Latest from CinemaBlend in Riverdale

TV Fans Are In Their Feels About Shows That Started Great, Then Fell Off The Cliff (Hint: Save The Cheerleader)

Erik Swann — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:03:43 +0000

Various eras of TV history have graced the viewing public with some peak shows, many of which remain beloved to this day. However, there are also some shows that start off strong, but end up losing their way as they go on. I can personally think of a few TV series that fit that unfortunate bill. Apparently, social media users can think of some prime titles as well, based on the recent responses they shared on the matter. Some may also not be surprised to know that a show featuring a super-powered cheerleader is mentioned as well.

Historically, a number of pop culture aficionados have congregated on Reddit to share their thoughts on given topics. So it wasn’t surprising to me at all that plenty of TV watchers took to the site after someone posed a question: “What's a TV show that started great but fell off badly?” The first show to be named was NBC’s Heroes, which was notably panned after the first of its four seasons. From there, users threw out more suggestions, like a certain Arrowverse series and a long-running AMC drama. Take a look:

RochesterThe2nd: [Heroes is a] great series. The writers’ strike hit the second season, and all the heroes just powered up way too fast. When there was a point to it “Save the cheerleader, save the world,“ and everyone just had one power, it was a truly great show.
DirectConsequence12: Flash was one of the craziest fall offs I’ve ever personally experienced.
Knosmo78: Weeds. I refuse to believe anything happens after Season 3. Perfect ending.
SetObvious7411: Walking Dead stopped making sense when the zombies stopped being dangerous.
Jackdupp27: Happy Days. Literally gave us the saying ‘jumped the shark.’
Crazylunaticfringe: Game of Thrones broke my heart.
True-Ad7203: Riverdale after Season 1 went completely off the rails.

Over the years, plenty of fans have spoken about these shows positively in some regards, but the complaints listed above have also been shared. The Flash, which aired its final episode after nine seasons in 2023, has been critiqued for an apparent decline in quality. Viewers have also had problems with Riverdale over the course of its seven-season run due to its wild twists and turns. And do we even need to mention the brouhaha that continues to surround Game of Thrones’ final season and finale.

Heroes remains a prime example, though, of what happens when a TV show apparently peaks too soon. The show – which initially focuses on a group of people coming to terms with the fact that they have superhuman abilities – provides stellar storytelling during its first season. The next three seasons, however, have been derided for offering narratives considered subpar compared to those of Season 1. Nevertheless, after the show’s initial run from 2006 to 2010, a sequel series called Heroes Reborn, aired in 2015 (and was not renewed).

(Image credit: NBC)

For me personally, there are a few shows I enjoy that decline a bit in quality as they go on. I’m a huge Smallville fan, for example and, while I think the show is entertaining overall, some of the later seasons do drag a bit. A more blatant instance of a show jumping the shark would be Family Matters, which only descends further into sci-fi shenanigans due to Steve Urkel as it goes on.

I’d argue that no TV show is perfect, even though a few select series like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad and The Wire are nearly there. So I won’t disown a since-ended show – or one on still going on the 2026 TV schedule for that matter – for losing some luster during its run. If anything, when it comes to those kinds of shows, I just appreciate the better seasons even more than the lackluster ones.

The ‘Two Really Strong Pieces Of Advice’ Luke Perry Gave Riverdale Co-Star Madelaine Petsch

Megan Behnke — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:21:00 +0000

There have been many actors who have made remarkable comebacks in recent years, including the late Luke Perry. After taking the world by storm in the ‘90s with his portrayal of bad boy Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210, he returned to the teen drama genre in the mid-2010s as Fred Andrews, the father of KJ Apa’s Archie in Riverdale, a dark reboot of the ARCHIE Comics on The CW.

Perry died mid-way through Season 4 in 2019 after a stroke, but the cast still carries his memory with them. This includes Madelaine Petsch, who opened up about the pieces of advice he gave her.

Having gone through the teen drama phenomenon himself, Perry had been known to give advice to the young cast on Riverdale, and Petsch, who played Cheryl Blossom on all seven seasons, revealed what her co-star taught her. While appearing on Watch What Happens Live!, she was asked by a fan what the best piece of advice she got from Perry about acting or Hollywood in general was, and The Strangers – Chapter 2 star shared just how much he truly helped her:

Luke taught me so much. He was really a champion in my career, and he held my hand through the process, because he went through similar fame on 90210. He gave me two really strong pieces of advice. One is don’t read anything about yourself ever. I don’t listen to that, it’s really hard.

It’s not surprising that Perry had a lot of advice to give and seemed to act as a mentor to the cast, given what he went through while on 90210. And I love that he made sure to share what he had learned and still kept with him after all those years. And not only did the advice help Petsch personally, it also helped her professionally, as she shared the second piece of advice that really stuck with her:

The second was, the first thing you can do on a set is introduce yourself to every single crew member and remember all of their names.

Perry’s death had a big impact on not only Hollywood but the world. So many people grew up with him on 90210, and many more were introduced to him with Riverdale and other projects. It definitely came as a surprise when his death was announced, and when Riverdale paid tribute to him in the first episode after, it made it all the more real. His death stayed with the series until the end, and much of the cast shared memories of Perry ahead of the series finale in 2023.

It’s nice to know that even years later, his impact is as big as ever.

Thanks to streaming and those Luke Perry worked with, his legacy will live on forever, and now, Petsch has those two strong pieces of advice to give to the next young actor she works with. And she also likely has plenty of stories to share or keep with her until the end of time. Fans can watch all seasons of Beverly Hills, 90210 with a Paramount+ subscription and Riverdale with a Netflix subscription if want to go back and watch Luke Perry do what he did best.

‘I Don’t Claim That’: Madelaine Petsch Responds To KJ Apa’s Claims The Riverdale Cast Hooked Up With Each Other

Carly Levy — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:50:50 +0000

Riverdale was one of the best teen dramas thanks to its talented cast and the wild storylines. But after its star KJ Apa got honest about the hookups that happen on teen dramas, it can make you wonder if the onscreen chemistry of the cast of Riverdale was also a romantic one in real life. Well, now his Riverdale co-star Madelaine Petsch has shared her thoughts on that take, saying, “I don’t claim that.”

In his interview with EW, KJ Apa said that while he never dated anyone on the teen drama, he was blunt about how real TV co-stars “have sex” with each other. It originally seemed like he was speaking in general about TV actors. However, when pressed further if the same happened in Vancouver, where the CW show was filmed, Apa said, “You sort of just have sex with them” and that “it’s just part of the deal.”

When Madelaine Petsch, who played Cheryl Blossom, spoke on an episode of Call Her Daddy, she seemed to have her own perspective on Apa’s claims. In her direct words, “I don’t claim that:”

It was just like this article that came out that was like, ‘We all fucked each other all the time.’ And I was like, ‘Hey, no, I did not fuck any of you. I don’t claim that shit at all.’

I can understand the Sightless actor’s clear shock and frustration. Not everyone’s experiences on Riverdale were the same. While she can’t speak for all of the other actors, she made it very clear that she did not touch “a single person on that show with a 10-foot pole.”

We may not know for sure if the Riverdale cast hooked up with each other, but it wouldn’t be the first time co-stars have dated in real life. There were a couple of real-life pairings from the cast of The OC: Mischa Barton revealed she dated her on-screen love interest, Ben McKenzie, and Rachel Bilson dated Adam Brody.

Madelaine Petsch, on the other hand, continued to say she would prefer to separate fiction from reality, and you can thank former co-star Cole Sprouse for that advice:

I don’t mix business and pleasure like that. I’ve never hooked up with a co-star. Do you know why, though? You know what’s really ironic about all this, is Cole [Sprouse] sat me down during the pilot and was like, ‘If I can give you one piece of advice Mads…,’ He was like, ‘Hey, don’t hook up with any of your co-stars, OK?’ And so I was like, ‘OK, got it. I won’t.'

It’s really funny that Cole Sprouse would say that, considering he dated Lili Reinhart, who played his on-screen love interest, Betty, from 2018 to 2020. So, apparently, he didn’t follow his own advice.

The only other public relationship that came from the Riverdale cast was Camila Mendes and Charles Melton, who dated in 2018 but broke up a year later. So while some relationships occurred from the Riverdale cast, we can’t confirm or deny if others were hooking up. However, when it comes to Madelaine Petsch, she made it clear that she was never romantically involved with anyone in that cast.

Now, if you'd like to go back and watch the wild show that was Riverdale, you can do so with a Netflix subscription. Meanwhile, the cast are thriving and releasing their own projects these days, with Petsch's latest rom-com, Maintenance Required, being available with a Prime Video subscription.

Riverdale's KJ Apa Looks Nearly Unrecognizable As He Starts Making Music Under The Name Mr. Fantasy, And Fans Are Freaking Out

Sarah El-Mahmoud — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:38:58 +0000

The CW’s Riverdale may have concluded back in 2023, but it feels like this latest development in leading actor KJ Apa’s career should go in our ranking of craziest plot twists from the show. The New Zealander best known for playing Archie Andrews in the Riverdale cast has stepped out with a new music project, and it’s getting a lot of people talking.

A couple of weeks ago, an account called @IAmTheRealMrFantasy popped up on social media where a man with long black hair and goes by the name Mr. Fantasy (that looks like KJ Apa in a wig) started posting updates about hanging out in Los Angeles and teasing new music. It’s a goofy little account that I highly recommend scrolling through on TikTok, but now Mr. Fantasy has just released his first music video (along with releasing the full song on music streaming services). Check it out:

@iamtherealmrfantasy
♬ original sound - iamtherealmrfantasy

While the actor hasn’t confirmed he’s Mr. Fantasy, he just looks too much like him for it not to be true give or take some fake teeth, a groove hairdo and some very expressive outfits. Another great tell is how Mr. Fantasy has the same tattoos as KJ Apa has been seen to have when baring skin in the past.

Amidst KJ Apa having a lot of fun introducing the world to this offbeat alter ego as his latest project, some other celebrities have taken notice. Take a look at a couple of the comments:

“Oh my god.” - @Lili Reinhart
“WAIT A MINUTE!” - @joejonas

Lili Reinhart is, of course, KJ Apa’s co-star from Riverdale, and Joe Jonas is one-third of the Jonas Brothers. As Mr. Fantasy goes viral with each of his videos soaring into the millions with one of him talking in character crossing seven million on TikTok, people are catching on. The fan comments are absolutely a sight to behold though. Take a look:

“Mr fantasy is probably the most iconic thing to happen this decade” - @gracie.caroline.rose
“This is the wildest thing a celebrity has done in a while” - @dontcallmegracie
“These are the kind of antics we want from celebrities” - @l0v3l0stliars
“This would HIT with some jingle jangle” - @fadedjade94
"maybe the concept of hannah montana isn’t too hard to believe" - @aliyahquill

While KJ Apa’s Mr. Fantasy alter ego may be out of left field, the actor’s love of music isn’t. Apa sang quite regularly on Riverdale, along with playing Christian singer Jeremy Camp in the 2020 biopic I Still Believe. In 2021, he also independently released an indie folk album called Clocks.

Most recently, the actor was the lead of one of 2025’s movie releases, The Map That Leads To You, with Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline, which is available to watch with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Mr. Fantasy certainly has our attention now, especially considering the debut song is such a bop!

Madelyn Cline And KJ Apa Get Honest About The Hookups That Happen On Teen Dramas Like Riverdale And Outer Banks

Maggie Sheck — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:24:32 +0000

The best teen drama series have sustained in pop culture in part because of all the hormonal drama inherently built into that age demographic. (See: Riverdale's quad relationship.) Apparently, it's not uncommon for young stars' behind-the-scenes hijinks to resemble their onscreen counterparts. At least that's how it went down for Riverdale and Outer Banks stars KJ Apa and Madelyn Cline, who discussed the reality of co-stars making connections.

The co-stars of The Map That Leads to You (available with a Prime subscription) got honest about working on their respective hit shows, specifically talking to EW about how typical it is for these young casts to get close and, in turn, find themselves in complex situations on set. The I Know What You Did Last summer actress cheekily equated it to finding familial levels of closeness, saying:

MADELYN CLINE: It's like a family, you know what I mean? You spend so much time with [them].
KJ APA: It's like the family you never asked for. It's true, it's true — in a beautiful way.

I’m sure that kind of bond sprouts quickly for anyone spending as much time on set as it takes to bring a TV show together, and that closeness hopefully only grows the more episodes and seasons there are. The One Fast Move actor humorously but earnestly backed up Cline’s statement, with notes that even amongst the chaos, the connections are worth it.

The 27-year-old doubled down on her family metaphor, noting all the ins and outs of working with other young actors, with Apa capping off the lol-worthy BTS hookup conversation as humorously as it started by directly addressing the elephants making out in the room, metaphorically speaking.

CLINE: You can't really ever ask for family, that's the whole point. So it really is like family, and of course, you spend that much time with people, and you love them, and—
APA: You hook up with them. People hook up with each other.

It sounds like such a rollercoaster to be on a teen hit, having so much grey area. Of course there have been a handful of co-stars who dated in real life, including Madelyn Cline dating OB actor Chase Banks. But even a public relationship doesn’t come without its turmoil, fortunately for her, their romance ended amicably. As for KJ Apa, he had no official ties to any Riverdale peers while on air (but he alluded heavily to having hooked up with some).

Today, it seems that for both Apa and Cline, they are out of the thick of their YA dramas on screen and off (OB is likely to release in 2026 and currently filming). Hopefully future young stars take note from shows like Riverdale and Outer Banks that things can get messy fast among peers. Catch both staple shows with a Netflix subscription.

32 Troublesome Teens In Television And Movies Who Ruined Everything With Their Decisions

Maggie Sheck — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 17:31:00 +0000

We know them, we love them, and most of the time, we love to hate them. Regardless of how any of us feel about the iconic, troublesome teens that round out the fabric of Hollywood’s youth-centric media, they’ve left their signature messy marks. This list covers the big hitters, the unmistakable part-of-pop-culture adolescents who derailed monumentally (dependent on their character and world, not all misguided minors are created equal). Each calling card of these chaotic characters has a few things in common–they’re lost and faced with conflict–but how they solve their issues leads to many more issues than solutions. Buckle up and grab your favorite nostalgic mix tape/playlist; we’re in for a bumpy ride.

(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Jim Stark and Buzz Gunderson - Rebel Without a Cause

This is by far one of the most influential movies that jumpstarted the teen genre and it’s big thanks to Jim Stark (James Dean) and Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen). When gang leader Buzz and new-in-town Jim agree to a “chickie race,” that’s when things go up in smoke. Jim is left to face the fallout.

(Image credit: Fox)

Marissa Cooper - The O.C.

You could probably make a case for most of The O.C. kids, but Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) undoubtedly tops them all. Coop’s undoing was a monolith and started on the wings of her parents' divorce. It led to underage drinking, tumultuous relationships, petty theft, and eventually to her passing away after a car crash at the end of Season 3.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures )

Danny Zuko - Grease

Like many other ensembles, you could make a pick mostly anyone from the Grease cast, but Danny Zuko's (John Travolta) issues bled into everyone else’s. Not to mention, he strung Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) along until the very end of the movie.

(Image credit: The CW)

Serena van der Woodsen - Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl is another show where you could argue a good case for any of the characters being the biggest saboteur. But like Marissa Cooper, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) just can’t shake off trouble in most things she does. The thought of old her and Georgina Sparks together really sounds like they’d top the list together.

(Image credit: New World Pictures)

Veronica Sawyer - Heathers

Heathers and Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) were ahead of the curve. When awkward loner Veronica gets invited to join the school’s most popular group, she quickly realizes it’s not the place for her. After befriending new kid Jason Dean (Christian Slater), they accidentally kill one of the Heathers. This sets off an entire killing spree that wreaks havoc on Westerburg High School.

(Image credit: The WB)

Dawson Leery - Dawson’s Creek

Even though he may have been seen more as a golden boy during his reign, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) caused some major damage in his day. We literally have a separate list showcasing all the times Leery was the worst character for his loved ones to be around. If he'd only been supportive of Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) going to Paris, who knows what could've been?

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Cady Heron - Mean Girls

Tina Fey’s wildly quotable Mean Girls needs no introduction or explanation. With Cady (Lindsay Lohan) coming to terms with attending a public high school in the US after growing up in Africa, she is a poster child for this list. As she explores her new reality, she gets lost for a moment amid girl world drama, which leads to multiple friend, family, and relationship troubles.

(Image credit: HBO)

Rue Bennet - Euphoria

The Max ‘teen’ jewel-encrusted drama juggernaut holds another ensemble of lost and morose students. However, Rue Bennet (Zendaya) and her substance abuse issues are the focal point. It's upended friendships, caused familial stresses, multiple times over, causing Rue to lie, steal and hurt everyone in the East Highlanders.

