She’s rich. She’s popular. She’s dating Archie Andrews, the most talented, attractive jock in school. Everyone wants to be accepted by her, and would give anything to be apart of her inner circle. Her name is Veronica Lodge, and she’s one of two female leads from the CW’s “Riverdale.” From my vague description of her, you’re probably associating her with the “popular mean girl” stereotype. If that’s the case, you definitely aren’t alone – but you couldn’t be more wrong.
Like most wealthy teenagers, Veronica’s privilege stems from her parents. Her father is an infamous businessman, known for his vicious swindling tactics and vengeful ulterior motives. Not much can be said for her mother, Hermione, who (sometimes) tries to be a positive role model for her daughter, though she tends to side with her husband, Hiram, and mainly for financial reasons. In terms of plot, the Lodges are the epitome of rich families, and Veronica’s character is often criticized as a result.
While her family situation isn’t the greatest, Veronica has a solid, typically reliable group of friends. No matter her family’s controversial stance on Riverdale matters, her BFFs remain resilient, and always back their bestie… most of the time. Veronica’s number one bestie, Betty Cooper, has a questionable “best friend” record, though she’s often considered the favorite female character.
Personally, I find Betty to be somewhat obnoxious, as she tends to shift her self-doubt and insecurities onto Veronica, even though they’re “best friends.” For example, after she won the heart of her first love (Archie), Betty had mixed feelings about Ronnie, though they eventually made a pact to keep boys from coming between them. However, that didn’t prevent Betty from throwing shade at her new BFF, and often more harshly than necessary.
Prior to “Riverdale” becoming a TV series, Veronica was constantly “villainized” in the Archie Comics: “Known as Riverdale’s privileged princess, Veronica Lodge is the richest gal in town. She tends to focus on the finer things in life and has no issue waving her money around for the world to see! ‘Ronnie’ also has a habit of using her wealth to snag Archie away from her best friend Betty at every turn!” Doesn’t sound like they give her the benefit of the doubt, does it?
Luckily, “Riverdale” proved that Veronica is much more than a “privileged princess.” And while she does have a luxurious life of wealth and indulgence, Ronnie is well aware of her privilege, and uses it for all the right reasons – even when her familial bonds are in question. The Archie Comics may have stereotyped Veronica’s character, but they definitely got one thing right –she’s not one to be ignored, especially when her interpersonal relationships are jeopardized and her father’s motives are questionable. In contrast to its comic book progenitor, “Riverdale” portrays V as loyal, honest and having a good sense of morality.
By giving Veronica’s character more dimension in “Riverdale,” producers have made her relatable and likeable to viewers, though many still tend to favor Betty. Even so, there have been countless instances where the famous “V and B” pairing has been jeopardized, and mainly due to Betty – yet Veronica typically takes the blame.
Regardless of her negative perception among audiences, Veronica is undoubtedly my favorite “Riverdale” character. Unlike Betty, who goes to extraordinary lengths to uphold her “good girl” image, Ronnie is willing to risk her reputation and familial relationships to protect those she truly cares about. Wealth and privilege aside, V is at a disadvantage among “Riverdale” viewers, and for no justifiable reason.