Riverdale, The CW's Gossip Girl-esque reimagining of the Archie Comics, recently wrapped its fourth season, which was set to conclude with Archie and the gang finishing high school and heading off to college amid some tumultuous cast exits, including Skeet Ulrich's FP Jones and Marisol Nichols's Hermione Lodge.
The abbreviated season (due to coronavirus production restrictions) did not include a sendoff for either of these characters, but the writers have promised closure for Riverdale fans. As the cast and crew begin shooting again, now is a great time to examine the likability of the parents in Riverdale from least to most likable.
Hal Cooper
The winner of the "least likable parent" on this list should probably have been an easy guess. Hal Cooper was never known for his sunny disposition, having been notably hard on his daughters from go. However, when the Black Hood terrorized Riverdale, and Betty began to suspect her father of wearing the Hood, Cooper's true, violent, sociopathic nature was revealed, cementing his evil nature. Cooper rarely showed a morsel of humanity since, particularly when he encouraged and groomed Betty to follow in his murderous footsteps.
Hiram Lodge
By comparison to Hal Cooper, Hiram Lodge looked like the winner of Riverdale's Father of the Year award. Though Hiram would say that everything he did was for his family, the manipulative mobster routinely gaslit and coerced his wife and daughters into doing his bidding in order to gain more territory and ground in Riverdale. Hiram has had few redeemable moments; even the "fatal illness" he acquired in season four has done little to change his behaviors or emotions, making him a very cold and unsympathetic character.
Penelope Blossom
While Penelope's daughter, Cheryl, may have been the most likable of the teens, that's in spite of her mother, not because of her. Penelope was the epitome of an abusive, absentee mother, serving her own needs before that of her children, despite her own horrific losses.
Like Hal and Hiram, Penelope has often been caught up in the seedy criminal underbelly of Riverdale. However, like Cheryl, she did manage to remain somehow charming and likable despite her machinations, earning her more favor than Hal or Hiram.
Sierra McCoy
Like many of the characters in Riverdale, Sierra McCoy was initially introduced as a somewhat shady character, the politically calculating mayor of Riverdale. She and her (largely off-screen) husband were both very hard on Josie, seeing the talent in their daughter and wanting her to take her burgeoning music career seriously. However, the show later course-corrected and added more nuance to Sierra's character, showing that she wasn't just a stern mom, she was also a savvy politician and a charismatic woman. Her eventual romance with Tom Keller was an added bonus.
Tom Keller
One of the "Hot Dads of Riverdale" (weirdly coined by his own son), Tom Keller had the difficult job of being sheriff in the ridiculously crime-riddled town of Riverdale. Tom was one of the characters who is mostly at the mid-point for lack of screen time and storyline. But his likability stemmed from his overall rugged dad quality and good-hearted charm. Even if he didn't appear in every episode, he still managed to make an impression on viewers with his efforts to keep Riverdale a safe place and protect Kevin and his friends.
Hermione Lodge
At the beginning of the series, Hermione Lodge was introduced as a fascinating character. She returned to Riverdale with her daughter, fleeing an abusive marriage from recently-imprisoned Hiram, and looking to start fresh (and perhaps rekindle things with Fred Andrews).
As the series went on, though, and Hiram returned, Hermione's independence got lost under the weight of Hiram's storylines. Even more frustrating, her support of Veronica wavered over time. Sadly, it's unclear whether Hermione's character will receive closure thanks to COVID production issues and Marisol Nichols's exit.
Alice Cooper
One of the show's more complex characters, Alice Cooper arguably wouldn't be so likable if not imbued with so much warmth and humor by actress Mädchen Amick. Though Alice could be controlling, domineering, and make highly questionable decisions, it was always evident that she had her daughters' best interests at heart, even if they didn't see it. Though Alice was a highly controversial parent, she was put through the Riverdale wringer, making her behavior largely empathetic. And her romance with FP was heartwarming and grounded.
Mary Andrews
Mary Andrews would have been number one if not for lack of screen time in earlier seasons of Riverdale. Despite Mary's absence in the earlier seasons (later explained as a sort of mid-life crisis), she and Fred remained among the most normal and loving parents in Riverdale. Molly Ringwald's performance, particularly in season four after the death of Luke Perry/Fred Andrews, was incredibly believable and heartfelt, with Mary becoming a welcome presence in the show. Besides, who doesn't like Molly Ringwald?
FP Jones
Easily the most dynamic of all the characters, (and perhaps the best cast), FP Jones started out as little more than a stereotypical alcoholic, deadbeat dad. Since then, he has grown into a sober, loving, and present, father. This was never more apparent than in season four's Jughead murder mystery storyline. Even more remarkable, FP rose above his station as leader of the Serpents into town Sheriff, uniting both factions in Riverdale with his charisma and smarts. Skeet Ulrich and FP both will surely be missed.
Fred Andrews
Of course, no one could top this other than Fred Andrews, the patron saint of Riverdale. Even in his rare moments of questionable morals, Fred remained upright and caring. Aside from 90210, Riverdale was perhaps Luke Perry's best role, allowing the actor to shine and settle into what should have been a new moment in the midlife of his career. Perry's light, humor, and grace shined through Fred at every moment, making him the heart and soul of Riverdale long after both Perry and Fred's passing.