Riverdale: 20 most shocking moments during the first three seasons

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2. Fred Andrews Is Shot By The Black Hood

Episode: “Chapter Thirteen: The Sweet Hereafter” (Season 1, Episode 13)

Following the conclusion of the mystery surrounding Jason Blossom’s death, the aftermath that ensued, and Cheryl’s near-death experience at Sweetwater River, it seemed like the town of Riverdale may have been able to move past the trauma that it had endured in the previous couple of months. With Betty Cooper delivering an inspiring speech to the town’s residents, and the blooming romances between herself and Jughead and Archie and Veronica respectively, things were beginning to look up for Riverdale.

But before we could even get the chance to appreciate Archie Andrews’ innocent smile at his own reflection in the bathroom of Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, terror would unexpectedly strike all over again. And this time, it was closer to the show’s protagonist than ever before – only a few feet, in fact, as the diner itself was seemingly held up by an intruder wearing a black hood and pointing a gun at Pop himself.

With disturbingly close shots of Archie’s nervous face, his father Fred’s frozen position in one of the booths and the gunman himself, the scene was intentionally dragged out in order to make it all the more uncomfortable for us to watch. However, things would only get worse from there as the assailant turned the gun on Fred Andrews and, despite his son’s best attempts to stop him, shot the most incorruptible and kind-hearted individual in the town.

The late, great Luke Perry stole the show here as he managed to make us feel every ounce of fear and panic that his character did during the harrowing sequence with a single expression.

It was both a heart-racing and heart-breaking moment that made our jaws drop to the floor and concluded the season on a sombre note – a painful reminder that, in spite of the short-lived hope, the soul of Riverdale was well and truly lost.

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