suspecting her house is haunted, and that thing about cannibalism. What in the sweet hell was that? Cheryl always had a flair for the overdramatic, but that story was absolute lunacy. We just hope that her character doesn't get wrecked anymore in season 5. Give us some more of the fast talking, sharp tongued Cheryl of old. Actually, just give us more Cheryl and TT all together.
#3: Veronica Lodge Needs to Pick a Side
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Veronica flip flops so much she’s practically a fish out of water. She hates her father, then wants to be a part of his business, then she sends him to jail, then she willingly goes back in his pocket. She needs to make a decision already. And if she does decide to go against him once and for all, can she please, please, stop showing her hand every single time. Every time she has a plan to take him down, she walks right up to him and tells him exactly what she is going to do - like a Batman villain. Just make a choice and stick with it already, Ronnie.
#2: Fix the Dialogue
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Dialogue can make or break a show. It can make the characters feel real and relatable no matter how unrealistic the plot. Unfortunately, in this case the dialogue only further contributes to the show’s absurdity. “Riverdale” has become a meme because of its over-the-top, fluffy, and even cringeworthy vocabulary. Nowhere on Earth do teenagers, or even just humans, actually talk like that. It's distracting. Lest we forget Jughead’s “I’m a weirdo” speech. You know what was really weird? That speech. Jughead is supposed to be a writer right, a wordsmith of sorts. Also, we are begging you: just do everyone a favor and leave behind words like "daddy" and Archiekins. Hard pass.
#1: Archie Andrews
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One of the biggest banes of this show is an unlikeable leading man. Archie is depicted as supposedly being kind, selfless, and pure of heart, but every single solitary action he takes is contradictory to that assessment of his character. He seems to make the dumbest possible decision at every single turn. Whether it be the way he treats women, how selfish he is with his friends, or the asinine way he tries to solve his problems, he doesn’t seem to learn from his mistakes and seems intent on making the same ones time and time again. It would be a nice change of pace to finally see some real character development from him.