(Image credit: United Artists)

Chris Hargensen - Carrie

Stephen King’s Carrie is another classic high school staple that helped push the envelope on what fictional teen worlds could hold. Popular girl and bully, Chris Hargensen (Nancy Allen) makes Carrie’s (Sissy Spacek) life a living nightmare. Hargensen continues down a downward spiral that leads to the bone-chilling but iconic prank that happens at the dance (which has some truly grim consequences).

(Image credit: NBC)

Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights

If you know anything about this NBC network TV classic, you either love or hate Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch). While he was a regular womanizer, heavy partier, not to mention that he sabotaged himself and the team with some regularity, he straightened up.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Dallas ‘Dally’ Winston - The Outsiders

Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Outsiders is a quintessential coming-of-age story. Even though the whole gang is rough and tumble, along with any of the ‘Socs,’ Dally (Matt Dillon) is the most troubled. With an already tumultuous background, Johnny’s death sends him on to make poor decisions for himself and his friends.

(Image credit: ABC)

Cory Matthews - Boy Meets World

Surprising, I know. The more classic choice from Boy Meets World may be Shawn Hunter, but Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) sparked plenty of trouble in his time (like fellow do-gooder, Dawson Leery). Throughout the 7 seasons, he caused more rifts between his family, friends and Topanga than anyone else.

(Image credit: Dimension Films)

Billy Loomis & Stu Macher - Scream

Naturally, any teen in any scary movie generally has some baggage that leads to strife in one way or another. Youths like Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) are different, though, they are intentionally motivated to terrify and harm their fellow classmates and the people of Woodsboro. Unfortunately for them, their plans backfire on them gravely.

(Image credit: The WB/The CW)

Lucas Scott - One Tree Hill

Like the aforementioned teen network drama shows of the mid and late ‘00s, any character is up for debate. Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), the main protagonist, puts on a good show of commotion for everyone in his life. Being a serial heartbreaker while being unloyal and manipulative to others lands him this particular title.

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

Jennifer Check - Jennifer’s Body

Jennifer’s Body, again, isn’t filled with average adolescents, and especially not Jennifer (Megan Fox). While she and longtime friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) head out for a semi-average night of Jennifer-approved fun, all goes awry. We find out that Jennifer has turned into a demon feasting on the male teens of Devil’s Kettle, WY. After the friends face off, Needy gets pinned for the murders and gets taken to an insane asylum.

(Image credit: Fox)

Rachel Berry - Glee

The destined-for-greatness Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) typically stopped at nothing to get what she wanted, regardless of the consequences. While the fictional NYADA darling had moments of hope and promise, her ego and ambition always seemed to cause more harm than good. (Any Ryan Murphy-created teen could do, though.)

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

Seth - Superbad

The 2007 classic was the first Seth Rogen-Evan Goldberg project, and it immediately put them on the map. The semi-biographical Superbad revolves around characters with the same names and pretty typical senior tropes. Of the fictional duo Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), and their pal, Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the first of the trio creates the most trouble for their celebratory evening. While the trio make up, along with the girls (Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac), before graduation.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Rory Gilmore - Gilmore Girls

“Why did you drop out of Yale?” Even though Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) is one of the more unusual fictional high schoolers on the list, her dropping out was monumental for the world of Gilmore Girls. Even Lauren Graham didn’t like the storyline because of the turmoil it created between Lorelai and Rory. Not to mention, her sleeping with Dean, missing Lorelai's graduation and later on, being more lost than ever in her 30s.

(Image credit: United Artists)

Donnie - Donnie Darko

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) isn’t your typical troublesome, drama-filled teen, even though his choices in one reality lead to serious consequences. His present ED signifiers (Emotional Disturbance) present Donnie as something else, but we eventually come to realize he's an anti-hero of sorts. As he comes to realize that there are multiple timelines at play, he chooses to fix it to save Gretchen Ross' (Jena Malone) life. And with his developed powers, he returns to the day when it all went awry, which leads to his destiny--death.

(Image credit: The CW)

Archie Andrews - Riverdale

Archie of The CW’s Riverdale was one of the many, much darker TV reboots out there. And though all the drama has always hinged on the red-headed football hero regardless of genre, the TV show really packs Archie with a punch. To be fair, he also found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time quite frequently–it’s how he reacted to them that gives him the top spot for the searching students of Riverdale High.

(Image credit: Columbia Pictures)

Kathryn Merteuil & Sebastian Valmont - Cruel Intentions

Another young and terrifying twosome is Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Philippe). The oddball step-siblings wager a bet that involves innocent and new Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). Through the scheme, the group of students is faced with continuing drama until a very sad end.

(Image credit: Fox)

Valerie Malone - Beverly Hills, 90210

Though there was plenty of actual drama on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210, Valerie Malone (Tiffani Thiessen) wasted no time sowing seeds of chaos. Arriving in Season 5 with a lot of baggage in the form of family trauma, Malone was immediately set up to be in trouble. She dated many of the guys and regularly feuded with the girls.

(Image credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)

Max Fischer - Rushmore

As one of the many stylized Wes Anderson films, Rushmore was one of his earliest. Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a love-drunk student determined to date his teacher and will stop at nothing to achieve it. After an array of mishaps and his fellow acquaintance, Blume (Bill Murray), hitting it off with her, Max loses it. He leaked the affair publicly and temporarily burned bridges with both of them.

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox Television)

Willow Rosenberg - Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Willow’s (Alyson Hannigan) rise to raising hell for Buffy and co. may be a slow burn, but once she hits it, things get wild. While her use of telepathy, manipulation and struggling to keep her magic in check kick off the season, Tara’s death sets Willow into overdrive in trying to destroy the world.

(Image credit: MGM)

PJ & Josie - Bottoms

Gen Z coming-of-age comedies come in all shapes and sizes, including Emma Seligman’s Bottoms. The satirical take on the high school experience is wild, especially with PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri). The BFF’s hatch a fight club for girls so they can talk to cheerleaders they have crushes on. Needless to say, a lot of drama goes down, including a car blowing up.

(Image credit: Freeform)

Mona Vanderwaal - Pretty Little Liars

Honestly, most characters from the 2010 series have a fair shot here. But Mona (Janel Parrish) is the reason for all of the mystery and torment. She is who sparks the series because of her grudge against the main friend group. Eventually, she becomes one of them, and even more trouble ensues.

(Image credit: New Line Cinema)

Laura Palmer - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

In my opinion, there’s no list about misguided high schoolers complete without Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). The character was cemented into pop culture in David Lynch’s cult show, Twin Peaks, but the less popular prequel movie shows her tragic undoing. Her last days are filled with traumas relating to her drug addiction, web of lies and darker spirits. Warning, this movie isn't for the faint of heart.

(Image credit: Epitome Pictures)

DeGrassi: The Next Generation

DeGrassi: The Next Generation is maybe the only title on the list in which each character is as chaotic and troubled as the last. The iconic Canadian teen soap has multiple iterations, but the 2002-2015 series takes the cake. Between the students, they have every classic dramatic HS storyline in the book, and alumni Drake’s “I’m Upset” reunion-filled music video summarizes some key points.

(Image credit: Columbia Pictures)

Nancy Downs - The Craft

The quartet of girls in The Craft start as lost as the next, but Nancy’s (Fairuza Balk) power-hungry ways destroy what they have together. After quiet Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) moves to town and gets wronged, Downs and her pals take her in. All four hatch a scheme to cast a spell on the wrongdoer, and when it succeeds, that’s when Nancy starts sabotaging everything.

(Image credit: Netflix)

John B - Outer Banks

Netflix’s Outer Banks is one wild ride with wayward John B (Chase Stokes) at the helm. Sure, other characters may be outwardly more troubled (JJ, Sarah or Rafe), but everyone’s lives intensified because of John B’s initial treasure hunt.

(Image credit: A24)

Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson - Lady Bird

As one of the more subtle teenage pot stirrers, Ladybird (Saoirse Ronan) still makes her presence and opinions unmistakably clear. Her main sources of conflict reside within her relationship with her hardworking mom (Laurie Metcalf) and nerdy best friend (Beanie Feldstein). While Lady Bird temporarily burns bridges with both in pursuit of greater life expectations and new friends, she mends things with both.

(Image credit: BBC)

Effy Stonem - Skins UK

A cult classic that ran from 2007-2013 and largely featured the rebellious but lost Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario). From the jump, we see 14-year-old her sneaking home in the early morning after being out all night at a rave. Needless to say, Effy’s journey was a bumpy one filled with substance abuse, mental health crises, and a web of lies.

32 Movie And TV Show Reboots That Went Much Darker

Jason Wiese — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:34:00 +0000

For every movie that did not need a remake and for all of the TV shows with unneeded reboots, there are a few that have managed to surpass their predecessors... or, at least, justify their existence. In most cases, the secret to their success is to reimagine a beloved pop culture property into something, not just bigger, but darker, just like these flicks and TV series did.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Batman Begins (2005)

The last time we saw The Dark Knight on the big screen was in the very lighthearted and campy Batman & Robin, which killed the live-action Batman movie franchise at the time. Christopher Nolan revived Bruce Wayne’s alter ego on the big screen, and in pop culture in general, in his proper form with an acclaimed and earnestly told origin story called Batman Begins – the first installment of his phenomenal Dark Knight Trilogy.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

The Addams Family (1991)

Charles' Addams original comic, The Addams Family, inspired a hit live-action sitcom and a couple of animated series that certainly maintained the same "kooky" tone. However, director Barry Sonnenfeld’s film adaptation and its 1993 sequel, Addams Family Values, would up the ante on its "creepy" appeal, especially with Christina Ricci’s now definitive performance as a morbidly deadpan Wednesday.

(Image credit: The CW)

Riverdale (2017-2023)

Any adaptation of the Archie comic books, whether animated or produced in live-action, was intended to be a comedy, with the closest thing to a drama being Archie's Weird Mysteries in the late 1990s. That all changed when The CW began airing Riverdale, which depicted the misadventures of Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica as an earnest coming-of-age soap opera.

(Image credit: Warner Bros,)

It And It Chapter Two (2017-2019)

We recognize that the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's It left an entire generation in fear of clowns. However, from the opening scene of Andy Muschietti’s feature-length version of It (the first of two creepy clown movies), in which Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise bites off little Georgie's arm before pulling him into the sewer, it was clear this was a more unforgiving version of the shape-shifting, fear-feeding demon than Tim Curry's portrayal.

(Image credit: Danjaq, LLC and MGM)

Casino Royale (2006)

Every cinematic iteration of author Ian Fleming's MI6 agent, from Sean Connery's portrayal to Pierce Brosnan's, was a suave gentleman who typically put brains over brawn. That was until Casino Royale introduced a 007, played by Daniel Craig, who is both brainy and brawny and not above taking out his enemies with brutal hand-to-hand combat. Since then, the James Bond movies have never been grittier.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)

For years, the best-known adaptation of the enchanted Archie Comics character, Sabrina Spellman, was the hit ABC sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. That was until Netflix released the Kiernan Shipka-led Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which is more comparative to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in tone.

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

The Fly (1986)

Director Kurt Neumann's 1958 adaptation of George Langelaan's short story, The Fly, was a creepy little creature feature, including horror movie icon Vincent Price in a memorable supporting role. However, David Cronenberg’s version, starring Jeff Goldblum as a scientist transforming into a half-man, half-insect and Geena Davis as his new lover, is the quintessential cinematic body horror nightmare and a devastating romantic tragedy.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Man Of Steel (2013)

In the film that kicked off the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, director Zack Snyder introduced a less optimistic take on Clark Kent's alter ego, who resorts to murder to defend Metropolis in a controversial moment from Man of Steel. Even Henry Cavill's Superman costume boasts a darker color scheme than any live-action iteration to come before.

(Image credit: Peacock)

Bel-Air (2022)

Hip-hop artist Will Smith proved he had the chops to be a charismatic actor in the early 1990s when he led the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as a young Philadelphia man sent to live with his wealthy California relatives after getting in a fight. Years later, the Oscar winner returned to produce Bel-Air – a Peacock-exclusive series that reimagines the hit sitcom as a grounded coming-of-age drama.

(Image credit: Syfy)

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

One of the most essential examples of a TV reboot done right is developer Ronald D. Moore's reimagining of Glen A. Larson's classic '70s sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. The Emmy-winning, SyFy original version of the story of a crew searching for a long-lost planet Earth in a wartorn future went on to become one of the genre's most celebrated TV shows.

(Image credit: MTV)

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

The 1985 comedy, Teen Wolf, in which Michael J. Fox's character inherits his family's lycanthropic curse, is really a metaphor for self-discovery. MTV's hit series adaptation starring Tyler Posey, in addition to making the protagonist a wolf bite victim who uses his abilities to fight evil, throws humor and symbolism almost completely out the window.

(Image credit: Entertainment Film Distributors)

Dredd (2012)

The first film featuring Judge Dredd, who was introduced in the U.K. anthology comic, 2000 AD, saw Sylvester Stallone take on the title role and make the fatal flaw of removing his signature helmet. Even taking that controversial detail out of the equation, many believe the Alex Garland-penned Dredd, starring Karl Urban, was a step up for its dead-serious approach to the source material’s vision of a dystopian world ordered by officers who serve as judge, jury, and executioner.

(Image credit: Disney+)

Goosebumps (2023-2024)

Following the '90s anthology horror TV show based on R.L. Stine's creepy but kid-friendly book series, Goosebumps, there were two film adaptations that seemed to go in a more kid-friendly and less creepy direction. However, Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller's seasonal anthology series released on Hulu and Disney+ aimed to up the ante on its thrills by making it a teen drama.

(Image credit: MGM)

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

The first alien invasion movie based on Jack Finney’s largely influential novel about humans replaced with emotionless extraterrestrial replicas, released in 1956, ended on a more hopeful note. However, director Philip Kaufman's remake, starring Donald Sutherland, maintains a bleak and hopeless tone throughout, which is why it is still considered the best Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie out of the many Hollywood has released.

(Image credit: DIsney)

Maleficent (2014)

Some of the most amusing live-action Disney animated movie remakes have opted to reexamine the source material from another perspective. For instance, the Academy Award-nominated Maleficent reimagines the story of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the eponymous antagonist, played by Angelina Jolie.

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)

The original Planet of the Apes movies are fun sci-fi classics set in a future in which primates have become Earth's dominant species. Director Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Matt Reeves' two sequels (Dawn and War), and Wes Ball's Kingdom explore the devastating origins of that dystopian society, due to an ill-fated attempt to cure Alzheimer’s and a global virus causing human evolutionary regression.

(Image credit: Sony)

Evil Dead (2013)

Sam Raimi’s 1981 classic, The Evil Dead, was already a nearly unparalleled experience in grueling terror but the second and third installments, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, were fun horror-comedy movies boasting a far lighter tone. With his 2013 installment, director Fede Álvarez went back to basics and amplified what made the original possession thriller iconic with some unbelievably brutal sequences and a more earnest plot set-up involving an addict attempting a woodland cabin detox.

(Image credit: Walt Disney Pictures)

Cruella (2021)

There are few villainous characters in Disney history more despicable than Cruella de Vil from 1961's One Hundred and One Dalmatians. However, director Craig Gillespie's live-action Cruella successfully makes the title character (played by Academy Award winner Emma Stone) sympathetic by employing a depressing origin story that sees her forced to turned crime as a child after witnessing her mother's murder.

(Image credit: Altitude Film Distribution)

Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey (2023)

Just a year after author A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard's Winnie the Pooh entered the public domain, the beloved children’s book character was reimagined as a killer who goes on a vengeful rampage after grown-up Christopher Robin abandons the Hundred Acre Wood. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and its 2024 sequel are not regarded as some of the best slasher movies of their time but they certainly got people talking.

(Image credit: NBC)

Mockingbird Lane (2012)

Many assumed that Rob Zombie'sThe Munsters movie would be a darker reinterpretation of the "monstrous" family until it was revealed to be a thoroughly faithful adaptation. However, there was an attempt at a somewhat more earnest and macabre take on the 1960s sitcom in the form of developer Bryan Fuller's Mockingbird Lane – a failed pilot that aired as a Halloween special on NBC.

(Image credit: HBO Max)

Titans (2018-2023)

The Teen Titans series, following the DC Universe's most powerful underage heroes, was already dark enough to satisfy young audiences craving a cartoon with an edge, but it was later rebooted as the absurdly comedic Teen Titans GO! Thus, many fans were thankful for the live-action Titans, which proved to be the most mature adaptation of the original comic yet.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

The Banana Splits Movie (2019)

There was a made-for-TV feature-length spin-off from the Saturday morning children's program, The Banana Splits, in which Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky must take on an evil witch. However, Danishka Esterhazy's The Banana Splits Movie is a bloody slasher that makes the rock band of happy animal mascots the villains.

