Riverdale season 5 is almost upon us, but before it gets here, let’s take a look at some of the overarching questions that must be answered.
After an understandably long wait, Riverdale season 5 is almost upon us. The CW’s beloved Archie Comics TV series is finally set to return to screens for its much-anticipated fifth season in what is expected to be the show’s most game-changing installment yet.
However, before it really kicks off, the show has to wrap up the overarching story of the fourth season (as it wasn’t able to be completed because of the worldwide production shutdown caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus). And with that, season 5 will kick off by airing the remaining episodes that were originally planned for season 4.
So, as Archie Andrews, Veronica Lodge, Betty Cooper, Jughead Jones, Cheryl Blossom, Toni Topaz, Alice Cooper, FP Jones, Reggie Mantle, Kevin Keller and Fangs Fogarty all get set for the bizarre year that awaits them, Riverdale High will host prom and graduation – all while the gang try to figure out who the mysterious videotape stalker known as the Voyeur really is.
With Riverdale season 5 almost upon us, let’s look at some of the huge questions that must be answered when the show returns.
10. Are Kevin and Fangs getting back together?
Kevin Keller and Fangs Fogarty set Riverdale alight with their out-of-the-blue romance, but before it could truly burn bright, it fizzled out as a direct result of the show’s unusual Farm storyline. After being pushed into the background, they broke up off-screen.
Since then, they have remained in each other’s orbit and it certainly looks as if they’re at least thinking about doing things right this time (y’know, without the influence of a strange cult-like Farm). And with the pair seemingly set to go to prom together (not-to-mention actor Drew Ray Tanner’s long overdue promotion to series regular for season 5), it looks like we’re going to be seeing a lot more “Kangs” in the future.
Provided their relationship actually develops on-screen this time, the notion of these two together in Riverdale season 5 is very exciting indeed.
9. Is Hiram Lodge actually ill?
It’s hard to feel sympathy for someone as heinous as Hiram Lodge but Riverdale season 4 did a pretty good job of making us do that. The father of Veronica and Hermosa revealed that he is battling a major illness.
This resulted in him and Veronica managing to repair some of their incredibly damaged relationship but many were still apprehensive about the fact that Hiram is known for manipulating the situation.
With this time-jump on the horizon, it’s clear that Riverdale needs to address the storyline and its purpose in the coming episodes, especially if they want it to have any kind of lasting aftermath.
8. What was the point of Betty and Archie?
If that question isn’t a mood, right? Anyway, last season Betty randomly found herself drawn to Archie for the first time in who-knows-how-long and the pair ended up sharing a series of moments after Betty and Jughead had the most bizarre falling out in the history of Riverdale (and considering we’re talking about a show built on the bizarre, that’s really saying something).
In the end, however, Betty realized that Jughead was her true love (thanks to a little help from Queen Cheryl Blossom) and she promptly ended things with Archie. The storyline was instantly dropped as though it had never happened and that’s left fans wondering what the point of it even was.
Of course, we know it’s going to come back up because Veronica will discover the truth in the season premiere, putting her relationship with Archie in jeopardy but will Betty’s straying come to light too? And if so, will it impact her relationship with Jughead?
It’s pretty clear this will have something of an impact on the planned time-jump, but how long will it be until we actually see the purpose of the controversial storyline in full effect?
7. What will happen when Veronica and Jughead find out?
Riverdale‘s impromptu finale last season meant that Betty and Archie’s almost-romance-that-never-was ended up remaining a secret for the time being. As we all know that no secret remains hidden for long on Riverdale, it’s only a matter of time until the betrayal is brought to the forefront of the show.
That will be sooner rather than later as the season 5 trailer confirmed that Veronica would be uncovering the truth during the premiere and, if this casting means what we all think it means, it seems that “Varchie” is, for the time being, damaged beyond repair.
But what of Jughead? When will he discover the truth and will it have the same impact on his relationship with Betty? Can “Bughead” survive this or is that a story for after the time-jump?
6. Will Veronica and Archie get back together?
This is a question that we could find ourselves asking about Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones too, but as we have less information about the future of “Bughead” right now, we’ll hold off on any assumptions for the moment. Unfortunately, a new casting suggests that Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge’s future together isn’t so uncertain anymore.
As we’ve already discussed, Veronica will discover the truth about her boyfriend’s short-lived straying with Betty – something that will crush her. However, “Varchie” have overcome a lot in the past, so they should be able to overcome this, right? Maybe not. Well, at least not right now.
