Back in 2017, the CW released the first season of Riverdale, which saw the network adapt the Archie Comics for the screen. It didn't take long for the show to attain a huge fanbase, with the storylines, characters, and iconic cast persuading the audience to come back for more. However, most fans will say the show has gone down a path they didn't expect.
It's not as if Riverdale is completely unwatchable as there are elements of the show that viewers look forward to. It just feels like there are a lot of improvements needed for it to return to its former glory.
Bad: The Cringy Dialogue
Most fans know that Riverdale dialogue doesn't have a natural flow. In fact, the characters have said a lot of questionable things over the show's four seasons that have had fans cringing with embarrassment. Jughead's "I'm a weirdo" speech gets a lot of flak from the fans because of how random it was.
The viewers also cringe when the characters call the couples by their "ship names" (e.g. Bughead, Varchie, Vughead). However, the cherry on top of the cringe sundae has to be Mary telling Archie she thinks he and Veronica are "endgame." None of this feels right...
Good: The Soundtrack
A lot of fans really enjoy the show because it introduces them to new music. With most of the cast able to carry a tune, the viewers have seen a range of genres performed, including soul, pop, R&B, and rock. Fans have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the talents of Josie and the Pussycats and The Archies.
Even the musical episodes have given the viewers ideas of what films or plays to see next. Some fans may not have realized it but the writers often use songs to foreshadow the events to come.
Bad: Dropped And Forgotten Storylines
For some reason, Riverdale has decided to abandon several storylines for no reason at all. In season 2, the show spent a lot of time building up a romance between Josie and Reggie. Yet, it just ended it without explanation.
In season 4, the students started going to therapy. However, one session seems to have healed them all because they haven't been to one since. Fans also haven't forgotten that Charles and Chic may or may not be a couple but are still waiting for the series to address this too. It would be nice if Riverdale wrapped up their plots before starting new ones.
Good: The Mysteries
All fans will agree that the main reason they stuck with Riverdale was because they wanted to find out who killed Jason Blossom. Throughout the first season, the writers managed to keep fans on tenterhooks as they built up a list of suspects.
After the big reveal, the show then moved on to the Black Hood and Gargoyle King plots, which have both kept the suspenseful momentum going. The stuff in between might not have interested viewers as much but they did want to see these stories through.
Bad: Over-The-Top Plots
Over Riverdale's four seasons, viewers have seen some unique storylines form over the years. However, these initially engaging plots often become over-the-top and foolish. The viewers have seen Archie survive a bear attack, Cheryl keep her dead brother's corpse in her house, and Betty do a weird striptease.
But the worst had to be the cult that harvested human organs. To this day, fans are still baffled by Edgar Evernever's attempt to escape in a rocket. Who knows how that was going to work...
Good: Familial Dynamics
Riverdale is a teen drama that has some of the best familial relationships of the genre. Before Molly Ringwald joined the show, fans loved watching the relationship between Fred and Archie. They have also enjoyed watching Alice and FP's dynamic with Betty and Jughead develop as they worked on becoming better parents.
Fans didn't even mind watching Hermione and Veronica interactions in the first season. (Though fans would surely be tickled to have Hiram Lodge and Penelope Blossom leave the town for good.)
Bad: Inconsistent Character Arcs
Compared to the first season, there has been a lot of character inconsistencies. For instance, Penelope had been severely burnt in the Blossom fire but had no scars afterward. Veronica says she will cut all ties with Hiram but continuously runs back to him. Even FP becoming the town's new sheriff doesn't make any sense with his criminal record.
However, no one has undergone as much change as Archie, who has become one of the most indecisive people on the planet. He wanted to be a footballer, then a singer and then a worker for Hiram. After that fell through, he decided he wanted to be a boxer and has now opened a community for young kids. It would be good to see him stick to one path.
Good: The Friendships
Another reason why the audience is captivated by the show is because of the friendships between the teens. It's not just Jughead, Archie, Betty, and Veronica who shared a great bond. The viewers have also seen them share tight-knit friendships with some of the other regular characters.
For instance, fans love storylines that see Veronica and Cheryl team up on new business ventures. They have also really enjoyed watching Kevin and Betty's friendship get back on track as well as Reggie and Archie's. They would all go to the ends of the earth to protect one another.
Bad: The Quality Of Storylines For The Other Series' Regulars
Many people believe the storylines for the other regular characters have gotten worse as time went on. Considering most of the cast got promoted to a regular role in season 3, the show hasn't utilized them all. They haven't developed Toni's character, relegating her to the role of Cheryl's supportive girlfriend.
Fangs has been shot and brainwashed yet walks around as if this hasn't affected him. Not to mention how they only focused on Reggie being abused for one episode — and then there's the tickle video storyline. These characters deserve to have more time onscreen rather than being placed in a supportive role...
Good: The Villains
One would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't believe the villains were the best element of the show. As every season went on, the antagonists have gotten more sinister. For instance, the Black Hood's killing spree had everyone worrying about their favorite characters.
Edgar Evernever and his wife managed to get under the viewers' skin as they watched them brainwash half the town and planned to harvest their organs. Even the Stonewall Prep students creeped everyone out with their twisted games. The writers sure do know how to create scary and compelling villains...