(Image credit: Disney)

Mulan (2020)

The beloved 1998 film Mulan is – despite following many of the same traditions of a Disney animated feature, such as supernatural twists and musical interludes – still regarded as an important tale of female empowerment. Disney's live-action version, starring Yifei Liu as the title hero, is a more earnest war drama devoid of humor, show tunes, magic, and, most notably, Eddie Murphy's Mushu.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. )

Mortal Kombat (2021)

The Mortal Kombat films from the 1990s could have been considered some of the most faithful video game movies of all time if it were not for the limitations of the PG-13 rating. Thus, director Simon McQuoid's R-rated adaptation is revered as the first to more accurately capture the violence of the one-on-one fighting game series.

(Image credit: Dimension)

Halloween (2007)

No one would have believed that co-writer and director John Carpenter’s 1978 horror movie classic, Halloween, could be remade into anything darker. Yet, Rob Zombie made it happen with a divisive reboot that gives masked murderer Michael Myers (played by Tyler Mane) an origin story involving child abuse, a higher body count, and a far more sadistic MO.

(Image credit: Disney)

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Disney's live-action adaptation of the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, is noted for being a relatively faithful rendition of its beloved animated iteration from 1991. However, Bill Condon's film, which stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, does darken the material, mostly by giving its characters more tragic backstories.

(Image credit: Saban)

Power Rangers (2017)

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is, technically, an Americanized reboot of Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger and would edit battle scenes from the original Japanese show into its episodes. Director Dean Israelite's Power Rangers movie attempted to appeal to modern audiences seeking grimmer storytelling by raising the stakes and giving the young warriors more grounded backstories.

(Image credit: 21st Century Film Corporation)

The Phantom Of The Opera (1989)

Freddy Krueger from the A Nightmare on Elm Street movies was not the only iconic horror movie villain whom Robert Englund portrayed. He also took on the esteemed mantle of the title role from Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera, in a much more violent and viscerally gory interpretation.

(Image credit: Lionsgate)

Hellboy (2019)

Director Rob Marshall’s adaptation of Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse comic book, Hellboy, was a critical and commercial failure that also deeply pales in comparison to Guillermo del Toro’s movies. However, it does boast a charming performance by David Harbour as the titular kindhearted demon and earns its R rating with some gloriously blood-soaked action sequences.

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

Fantastic Four (2015)

The first attempt to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen (or, the first one to get released, that is) from Tim Story was high in camp and struggled to impress critics as a result. For his reboot, director Josh Trank attempted to reimagine the origins of Marvel’s first superhero family as a body horror flick and still failed to make a decent impression on critics and audiences alike.

(Image credit: Atlas Film Distribution)

The Mean One (2022)

Audrey Geisel banned live-action Dr. Seuss movies because, to her, 2003's The Cat and the Hat was no fun, but just imagine how the good doctor's widow would have reacted to The Mean One. Terrifier star David Howard Thornton, an actor who knows how to thrill, stars in this cheesy slasher as a Grinch naughty enough to kill.

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Snow White And The Huntsman (2012)

Instead of seven dwarfs, Kristen Stewart’s version of a famous fairytale hero teams up with a capable hunter (Chris Hemsworth) to take down an evil queen (Charlize Theron) in the action-packed Snow White and the Huntsman.

32 TV Show Retcons That Left Us Confused

Jason Wiese — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:33:00 +0000

Is there a single TV show that, for the entirety of its run, managed to keep its story going without any retcons? For one reason or another, it is common to see a popular series amend or completely disregard a pre-established story or character detail, often leading fans to wonder if they are losing their minds. Don't worry: you're not crazy but merely a victim of some confusing or even just annoying TV retcons like the following.

(Image credit: ABC/Disney+)

Cory And Topanga's Origins (Boy Meets World)

The romance between Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) and Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel) could have been the perfect sitcom love story if the classic TGIF comedy could keep the details of their relationship straight. When Fishel first joined the Boy Meets World cast, she was initially introduced as the weird student in Cory's elementary school class but, when she is later reinvented as his love interest, the show tries to play them off as sweethearts since childhood.

(Image credit: ABC)

Dan Is Alive (Roseanne)

Not only is Season 9 of Roseanne, in which the Conners' lives change when they win the lottery, revealed to be a fantasy in the series finale but we also learn that Dan (John Goodman) was dead the entire time, having suffered a heart attack. This controversial plot twist was ignored in 2018 when the sitcom was revived for a tenth season before it was rebranded as The Conners.

(Image credit: Paramount Television)

The Fate Of Frasier's Father (Cheers/Frasier)

On one episode of Cheers, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) tells his friends at the bar that his late father was a research scientist. However, in Frasier's self-titled and equally beloved TV show spin-off, we see Martin Crane (John Mahoney) is alive and well and a retired cop. In an episode where Ted Danson appears as Sam Malone, the show tries to explain that Frasier's dad was "dead to him" at the time after a bitter argument.

(Image credit: Fox)

Sara Was Not Dead After All (Prison Break)

In the third season of Prison Break, Michael (Wentworth Miller) learns that Sara (Sarah Wayne Callies) was kidnapped and beheaded, only to see her come back in Season 4, which reveals it was never actually her head. In reality, the reason for the character's demise was due to a dispute involving Callies' contract but, when she was able to work out a deal to return to the series, her earlier death was rewritten as a head fake.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. / DC)

Jimmy Olsen Was Not Who We Thought He Was (Smallville)

In its sixth season, the acclaimed DC TV show Smallville introduced the iconic character of photographer Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore), only to kill him off three years later. It is at his funeral that we learn that his real name is Henry James Olsen and that the real Jimmy Olsen was his never-before-seen little brother the whole time.

(Image credit: NBC)

Kramer Was Originally Named Kessler (Seinfeld)

In the pilot episode of Seinfeld, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) calls his next-door neighbor by the name Kessler but, from the next episode on, Michael Richards' character is referred to as Kramer, after Larry David's real-life friend on whom the role is based. The series tries to explain this in Season 9's "The Betrayal" with a flashback to the characters' first meeting when Kramer tells Jerry that the name on his buzzer is incorrect.

(Image credit: CBS)

Bobby's Death Was All A Dream (Dallas)

When Patrick Duffy decided to quit the CBS primetime soap opera, Dallas, his character, Bobby Ewing, was written off the show in Season 8 when he was run over by his sister-in-law, Katherine Wentworth (Morgan Brittany), and was buried after succumbing to his injuries in the Season 9 premiere. However, after the writers urged the actor to come back to the cast, the Season 10 opener revealed everything that happened in the previous season was imagined by his wife, Pamela Barnes Ewing (Victoria Principal), in her sleep.

(Image credit: The CW)

Gossip Girl's True Identity Does Not Make Sense (Gossip Girl)

As revealed in the series finale of Gossip Girl, Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) was the mysterious blogger the entire time but, if that's true, why does he act surprised by several posts about him, his friends, and his relatives in earlier episodes? Furthermore, Gossip Girl publicizes the fact that Dan and his girlfriend, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), share a half-sibling, which he adamantly wants kept secret. So, why on Earth would he make that public, even anonymously?

(Image credit: ABC)

What Ever Happened To Judy Winslow (Family Matters)

YouTuber Vee Infuso debunked an urban legend believing that the youngest Winslow child, Judy, once walked up the stairs in a Season 4 episode never to be seen again. While Jaimee Foxworth's actual final appearance in the Family Matter cast came later that season in "Mama's Wedding," her subsequent absence (due to the writers having nothing interesting to come up with for her) was never explained nor acknowledged for the remainder of the series.

(Image credit: NBC)

The First Time Chandler Said "I Love You" To Monica (Friends)

In one of the most ridiculous Friends episodes, "The One Where Everyone Finds Out," Chandler (Matthew Perry) is coerced by Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) feigned seduction into admitting that he is in love with Monica (Courteney Cox) to everyone's surprise, including her own. However, the otherwise touching moment seems to forget about an earlier Friends Thanksgiving episode, "The One With All The Thanksgivings," in which Chandler lets his feelings for Monica slip when she surprises him with a turkey on her head.

(Image credit: BBC)

A Time Lord's Maximum Number Of Regenerations Changes (Doctor Who)

Early on in the long-running, classic sci-fi TV show's history, it is established that the title character of Doctor Who, like all Time Lords, can only regenerate a total of 13 times. However, that rule has since been negated as the 13th Doctor actor, Jodie Whitaker, was later replaced by Ncuti Gatwa.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The History Of Superheroes Dates Back Longer Than We Thought (Arrowverse)

After adopting his vigilante alter ego at the beginning of the hit series, Arrow, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is said to have become the first superhero. Yet, later down the road as the Arrowverse franchise would continue to evolve with its multiple spin-offs, it was discovered that superhero teams have existed as early as World War II.

(Image credit: ABC)

Kimmy Gibbler's Sibling Count (Full House/Fuller House)

When Kimmy Gibbler is first mentioned in the 1987 pilot for Full House, D.J. Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) says she has three sisters but the character (played by Andrea Barber) says in Season 3 that her parents stopped having kids after her. This could imply she is merely the youngest in her family but she was also known to mention having an unseen older brother named Garth. Furthermore, in Netflix's revival, Fuller House, we are introduced to her younger brother, Jimmy (Adam Hagenbuch).

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Dean Loses His Urban Philosophy (Gilmore Girls)

When Jared Padalecki first joined the Gilmore Girls cast as Dean, the character was introduced as a Chicago native who had moved to Stars Hollow fairly recently and loves obscure books and movies. However, when New York transplant and obscure book and movie lover Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) is brought into the mix, Dean is suddenly reinvented as a more rural individual who has lost his cultural interests and thinks of Stars Hollow as his true home after living "most of his life" there.

(Image credit: Fox)

The Disappearance Of Donna's Sister (That '70s Show)

We are willing to bet that, even if you considered yourself a huge That '70s Show fan, you had absolutely no recollection that Donna (Laura Prepon) had a sister. Tina Pinciotti (Amanda Fuller) makes one appearance in Season 1 and is subsequently mentioned only once more in a throwaway joke from Season 2's "Vanstock" but, from that point on, Donna is referred to as an only child.

(Image credit: HBO)

Daenerys Goes Bad (Game Of Thrones)

Here is an example of something that is not so much a retcon but a deeply confusing and quite maddening TV character evolution that suddenly comes out of nowhere. One of the most heavily criticized aspects of the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones sees the normally level-headed and fair Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) become a coldhearted tyrant who commits unimaginably brutal crimes without a second's hesitation.

(Image credit: CW)

Are Jason And Cheryl Really Twins? (Riverdale)

There are a number of notable inconsistencies regarding the characters in the Riverdale cast, but one of the more glaring involves Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) and her brother, Jason (Trevor Stines). While initially established as fraternal twins, later episodes of the Archie Comics-inspired dramedy imply that they are in two different grade levels at school.

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox Television )

Who Made Spike A Vampire? (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

A lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans like to count the sudden appearance of Buffy's never-before-seen younger sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) as a retcon. However, the sentient form of power's inclusion is explained by fake memories implanted into the characters' minds after she is sent to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to protect, so we are not counting that. Instead, we will mention how Spike (James Marsters) refers to Angel (David Boreanaz) as the vampire who turned him until it is later revealed that Drusilla is his true sire.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Why Sheldon Knocks Multiple Times (The Big Bang Theory)

One of the most iconic running gags on The Big Bang Theory is Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) compulsion to knock on people's doors three times, which was only first introduced in Season 2. However, in Season 10, he explains that he formed the habit after accidentally walking in on his father having an affair and wants to give people enough time to "get their pants on" with his courteous and incessant signal.

(Image credit: NBC)

When Claire Gets Her Powers (Heroes)

In the first season of Heroes, it is established that Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) developed her rapid healing ability later in life when she hit puberty. However, in a later episode when she meets her birth mother, it is revealed that she was indestructible even when she was an infant.

(Image credit: The CW)

The Rules Of Being A Vessel Are Inconsistent (Supernatural)

At one point in the 15-season run of Supernatural, it is established that being a vessel for a spiritual entity will result in the host's death once the entity no longer requires their physical form. However, Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles), and even the Lucifer-possessed President Jefferson Rooney (David Chisum) end up just fine after their time as a vessel ends.

(Image credit: Fox)

Tina Admits She Was Faking Her Stutter (Glee)

When Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) is first introduced in the first season of Glee, she speaks with a stutter that suddenly disappears after she joins the glee club. She eventually reveals she faked it hoping that it would make Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale) like her more.

(Image credit: USA)

Randy Suddenly Gains An Uncle (Monk)

Even a detective show as clever as Monk has been known to make a few logical errors from time to time. For instance, Lt. Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) says at one point that he has two aunts but no uncles but, in the Season 5 episode "Mr. Monk Visits a Farm," he inherits land from a recently deceased family member... his uncle, Harvey (Jack Kehler).

(Image credit: NBC)

President Barlett's Death Tax Repeal Veto Is A Surprise (The West Wing)

In Season 2 of creator Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing, it is mentioned by political commentator Mark Gottfried (Ted McGinley) that President Josiah Bartlett (Martin Sheen) vetoed a Republican-backed education package. However, in the following season when he vetoes a repeal of the "death tax," it causes an uproar as people claim he had never used the veto before.

(Image credit: CBS)

Barney Suddenly Knows How To Drive (How I Met Your Mother)

In Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother, we discover that Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) not only does not know how to drive a car but is absolutely terrified to get behind the wheel. Yet, two seasons later, in one of the best HIMYM episodes, "As Fast as She Can," he makes multiple attempts to get a speeding ticket to prove he can talk his way out of one and is also seen driving plenty of times afterward. Perhaps he could have worked up the courage to finally learn how to drive by then but there is absolutely no mention of it, making his sudden acquirement of this skill a bit sudden.

(Image credit: BBC One)

Fans Still Missed Moriarty (Sherlock)

At the end of Sherlock's third season, a message from the detective's archnemesis, Moriarty (Andrew Scott) suggested the criminal mastermind would play a pivotal role in the following season. Unfortunately, fans would discover that he had no involvement in Season 4, which is less of a retcon and more of an infuriating cop-out.

(Image credit: AMC)

Walker Blood Is Not A Source Of Infection (The Walking Dead)

Early seasons of The Walking Dead established that getting blood from one of the undead in your eyes or mouth or in a wound would prove fatal, yet later seasons ignore this rule almost completely. This retcon goes further than just the TV series as it is an acknowledged and important detail in the Robert Kirkman-penned comic book series that inspired the AMC hit.

(Image credit: Hulu)

Al Dreamt Peg's Pregnancy (Married…. With Children)

By the end of Married… with Children's first season, half of which saw Peg (Katey Sagal) pregnant, it is revealed to have been all Al's (Ed O'Neill) dream but there is actually a dark truth to this retcon. As the actor explains in her memoir, Grace Notes, Sagal's real-life pregnancy at this time was written into the show but when she suffered a miscarriage, it was decided that the show would not bring another child into the cast.

(Image credit: Nickelodeon)

SpongeBob Knew Sandy As A Child (SpongeBob SquarePants/Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years)

In the second-ever episode of SpongeBob Squarepants, "Tea at the Treedome," we see the title character (voiced by Tom Kenny) meet Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence) for the very first time. However, the prequel spin-off, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, suggests that the sea sponge and the squirrel knew each other when they stayed at the eponymous camp as children.

(Image credit: Fox)

Peggy's Mom Keeps Changing (King Of The Hill)

The first time King of the Hill introduces Peggy's mother, she is depicted as a suburban homemaker but is later reinvented almost completely as the wife of a bitter old rancher. That is not even counting the fact that, in an episode when Bobby's secret admirer turns out to be his grandmother playing a trick, the elderly woman in question is neither Hank's nor Peggy's mother.

(Image credit: NBC)

Andy's Father's Name Changes (The Office)

In NBC's The Office, after proposing to Angela (Angela Kinsey), Andy (Ed Helms) refers to his mother and father as Andrew and Ellen Bernard, implying that he is Andy Bernard Jr. However, when we meet his parents in "The Garden Party," the father is identified as Walter Bernard Sr. (Stephen Collins) and Andy explains that he used to be named Walter Jr. before his younger brother (played by Josh Groban) was deemed more worthy of the moniker.

