Riverdale season 5 is almost upon us and the promotional photos from the upcoming season premiere tease dark days for the gang.
It won’t be long until Riverdale season 5 makes its outlandish presence felt with the kind of jaw-droppingly theatrical shockers that fans have come to expect from the brilliantly bonkers TV show.
It makes its return to The CW on January 20 and fans are already gearing up for an unforgettable ride because of what promises to be Riverdale‘s most unique adventure yet. But before we get to the time-jumps and plot twists that season 5 promises, we have to delve into the remaining few episodes of season 4 (that will now air as the first few of this season instead).
The first of those episodes will see Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Jughead Jones, Veronica Lodge, Cheryl Blossom and Toni Topaz attempt to celebrate the remainder of their high school days with prom, but this is Riverdale we’re talking about so the chances of it going to plan are, well, unlikely to say the least.
Ahead of the premiere, The CW released a host of promotional photos for the season 5 opener and let’s just say that “Chapter Seventy-Seven: Climax” promises to be a major one.
5. A new era for Kevin and Fangs
Can we take a moment to appreciate that Kevin and Fangs actually got one of the episode’s promotional shots?! The last time Kevin and Fangs went to a dance together, they barely had a line of dialogue. Now they have a promotional shot. A promotional shot?!
Riverdale‘s most underrated couple has been overlooked for so long but this fact signals the beginning of a new era for the beloved “Kangs”. You might think that a huge assumption to make based off a single promotional image but it’s hardly a coincidence that Fangs receives this kind of attention in the first episode that actor Drew Ray Tanner is billed as a series regular and that means we’re finally going to get some storylines full of depth for the pair.
The truth is that fans noticed the chemistry between Kevin Keller and Fangs Fogarty quite early on in the unnerving Farm storyline, but the moment the creepy institution was removed from the situation, all of their progression as a couple – from manipulated lovers to real lovers to enemies to strangers – took place off-screen.
When we last saw them, it seemed like the two estranged former lovers were about to find their way back to each other… and this image certainly suggests that is a strong possibility.
These two have the potential to be one of the show’s greatest couples – and goodness knows Kevin Keller deserves a long-term love interest – so the fact that they will be featured in a much greater capacity than they were at the last high school dance promises big things await “Kangs” in the future.
4. Happiness for Choni (at long last)
Poor Cheryl Blossom has had it pretty rough as of late. No, scratch that, she’s had it pretty rough since Riverdale began. The queen of the River Vixens has seen her brother killed by her poisonous family, her mother become the honorary Gargoyle King and orchestrate a killing spree like it’s no big deal and the trauma of all of that finally began to show in the fourth season.
Cheryl’s decision to keep Jason’s body and convince herself that he was still alive did not go down well with fans, but the writers brought the story to a close midway through the season as she finally said goodbye to her beloved Jason. Following that, they delved into her mental health in one of the season’s last episodes as she spoke with guidance counselor Mrs. Burble – which featured an incredible performance by Madelaine Petsch.
It’s been a traumatic couple of years for Cheryl but if there’s one thing that sticks out from the Riverdale season 5 premiere photos, it’s how happy she and her girlfriend Toni Topaz look. We know for a fact that Toni will have more to do this season (which is long overdue in itself), so we can’t wait to see the pair tackle some mature (and less theatrical) storylines together.
For now, however, it’s just nice to see them enjoying their Prom together as a couple. It’s truly what they deserve.
3. A Prom Riverdale High will never forget
You see that look of shock on Betty Cooper’s face? Well that’s an expression Lili Reinhart is used to making – one that we all recognize – because poor Betty usually spends a solid portion of Riverdale seasons being unnerved, frightened or concerned (or all of the above). The character is also used to making expressions like that at school dances because the last one she went to saw her running into a bloodsoaked Gargoyle King.
With that in mind, don’t expect Riverdale High’s Prom Night to go off without a hitch. Not only is this Riverdale we’re talking about here, so some shenanigans are inevitable, but we’re heading towards what was supposed to be the conclusion of the fourth season, so you can bet that the heat is on.
The question is: What is it that Betty comes across in a deserted room so dark that she’s required to turn the power on on a night when the school should be flooded with light to begin with? Has the Videotape Stalker left the gang a message? Is he or she waiting for Betty because she’s their greatest threat? Or is the teenage detective simply walking in on a tense moment between Veronica and Archie? Guess we’ll have to wait and see…
2. Jughead to discover the truth about Betty and Archie?
The short-lived near-romance between Betty and Archie last season was met with an outpouring of criticism from fans who thought it risked assassinating both characters. Over six months removed from it and it doesn’t feel any more believable but that might have to be overlooked because it was clear that it served a purpose. That purpose involved preparing for Riverdale‘s long-teased time-jump.
The story has been put to bed and probably won’t be revisited but the repercussions of it will undoubtedly be felt for some time to come. Speaking of which, the trailer for the Riverdale season 5 premiere suggests Veronica is destined to find out about her boyfriend’s infidelity – something that we know will lead to heartbreak for “Varchie”. However, when and how will Jughead discover the truth about Betty’s betrayal?
One of the photos from the premiere showcase Betty attempting to comfort a very sombre-looking Jughead at the prom. Now, this could have something to do with whatever unspeakable event undoubtedly goes down at prom, but there’s a solid chance that Riverdale‘s Nancy Drew is attempting to calm her boyfriend after he discovers what happened.
Remember, in the trailer, a tearful Veronica confides in somebody about the almost-affair, so could Jughead be the next to hear about it? And if so, what does it mean for the beloved Bughead?
1. The end of Riverdale as we know it
Seeing all these photos from the Riverdale season 5 premiere really makes it hit home that the show as we know it is indeed coming to an end. As with most teen shows, seeing your favorite characters head towards graduation – and prom along the way – makes it feel like you’re experiencing it with them and that means the status quo is destined for a big shift. Though we won’t see them head off to college and experience life anew, the upcoming time-jump promises change nonetheless and, believe this writer when he says, a change is gonna come.
But before the show begins an exciting new era, we do have to wonder if that impending finality of the gang’s high school days could come a little sooner than expected? We know the time-jump takes place early in the season, but note the title of the premiere: “Chapter Seventy-Seven: Climax”. That sounds pretty final, doesn’t it?
Furthermore, note how all of the images released for the episode center on one particular scene. Yes, it’s not that unusual given that this is the prom episode, but it is worth noting that when an episode’s selection of photos is specifically focused on one environment, it usually means that the rest of the scenes are even bigger. Watch this space…
Riverdale season 5 premieres on The CW on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Are you looking forward to Riverdale season 5? What do you think will happen? Let us know in the comments below!