Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa brought characters from the Archie Comics alive when he began Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on The Cw Network and Netflix, respectively. Both series take a darker turn from their lighter comic book counterparts.
While Riverdale brought Archie and the gang to life, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina brought Sabrina and her cast of supporting characters alive. Due to their different storylines, the shows are very different even though they take place in the same universe. Each of the shows has done some crazy things. However, there are times when one has done more insane stuff than the other.
Riverdale: The Sisters of Quiet Mercy
Betty first went to The Sisters of Quiet Mercy to find her sister, Polly. The institution acted as a psychiatric ward and a mental hospital. Although it always had a creepy vibe to it, things got more intense each season. The Sisters of Quiet Mercy did not only act as a mental institution. It also was the original home of Gryphons and Gargoyles, a place of drug use on patients and a location for gay conversion therapy. The Sisters of Quiet Mercy becomes a worse place every time it appears on Riverdale.
Sabrina: Lucifer is Sabrina's Father
Talk about a plot twist, Sabrina was not expecting to discover her lineage was not what she believed. A disturbing truth forces Sabrina to accept that her father is the Dark Lord. Lucifer and Sabrina's relationship is continually getting more complicated and intense with every action either of them take.
As much as Sabrina hates him, she knows that he has left a mark on her life. Satan has lived within Nick's mind, and his role in Hell has welcomed Sabrina to a brand new side of her life. However, Sabrina has never lost sight of the villain Lucifer has been.
Riverdale: Veronica's Speakeasy
What seventeen year old owns and operates a Speakeasy? Veronica's business ventures may be ambitious, but this was completely unrealistic. Although Veronica plans not to sell alcohol, that plan eventually is thrown out the window. It is questionable how many of the adults in Riverdale know the Speakeasy exists beneath Pop's Diner. Everyone treated the business as if it was completely normal and not at all unheard of for a teenager to run such a place. The Speakeasy also hosts numerous music performances. Veronica, Josie, and others have gotten up on stage to perform.
Sabrina: Queen Of Hell
Greendale's resident teenage witch has more than supernatural powers. By the end of part three, Sabrina's status in the Church of Night has risen once again. More than being a half-mortal or Lucifer's daughter, Sabrina also inherits a startling crown. With Satan tucked away in Nick, and later Blackwood, Sabrina combats Caliban for the throne. Three rounds of finding the Unholy Regalia and a time paradox later leads one of Sabrina's identities to become Queen of Hell officially. While Riverdale has had some momentous insane moments, none of their characters hold such a title.
Riverdale: "Survive The Night"
Finally, discovering that Chic was running around Riverdale as the Gargoyle King was only the first of the crazy things to occur in Riverdale's season three finale. Afterward, Penelope Blossom, who had been behind the Gargoyle King's deranged actions, threw the core four into a horrifying real-life game of Gryphons and Gargoyles.
Where the stakes are life and death, Penelope sees this as an opportunity to show the other members of the Midnight Club what it felt like to lose a child. Betty, Jughead, Veronica, and Archie make it out alive with the help of the combined forces of the Southside Serpents and Pretty Poisons.
Sabrina: Bringing Mortals To Hell
To be fair, Harvey, Roz, and Theo had told Sabrina they wanted to be included in her magical adventures. Naming themselves the Fright Club, the mortals were willing to travel to Hell with Sabrina to find Nick. When Sabrina finds a way to do that, her human friends seem nervous but still decide to go. Arming her friends with the shoes of the dead, she leads them through Hell until they reach Pandemonium, where Lilith is keeping Lucifer within Nick's body. Luckily, they all leave Hell with their lives intact.
Riverdale: The Farm
Making their official appearance in season three is The Farm. The Farm is a cult disguised with seemingly kind and understanding members. However, there is more beneath the surface. The Farm uses its members as a way to harvest organs. They also convince their members that they can communicate with the dead. Edgar Evernever's followers do not question his methods much, falling quickly under his spell. During The Farm's appearance in season four, Edgar and Evelyn plan to lead their followers off a cliff in a bus while Edgar wished to ascend by flying a rocket.
Sabrina: Cannibalism
The Feast of Feasts is the witch equivalent to mortal's Thanksgiving. However, there is one drastic difference. While mortals lean toward turkey, stuffing, and gravy, witches delight themselves by devouring human flesh. It is an honor to be named "Queen of the Feast," at least that's what they've been taught to believe. Sabrina is one of the few that sees this aspect of the tradition to be monumentally unappetizing.
Yet, even after all the hoops Sabrina jumped through to prevent the event from unfolding, the witches would not accept it. One witch happily sacrificed herself for the coven, and the rest were quick to engulf her.
Riverdale: Random Musical Numbers
Riverdale began musical episodes in season two when the characters put on the musical, "Carrie." Beforehand, while there had been musical acts, they had been for the sake of a public performance. However, the musical episodes picked it up a notch, having the characters sing and dance outside of a performance. While the characters would sing the songs from the play they were performing, it was not for a rehearsal. They were just singing. After the musical episodes end, no one ever talks about the time they all broke into song and dance on a regular day.
Sabrina: Massive Magic Mistakes
While Sabrina tends to do whatever she wants with magic, it can sometimes be too much. Sabrina's genuine belief that she is doing the right thing is a questionable motive, as is her selfishness. Two prime examples of that were her attempt at necromancy and allowing a time paradox to occur. Reviving Tommy was meant to be for Harvey's sake.
But, not returning Tommy's soul to his body made things worse, and Harvey was forced to kill his older brother. The end of part three showed a future that occurred due to Sabrina being distracted searching for the third piece of Unholy Regalia. By the use of time travel, Sabrina prevents the future from happening but does not merge with her other-self. Instead, the two Sabrina counterparts decide to live two separate lives. While one would live with her family and friends, the other would gain the title of "Queen of Hell."