‘Riverdale’ Review [1×01]: “Chapter One: The River’s Edge”

‘Riverdale’ revs up CW Headquarters…by revamping a seventy-five year-old classic. It’s a big risk; a flipside of a coin. It could go either horribly wrong, or surprisingly well.

We start ‘Riverdale‘ with Jughead (Cole Sprouse). Surprisingly brooding, he writes about an accident involving the Blossoms. Of the twins, the brother dies. Swiftly, we move onto Archie Andrews’ (K.J. Apa) life. A conflicted musician, jock and construction worker at the same time, it’s revealed he’s still caught up in the summer. As is everyone. Except this summer, Archie hooked up with his music teacher, Miss Grundy (Sarah Habel). As Betty (Lili Reinhart) says:

Betty: “One summer can change everything.”

Now slam the doors open because New York’s Hermione (Marisol Nichols) and daughter Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) are rocking into town. From here on it’s a jumble of hormones. Archie’s attracted to Veronica, who’s attracted to him, but wants him to hook up with Betty. There are cheerleader auditions, led by a ferocious Cherry Blossom (Madelaine Petsch).

Perhaps a big move on Veronica’s part is pushing Cherry, using her wily socialite New York skills, into putting Betty on the cheer squad. It works, but not without Cherry hatching a devious plan to set Betty up. As Archie’s pursuit of Miss Grundy continues, Betty finds herself heartbroken that her best friend does not like her the way she likes him.

Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and the Pussycats prove to be episode-stealers, with their lovely music and attitude. (“Read my gloss lips, Justin Ginger-lick. Not. Gonna. Happen.”) But it’s the shock at the end in which Kevin (Casey Cott) discovers Jason Blossom’s body. And it wasn’t an accidental drowning. He’d been shot in the head.

Anyone remember that gunshot Archie and Miss Grundy heard on the 4^th July?

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It’s all about Archie Comics, but for this premiere, Archie’s outshone by pretty much half the cast.

It goes to mention that the acting is really up-to-par considering any reservations. Surprisingly, all seemed charming and despicable (in a good way). Though Archie’s outshone, K.J. Apa is a more than capable leading man.

However, it’s really the girls who steal the show (and Kevin). In Betty and Veronica we see two polar opposites. We see a cramped girl with ADHD and a confident New York socialite. Yet what brings them together are their dark pasts. Reinhart and Mendes’ chemistry is undeniable—as friends—but narrowly, it’s Mendes who steals the show with a strong array of one-liners.

Veronica: “Are you familiar with the works of Truman Capote? I’m more ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ but this place is strictly ‘In Cold Blood’.”

There has to be shout-outs for Kevin and Cherry, too. In Kevin, Cott’s comedic timing is impeccable (as are his flailing movements). It’s refreshing that in a show touted as one full of secrets and lies, Kevin is as close to the truth as you’re going to get. Throw in some hostility with Petsch’s Cherry, and we’re rewarded with this:

Kevin: “Is cheerleading still a thing?”

Cherry: “Is being a gay best friend still a thing?”

Everyone in the cast throws in a welcome and fun performance. But character-wise, it’s the supporting cast who nab the cloth from under the table. We can’t wait to see more of the building rivalries in Riverdale, and the consequences they’ll have. Bravo, to a well-knit cast.

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Despite strong performances from the cast, ‘Riverdale’ still needs to make it its own show. For now, it’s simply a mish-mash of ‘Glee’, ‘Gossip Girl’, and ‘Pretty Little Liars’.

This is perhaps most definitively shown in the characterisation of Archie Andrews.

We all know and are familiar with the classic Archie comics. It’s why Jughead’s appearance threw us off initially—a brooding Cole Sprouse?! What have they done?

It’s a poorly concealed effort by The CW and the show’s executive producers to introduce a subversive, darker tone to the comics. It’s not terribly convincing when you end on a ‘Pretty Little Liars’ note, and the character of Veronica could literally be plucked from ‘Gossip Girl’. But our main problem lies with Archie. Again, A.J. Kapa does extremely well with his material but does anyone remember Finn Hudson?

Jock?

Promising singer and musician?

Conflicted between two girls who both fancied him?