(Image credit: Hasbro)

The Rules For Transferring Powers (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)

In Season 2 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, when Jason (Austin St. John), Trini (Thuy Trang), and Zack (Walter Emanuel Jones) are forced to leave, the team needs to acquire a special sword to transfer their powers to Rocky (Steve Cardenas), Aisha (Karan Ashley), and Adam (Johnny Yong Bosch). However, in the following season, when Kimberly (Amy Jo Johnson) needed to give her powers to Kat (Catherine Sutherland), she just handed over her power coin.

10 Shows Like A Good Girl's Guide To Murder And How To Watch Them

Alexandra Ramos — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:04:08 +0000

Are you craving something else like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder? If so, I've got you covered.

It feels like we were waiting for years for the long-awaited book adaptation of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, and thankfully, 2024 was the year it was delivered to us, first on the BBC in the United Kingdom and then on Netflix here in the United States. But, there are only a few episodes, with no plans for Season 2 so far, and I'm sure you're trying to find a new show to scratch that mystery-solving itch.

Well, look no further, as we have a list of the ten best shows like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder that will also have you putting on your mystery-solving cap. Let's get into it.

(Image credit: Peacock)

One Of Us Is Lying (2021 - 2022)

Based on the novel of the same name by Karen M. McManus, One Of Us Is Lying is a Peacock original that follows five high school students who are in detention together, but one of them dies during it. Then, the four of them find themselves in the middle of a long investigation where anything can happen.

With two seasons, I actually think One Of Us Is Lying is the best show to watch if you really want something like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. It's dramatic, has good tension, a great story, and features teenagers trying to figure out a murder, so it's everything you could want.

Stream One Of Us Is Lying on Peacock.

(Image credit: Freeform)

Cruel Summer (2021 - 2023)

If you're looking for a mystery that'll take you back in time, then Cruel Summer is the one for you. Taking place in the 1990s, this is a teen drama/mystery anthology that follows two different stories – the disappearance of a girl and how another seems to take her place in Season 1, and the development of a friendship that changes lives forever in Season 2.

Honestly, I'll never forgive Hulu for cancelling this show after two seasons because the premise itself is fascinating, and the mysteries are entertaining to follow. You'll find something new to love about both seasons, and you'll be on my side by the time you finish watching all 20 episodes and are craving more.

Stream Cruel Summer on Hulu.

(Image credit: Colin Bentley/The CW)

Nancy Drew (2019 - 2023)

Of course, I had to put Nancy Drew on here. The CW series, based on the mystery novels of the same name, is a drama that follows a teenage detective as she investigates mystery after mystery, throwing herself into danger, conspiracy, and more.

I'm pretty sure I would have gotten flack if, for some reason, I didn't place Nancy Drew here. I will say I don't think the mysteries in this show are quite as tight as in Good Girl's Guide, but they are super enjoyable, and you'll fly through those four seasons.

Stream Nancy Drew on Max.

(Image credit: Freeform)

Pretty Little Liars (2010 - 2017)

Duh. Pretty Little Liars was one of the biggest shows ever when it came out on Freeform. It follows a group of friends over the course of several years who receive threats from an anonymous person known as "A," who holds secrets over their heads. And, it's up to them to figure out who's threatening them.

Based on the novels of the same name, Pretty Little Liars was a phenomenon across television in my younger years and well into my first year of college. Everyone talked about this show for all seven seasons, even if the story ended up being weird towards the end. Regardless, it's a good mystery and one you should check out. We had people theorizing for hours about who A.D.'s identity was.

Stream Pretty Little Liars on Hulu.

(Image credit: The CW)

Riverdale (2017 – 2023)

Okay, hear me out on this one. Riverdale was one of the best CW shows for a time and is based on Archie comics, following a group of teenagers living in the titular town and their experiences with not only high school and romance but death and many mysteries.

Specifically, the first two seasons of this show are great. Riverdale is a series that got weirder and weirder as time went on, and the plot was lost. However, the first two seasons were solid mysteries and fun to watch. After those, it may be best to move over to another mystery series from this list.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Wednesday (2022 – Present)

Of course, you've heard of Wednesday. It would be shocking if you hadn't. The Netflix series, based on the Addams Family characters, follows the daughter, Wednesday, as she attends Nevermore Academy and makes it her mission to solve a murder mystery there while also dealing with all the woeful drama that comes with being a teenager at a supernatural school.

Wednesday was monumental for many reasons. The Wednesday cast is talented, the story was intriguing, and, of course, we can't forget about all the viral moments that were everywhere when this show came out. We are all waiting anxiously for Wednesday Season 2, so check out the first season.

Stream Wednesday on Netflix.

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

The Afterparty (2022 – 2023)

A comedy murder mystery, The Afterparty is one of Apple TV+'s best shows. It follows a different story each season, one at a high school reunion and one at a wedding, where each episode focuses on a different person's perspective in order to figure out who the killer is.

This is another case where this show could have run for years if it got more publicity because it's so funny. The cast makes the murder mysteries all the better, but you'll still be intrigued enough that you'll be wanting to solve the mysteries yourself from your couch.

Stream The Afterparty on Apple TV+.

(Image credit: Paramount+)

School Spirits (2023 – Present)

Starring Peyton List, School Spirits is a supernatural teen drama that follows a teenager who doesn't believe she is dead but eventually decides to investigate her own disappearance as she's stuck in the afterlife – specifically, high school in the afterlife.

This series has everything you're looking for – mystery, murder, secrets, lies, supernaturalness, and more. It's been renewed for a second season, so you might as well check out the first.

Stream School Spirits on Netflix.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Television)

Veronica Mars (2004 – 2019)

Starring Kristen Bell, Veronica Mars is a teen noir mystery drama that tells the story of new mysteries each season, each time through the perspective of teen detective (later adult detective) Veronica Mars.

The series had an incredibly dedicated fanbase during its time on air, and though it only ran for three seasons initially, it was brought back for a film in 2014 and then had a fourth season in 2019, where Bell came back to reprise the role again for eight episodes.

Stream Veronica Mars on Hulu.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Yellowjackets (2021 – Present)

Last but not least, we have to talk about Yellowjackets, one of the best Showtime shows out there. The series bounces back and forth between two timelines: the 1990s, when a high school soccer team crash-lands in the mountains of Canada and has to do whatever it takes to survive, and the present day, where the women on that trip are grown up and dealing with the repercussions of said crash years later.

What I love about Yellowjackets is that even now, two seasons in, there are still so many mysteries left to solve. It feels like when one is solved, another is waiting right around the corner, which is what makes this show so good. Yellowjackets Season 3 is confirmed, so you should check out the first two.

Stream Yellowjackets on Paramount Plus.

Now, this just makes me want to find my detective cap and go on my own murder mystery adventure. Where's my magnifying glass?

32 TV Character Deaths That Still Break Our Hearts

Erik Swann — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 20:34:46 +0000

When it comes to TV shows, character deaths are relatively common, as plenty of shows have axed main or supporting players throughout their runs. Feelings over such casualties can vary, with some eliciting waves of tears and others causing people to celebrate. What we’re going to discuss here are the fictional fatalities that fall into that first category. So break out the tissues as we discuss the notable demises that still break our hearts.

(Image credit: The WB)

Joyce Summers (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

To say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer features its fair share of brutal and otherworldly deaths would be an understatement. Yet it’s the natural passing of Buffy’s mom, Joyce Summers, that arguably still hurts fans the most today. The matriarch dies in Season 5 due to a brain aneurysm, and her body is ultimately found by her daughter. Joyce’s death shakes Buffy and her friends to their cores, but it also prompts them to grow up and take a greater step towards adulthood.

(Image credit: HBO)

Nate Fisher (Six Feet Under)

Mortality is a major theme of Six Feet Under and, while every main character’s demise is chronicled by the end of the show, one that really sticks out is the passing of lead character Nate Fisher. Diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, Nate dies of a brain hemorrhage in a hospital with his brother, David, by his side. While Nate’s death prompts his family to cope with their grief and ultimately move forward with their lives amid the series’ final episodes, it’s a gut-wrenching development nonetheless.

(Image credit: AMC)

Glenn Rhee (The Walking Dead)

The Walking Dead’s heartbreaking deaths are all painful in some way or another, but few can hold a candle to the moment Glenn Rhee is killed off. In Season 7, the thoughtful young man dies at the hands of the Saviors’ leader, Negan, who beats him to death with his barbed wire baseball bat, Lucille. Glenn’s death itself is sad, but it’s even more unfortunate considering that he leaves behind his wife, Maggie, and their unborn child.

(Image credit: The WB)

Prue Halliwell (Charmed)

Drama between Charmed cast members Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty is said to be a contributing factor to the death of the latter actress’ character, Prue Halliwell. At the end of Season 3, Prue is murdered by a demon named Shax. In addition to marking the end of the character, this event also serves as a turning point for the remaining Halliwell sisters.

(Image credit: AMC)

Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad)

Special Agent Hank Schrader is one of the best Breaking Bad characters and arguably has one of the most distressing deaths in the franchise’s history. Following a shootout, Hank is killed by neo-Nazi leader Jack Welker in the acclaimed episode “Ozymandias.” Schraeder’s drug-dealing brother-in-law, Walter White, witnesses the event and is left distraught. The loss of Hank is tremendous, and the only point of comfort is that Walt later avenges him by killing Jack.

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Television)

Bill McNeal (NewsRadio)

The passing of comedian Phil Hartman in 1998 is what prompted the producers of the hit NBC sitcom NewsRadio to kill off his character, Bill McNeal, ahead of the fifth and final season. It’s explained in the premiere that Bill died (off-screen) from a heart attack, and his co-workers mourn him heavily. The episode is an emotional tribute to the character and the work of the great Hartman.

(Image credit: NBC)

Dr. Mark Greene (ER)

One of the key storylines from ER Season 8 involves Dr. Mark Greene dealing with a serious brain cancer diagnosis. His health sadly declines as the season goes on and, in the penultimate episode, Greene dies. The situation is truly bittersweet as, before he passes on Greene, he’s able to spend time with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughters, Rachel and Ella.

(Image credit: HBO)

Ned Stark (Game Of Thrones)

Game of Thrones killed off Eddard “Ned” Stark in truly Shakespearean fashion. Joffrey Baratheon goads Stark into admitting to “treason” in order to save his children’s lives and his own. Stark eventually makes that declaration during a public hearing, though Joffrey orders him to be killed anyway, in what’s truly a devastating turn of events.

(Image credit: CBS)

Caitlin Todd (NCIS)

Caitlin Todd’s death at the tail end of NCIS Season 2 might be one of the most tragic moments in the history of TV. The character is murdered via a sniper attack by Mossad double-agent Ari Haswari, who later reveals that he only did it to hurt Todd’s colleague, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Caitlin’s demise is only made worse by the fact that her final words are “Wow, I thought I'd die before I ever heard a complim…”

(Image credit: Netflix)

Mark Sloan (Grey's Anatomy)

Mark Sloan’s death can be attributed to injuries sustained during a plane crash in Grey’s Anatomy’s eighth season finale. Mark is taken off life support in the Season 9 premiere after being in a coma. And that tragic event only adds to the sadness that his co-workers feel after Sloan’s lover, Lexie Grey, succumbed to injuries from the crash in the Season 8 finale.

(Image credit: HBO)

Adriana La Cerva (The Sopranos)

It’s honestly hard to feel sympathy for a lot of the characters on The Sopranos, but Adriana La Cerva deserves some. La Cerva, who’s aware of fiancée Christopher Moltisanti’s mob dealings, eventually becomes a mole for the feds after being busted for drug possession. After she tells Chris about this and tries to convince him to disappear with her, he tells his uncle, Tony Soprano, who has Adriana killed.

(Image credit: The WB)

Jonathan Kent (Smallville)

DC Comics fans surely know that there are many continuities in which Clark Kent’s adopted father, Jonathan Kent, dies. However, that doesn’t make seeing him die from a heart attack – while surrounded by Clark and Martha Kent – in the 100th episode of Smallville any easier.

(Image credit: Max)

Mrs. Dolores Landingham (The West Wing)

A character as endearing as The West Wing’s Mrs. Dolores Landingham doesn’t deserve to die at all. With that, many would surely agree that she didn’t deserve to be killed by a drunk driver near the end of Season 2. Landingham’s death still marks one of the most shocking moments in TV history.

(Image credit: ABC)

Charlie Pace (Lost)

Of the various deaths that occurred on Lost, Charlie Pace’s passing still arguably hurts more than others. The fan-favorite character was killed off during the events of the third season’s finale. It’s in that installment that Charlie is doomed to drown after Mikhail Bakunin blows a hole in the underwater Looking Glass Station, though he dies a hero due to the fact that he saves some of his comrades.

(Image credit: ABC)

Chet Hunter (Boy Meets World)

The father of Shawn and Jack Hunter, Chet died suddenly during Boy Meets World’s sixth season after suffering from two heart attacks. While the patriarch passes on before being able to formally reconcile with Shawn, the two do so when the younger Hunter later encounters his father’s ghost.

(Image credit: PBS)

Mr. Hooper (Sesame Street)

Many members of Generation X surely remember one of the most emotional moments in Sesame Street’s illustrious history – the death of Will Lee’s Mr. Hooper, which occurred after Lee himself passed on in 1982. The episode that tackles Hooper’s passing is a truly emotional episode that sees the members of the community paying tribute to the late store proprietor. The installment also remains a groundbreaking piece of work for its exploration of death and grief in a children’s show.

(Image credit: HBO)

Wallace (The Wire)

16-year-old Wallace possesses one of the most heartbreaking storylines ever presented by The Wire. During the first season, the young drug dealer finds himself in a tough spot after he chooses to cooperate with authorities and provide information on the local drug trade. Ahead of a trial, Wallace is found and killed by former associates, and the sight of the teen begging for his life before the trigger is pulled is still affecting.

(Image credit: AMC)

Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad)

The wise and stoic Mike Ehrmantraut is murdered by Walter White, following an argument, amid the final season of Breaking Bad. After being shot by Walt, Mike sits by a riverbank, where he finally passes on. Ehrmantraut’s demise is made sadder due to the fact that Walt and his associate, Todd, later dissolve his body using acid.

(Image credit: Mutant Enemy)

Tara Maclay (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

It’s during the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that Tara Maclay is sadly killed by a stray bullet to the heart. Tara’s passing ultimately plunges her girlfriend, Willow Rosenberg, into grief and pushes her towards her darker magical impulses. Willow’s rage is intense – but arguably not as explosive as the fan responses to Tara’s passing were at the time.

(Image credit: CBS)

Henry Blake (MASH)

As humorous as MASH is, it also features some legitimately heartbreaking moments, and the death of Henry Blake at the end of Season 3 is certainly one of them. Blake is set to be discharged from military service and sent home. But, shockingly, it’s revealed at the end of “Abyssinia, Henry” that Blake’s plane has been shot down over the Sea of Japan and there are no survivors. At the time, this was a shock to viewers and to the actors involved in the scene, as it was a last-minute addition.

(Image credit: CBS)

James Evans (Good Times)

Those who avidly watched sitcoms during the ‘70s can probably remember the night Good Times killed off family patriarch James Evans Sr. James dies off-screen at the start of Season 4, with his family receiving word of his death from a car accident in Mississippi via a telegram. In the years since that development occurred, fans have argued that James’ death marked a serious shift in quality for the Norman Lear-produced show.

(Image credit: Fox)

Lawrence Kutner (House)

A TV character death that still hits incredibly hard is that of Lawrence Kutner, who is killed off after two seasons of House. Kutner dies by suicide, in what is an absolutely earth-shattering turn of events. What really makes this development so heartbreaking is that the exact reasons for Kutner’s decision to shoot himself are never made clear.

(Image credit: CBS)

Edith Bunker (Archie Bunker’s Place)

Edith Bunker, one of the most iconic characters in TV history, dies in her sleep from a stroke in between the first and second seasons of All in the Family spinoff Archie Bunker’s Place. The mere notion of such a lovable character like Edith dying is sad enough, but watching her usually. boisterous husband, Archie, come to terms with her passing really tugs at the heartstrings.

(Image credit: HBO)

Margaery Tyrell (Game Of Thrones)

Like so many Game of Thrones characters before her, Margaery Tyrell meets a brutal end. Tyrell’s death is due to the machinations of Cersei Lannister, who arranges for the Sept by Qyburn to be burned – with Margaery and many more inside of it.

(Image credit: NBC)

Ben Sullivan (Scrubs)

Ben Sullivan doesn’t appear in many episodes of Scrubs, but he manages to leave a serious impression through his kindness and very mellow demeanor. So it’s understandable why his eventual death from leukemia is so affecting.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Poussey Washington (Orange Is The New Black)

Orange is the New Black sadly kills off Poussey Washington by having her unintentionally die by suffocation at the hands of Baxter Bayley. Her passing has a profound impact on the other residents at Litchfield Penitentiary. And, while her absence is felt as the show progresses, she at least returns via occasional flashbacks.

