Grading Fall Television’s Hits And Misses

Photo Credit: The CW

Riverdale — A+

Did Archie Comics fans ever expect to see a storyline where the core four try to hunt down a serial killer targeting their town while Jughead slowly pulls away to join a gang? Probably not but that doesn’t mean that Riverdale isn’t worth checking out. Boosted by fantastic reviews in its first season, Riverdale is riding high during its sophomore year. This adaptation has managed to hit the perfect mixture between nostalgia, teen soap, and gothic horror. One of the few shows on network television to return with almost double the numbers from its first year, the series continues to gain popularity from an intense online fandom.

Some perfect marketing by Netflix and The CW helped create one of the hit shows on television this fall. While the storytelling isn’t as tight as season one, which only had thirteen episodes, the extension has allowed the universe to expand greatly. The Black Hood arc hasn’t been as compelling as Jason Blossom’s murder, but it has allowed the acting chops to shine. Lili Reinhart, who plays Betty Cooper, has specifically knocked it out of the park as object of the Black Hood’s affection.

Riverdale has become one of the first hit CW shows that doesn’t have any characters donning a cape and mask to fight crime that earned a renewal. While it’s been a tough sell to Archie Comics purists to get on board with the show, it’s definitely worth checking out. Especially now that the series has found success and a massive online fandom.