Cory Monteith’s beloved portrayal of the character is one that’s hard to forget of a once-iconic show. Now it’s the premiere of ‘Riverdale’, so hasty judgements should be reined in—but we really, really want Kapa’s role to be more than just a ‘Glee’ rip-off. Because you really don’t want that. And Kapa has more than the potential to pull a U-Turn and make the iconic role of Archie Andrews his own.

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The social commentary—albeit a little subtle—is interesting, considering this is a revamped version of the comics. From seventy-five years ago.

Perhaps the one scene that springs to mind is when Veronica and Betty audition for Cherry’s Cheer squad. Throughout the episode, it’s Mendes who brings scenes to life with her privileged strut and socialite conniving. In the audition (again—very similar to the audition scene in ‘Glee’) both Betty and Veronica are lacklustre. Yet Veronica assures Cherry she hasn’t seen their ‘big finish’—which is yanking Betty closer and giving her a long kiss.

Hilariously, it doesn’t catch a deadpan Cherry (or us) out.

Cherry: “Full lesbian kissing hasn’t been taboo since 1944.”

Kevin’s openly gay and not shy about it. Archie’s father supports him, albeit reluctantly, in his pursuit of music. Hermione can be a wonderful single mother—alone. These are issues that would’ve been prominent in the original comics regardless. But seventy-five years ago, issues seen as prominent now would have been much less so. And it’s refreshing that ‘Riverdale’ tackles these, with a little tongue-in-cheek humour too.

Final Verdict: ‘Riverdale’ ticks all the boxes when it comes to a snappy script, talented cast and skilled cinematography. But it falls at a crucial hurdle: making it something different.

‘Riverdale’ got off to a strong, if a little clunky, start. Boasting a talented young cast, there’s no doubt that whatever twists and turns ‘Riverdale’ has to offer, the cast will be able to pull it off convincingly. However, despite Greg Berlanti’s snappy script, it’s down to the delivery of those one-liners that make it special.

Camila Mendes is the absolute MVP. Veronica’s quotes are too much that we couldn’t even list them all. But the huge span of her nicknames for Archie (“Red-head Ansel Elgort”; “Hipster Prince Harry”) are grin-inducing. She’s one to keep an eye on. Veronica, and maybe Betty, are the most intriguing thus far.

‘Riverdale’ does a good job of creating a nostalgic feel in a very modern world. There’s something classic about it we can’t pin-point. It may be the eerily pleasant music score in contrast to the creepy goings-on in town. And the equally mysterious Jughead. But for now, it’s primarily teenage drama—and somehow, that’s the best thing about it. We know it’ll delve into mystery, ala ‘Pretty Little Liars‘. But let’s reminisce for the simple days of jock versus music, good-girl versus rebel, and a school dance.

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Questions and Comments:

• Hands up: this is a cynic right here, and I’m found guilty of enjoying the premiere. And it’s not even a guilty pleasure. It was genuinely enjoyable, and an easy watch.
• So if Jason got shot in the head, I assume Cherry witnessed it.
  • Is. So. Messed. Up!!
• Camila Mendes—can we get a standing ovation? What a performance. She strutted in and then stole the show.
• Yes, here lies an overly concerned citizen re: Archie and Miss Grundy. She’s known, really, for statutory rape in the comics—and to be fair, it still is. What The CW will do in terms of this is entirely in their hands. Do they pursue a conflict? Or do they romanticise it?
  • If 2016 proved anything, it’s how fiction and media affect real lives; real mental states. Fiction may be fiction, but its impact on a human being is profound.
• I hope we see more of Josie and her Pussycats soon—they were phenomenal. Plus the brief put-down she gives Archie is brilliantly delivered.
• …Guess who these lines are from (Ruddy. Brilliant.):
  • “That shady bitch!”
  • “I’ve tried every boy except orange.”
• Let’s do a ‘Pretty Little Liars’: who do you think shot Jason? And just how much involvement do Archie and Miss Grundy have, now, that it’s in the open—and they heard it?
  • …Miss Grundy?
• Debating in my head whether this show is more suitable for another channel like NBC or Fox. What do you think?

You can catch episodes of RIVERDALE on Thursdays, 9/8c. Channel: The CW