Why Riverdale’s Varchie twist was right for the show

Riverdale season 5’s shock decision to reunite Archie and Veronica wasn’t a step backwards, it was a necessary step forward in showcasing how much the characters have evolved.

Riverdale‘s fifth season has been all about reinvention. We saw that right out of the gate with the heavy TV promotion surrounding the seven-year time-jump (which was initially supposed to open the season but got pushed to the fourth episode because of the production shutdown last season) that would mature the characters so that they were closer in age to the actors playing them. But Riverdale‘s reinvention has been about more than just the age of the characters leading it.

From the new baggage that the returnees have brought back with them to the untapped baggage those within it are still harboring, there is a wealth of storylines crying out for exploration that simply weren’t there before. One of those came in the form of Betty Cooper and Archie Andrews finally scratching that “Barchie” itch. The pair hooked up a number of times in a friends-with-benefits relationship that was far more believable (and enjoyable) than the contrived affair nonsense we saw in season 4. However, in finally doing so, they realized they were meant for something else (or, uh, some other people).

Riverdale showcased character growth for Archie and Betty

We already know who Archie and Betty will end up with whenever the show comes to an end but the emotional scene between the pair in last week’s installment as they ended their new dynamic was about so much more than who should end up with who or what is “endgame”. Betty realized that she was in need of the warmth and safety that the lovable boy-next-door from her teenage years was able to provide her with and that she could no longer use that to hide from her own darkness – and, more importantly, the trauma she was avoiding dealing with (and perhaps where she would have to go to deal with it).

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Meanwhile, Archie’s decision to end the pair’s relationship before actually making it official was down to the fact that, of course, he still had feelings for Veronica. Obviously that’s to be expected considering his first time back in his home town since he left saw her return as well. Not only would all of those old feelings resurface but the fact that their previous relationship ended in such an unsatisfactory way for them both because of Archie’s overall concerns over his future – one of which included his confusion over his feelings for both her and Betty – left the pair with so many things unresolved. And the thing that was most unresolved of all was if they actually wanted to be with each other.

The fact that Archie was able to figure out, seven years later, that he stills loves Veronica after taking things with Betty further than they ever had highlights how he has evolved over time. Archie adores Betty and their friendship and the overall curiosity of that forbidden relationship got too much for him to handle when he was younger. Now that both of them allowed that curiosity to thrive, they are finally ready to move on from it.

The more things stay the same, the more they change

You might be quick to assume that these characters are going round in circles, reverting to previous versions of themselves as Archie returns to Veronica (and Betty inevitably finds her way back to Jughead Jones) but the truth is that it is quite the contrary. Betty and Archie knew that they wanted other things and decided to address it with a mature conversation – something that they were not able to do seven years prior. And that‘s the kind of reinvention that Riverdale season 5 has been thriving on.

Putting the same characters together in similar situations years down the line isn’t a step back, it’s an opportunity to showcase how much they have changed. Part of growing up is evolving and realizing what you really want and in Archie’s case, that is something he already had once. Admitting that isn’t a reversion, it’s an evolution. And as for Betty’s attempts to deal with her darkness, well, there’s only one person who’s ever been able to help her through that.

The point of Riverdale‘s time-jump was to liven up the show and create new dynamics and it has certainly done that. But any good drama uses those new dynamics to engineer rich conflict within the foundations of the show. Friends-turned-lovers, unresolved feelings, old wounds; it’s all there in Riverdale season 5 and the writers are doing a great job of using those new dynamics to explore old things in a very new way. It could all change in the future and that’s the most exciting part of this reboot. And thus, the reinvention continues!

What did you think of Betty and Archie’s decision to end their brief friends-with-benefits relationship? Which iconic Riverdale couple do you ship? Let us know in the comments below!