With season six of the hit CW drama Riverdale coming back from its midseason break on March 20th, speculation on what is in store for the beloved cast of characters is at an all-time high. Here’s a quick rundown of where all of our favorites were at the end of the midseason finale, and a glimpse of what might be next for them, guaranteed by the teaser to be “the most shocking, surprising, and unexpected episodes yet.”
Archie: Arguably the main character of Riverdale, Archie Adkins spent the first half of this season navigating a tense love triangle involving Betty and Veronica, but if his midseason cliffhanger decision to plant false evidence linking Veronica to the robbery at Pop’s soda shop is anything to go by, Archie has made his choice. We can expect to see Archie struggle to navigate the difficulties of a monogamous relationship with Betty, while dealing with the heavy guilt of almost putting Veronica behind bars for ten to life. It is also likely that as the tensions rise between the three, we might see a love triangle begin to form.
Jughead: The last time we saw Jughead Jones, he was sitting behind the wheel of his classic Coupe DeVille, which happened to be sitting at the bottom of Riverdale Harbor after a nasty crash. While it seemed like the burger-loving teen might be done for, the new teaser trailer clearly shows scenes involving Jughead that take place in Riverdale High, so either he lives, or we will be seeing some pretty vital flashback sequences. Either way, there’s going to be more of the cult favorite character, a relief after rumors that actor Dylan Sprouse was leaving the show to pursue doing anything else.
Betty: With Archie finally hers and the 48-hour poison she was given at prom neutralized, it looks like it’s Betty’s time to shine. Unfortunately, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Riverdale High cheerleader and student journalist. Betty still has no leads on who was responsible for the decapitation of her father during his town hall speech vying for a new railroad system connecting Riverdale to the outside world. Plus, since her only real suspect turned out to be two children wearing a trench coat with solid alibis on the day of the murder (at the bank), she will have to start at square one in her search for vengeance.
Veronica: Rich girl and high school heartthrob Veronica Lodge ended last season conflicted to say the least. She lost her big chance at finally being with Archie after deciding to skip their prom date, instead narrowly saving the whole town from a zombie outbreak. Just when it seemed like getting the cold shoulder from her crush was her lowest point, Veronica found herself abducted onto the alien mothership belonging to Xenark Prime, the angry race of amphibious space creatures that swore revenge on Riverdale High back at the end of season four. With their long-awaited return, we can expect to see if Veronica escapes the massive ship or if she will give in to their destructive nature and join them just like her grandfather before her. Either way, one thing in Veronica’s conflicted mind is certain: High school sucks.
George Constanza: The last season six scene featuring Seinfeld alumnus Costanza had the bald fast-talker impersonating a teacher at Riverdale High in an effort to sleep with Vice Principal Sherri Martin. The plan had finally paid off, with George getting the big date, but in typical Riverdale fashion, it came with the caveat that he would be teaching the toughest group of students in the school. According to leaked scripts, Costanza will have a much larger arc this season, as his class of misfits become a found family of sorts preparing for the big school talent show. Here’s hoping he catches wind of the bomb that was planted under the stage in season two.
Cheryl Blossom: Due to contract disputes and rumored retconning, the actor portraying character Cheryl Blossom has refused to return for the rest of the season. The new canon is that Cheryl never existed, and the queen bitch character that drove the first five season’s plot was simply a figment of Betty’s imagination that everyone else went along with. Expect a lot of flashbacks this season that recreate classic moments like the one where Cheryl held professor Miller at gunpoint demanding test answers, only this time with Betty being the one behind the barrel. Also expect an inexplicable lack of ramifications for anything Betty did while in what is already being called “Cheryl Mode.”
Glemthorp7: Fan favorite and literal tentacle monster Glemthorp7 was feeling the pressure last episode as the rest of the core cast were beginning to heavily suspect that he’s an alien impostor living among them, a twist that I would personally be against considering how earnest and integral to the characters’ unity he has been since season one. Luckily, after a rousing song and dance number set to “Putting on the Ritz,” Glemthorp7’s innocence was no longer under question and the search for the alien spy was steered in a new direction. This leaves the sweetheart octopus monstrosity to keep being the emotional glue that bonds our heroes.
Reggie Mantle: With the big football game approaching quickly, it’s time for star quarterback and former statue brought to life via dark magic Reggie Mantle to step up to the plate…