It was recently revealed that Chris Mason was joining the cast as Veronica’s controlling husband Chad Gekko. Clearly an indication of what we can expect after the time-jump, it suggests that Veronica and Archie’s relationship doesn’t survive the “Barchie” blip. And yet, all hope is not lost because, not only does Chad sound like a short-lived and all-round unlikeable object in Varchie’s way, the fact that he doesn’t like how close she is with Archie does suggest that, above all else, the pair’s friendship survives.
Are Veronica and Archie destined for a new era of being friends or will they find their way back to each other after the time-jump?
5. What’s going on with Charles and Chic?
The saga of Charles Smith is a long and confusing one that initially saw an unusual character named Chic assume his identity for some unknown reason, bring all of his dodginess into the Cooper clan, disappear for a significant length of time and then randomly return as the Gargoyle King. You see what we mean?
Long story short, however, and Betty’s long-lost brother Charles was actually alive and had become an FBI agent tasked with taking down Edgar Evernever. However, it was soon revealed that the seemingly nice young man was actually in a relationship with Chic – who is now serving a prison sentence for his misdeeds – and that the pair have some dark plan concocted for Riverdale.
It all took place in something of a throwaway scene and was never followed up on. But with only three or four episodes remaining before the planned time-jump of Riverdale season 5, we need answers!
4. How will FP Jones leave the show?
The news of Skeet Ulrich’s impending departure from the show left fans heartbroken because it meant that we’d have to bid farewell to the beloved FP Jones.
Jughead’s father and former Serpent King, FP has undergone quite the redemption arc throughout his time on the show, with his love for his son ultimately guiding him back to the light. He is the current sheriff of Riverdale and has finally made things work with long-time love Alice Cooper as the pair now live together in the Cooper/Jones household.
We’re intrigued to see how he will be written out of the show and how that will affect his relationship with Alice. Whatever goes down, it’s sure going to be the end of an unforgettable era for FP.
3. Is Mr. Honey actually dead?
The season 4 finale of Riverdale was aptly titled, “Chapter Seventy Six: Killing Mr. Honey”, as it revolved around a fictional story in which the gang killed their seemingly horrid principal. In real life, however, they succeeded in getting him removed from power. However, a smug Honey revealed that he quickly got a new job at Stonewall Prep and left – but not before it was revealed that he had actually written Jughead a lovely letter of approval for college.
Things took a much darker turn before the episode concluded as a new video from the mysterious Videotape Stalker showcased what appeared to be Mr. Honey being brutally killed by a gang of fiends wearing masks designed to look like the comic book versions of our beloved Riverdale characters.
The video was clearly playing out the story that Jughead had written in real life, but the question is: Was it actually real Riverdale life? Is Holden Honey really dead or is this just another trick from the heinous Videotape Stalker?
2. Who is the Voyeur?
The question that has been on everyone’s lips for so long; just who is the mysterious stalker that has been sending Riverdale’s residents endless hours of videotape in the hopes to spook them?
Riverdale season 4 was all about videotape. Stonewall Prep’s Bret used the vintage format to blackmail his classmates as he filmed some of their most intimate moments and kept them in a cabinet so that they could be used as leverage. That – and the fact that he’s a horrible person – made him a prime suspect for the Videotape Stalker/Voyeur, but alas, it seems like he is not the one responsible for the Riverdale mind games.
Is this part of Charles and Chic’s plans? Has Hiram Lodge been playing everyone again? Is Penelope Blossom attempting to blackmail her way back into town? Who knows, really.
One thing is certain, though: The Scooby Gang of Betty, Jughead, Veronica and Archie will undoubtedly take them down in the few remaining season 4 episodes.
1. What is Riverdale season 5’s main mystery?
Every year, Riverdale manages to produce a huge jaw-dropper of a mystery, resulting in our core four (and sometimes the others) having to figure out just what the heck is going on. We’ve seen it with Jason Blossom’s murder, the Black Hood’s killing spree, both the Gargoyle King and the Farm’s agendas and, most recently, the history of Stonewall Prep and the infamous Videotape Stalker.
We know that the latter two storylines will be wrapped up early on in the fifth season, with Bret reaching out to Jughead at least one more time and the gang officially solving the mystery of the Videotape Stalker. Once those threads are wrapped up, however, what will become the central mystery of Riverdale season 5?
The seven-year time-jump will see the gang separated in some capacity, but is there a mysterious new storyline that will somehow bring all of them back home. Will sleuthing force Betty and Jughead back together (if they are indeed separated, that is), will the destruction that Riverdale is known for make Veronica and Archie realize that life is too short not to spend it with the person you love the most?
Whatever happens, you can count on the Riverdale writers going all-out to ensure that season 5 is both the most bonkers and thrilling yet. And we can’t wait!
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 questions do you need answered in Riverdale season 5? Let us know in the comments below!