[SPOILERS for those not caught up on Riverdale ahead.]

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Get set for a much darker Archie Andrews in Riverdale season 2, and we're not talking about his hair color. Riverdale's freshman season ended with a huge shock, when Fred Andrews (Luke Perry) was shot in an armed robbery at Pop's Diner. Though viewers thought he was merely a victim of circumstance, thanks to Jughead's brooding voiceover, we now know that the shooting was deliberate.

Whether Fred survives or not, is not yet known, and no doubt that is something that showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is trying to keep under wraps. Either way, though, for Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), someone has tried to kill his father, and those events are set to take a toll on the character in season 2.

Speaking at the EW & People Upfronts, Camila Mendes, who plays Veronica Lodge on the show, told EW that Veronica now needs to be there for her boyfriend, Archie, but added that the shooting results in viewers seeing a much darker side to his character:

“It’s going to unpack so many things in terms of the relationships for season 2 because Archie’s going to be going through this really traumatic experience and Veronica’s going to have to be there to help with that burden. I like that there’ll be a new darkness to Archie. I think it’s going to add a lot of edge to his character and some depth.”

Archie Andrews at school looking serious in Riverdale

As lovable as the character is, Archie didn't really do all that much in season one; his personal dramas tended to revolve around girls, or choosing between music and football. Meanwhile, Jughead was dealing with the possibility of his dad being a murderer and drug dealer, Betty was unearthing family secrets, Cheryl was finding out that her dad was a killer, and Veronica was trying to uncover her incarcerated father's shady deals. Archie's problems paled in comparison.

In that regard, then, it will be good to see Apa given more to do, and the chance to really showcase his dramatic acting skills. It's logical that Archie would suffer badly from the events he witnessed, and natural that he would want to try and find out who could deliberately try to kill such a good man.

So far, not many more details are known about season 2, but there are plenty more mysteries to be answered; Riverdale is the town that seems buried deep in dark secrets and intrigue, and no doubt there's even more to come.

NEXT: What to Expect in Riverdale Season 2

Riverdale season 2 will air on The CW during the 2017-18 season. Season 1 arrives on Netflix soon.

Source: EW