Previously, the was discussed in some detail. In particular, how the time jump provides new opportunity to revive the reputation of the show after years of stagnation and a confused narrative. However it appears as though a lot of the faith being placed in the show might be short lived. Recent episodes have cast doubt on the idea that they will play off the new dynamics and new stories aren't the long term strategy for the writers.

The first evidence of this was the dynamic between Veronica, her husband Chad, and Archie. Despite the interesting relationship Veronica and Chad built in the first few episodes, the introduction of Archie changed who Chad was and made the outcome rather obvious. Eventually, there would be a return of Veronica and Archie as a couple. Sadly, it wasn't long before Veronica broke up with Chad and almost immediately made a play for Archie. This coincided with the sudden and rather random implosion of Betty and Archie as a couple. And in the last episode, they appear to be setting up a return to Betty and Jughead as a couple. It seems almost a forgone conclusion at this point.

What does this say about the importance of building a better Riverdale?

Unfortunately, it doesn't. Riverdale and the writers themselves seem to be falling back into bad habits. Trying to make old ideas work in a new context always ends up failing in the end. The problem with the relationships in Riverdale wasn't the circumstances they found themselves in. It wasn't because they were in high school or because they were handling things that most high schoolers wouldn't encounter, although they did contribute. Fundamentally, it was the relationships themselves was what made it a problem.

People get bored with the same thing over and over again. They don't want to hear the same arguments and the same ideas without end. The more times you do it, the less interesting it becomes. However that's not what Riverdale seems to have understood about the problems with the way the show was being done before. Having Jughead and Betty in a relationship and Veronica and Archie back together solving a different mystery but just being older won't solve the fundamental problems. Because it's pretty much guaranteed that the same problems and arguments that they had before will crop up and foster the same dynamics.

Which of course leads to people being bored and feeling the exact same way that brought about the criticisms they had of the old version of the show.

Creating new dynamics and new relationships is the only real way around that. This doesn't mean forgetting about what happened in the past or ignoring it. There are ways to allow for the history between these characters to be integrated into the new relationship without going back into them. Maybe the best example of this in the new season is the Cheryl and Toni relationship, at least so far anyway.

After the return from the time jump, Toni has established her own life and her own goals. Like many of the other characters, she had new ideas and new dynamics to play off. So much about it was very refreshing and interesting. Her relationship with Cheryl was pretty clearly defined and understood in that they didn't really have one. Yet even when they did play with the idea of them having one, they didn't fall back into old patterns. In fact, Toni very much explicitly called out what was wrong with their old dynamic when Cheryl tried to entice her back into being with her.

Toni and Cheryl's relationship was very much one sided, and was built upon Cheryl's unwillingness to allow Toni to be her own person and do her own thing. It's a very odd contrast to see something handled so well with them, but not with the others. Of course there's still time to mess up what was done with Cheryl and Toni when Vanessa comes back from maternity leave. But it would be a shame to see what's been established go downhill.

And it's not just the relationships themselves which are falling into old habits either. Betty's apparent left turn into the whole 'Dark Betty' thing which seemed to have been abandoned is returning. Jughead's need to unravel a mystery where he gets in over his head. Archie's interest in football that came and went based on whatever the story demanded, as well as Kevin being alone and unhappy all of the sudden. These are all well worn dynamics that Riverdale has used repeatedly over the past several seasons. Many fans had hoped that the writers had learned the lessons of the past and decided to go in a different direction.

Given how the last few episodes have gone however, it seems increasingly unlikely.

There is one glimmer of hope still left in the ideas being put forth. It's possible that they are setting up for a recognition of the problem similar to what happened with Cheryl and Toni. That Archie and Veronica will realize what happens when you go back into old patterns. How the patterns seem nice and comfortable at first but ultimately become unfulfilling in the long run. It's possible that in bringing Betty and Jughead back together they will realize how little in common they have with each other anymore and going back isn't a good strategy.

If this ends up being the ultimate message and the reason for going back into old patterns, then maybe that's not what the writers are in fact doing. It would be nice to see real, lasting change be a part of the show going forward. To continue on the path they laid out of building a better Riverdale and making better, more interesting choices going forward.

Only time will tell at this point however.

Originally posted on Mar 30, 2021 on Substack.