Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo

Why ‘Riverdale’ is the New Show Everyone’s Talking About

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SMU chapter.

If you haven’t heard about the new teen mystery drama that has taken the television world by storm, you should immediately set your DVR, or if you’re like us, just clear your schedule for every Thursday night. Riverdale, based off the famous Archie Comics, is the perfect mixture of any relatable teen drama with a murder mystery mix (think more Twin Peaks than Pretty Little Liars).

So the premise of the show sounds interesting, but why exactly is everyone freaking out about it? Well, we’re here to tell you how it’s better than any teen mystery before.

1. Cole Sprouse

It’s no mystery that Cole Sprouse returning to his acting career has created a lot of buzz in Hollywood. And why should it not? Girls swooned over him and his charm when he was pre-pubescent in his Suite Life days, and he only looks better with age. I mean, look at him.

In Riverdale, he plays the witty and all-knowing Jughead Jones, who narrates the whole series. Taking on a darker role that separates him from his Disney Channel days, you do not want to miss Cole Sprouse in his prime.

2. Josie and the Pussycats

Riverdale features some of the hottest new music, but it’s different than any typical soundtrack for a show. The show itself features all-girl pop band, Josie and the Pussycats, and they aren’t new to television either. There was an animated show based around this girl power group in the late 1960s and then a movie in 2001, so their involvement in this storyline is nothing new. If the storyline isn’t enough to capture your attention, you’d be wrong to not keep watching for the newest tunes!

3. The Female Friendships

Unlike other teen dramas, Riverdale has focused on building female friendships and uniting them, despite any boy that tries to get in the way. It’s been a common theme throughout this season so far, and we can’t get enough. This is easily demonstrated by the two main characters, Betty and Veronica. While a bit of a love triangle does form at some point, nothing stops this dynamic duo from taking on Riverdale’s boys and many mysteries. Even Barb from Stranger Things makes her appearance in an unstoppable girl squad (talk about a mystery). If Betty and Veronica’s friendship isn’t #goals, we don’t know what is.

4. K.J. Apa

While a little new to Hollywood, New Zealander K.J. Apa is a star on the rise you’ll want to catch now. Mostly known for his role in A Dog’s Purpose (which you should also see right away), Apa is the perfect guy to play the well-known star of the series, Archie. He’s a relatable character, who also happens to also be the red-headed school hunk and a talented musician.

5. The Murder Mystery

So if you’re still not convinced, the mystery of the show should be enough to intrigue just about anyone. The unresolved death left a town in shock and weeks later, they discovered the body with a bullet through the head. Now everyone and everything is being questioned, and who knows what Jughead or one of the Riverdale students might uncover. It’s truth they’re seeking, and in the mess of all of the friendships and relationships, each person is determined to find it. There are so many questions and not enough answers, but we’re ready to tune in and go along for the ride every Thursday (and hopefully we’ve convinced you). 

We are the SMU Team.