(Image credit: Syfy)

Anastasia "Dee" Dualla (Battlestar Galactica)

On the list of Battlestar Galactica’s most shocking deaths is that of Anastasia “Dee” Dualla, Dee dies by suicide by shooting herself in the head – a move that’s slightly prompted by her depression over seeing how ravaged Earth (now a nuclear wasteland) is. And, if that’s not sad enough, the final motivating factor in Dee’s suicide is her reconciliation with estranged husband Lee Adoma, which happens moments before she shoots herself. Dee ultimately wants to hold on to one final moment of happiness, so she ends her life.

(Image credit: YouTube)

Fred Andrews (Riverdale)

Beloved Riverdale character Fred Andrews dies as the result of a hit-and-run incident, leaving his son, Archie, and just about everyone in their eponymous town saddened. His sendoff episode is truly beautiful, as it not only honors Fred but also his portrayer, Luke Perry, whose death necessitated Andrews’ passing.

(Image credit: ABC)

Lincoln Campbell (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

At the end of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Season 3, the titular team is forced to say goodbye to another one of its own – Lincoln Campbell. The young Inhuman sacrifices himself by flying the villainous Hive and a nuclear warhead into space, where they can detonate. While Lincoln’s death hits hard, he goes out like a true hero.

(Image credit: Fox)

Teri Bauer (24)

A number of people meet their maker over the course of 24’s nine-season run, and one of the major characters to die early on is Teri Bauer. She loses her life to corrupt CTU operative Nina Meyers, as Nina shoots (the pregnant) Teri to cover her own tracks. Even now, it’s tough to shake the image of Jack Bauer cradling his wife’s body.

(Image credit: CTV)

J.T. Yorke (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

Degrassi: The Next Generation fans are probably still shaken by the moment that beloved character J.T. Yorke was stabbed to death by Drake Lempkey. J.T.’s passing serves as a “loss-of-innocence” moment for his friends, who continue to cherish his memory.

(Image credit: AMC)

Howard Hamlin (Better Call Saul)

If any TV character has ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time, it’s Better Call Saul’s Howard Hamlin. The occasionally smug – but mostly well-meaning – lawyer is savagely killed by drug dealer Lalo Salamanca at Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler’s apartment. What’s sadly ironic is that Howard goes there to tell off Jimmy and Kim for secretly sabotaging him and is merely killed by Lalo to keep his issues with Wexler and McGill quiet.

32 Times A TV Show Or Movie Franchise Recast A Major Role Mid-Run

Jason Wiese — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:34:16 +0000

There are some movie and TV characters who are defined by just one actor, while others could be defined by two or even three. Of course, in an industry dominated by reboots and remakes these days, it is far from unusual to see the same role being handled by multiple performers, but we are specifically referring to roles from the same cinematic franchise or TV series — and in the same continuity, mostly — that had to be recast for one reason or another. Let’s explore this phenomenon by reviewing some of the most notable examples.

(Image credit: NBC)

Vivian Banks (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

For the sitcom's first three seasons, Janet Hubert starred in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as Will Smith's aunt, Vivian Banks. However, on-set drama between Hubert and Smith led to Daphne Maxwell Reid assuming the role, which Jazz (DJ Jazzy Jeff) would cleverly poke fun at on a couple of different occasions.

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Near the end of 2008's Iron Man, Terrence Howard, as James Rhodes, gazes upon one of Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) unpainted armored suits and decides he will try it out "next time." However, there would not be a next time for Howard, who left due to contract disputes and was succeeded in Iron Man 2 by Don Cheadle, who has played the colonel otherwise known as “Rhodey” in the MCU ever since.

(Image credit: ABC)

Catwoman (Batman)

Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt portrayed two iconic iterations of Catwoman on Batman. Of course, the feline-esque foe was also played by Lee Meriwether in the cinematic spin-off of the Adam West-led, 1960s-era spin-off.

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Emperor Palpatine (The Star Wars Movies)

Unless they got their hands on an unedited copy of 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, most modern fans of the Star Wars franchise might not have realized that Emperor Palpatine was originally physically portrayed by Elaine Baker and voiced by Clive Revill. After Ian McDiarmid took over the role in Return of the Jedi in 1983, the actor was edited into the 2004 version of Empire.

(Image credit: Fox)

Cleveland Brown (Family Guy)

It may come as a surprise to some more casual Family Guy viewers that one of the animated series' few Black characters was voiced by a white actor until 2020. Mike Henry — who also voices Herbert and Consuela — willfully stepped down from the role and was replaced by Arif Zahir, whose talent for portraying the character was discovered on YouTube.

(Image credit: Universal)

Evelyn O'Connell (The Mummy Movies)

After playing Evelyn O'Connell (née Carnahan) in 1999's The Mummy and The Mummy Returns in 2001, Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz turned down the chance to play the brash librarian a third time. Thus, Maria Bello succeeded in the role for 2008's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

(Image credit: ABC)

Darrin Stephens (Bewitched)

When a back injury made working on Bewitched more challenging, Emmy nominee Dick York was forced to step down from the role of Samantha Stephens' (Elizabeth Montgomery) mortal husband, Darrin. The producers would then go to their original choice for the role, Dick Sargent, who was involved in a different show, but was able to play Darrin for the supernatural sitcom's final three seasons.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Jack Ryan (Jack Ryan Movies)

The first cinematic adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels, 1990’s The Hunt for Red October, cast Alec Baldwin as the CIA analyst, but, due to his commitment to a theatrical production of A Streetcar Named Desire, Harrison Ford took over as the lead of 1992’s Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger in 1994. In 2002, Ben Affleck led The Sum of All Fears, and, more than a decade later, Chris Pine took over the role in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit before John Krasinski was named the lead of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan series.

(Image credit: ABC)

Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)

Some of the Family Matters cast, reportedly, did not get along — namely Steve Urkel actor Jaleel White and JoMarie Payton, who played Harriette Winslow. This growing tension and certain disagreements with the direction of the long-running sitcom led Payton to cut ties in the middle of the ninth and final season and be replaced by Judyann Elder.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter Movies)

Two-time Academy Award nominee Richard Harris originated the role of Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies until he passed away in 2002. The Hogwarts headmaster was succeeded by Michael Gambon, who officially joined the wildly popular fantasy franchise with 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

(Image credit: NBC)

Newman (Seinfeld)

Jerry's nemesis and Kramer's buddy, known only as Newman, was originally conceived as a TV character you would never actually see, but only hear, with Seinfeld co-creator Larry David providing the voice. However, the United States postal worker would make his grand entrance in the long-running sitcom’s third season, as played by Wayne Knight.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Bruce Wayne (Batman Movies)

Michael Keaton starred as the Dark Knight in two live-action Batman movies helmed by Tim Burton — 1989’s Batman and Batman Returns from 1992. When director Joel Schumacher took over the franchise, Keaton left and was succeeded by Val Kilmer in Batman Forever, only to be replaced by George Clooney as Bruce Wayne in Batman & Robin.

(Image credit: Adult Swim )

Rick Sanchez And Morty Smith (Rick And Morty)

Justin Roiland co-created one of the all-time best animated TV series with Rick and Morty, for which he also voiced both members of the titular grandfather and grandson duo. Assault allegations against the actor led to his forced exit, paving the way for Ian Cardoni to voice the disgruntled scientist with Harry Belden portraying the anxious teen.

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Sabretooth (X-Men Movies)

When Marvel’s X-Men comics were first adapted for live-action films, the animalistic, ageless mutant known as Sabretooth was played by professional wrestler Tyler Mane. Despite its intentions of being a direct prequel, X-Men Origins: Wolverine enlisted Liev Schreiber to take over the role alongside Hugh Jackman’s reprisal of his brother, Logan.

(Image credit: HBO)

Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane (Game Of Thrones)

It had never been unusual for Game of Thrones cast members to be killed off, nor was it out of the ordinary for their roles to be recast. One of the most notable examples of this was when “The Mountain” actor Craig Stevens was replaced after one season by Ian Whyte in Season 2 and again by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson for the remainder of the series.

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Chewbacca (Star Wars Movies)

For Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Peter Mayhew returned to play Chewbacca, but also shared his iconic Star Wars character with Joonas Suotamo, who handled the more physically demanding scenes. When Mayhew passed, the Finnish actor took full responsibility of the Wookie, whom he would reprise again in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

(Image credit: ABC)

Becky Conner (Roseanne)

The role of Becky Conner was played by two different actors at almost sporadic times throughout the original run of Roseanne. Alicia Goranson, who originated the character, was on for the first five seasons, the eighth season, and the revival series, while Sarah Chalke was in the cast for the sixth, seventh, and ninth seasons, but also returned for The Conners in a different recurring role.

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

When Mark Ruffalo reprised his role as Bruce Banner in Disney+'s She-Hulk, he mentioned how, when he fought a "hulked-out" Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), he was a "completely different person" then. He means this literally because the physicist-turned-superhero was played by Edward Norton in 2008's The Incredible Hulk.

(Image credit: Fox)

Laurie Forman (That '70s Show)

The late Lisa Robin Kelly was best known for starring in the That '70s Show cast as Laurie Forman for the period sitcom's first five seasons. Before the character was effectively written off, Eric's older sister was portrayed by Christina Moore for the first half of Season 6.

(Image credit: Summit Entertainment)

Victoria (The Twilight Saga)

Before Rachelle Lefevre was cast as Victoria in 2008's Twilight and the first sequel, New Moon, one of the first actors approached was Bryce Dallas Howard, who felt the role was too minor. After Lefevre was dropped, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts, Howard accepted to take over as the villainous vamp in Eclipse.

(Image credit: Fox)

Meg Griffin (Family Guy)

Everybody recognizes Meg Griffin's voice as that of Mila Kunis, but she would only join the Family Guy cast in Season 2 after Lacey Chabert left the role. The series has poked fun at the recasting numerous times, like when Stewie finds himself in a world where time goes in reverse and points out that his sister's voice sounds different.

(Image credit: MGM)

Clarice Starling (Hannibal)

Jodie won an Academy Award in 1992 for playing FBI agent Clarice Starling in Jonathan Demme’s horrifying Best Picture Oscar winner, The Silence of the Lambs. Yet she was not available to reunite with Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector for director Ridley Scott’s Hannibal from 2001, so Julianne Moore took over the role.

(Image credit: HBO)

Daario Naharis (Game Of Thrones)

Ed Skrein first joined Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen’s advisor and lover, Daario Naharis, in the epic fantasy drama's third season. When the English actor left the series the following season, Michiel Huisman would take over.

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Thanos (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

The first time we met the MCU’s iteration of Thanos was in a brief mid-credits cameo from 2012’s The Avengers, in which he played in performance capture by Damion Poitier. For the mad, purple Titan’s second appearance in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the role was passed on to Oscar nominee Josh Brolin, who would continue to portray the character on the big screen until his defeat in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

(Image credit: Max)

Carol Willick (Friends)

When Friends first introduced Carol — Ross Gellar's (David Schwimmer) ex-wife and mother of his son, Ben — in the second episode of Season 1, she was played by Anita Barone. That would be the actor's only appearance in the role as she left soon after and was succeeded by Jane Sibbett, who played her for the rest of the remainder of the long-running sitcom.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Rachel Dawes (The Dark Knight Trilogy)

Bruce Wayne's childhood friend and crush, Rachel Dawes — a character invented specifically for 2005's Batman Begins — was originated by Katie Holmes. When she turned down the chance to star in 2008's The Dark Knight, Maggie Gyllenhaal was cast as the Gotham City attorney.

(Image credit: Warner Bros )

Greg Serrano (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)

In the first two seasons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) has a complicated on-and-off affair with Greg Serrano who was then played by Santino Fontana before the actor's one-year contract expired. So, when the character came back for Season 4, he was replaced by Pitch Perfect star Skyler Astin.

(Image credit: Universal)

Jennifer Parker (Back To The Future Trilogy)

Some audiences may remember Elizabeth Shue as Jennifer Parker, but she only appeared in the second and third installments of the Back to the Future trilogy. Marty McFly’s girlfriend and eventual wife was first played in the original time travel movie classic from 1985 by Claudia Wells, who did not reprise the role after pausing her acting career for family reasons.

(Image credit: Fox)

Ann Veal (Arrested Development)

Fans of Arrested Development know George Michael Bluth's (Michael Cera) utterly forgettable girlfriend, Ann, as Mae Whitman. However, they also might have forgotten that the role's original actor was Alessandra Torresani, for just one episode of the acclaimed comedy's first season.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Gellert Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts)

The 2016 Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, revealed that Percival Graves was a disguised Gellert Grindewald, played by Johnny Depp, who reprised the role in the 2018 sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald. However, legal troubles led Warner Bros. to cut ties with the Oscar nominee and enlist Mads Mikkelsen to play the villainous wizard in The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2022.

(Image credit: The CW)

Reggie Mantle (Riverdale)

Ross Butler was in the Riverdale cast for the first season of the dark Archie Comics adaptation in the recurring role of football player Reggie Mantle. However, the actor's commitment to 13 Reasons Why forced the series to cast Charles Melton when the character was expanded.

(Image credit: Disney)

Marnie Piper (Halloweentown Movies)

Marnie Piper — who discovers she is a young witch in the 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie, Halloweentown — was portrayed by Kimberly J. Brown then and again in two of the not-so-scary witch movie’s sequels. However, for reasons even Brown does not know, Sara Paxton went brunette to succeed in the role in the fourth installment, Return to Halloweentown, from 2006.

32 TV Shows That Went On Way Too Long

Christina Izzo — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:34:57 +0000

There are those shows that ended long before we wanted them to, from '90s one-season wonders like Freaks & Geeks and My So-Called Life to perfectly timed dramas like Succession and Breaking Bad. These are not those shows. Instead, these television titles overstayed their welcome, long after their biggest stars departed, or the critical acclaim and awards dried up, or the storylines made any sense. Here are 32 TV shows that simply went on way too long.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Californication

At the beginning of Showtime's Californication, which ran on the network from 2007 to 2014, the story of troubled novelist Hank Moody (David Duchovny) and his hedonistic ways felt fresh and edgy. But seven seasons of incessant drinking and womanizing majorly dulled any of that edge.

(Image credit: AMC)

The Walking Dead

How long can people survive a zombie apocalypse? Apparently, for a while—the AMC flagship series The Walking Dead went on for an unfathomable eleven seasons and the survival story of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) still isn't over, having been picked up in the spin-off miniseries The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Dexter

One word: lumberjack. For eight seasons, the Showtime series followed Miami man Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) as he worked as a forensic pathologist by day and a vigilante serial killer by night. Spending nearly a decade watching Dexter get away with murder after murder felt both implausible and repetitive. And don't even get us started on that disappointing, woodsy series finale.

(Image credit: ABC)

Grey's Anatomy

It's felt like Grey's Anatomy has been resuscitated more times than any of the patients at Seattle Grace. It's been the longest-running medical drama on primetime, but it became barely the Grey's that O.G. fans remember. In later seasons, lead actress Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey, scaled back to a recurring role, and beloved original characters like Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) were all long gone.

(Image credit: Hulu)

The Handmaid's Tale

There's plenty of argument to be made that Hulu's dragged-out dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale—which sees fertile American women (played by the likes of Elisabeth Moss, Alexis Bledel and Samira Wiley) being forced into child-bearing slavery by a totalitarian government—should have been a one-and-done miniseries. After all, the 1985 Margaret Atwood novel on which it is based concluded after the events of the first season.

(Image credit: FX Networks)

Sons of Anarchy

Too-long episodes (many of which pushed way past the traditional hour-long mark) and irredeemable characters made it hard to continue to care about Jax (Charlie Hunnam), Gemma (Katey Sagal) and the rest of the outlaw bikers in the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club after seven seasons of the FX crime drama.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Shameless

Sure, Shameless had a jam-packed ensemble throughout its entire eleven season run, including Jeremy Allen White, William H. Macy, Cameron Monaghan and Shanola Hampton. But the grungy Showtime family drama lost its heart when lead actress Emmy Rossum—who played the older sister-turned-matriarch Fiona Gallagher—departed the series in season nine.

(Image credit: USA Network)

White Collar

Many White Collar fans felt that things were getting a little rinse-and-repeat with the USA Network procedural by the end of its six-season run, with case-of-the-week storylines and stagnant character development. Imagine their surprise, then, when it was announced that the show was getting a Netflix revival, with actors Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay and Tiffani Thiessen reprising their roles.

