TRADITION IN RIVERDALE
Archie Comics live-action Teen Drama Mystery "Riverdale" Challenges Tradition in Archie Comics and Christianity
PLOT
Riverdale takes place in a small town of the same name residing within the Archie Comics Universe (the Archiverse). It is in the second half of it's second season. It is filmed by The CW and is currently on Netflix. The show has a kitsch feel to it just as the comics do, but the content is mature because of its genre and target consumers, teenagers.
Each season has it's own mystery that the kids work to solve:
Season One's mystery was the murder of Jason Blossom, Cheryl Blossom's twin brother and only emotional support (Think Flower's in the Attic minus the sibling incest).
Season Two is all about uncovering the identity of the serial killer the Black Hood. Officially the Black Hood has been caught and killed, but many fans are not convinced they found the real villain.
A TRANSGRESSIVE COMING-OF-AGE STORY
Riverdale has a message for young people to think critically and hold themselves and others accountable
This tv adaptation of the Archie Comics is an origin story. Characters develop defining traits held by their comic book counterparts as they navigate high school and all of it's concerns. Many of the characters are exploring their identity and sexuality while coming to accept their darkness (as the show labels it) like mental illness, family dysfunction, poverty, crime, incest, and teenage pregnancy. Another transgressive aspect of the show is that some of the characters are implied to be Christian, but religion is used as a moral veil to appear more pure.
"Our story is about a town; a small town and the people who live in the town. From a distance, it presents itself like so many other small towns all over the world...safe, decent, innocent. Get closer though and you start seeing the shadows underneath. The name of our town is 'Riverdale'."
Jughead Jones
RELIGION AND POPULAR CULTURE
Popular Culture as Dialogic
CHERYL & TONI | NIGHTS WITH YOU
A Canon Same-Sex Slash Video
Slash videos are often focused on two characters that are not in a canon relationship, but fans believe would make a great couple. In this video the focus is on a canon relationship that is just beginning to form in the latest episodes of Riverdale. This is the first canon lesbian or bisexual (almost) relationship in the Archie Comics universe (the Archiverse).