10 things nobody wants to admit about Riverdale

7. The musical episodes were actually great

The Riverdale musical episode became an annual tradition for the show from its second season onwards. It also became a bit of an annual tradition for fans to either dread them or lovingly drag them, because the show was perhaps at its most bonkers during them.

It’s true that musical episodes are an acquired taste, and that Riverdale‘s tended to be even more out-there than most, but the show doesn’t get enough credit for producing some cracking ones. Sure, some are better than others, and the stars didn’t align for every performance, song, or storyline (we’re looking at you, Betty and Jughead’s musical argument in season 4!), but there is something to be said for how well the show used music to tackle some of its important storylines.

The season 3 musical episode, “BIG FUN”, is a perfect example of this, as the songs from Heathers played into the narrative well, with “Seventeen” being a particular standout, as all of the characters dealt with the struggles that came with being a teenager (in a town like Riverdale!). The same could be said for its final musical episode, with the original songs highlighting the emotional depth of the characters and their desires.

The show’s musical episodes explored themes of growth, sexuality, exploration, isolation, and more, and that makes them some of Riverdale‘s strongest outings. It’s time they received the appreciation they deserve.