Riverdale Rewind: What should season three’s musical be?

1. Pippin

Pippin technically has nothing to do with high school, but it also has everything to do with high school. The deceptively dark musical features a lost yet ambitious protagonist who tries desperately to prove himself and find meaning in his life.

Pippin is continually convinced that there is another, higher calling waiting for him. He remains torturously dissatisfied until he realizes the only path he wants to take is the one he had discounted entirely.

High school is a difficult time for everyone, even when your classmates aren’t being murdered, because you’re trying to figure out who you are. Pippin focuses on that very struggle and the subsequent struggle to accept yourself for who you are, especially if that person is not who you thought you were meant to be.

Given that Archie (KJ Apa) is starting off season three on trial for murder, I imagine he’ll be going through somewhat of an identity crisis.

Of course, he’s not actually a murderer, but his reputation will suffer nonetheless. Additionally, any time he may have already spent or may soon spend behind bars, will be transformative, likely negatively. Playing Pippin could be the kind of cathartic journey for Archie in season three that playing Carrie was for Cheryl in season two.

I would love to see Pippin‘s main character, The Leading Play, who relays the story of Pippin to the audience, portrayed by Kevin (Casey Cott) or Josie (Ashleigh Murray).

The unisex role requires powerhouse vocals and an engaging, charismatic stage presence. Cott and Murray could deliver on both fronts. Furthermore, their musical talents have been criminally underused on Riverdale, so they definitely deserve more time in the limelight.

Jughead (Cole Sprouse) purposefully wasn’t given a role in the Carrie episode, which was understandable in context. However, I think he could make an interesting Charlemagne, Pippin’s cold and calculating father. The part isn’t huge, so it wouldn’t require Jughead to suddenly become a “theater kid.” But he would have to sing a bit.

Sweet Pea (Jordan Connor) or Reggie (Charles Melton) could play Lewis, Pippin’s half-brother who is a stereotypical jock. The part requires no solo singing.

Veronica (Camila Mendes) would make a very fun Fastrada, Lewis’ mother who schemes to remove Pippin as heir to the throne. She has a show-stopping solo, which Mendes would kill.

Last but not least, Betty (Lili Reinhart) would make a great Catherine, Pippin’s love interest. She strives to show Pippin that life is about more than following ambition and could actually be considered the hero of his story. Catherine has two solos as well as featured parts in other numbers.

Adapting Pippin for television could potentially be complicated if the producers were to use the 2013 revival, which heavily features acrobatic stunts, as a basis. However, the stunts could presumably be scaled-back or the producers could use the original 1972 version as inspiration.

What musical would you like to see Riverdale put on next season? Let us know in the comments section below.