(Image credit: NBC)

This Is Us

The earned emotionality of early seasons of This Is Us—an NBC family drama that follows the lives of two parents (played by Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore) and their three children (Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and Justin Hartley,) in several different time frames—started to feel manipulative and maudlin after six years.

(Image credit: USA Network)

Suits

Some television shows suffer from an unsustainable premise. Case in point, Suits, the USA Network legal drama that follows a college dropout with a photographic memory (Patrick J. Adams) who is hired to work as an associate at a prestigious law firm, despite not actually having a license to practice law. Sure, Jan. Despite the dubious concept, Suits aired for a whopping nine seasons.

(Image credit: The CW)

Supernatural

Exactly how many demons, ghosts and monsters did brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) have to hunt down to save the world? Fifteen seasons and 327 episodes worth! However, even many Supernatural superfans believe the CW fantasy series lost its way by the end and should have finished after season five when creator Eric Kripke left as showrunner.

(Image credit: CBS)

How I Met Your Mother

That is one long story that Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) tells his adolescent children Luke (David Henrie) and Penny (Lyndsy Fonseca) about how their dad first met their mother. In fact, the tale took nine whole years, with many meandering tangents along the way, that we wouldn't blame the kids if they, too, got bored listening to it.

(Image credit: FOX)

Glee

Few shows faced quite the critical fall from grace as Glee. Early on, the FOX teen show—which centered on the plucky members of New Directions, the glee club of the fictional William McKinley High School—was an awards show juggernaut, winning several Emmys in its first few seasons, but those high notes were soured when the scripts focused less on the show's original characters and more on ad nauseum celebrity guests.

(Image credit: ABC)

Scrubs

Starting with the ninth season, many of the original Scrubs cast—including Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Ken Jenkins and Neil Flynn—stepped back from being main characters on the show, popping up in only a handful or as little as one episode that season. Longtime fans of the NBC medical comedy didn't love that their favorites got replaced with new characters, played by the likes of Kerry Bishé, Michael Mosley and Dave Franco.

(Image credit: CBS)

The Big Bang Theory

Running for 12 seasons and 279 episodes, this CBS sitcom about Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and their similarly geeky pals got bogged down by too many main characters, recycled old catchphrases and the use of laugh tracks as a crutch.

(Image credit: FOX)

The Simpsons

As old as, well, the person writing this very article, the satirical animated sitcom has broken several TV records in its three-decade tenure, including being the longest-running scripted primetime series in American television. And though Homer, Marge, Bar, Lisa, Maggie and the rest of the residents of Springfield are comedy legends, they now feel like relics of a different generation.

(Image credit: The CW)

Riverdale

The occurrences within the town of Riverdale were easy enough to keep track of in the early seasons of the CW teen drama, which was populated with the famous characters from Archie Comics (Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the like.) But as the writing got messier and mazelike, and the characters' storylines more and more outlandish, the soapy series became impossible to take seriously by the end of its seven-season run.

(Image credit: HBO)

Game of Thrones

The brazenness with which the Game of Thrones creators killed off some of its biggest, most beloved characters — Ned Stark (Sean Bean) in season one, his son Robb (Richard Madden) and wife Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) in season four — majorly lost its umph when the show killed off Jon Snow (Kit Harington) in the season five finale...only to resurrect him two episodes later.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Homeland

The first two seasons of this Showtime espionage thriller — in which Claire Danes stars as a CIA officer with bipolar disorder, opposite Damian Lewis playing a Marine Corps Scout Sniper who has just returned home following eight years in captivity — received universal acclaim, including the 2012 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. However, though Homeland had eight seasons total, it never recovered in quality following the death of Lewis's character in season 3.

(Image credit: CBS)

Two and a Half Men

It's always a gamble when you replace the main character of a TV show, especially such a long-running one as the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. Originally starring Charlie Sheen as a hedonistic jingle writer living with his uptight brother (played by Jon Cryer) and his nephew (Angus T. Jones), the show misguidedly hired Ashton Kutcher to lead the cast in seasons nine through twelve after Sheen left the show to enter drug rehab.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

One Tree Hill

It rarely works when a high school show follows its characters to college and into adulthood. One Tree Hill, the early-aughts teen drama that ran for three seasons on The WB and another six on The CW, stretched the storylines of Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) and the rest of the Tree Hill Ravens crew too long past graduation, especially as both Murray and Burton departed the show after season five.

(Image credit: ABC)

Lost

Airing 121 episodes over six seasons from 2004 to 2010, Lost packed a lot of supernatural nonsense onto that island, frustratingly devolving over the years from a character drama to a complex mythology swirling with time travel, smoke monsters and electromagnetic phenomena. Even co-creator Damon Lindelof has said that he wanted the show to end after three seasons instead of six. By the time the series aired its final episode, the sci-fi series had offered up far too many questions and far too few answers.

(Image credit: ABC)

Modern Family

Even Modern Family star Sarah Hyland, who played Haley Dunphy in 11 seasons of the Emmy-winning ABC comedy, was kind of disappointed by the show's later seasons. And she seemingly wasn't the only one: though it had earned both critical acclaim and strong viewership for its earlier installments, season 10 had the worst ratings of the series.

(Image credit: ABC)

Once Upon a Time

The thing about fairytales is that soon enough you get to that happily ever after at the end. The ABC fantasy drama Once Upon a Time seemingly didn't get that message because it made fans wait for that storybook ending for seven long seasons — even Robert Carlyle, who portrayed Rumplestiltskin in the series, retrospectively admitted to The A.V. Club that he felt that the series "ran for too long."

(Image credit: BBC America)

Killing Eve

On paper, we should have never wanted Killing Eve to end, with its cast led by a superb Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer — as a British intelligence investigator and the psychopathic assassin she's tasked with capturing, respectively — and scripts from the brilliant mind of Fleabag scribe-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. However, when Waller-Bridge departed as head writer after the first season, the once-great show simply ran out of story.

(Image credit: FOX)

Bones

Crime procedurals have a habit of staying on TV long after they should, what with their formulaic case-of-the-week structure that's easy to replicate season after season. And Bones, the long-running Fox crime drama starring Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, is definitely no exception, overstuffed with soapy gimmicks, themed episodes and a way-too-long will-they-won't-they dynamic between Deschanel's Temperance Brennan and Boreanaz's Seeley Booth.

(Image credit: NBC)

The Office

Of course, we love the entire Dunder Mifflin crew, but everybody knows that The Office should have naturally called it quits when lead Steve Carell — who played the "World's Best Boss," a.k.a. the delightfully incompetent Michael Scott — departed the show after its seventh season. Not even big-name actors like Will Ferrell and James Spader could fill the hole Michael Scott left.

(Image credit: HBO)

Westworld

Westworld's first season is to this day the most-watched first season of any HBO original series. However, that popularity, coupled with early critical acclaim, didn't last long for the dystopian Western — the writing and character work drastically declined by the time the show was canceled in November 2022, and just a month later, the entire series was brutally removed from HBO Max.

(Image credit: FOX)

That '70s Show

The Fox teen drama — centered on a groovy group of teenage friends living in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin — worked because of the chemistry created by its young cast, including Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama. So of course the show itself took a creative hit when that chemistry was altered following the departures of Grace and Kutcher after the seventh season.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Smallville

Initially a show about a teenage Clark Kent dealing with issues both human (bullies, crushes) and superhuman (kryptonite and such) while growing up in fictional Smallville, Kansas, Smallville seemed to care less and less about the human side of the Man of Steel over the course of ten seasons. Many fans suggest that the TV superhero should have hung his cape after season seven, which saw the departure of both the show's main villain Lex Luther (Michael Rosenbaum) and Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.

(Image credit: Netflix)

13 Reasons Why

Based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why is one of those cases where a multi-season show was made to be a limited series. Instead of just neatly telling the story of Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) and the tapes she leaves behind after tragically ending her own life, the Netflix teen drama inexplicably changed genres throughout its four-season run, becoming a poor murder mystery in the show's third season.

(Image credit: NBC)

Heroes

Though the NBC superhero drama Heroes only went on for four seasons, critics of the show were already pointing out less-than-engaging storylines and lack of cohesion as early as season two. The tales of ordinary people who discover that they have superhuman abilities and have to work together to prevent catastrophic futures should have been adrenaline-pumping stuff, but it simply couldn't sustain that energy after its acclaimed first season.

32 Times A TV Show Adaptation Went Beyond Its Source Material

Sarah El-Mahmoud — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:31:24 +0000

If you enjoy reading or watching the source material before its adaptation comes out, chances are you’ve been disappointed a few times over when a movie or series based on a book comes out. However, in the case of these TV shows, their creators actually found ways to go beyond what was originally told and build out stories that have become larger than their original intentions. Have you seen all these and what did you think about how they compare?

(Image credit: Netflix)

Bridgerton

If you’ve read the Bridgerton books in order before or between seasons of the massive Netflix series, chances are you’ve had some thoughts about the differences between them. While each of Julia Quinn’s novels pretty much stands alone and doesn’t have to be read in order to enjoy each romance, the series was adapted to have all the stakes, side plots and cliffhangers a hit TV show should have. The series even inspired the spinoff, Queen Charlotte, which involved Bridgerton characters but was not based on one of Quinn’s works.

(Image credit: HBO)

Game of Thrones

George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novels were adapted in a big way. While the first few seasons follow the source material rather closely, the last few seasons were in development as Martin was completing the rest of the series, and a ton of plotlines were completely invented by the showrunners and staff writers. Perhaps that’s why the finale is so divisive among fans.

(Image credit: NBC Universal)

The Office

After Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s The Office became a hit in the U.K. across its two seasons, Greg Daniels and NBC adapted an American version of the workplace mockumentary sitcom. While it was certainly inspired by the source material, the series starring Steve Carell earned a whole life of its own across over 200 episodes, and remains one of the most-streamed shows even a decade after its finale.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

It’s often forgotten that genre favorite Buffy The Vampire Slayer is actually based on a 1992 movie of the same name. The series’ creator originally wrote it as a movie that wasn’t nearly as popular as the TV adaptation of the idea he cooked up a few years later. With seven seasons to the WB show’s name, it’s safe to say that it went way beyond its source material. And wow, are we happy Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy Summers was on our televisions for so long!

(Image credit: Amazon Prime)

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

J.R.R. Tolkien gifted the fantasy genre with four classic novels set in Middle-earth, The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Following Peter Jackson's adapting of all of them beautifully (and set to make another one), Amazon Studios decided to go beyond the source material with its super expensive series, The Rings Of Power. The series primarily builds upon Tolkien’s appendices on Middle-earth as it depicts the world’s Second Age.

(Image credit: HBO)

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel Big Little Lies brought together stars like Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Zoë Kravitz to tell the story of five women living in Monterey, California who become part of a murder investigation. It was initially supposed to be a miniseries, but following its success, a second season built on the story from Season 1.

(Image credit: Justine Yeung/The CW)

Riverdale

CW’s Riverdale was inspired by the pages of Archie Comics, an ongoing comic book series that started back in 1941. The series developed by the comic publisher’s CCO Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is a much darker take on the universe as it begins as a murder mystery in the town of Riverdale. The series not only went beyond its source material across its seven seasons, but the comic book had a gritty reboot in recent years as well.

(Image credit: HBO)

Watchmen

The Watchmen comic book series has long been thought of as one of the best the medium has ever put to paper. The HBO miniseries of the same name lived up to the series by being an all-time great adaptation, but it certainly took quite a few creative liberties and built upon the ‘80s comic book to reflect the time it was made, by changing and fleshing out its characters more and boldly discussing racism and extremism with its storyline.

(Image credit: FX)

Fargo

In 1996, the Coen Brothers made a classic with the black comedy, Fargo. Across five seasons Noah Hawley has built on the filmmakers’ vision with an anthology series that takes place in a new location, era and with a new cast of characters each time. While the Fargo series has deep roots in its movie, it has become so much bigger and fuel for so much more storytelling.

(Image credit: BBC America)

Killing Eve

BBC’s Killing Eve is based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle, which was a series of novellas about a Russian orphan who is trained as a hitwoman and the MI5 agent who starts to catch her trail. While the series is a lot more character-driven than the much more procedural novels, the series goes beyond the source material in this context by only teasing the romance Eve and Villanelle have in the books. Fans are still mad at the finale years later!

(Image credit: Prime Video)

Good Omens

The first season of Good Omens adapted Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s 1990 novel, however when it came to the second season, which came out four years after the initial series, moved away from simply telling the main events of the novel. The entire season was co-written by Neil Gaiman and allowed the world-renowned author to delve further into Michael Sheen’s Aziraphale and David Tennant’s Crowley stories.

(Image credit: HBO)

The Leftovers

HBO’s The Leftovers adapted the novel it's based on in its first season. Following its success, two more seasons were made for the supernatural fiction series about a global event that leaves 2 percent of the world’s population missing. Interestingly enough, the last two seasons were even more acclaimed than its debut season featuring the prime source material.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Witcher

Rather than Netflix adapting Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher fantasy novels, the differences are so major between the TV series and the source material that it feels a lot more like an inspiration for the series starring Henry Cavill than anything else. The popular series, also known for being a video game franchise, also inspired the 2022 spinoff The Witcher: Blood Origin.

(Image credit: Netflix)

House of Cards

Netflix’s hit drama, House of Cards, was adapted from a BBC series and novel before it. However, in the case of the source material, the show was about politics in the United Kingdom. The series starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, however, took the material and adapted it to be set about U.S. politics, particularly regarding Frank Underwood’s ruthless race to become president.

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The Man In The High Castle

Philip K. Dick's 1962 novel The Man In The High Castle was adapted into an Amazon series across four seasons. Dick’s daughter, who was heavily involved in the series, told SYFY WIRE that she encouraged the writers to use the source material as an “inspiration and a spiritual guide” rather than a literal interpretation. That’s very much true for the science fiction storyline that imagines an alternate ending for World War II.

(Image credit: Hulu)

The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, is the source material for the Hulu hit starring Elisabeth Moss. While the first season leaves things where things wrap up in the book, the Emmy-winning series has continued to follow Offred’s life in the dystopian world past those events through four more seasons and is set to end with the sixth and final season. By building upon the story further, Offred and its other characters have had longer storylines that tell more than 300 pages could.

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Ted Lasso

Before AppleTV+ had a hit on their hands with Ted Lasso, its source material came from a very peculiar source. Jason Sudeikis’ beloved fictional coach came from the SNL alum being part of a slew of promotional coverage for NBC Sports’s coverage of England's Premier League. The streaming series very much went past where it started from given the storylines told across three seasons of the heartwarming comedy.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Haunting Of Hill House

Mike Flanagan beautifully adapted Shirley Jackson’s 1959 gothic horror novel, but at face value the two The Haunting Of Hill House titles are very different from one another. The source material mainly focuses on Eleanor (who Victoria Pedretti plays in the series) and her descent into madness whilst the show takes a deeper look into her entire family’s deep-seated trauma.

(Image credit: FX)

Justified

FX’s Justified is based on the Elmore Leonard short story Fire In the Hole, allowing creators of the Western series to build out the world of the work across six seasons. Through Timothy Olyphant’s Raylan Givens, Justified allowed for Leonard’s ideas the author thought often “got the characters better” than he put to paper, per THR.

(Image credit: Syfy)

The Magicians

Syfy’s series, The Magicians, is based on Lev Grossman’s trilogy of fantasy novels. While the source material certainly guides the storyline, it's told completely out of order and involves post-grad students rather than high schoolers. The series went on for five seasons.

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Bates Motel

One of the best horror movies of all time is Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (also a novel), which became the inspiration for A&E’s Bates Motel. The five-season series told a contemporary story regarding the origin story of Norman Bates and his complicated relationship with his mother through the performances of Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga.

(Image credit: Netflix)

13 Reasons Why

Years prior to Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why being the subject of numerous controversies throughout its run, it began as a 2007 novel by Jay Asher about a high school freshman who shares the reasons why she died by suicide. The series went beyond the source material by making the story a lot longer and building out many more characters. For example, a major plotline of the show is Hannah’s parents decide to sue the school, which is not part of the novel at all.

(Image credit: FX)

What We Do In The Shadows

In 2014, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi offered a unique and rather hilarious take on vampires with What We Do In The Shadows. Years later, the duo decided to adapt their mockumentary further by making it into a TV show that went on for five seasons, ending in 2023.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Over a decade after Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World adapted Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series, O’Malley decided to team up with Wright and Netflix to build upon the story in the format of an anime and reunite the original actors from the movie in the voice roles. The series follows Ramona Flowers trying to find a missing Scott Pilgrim.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Ratched

Among Ryan Murphy’s many TV shows, he made a series out of Nurse Mildred Ratched, a character originally from Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and portrayed by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 movie adaptation. The series starring Sarah Paulson as the titular character depicts Ratched prior to the events of the original story. It was canceled after one season.

(Image credit: The CW)

The 100

The CW series, The 100, is based on the YA science fiction novel series by Kass Morgan. However, across the show’s seven seasons, it went beyond the source material by telling a much different story that took a more mature approach and focused a lot more on the survival element of the series.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Fall Of The House Of Usher

Mike Flanagan took inspiration from a myriad of Edgar Allan Poe short stories to bring together one storyline for his excellent Netflix horror show, The Fall of the House of Usher. The show pays tribute to the iconic author by telling a new story revolving around the Usher family, the CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company, as each member of the family starts to die one by one.

(Image credit: BBC One/AMC)

The Night Manager

John le Carré’s 1993 espionage novel, The Night Manager was turned into a BBC miniseries starring Tom Hiddleston in 2016. As the author wrote in The Guardian at the time of its release, he spoke about the many changes from the source material, which at first took him aback but then had him saying he wishes he would have “written Mrs. Burr into my novel instead of her ponderous husband.”

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Under The Dome

Stephen King’s Under The Dome novel was turned into a CBS sci-fi series of the same name by Brian K. Vaughan, but was often talked about for being quite different from the source material. Back in 2013, King wrote on his website that he found the adaptation to be “very good” and was a “necessity” that he “approved of” “wholeheartedly.”

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Lessons In Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus’ best-selling novel, Lessons In Chemistry was turned into a series starring Brie Larson to much success. While it’s a stunning adaptation fans of the book can appreciate, that’s particularly because the showrunner, Lee Eisenberg decided to not make it a straight adaptation and add some things the book didn’t have. One particularly great addition was the character development of Harriet Sloane, who is a black civil rights activist in the series rather than a 55-year-old white woman.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Haunting Of Bly Manor

Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting Of Bly Manor is an amalgamation of numerous great horror stories by Henry James, centrally through his novella Turn Of The Screw, but also through some other of his short stories like The Romance of Certain Old Clothes, The Beast in the Jungle and The Jolly Corner. Flanagan used the works as inspiration to tell a larger, new storyline about a young au pair who begins to witness hauntings as she takes care of two young children.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Midnight Club

Christopher Pike famously wrote a ton of mystery-thrillers for young adults from the 80s and so on. For Mike Flanagan’s The Midnight Club, the filmmaker drew from over 20 of them to make the 10-episode Netflix series about a group of eight terminally ill young adults who form a storytelling club.

So many series go beyond their source material, the question is whether they go too far. Most of these picks are well-loved TV shows that were made better by their additions!

32 Fantastic TV Characters That Should Have Been In Way More Episodes

Alexandra Ramos — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:04:31 +0000

Look, as someone who watches a lot of TV, there are a lot of television characters that I have come to love, whether it be from the Stranger Things cast, the Game of Thrones cast, or more. But today, we will talk about the characters that deserved (or deserve) way more screen time.

That's right; we're talking about the side characters we all loved, the strange ones we never got answers to, or even those killed off too early – so obviously, significant spoilers for shows ahead.

(Image credit: CBC Television)

Twyla (Schitt's Creek)

Look, I'll be the first to say that the Schitt's Creek cast is exceptionally talented and features some of the best modern-day TV comedy, but how come no one ever talked about Twyla? She was one of the few people in the town who was genuinely kind to the Roses and would always be there for them no matter what. It's a shame we never got to know her more besides her strange family life.

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Creed Bratton (The Office)

The Office cast is full of strange characters that we may have met once and never seen again, but Creed Bratton is someone I would kill to see more of in the show. He was just so…weird, and the few moments we did get to see him in a more active role in the series, he would always make me laugh the hardest because of the most out-of-pocket things he would say – you can't get better than him.

(Image credit: Fox)

Sunshine Corazon (Glee)

As someone who loved all the best Glee covers and truly does enjoy the Glee cast, one side character I wish got more screen time was Sunshine Corazon. We saw her a couple of times throughout the show's six seasons, and that is just a crime – with a voice like that? Rachel Berry can step to the side.

(Image credit: HBO)

Oberyn Martell (Game Of Thrones)

I know Pedro Pascal's best movies and TV shows have expanded dramatically since his time on Game of Thrones, and while he may be known as Din Djarin or Joel Miller now, he'll always be Oberyn Martell to me. And what's even more surprising is that he was only in the fourth season before he was killed off – a man of that swagger should have been around for way longer.

(Image credit: AMC)

Tuco Salamanca (Breaking Bad)

The Breaking Bad cast is incredibly talented, but can we talk about the fact that Tuco Salamanca should have been as big of a villain as Gus? If not more? He was such a prominent figure in Season 1, and then he was just killed off at the beginning of Season 2, and we barely heard about him again. Sure, we saw him a little bit in Better Call Saul, but in comparison to the original? No. I needed more.

(Image credit: Fox)

Nadia (New Girl)

While the New Girl cast is hilarious, and the story itself is one I can genuinely love watching again and again, we could have seen more of Cece's life outside of Jess' bubble – precisely her time as a model with her model friends like Nadia (Rebecca Reid), who arguably had the most hilarious date with Schmidt and said the strangest things. It could have been great to see her in more episodes.

(Image credit: Disney Channel)

Shego (Kim Possible)

Oh, don't even get me started on Shego from Kim Possible. Yes, I know, she's the partner to the bad guy in the famous Disney Channel series, but it's Shego. She's a kick-butt villain with surprisingly great chemistry with Kim, and she looked good. I would have been fine having her just be the villain instead of Dr. Drakken.

(Image credit: HBO )

Euron Greyjoy (Game Of Thrones)

As someone who has read the Game of Thrones novels, Euron's portrayal in the show greatly bothers me. Surprisingly, he's one of the few characters in Game of Thrones who wasn't in the show as much as you would think, and yet, somehow, he left a bad taste in my mouth. I would have liked to see him in more episodes so we could better expand his story and make him the scary person he is supposed to be from the books.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Ekko (Arcane)

As someone who is patiently waiting for Arcane Season 2, Ekko is a character I would die to see more of in the next part of the story. We only saw Ekko for a couple of episodes in Season 1, and for half of them, he was injured. I saw how much of a fighter he could become; we need more Ekko. I demand it.

(Image credit: The CW)

Lexa (The 100)

If you were a fan of The 100 in 2015, you knew how devastating this loss was. The 100 cast was talented and created a huge show, but Lexa was arguably one of the most popular characters. When she and the main character, Clarke, finally got together romantically, she was killed. I mean, come on. There could have been so many more episodes with her. I'm still upset.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Ellie Alves (You)

Jenna Ortega played Ellie Alves in Season 2 of You, and she was such a great counterpart to Joe in the scenes she was in. She was spunky but also a good kid that Joe genuinely wanted to keep safe. Ortega's portrayal of her made her that much more enjoyable, and I wish we got to see more of her.

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Bo Thompson (Superstore)

Superstore feels like it goes under the radar for how hilarious it truly is, and while the Superstore cast is entirely made up of great characters, I would have loved to see Bo Thompson in more episodes. And what's better is that in the few episodes we got to see him, he grew up a lot, which I can appreciate. I would have loved to see more.

(Image credit: AMC)

Heath (The Walking Dead)

So, like, Heath just vanished in The Walking Dead. Angela Kang says that Heath was captured by Jadis and traded to Civic Republic Military, but it was so sudden that fans everywhere were left wondering what the point of his character even was. I would have liked to see more of him so that I could care more about him disappearing.

(Image credit: NIckleodeon)

Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

I love Ty Lee from Avatar: The Last Airbender and she's one character that I'm sure could have been expanded on more if she were given more episodes. Not only was she incredibly flexible and able to leap from building to building with her incredible acrobatic skills, she was sweet and kind. I would have loved to learn more about her background with her family aside from knowing she came from identical sisters—such a shame.

(Image credit: NBC)

Susan Bunch (Friends)

Yes, I know we all love the Friends cast, but let's talk about Susan Bunch for a second. Friends was released in the early 1990s, and to me, she was one of the first openly gay characters I saw on a primetime sitcom as a child – and in doing so, it made me feel a little more comfortable with my sexuality as I grew older. We barely got to see her, while we would see her wife, Carol (and Ross's former wife), way more. I would have loved to see her.

(Image credit: NBC)

Judge Gen (The Good Place)

I mean, it's Maya Rudolph – we always want to see more of Maya Rudolph because she is hilarious. Even so, Judge Gen from The Good Place was hilarious every time she appeared on screen, and I don't think anyone would complain if we saw her more throughout the show.

(Image credit: NBC)

Jean-Ralphio Saperstein (Parks And Recreation)

Yes, the Parks and Recreation cast is so funny it hurts, but tell me why we didn't see more of Jean-Ralphio Saperstein. He was hilarious and was portrayed by Ben Schwartz, who truly knocked this role out of the park. Saperstein was even in talks to get his own spinoff series – that's how you know he deserved way more episodes.

(Image credit: AMC)

Beth (The Walking Dead)

Watching Beth die in Season 5 of The Walking Dead broke a part of me that I don't think I'll ever get back. It was one of the most heartbreaking deaths of The Walking Dead, and I still believe that if she were given more episodes, she could have had some of the best character development of all time. It's such a shame.

(Image credit: HBO)

Lyanna Mormont (Game Of Thrones)

While I'm sure most of us all know Bella Ramsay from her role on The Last of Us on HBO now, I first knew her in Game of Thrones when she played Lyanna Mormont, the feisty Lady of Bear Island. Despite her lasting impact, the character only appeared in nine episodes – and we should have had way more.

(Image credit: The CW)

Edgar Evernever (Riverdale)

Riverdale had some of the strangest villains throughout its seven-season run. Edgar Evernever was one of the worst and weirdest, considering he was the leader of a cult that harvested organs from vulnerable people. And when he was caught, he decided to take off in his rocket before getting shot -- what? That's so out there. He's such a strange, charismatic character – and out of everyone, I would have liked to see him more.

(Image credit: NBC)

Mose Schrute (The Office)

The Office has so many strange characters that appear occasionally, but Mose Schrute is someone I needed to see more of, if not for the fact that he was related to Dwight. Like, if you're related to Dwight Schrute, you're going to be a weird person, and I would have probably laughed my butt off to see more of him.

(Image credit: Nickelodeon)

Mai (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Mai was one of Azula's friends in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Zuko's on-again-off-again girlfriend, and while she certainly had her moody moments, I would have liked to see more of her. I wanted to understand why she became the way she is, her family's history, and how she ended up falling for Zuko – we got a little more in the comics, but it would have been nice to see it on screen.

(Image credit: Fox)

Coach (New Girl)

Yes, I know we all love Winston from New Girl and that Coach was supposed to be the original third roommate in that apartment, but Coach is so funny. We didn't see much of him in the show, and he would have made us all laugh so much if he had been given more episodes and storylines.

(Image credit: The CW)

Eve (Supernatural)

Eve was a supporting Supernatural character that could have been amazing if given the chance. The show started moving in a different direction, and Eve became one of the prominent antagonists, but she was killed so quickly in Season 6 that I could barely register it. I wanted to see so much more of her.

(Image credit: Nickelodeon)

June (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

She was a bounty hunter in Avatar: The Last Airbender who rode an incredible beast that could scent anything. How the heck did she become that? When did she find this monster? We barely saw her in the show, and I would have loved to see more. She was so cool.

(Image credit: Cartoon Network)

Jinx (Teen Titans)

As someone who did love Teen Titans when it first came out, there were so many side characters that I wish I saw way more of. Jinx was a minor villain that we didn't get to see much until Season 5, when her character is expanded on for one episode and then not talked about again for a while – her powers of bad luck could have been talked about way more, personally.

(Image credit: HBO)

Bill (The Last Of Us)

I know we all loved that Bill and Frank episode in The Last of Us, but as someone who also loved that episode and the game, I would have done anything to see Nick Offerman's Bill meet Ellie. It was such a significant moment in the game. I would have liked to see more episodes of him – but I suppose I'm happy with Bill getting a partially happy ending this time.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Eddie Munson (Stranger Things)

The entire Stranger Things fandom agrees that Eddie Munson could have been in more show episodes. An all-star of Season 4 of the series, Munson was a fan-favorite with a lot going for him, and Joseph Quinn blew up in the spotlight afterward. It's a shame he's gone.

(Image credit: HBO)

Margaery Tyrell (Game Of Thrones)

The Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones saw the end of Margaery Tyrell, and even if she were in the show from Season 2 on, I would have given anything to see her in more episodes, even beyond Season 6. She was one of the few people who truly was a foil to Cersei – and their interactions were everything.

(Image credit: IFC)

The Weirdos (Portlandia)

Portlandia was such a strange but funny show overall, and The Weirdos were arguably some of the best parts of it. Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein played them, and they were people dressed in goth attire that would do some hilarious things – which I could have seen a whole spinoff of if we're being honest.

(Image credit: The CW)

Georgina Sparks (Gossip Girl)

It seemed that whenever Georgina Sparks appeared in Gossip Girl, things turned upside down for every character on the popular CW show. And yet, Georgina wasn't in the show that much, and while her name lives on, I wish we could have seen more of her drama. I wanted all the craziness she could bring – not just the few episodes we got.

(Image credit: MTV)

Danny (Teen Wolf)

I will never forgive Teen Wolf for removing Danny in the show. Not only was he a popular character, but he had revealed in Season 3 that he knew about all the creatures at Beacon Hills. And then, in Season 4, he's just gone. Vanished. Poof. The showrunner says that Danny graduated early, but, like...what? A fan favorite just gone? Bothers me every time.

So many great characters deserve more love and episodes, but these are just some of the few that come to mind. Now I need to re-watch Avatar: The Last Airbender again for all the characters I love.

Charles Melton Explains Why Riverdale Was His 'Julliard,' And I Totally Get It

Carly Levy — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 23:02:01 +0000

Charles Melton is well on his way to becoming a household name. He gave a critically acclaimed performance in May December, which is part of Netflix's 2023 movie schedule, and he could become an awards season favorite. But before co-starring in the Todd Haynes-helmed movie with Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, Melton was mostly known for being a cast member on The CW's Riverdale. Now, amid the flurry of acclaim he's receiving, he's referred to the teen drama as his “Juilliard” and I totally understand why.

As part of the cast of Riverdale, the 32-year-old rising star played Reggie Mantle for six of the show's seven seasons. After replacing Ross Butler in the role, Charles Melton recurred as the charming football jock before becoming a series regular in the third season and beyond. Now that the show has aired its emotional series finale, Melton now has the chance to spread his wings and try new things. Still, he sure doesn't mind shouting out his CW roots, based on the fact that he told i-D the show was “Juilliard” for him. He spoke about just why it's so "bittersweet" for him to be leaving the soap opera after all this time:

Obviously it frees up more time for projects like May December, but I learned so much being there. I formed relationships that I will have until the end of my days. It really helped me refine this work ethic. Riverdale truly was my Juilliard – I was learning and growing and playing and taking risks. I was allowed to do that. We just had our final season, so you know, it’s… It’s bittersweet. But I’m so happy it brought joy to so many people.

It’s true that an actor has to start somewhere. Interestingly, lot of stars who started in teen-centric productions and ended up starring in award-winning films later. For example, High School Musical icon Zac Efron received his Hollywood star last week and is in the critically acclaimed wrestling film The Iron Claw. There’s also former Disney Channel and Nickelodeon star Austin Butler, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the titular character in Elvis.

It's not easy working on a TV show, particularly a soap, as there are long hours and dialogue-heavy scenes can make production tough. And in the case of Riverdale, the material can be over-the-top and extremely cheesy. But all of that work can certainly help an actor learn invaluable skills, so the Bad Boys for Life alum's sentiments on the teen series are truly understandable to me.

12 Shows Like One Tree Hill And How To Watch Them

Riley Utley — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 14:04:55 +0000

One Tree Hill is a classic teen drama, and to this day it’s beloved for its soapy drama, romances and focus on friendship, family and basketball. The story follows the iconic OTH cast – which features Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz – as they make their way through high school in a small town. This early 2000s series was a staple of its time, and if you are looking to find this kind of drama and nostalgia again I have some show recommendations for you.

(Image credit: Fox)

The O.C.

When the wealthy Cohen family adopts Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), he and Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) go about their dramatic lives in Orange County.

Why The O.C. Is Like One Tree Hill: This soapy teen drama from the early 2000s focuses on two brothers, albeit their relationship is a lot healthier than Nathan and Lucas’, and their journey through high school. With romantic pairings like Seth (Brody) and Summer (Rachel Bilson), and big dramatic moments played out by the ensemble cast of The O.C. too, it’s actually super similar to One Tree Hill.

Stream The O.C. on Max.

Stream The O.C. on Hulu.

(Image credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix)

Outer Banks

A crew of teens from the Outer Banks, led by Chase Stokes’ John B. are on the hunt for an ancient treasure.

Why Outer Banks Is Like One Tree Hill: Need a show that also takes place in one of the two Carolina states and features beloved romances, intense adventures and unexpected action? Outer Banks is for you. While its main character John B. almost dies way more often than any character on One Tree Hill, it’s still full of the same soapy drama that I’m sure you’ll like if you dug the early 2000s show.

Stream Outer Banks on Netflix.

(Image credit: Sony Television)

Dawson's Creek

To this day, you’ll find people re-watching Dawson’s Creek much like they do One Tree Hill. The story follows Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey (Katie Holmes) through high school and the drama that ensues between them and their romantic interests – especially when Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Jen (Michelle Williams) get involved.

Why Dawson’s Creek Is Like One Tree Hill: This show is arguably the most similar to One Tree Hill on this list. Both series ran for many seasons during the early 2000s and centered around high schoolers dealing with love, life, family and soapy drama. Along with their plot similarities, both the Dawson’s Creek cast and OTH ensemble took off because of their shows. Also, Chad Michael Murray played a role in both seminal teen dramas.

Stream Dawson’s Creek on Hulu.

Stream Dawson's Creek on Amazon Prime.

Stream Dawson's Creek on The CW.

(Image credit: The CW)

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl centers around a group of rich Upper Eastside teens (and Dan from Brooklyn) who are targeted by the titular anonymous gossip blog.

Why Gossip Girl Is Like One Tree Hill: While the New York City setting is what greatly differentiates these two shows, at their core, they are both centered around a dramatic high school and the interpersonal relationships between the core characters. And let’s face it, both One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl live up to their hype because of their iconic relationships (like Chuck and Blair and Nathan and Haley).

Stream Gossip Girl on Max.

Stream Gossip Girl on The Roku Channel.

(Image credit: The CW)

Gilmore Girls

Mother/daughter duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) live in Stars Hallow, and they go about life in their small town with their friends and family.

Why Gossip Girl Is Like One Tree Hill: Both Tree Hill and Stars Hallow are small towns, and both shows span over many years as we watch the ensemble cast grow up. Also, like Gilmore Girls, OTH focuses a lot on family, both biological and found. Not to mention, one of the Gilmore Girls cast members whose career took off after he starred in the show was our beloved Chad Michael Murray – however, a big difference is Lucas from Tree Hill is significantly nicer than Stars Hollow’s Tristin.

Stream Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

(Image credit: Justine Yeung/The CW)

Riverdale

Based on Archie Comics, Riverdale follows Archie (K.J. Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) through high school. Throughout the show, there are murder mysteries, supernatural entanglements and even musicals.

Why Riverdale Is Like One Tree Hill: If you are looking for over-the-top high school drama, relationships that you’re excited to ship and a fun ensemble, both these shows have you covered. While Riverdale has crazy plot twists that involve more magic and mystery than OTH, they both will fill your need for a good ol' high school drama. Oh, also, Chad Michael Murray guest stars in a few episodes of this too.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.

Stream Riverdale on The CW.

(Image credit: NBC)

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights follows one of high school’s best football teams, the Dillon Panthers, and their coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler).

Why Friday Night Lights Is Like One Tree Hill: The biggest reason these two shows are like one another is how sports play into the story. The majority of the Friday Night Lights cast are on or involved with the town’s football team. Just switch the sport to basketball, and you have a similar situation with One Tree Hill, especially in the earlier seasons.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Netflix.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Hulu.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Amazon Prime.

(Image credit: The CW)

All American

All American follows a young football player, Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) after he moves as he attempts to adjust to his new school, life and team.

Why All American Is Like One Tree Hill: While there are many shows like All American, One Tree Hill stands out as an apt comparison because it's centered around sports -- football and basketball, respectively -- and the story of one guy adjusting to a new team. While Spencer is new at his school, Lucas has been in Tree Hill forever. However, when he joins the basketball team, it almost feels like he’s the new kid.

Stream All American on Netflix.

Stream All American on The CW.

(Image credit: Netflix)

On My Block

On My Block follows Monse (Sierra Capri), Ruby (Jason Genao), Jamal (Brett Gray) and Cesar (Diego Tinoco) through high school in this coming-of-age drama.

Why All American Is Like One Tree Hill: When it comes to the legacies of On My Block and One Tree Hill, they both stand as beloved dramas about growing up, coming-of-age and friendship. If you are looking for a YA drama from more recent years, this is the show for you.

Stream On My Block on Netflix.

(Image credit: Peacock)

Parenthood

Parenthood follows the Braverman family by focusing on Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) and Camille (Bonnie Bedelia), their kids and grandkids.

Why Parenthood Is Like One Tree Hill: Along with One Tree Hill and Parenthood featuring famous folks you forgot were in it, its central focus on family and the trauma and love that comes with them is the major reason why these two shows are alike.

Stream Parenthood on Hulu.

(Image credit: CTV)

Degrassi

This long-running Canadian teen drama follows an ensemble of kids as they deal with love, life and high school as well as the transition from childhood into adulthood.

Why Degrassi Is Like One Tree Hill: Like One Tree Hill, Degrassi was long-running, ending on Season 14, and it told its stories in a soapy way. Whether it be tales of love, coursework, sports or the occasional crime, both shows are big and dramatic, which is why we love them.

Stream Degrassi on Amazon Prime.

Stream Degrassi on Max.

Stream Degrassi on Tubi.

(Image credit: Prime Video)

The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty focuses on Belly (Lola Tung) and her relationship with Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) as she navigates her romantic feelings for the brothers.

Why The Summer I Turned Pretty Is Like One Tree Hill: Both TSITP and One Tree Hill have romance at the center of them, and feature some seriously iconic love triangles. From Lucas, Peyton and Brooke on OTH to the aforementioned Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad, the romantic relationships in these shows are messy, dramatic and oh-so-compelling.

Stream The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon Prime.

One Tree Hill is truly one of the most iconic teen dramas, and luckily many came both before and after it that are worth checking out. So, after you see how Brooke, Lucas, Nathan, Haley and Peyton’s stories come to a close, make sure to check a few of the aforementioned shows out. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them!

11 Shows Like Outer Banks (And How To Watch them)

Jason Wiese — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 16:04:12 +0000

Considered by many to be one of the best TV shows on Netflix and, most definitely, one of its most popular in recent memory is Outer Banks. Created by Shannon Burke with Jonas and Josh Pate, the series — which first premiered in 2020 — follows a young man (Chase Stokes) who discovers that his father’s disappearance is connected to a lost treasure that he and his friends set out to find, which soon brings him face-to-face with death multiple times as a result.

However, the Outer Banks cast is not the only group of teens that you can find on the small screen who live dangerously… or, at least, have a lot of problems that seem to get worse with each season. As fans await the upcoming fourth season’s currently unannounced premiere date on the 2024 TV schedule, let’s dig up some similar favorites that you can bide your time with.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Surviving Summer (2022-Present)

An expelled Manhattan teen (played by Sky Katz) is sent to the land down under where she makes herself at home in a small town where surfing is treated like a way of life.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: The similarities between OBX and Surviving Summer do not just stop at the title — considering how John B. and company genuinely struggling to make it through the season alive — since this coming-of-age Australian import (also featuring Talk to Me cast member Chris Alosio) also boasts some stellar scenes of characters surfing the waves.

Stream Surviving Summer on Netflix.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Blood & Water (2020-Present)

A young woman (played by Ama Qamata) enrolls into a prestigious school where she begins to uncover shocking secrets about her own family history.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: Yet another Netflix exclusive, international teen drama where the title reflects some of OBX’s own plot details, South Africa’s Blood & Water is also a compelling mystery thriller that will have viewers of all ages hooked.

Stream Blood & Water on Netflix.

(Image credit: Netflix)

On My Block (2018-2021)

A group of bright teens and close friends try to keep each other out of trouble while living in South Central Los Angeles.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: Before the action gets going, OBX is, essentially, the story of a young quartet dealing with romantic troubles, family issues, and their own hometowns economic hardships — much like the great Latinx TV show, On My Block, which later spawned a spin-off called Freeridge in 2023.

Stream On My Block on Netflix.

(Image credit: Amazon Prime)

Panic (2021)

A high school senior (played by Fear Street cast member Olivia Scott Welch) and other hopeful graduates participate in a mysterious annual tournament consisting of high stakes challenges for a life-changing reward.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: Created by Lauren Oliver (who also wrote the original novel), the Amazon Prime original miniseries Panic, like OBX, focuses on teens whose aspirations to leave their hometown end up putting them in harm’s way, but with a twist similar to The Hunger Games movies without the dystopian setting.

Stream Panic on Amazon Prime.

(Image credit: Amazon Prime)

The Wilds (2020-2022)

When their plane crashes on a deserted island, a group of teenage girls must learn how to survive the harsh terrain and each other.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: The teens from OBX may be fed up with their hometown, but at least they are not quite as desperate to leave the island like the young ladies on the Amazon Prime original, The Wilds — a TV show that was cancelled before reaching a proper ending, but is worth giving a try for the thrill.

Stream The Wilds on Amazon Prime.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Society (2019)

A teenager girl (played by Kathryn Newton in one of her best roles) and other youths discover that all of their adult peers have suddenly vanished from their small town, which they are also mysteriously unable to leave from.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: If the teens from OBX actually found themselves physically and inexplicably unable to leave their hometown (and they did not live near water) their situation might resemble the plot of Netflix’s The Society — another prematurely cancelled coming-of-age drama, but with a sci-fi twist, and one of Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s best TV shows, too.

Stream The Society on Netflix.

(Image credit: The CW)

Riverdale (2017-2023)

The increasingly unsettling adventures of Archie (K.J. Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead (Cole Sprouse), Veronica (Camila Mendes), and others in a small American town plagued by shady individuals and haunting secrets.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: While the setting of The CW’s dark adaptation of the Archie comics is not as idyllic and some plot points border on the supernatural, the situations that the Riverdale cast members finds themselves in — ranging from murder mysteries to love triangles — are not too different from what the OBX crew often face.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.
Buy Riverdale on Amazon.

(Image credit: The WB)

Dawson's Creek (1998-2003)

A young aspiring filmmaker (played by James van der Beek) and his friends find themselves at odds with life and with each other as they approach adulthood.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: When first promoting Outer Banks, Netflix literally referred to it as “Dawson’s Creek meets The Goonies,” which is a concept that might go over their target audience’s heads, but is just another reason for them to check out creator Kevin Williamson’s primetime soap opera that launched the careers of Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and others when The CW was still called The WB.

Stream Dawson's Creek on Amazon Prime.
Stream Dawson's Creek on Hulu.

(Image credit: The WB/The CW)

One Tree Hill (2003-2012)

A young man (Chad Michael Murray), his half brother (James Lafferty), and their loved ones face various social and professional challenges while growing up together in a small town from North Carolina.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: What could be considered The WB’s successor to Dawson’s Creek is this intense coming-of-age drama that also served as breakthrough for many members of the One Tree Hill cast — including Sophia Bush and Brooke Davis Baker.

Stream One Tree Hill on Hulu.
Stream One Tree Hill on Max.
Buy One Tree Hill on Amazon.

(Image credit: Freeform)

Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)

After the disappearance of their friend, four young women become taunted by an unknown enemy that puts their deepest and darkest secrets at risk of being revealed.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: One of the most popular series about attractive youths in danger in recent memory (and with multiple spin-offs to prove it) is Pretty Little Liars — an adaptation of Sara Shepard’s best-selling book series that lasted long enough to see its parent network, ABC Family, eventually become Freeform.

Stream Pretty Little Liars on Hulu.
Stream Pretty Little Liars on Max.

(Image credit: Amazon)

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-Present)

A teenage girl (Lola Tung) suddenly finds herself embroiled in a love triangle with two of her childhood friends (Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno) while spending the summer at their beach house.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: In case you come to a point where you have had enough of attractive youths in danger, but still long for Outer Banks’ picturesque setting and romantic complications, Amazon Prime’s series adaption of the novel The Summer I Turned Pretty should do the trick.

Stream The Summer I Turned Pretty on Prime.

Hopefully, these are just the right treasures that should satisfy your appetite for more Outer Banks.

32 Actors That Were Way Too Old To Be Playing Teens But Did It Anyway

Corey Chichizola — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 01:04:02 +0000

The entertainment industry is a funny place, one with its own set of rules. And one that has happened countless times over the years is that oftentimes the actors playing teenagers are a little long in the tooth to be doing so. Some of these performances are beloved, and others are infamous. There are particularly 32 actors that were way too old to be playing teens but did it anyway. And if you ask me, each performance on this list is pretty iconic.

Working with actual teenagers is tricky, unless the actor is emancipated and able to deal with the long hours usually required for TV and film work. So it's definitely understandable that production have chosen actors who were too long in the tooth to play their respective roles. In no particular order, here are the infamous 32.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Rachel McAdams, Mean Girls

You can't think of Rachel McAdams without her performance as Regina George in Mean Girls. While the cast of Mean Girls was mostly age appropriate, McAdams was actually 25 years old when playing the queen of the plastics. Still, I can't imagine anyone who could have played her better.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Joseph Quinn, Stranger Things

The fourth season of Stranger Things was a star-making moment for Joseph Quinn, who played Eddie Munson. He quickly became a fan favorite, but those same fans might be surprised to learn that he's actually already 29 years old. Unfortunately, the finale of Stranger Things 4 seemingly implied we won't be seeing him again for the final batch of episodes.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Stacey Dash, Clueless

There are a number of epic teen movies on this list, and Clueless is truly a piece of '90s film history. The comedy followed a group of ultra rich high school students, but it turns out that Dionne actress Stacey Dash was 28 when filming her performance in the movie. Plus, she went on to reprise that role in the TV spinoff.

(Image credit: DreamWorks Pictures)

Leonardo DiCaprio, Catch Me If You Can

Steven Spielberg's Catch Me if You Can came out in 2002, and told a true story about an infamous con man, Frank Abagnale Jr.. That was played by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio, and spanned many years of his life, starting at just 17 years old. However, the Titanic actor was actually 28 when he filmed this classic movie.

(Image credit: Paramount)

Alan Ruck, Ferris Bueller's Day Off

John Hughes' Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a classic comedy, one that remains a quotable part of the pop culture lexicon to this day. Succession actor Alan Ruck gave an outstanding performance as Cameron Frye, but he was actually nearly 30 when portraying a high school student opposite Matthew Broderick.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Stockard Channing, Grease

Grease is a beloved movie musical, one that I actually think improves upon the stage musical of the same name. While it's full of iconic performances, a lot of of the cast is a bit too old for their roles. That includes Rizzo actress Stockard Channing, who was 33 years old. Regardless, she is THE Betty Rizzo, and she absolutely crushed the role.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. )

Shirley Henderson, Harry Potter

The cast of Harry Potter grew up before our eyes, with the kids joined by some legendary actors playing the universe's adults. But fans might not realize that Moaning Myrtle actress Shirley Henderson was actually a 36-year-old adult when portraying the ghostly teenager.

(Image credit: ABC)

Henry Winkler, Happy Days

Happy Days influenced a lot of pop culture, including being responsible for the term "jumping the shark." Henry Winkler has had a long career since then, but he'll always be Fonzie. Although he wasn't quite a teenager, as he was 28 when he landed that leather-clad role.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Ncuti Gatwa, Sex Education

Sex Education was a beloved teenage comedy for those with a Netflix subscription, and it wrapped up after four seasons. Ncuti Gatwa played fan favorite Eric Effiong, but he was actually 26 when the show first came out.

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

Andrew Garfield, The Amazing Spider-Man

While Tom Holland was praised for being an authentically young actor in the MCU, his predecessors were a bit older during their run as the wall crawler. Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield was actually 27 when he debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man, portraying playing high school student Peter Parker. And Garfield got to reprise his role in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

(Image credit: Photo by Eric McCandless/Disney Channel via Getty Images)

Jason Earles, Hannah Montana

Hannah Montana ran for a long time on Disney Channel, and made Miley Cyrus into a megastar. The show also starred Jason Earles as her older brother Jackson. But while he was playing a 16-year-old, he was actually 29 when the show began.

(Image credit: Fox)

Gabrielle Carteris, Beverly Hills, 90210

Beverly Hills, 90210 has a long run on TV, and is quintessential '90s culture. While some of Beverly Hills, 90210's cast was quite young, Andrea Zuckerman actress Gabrielle Carteris was actually 29 when the show first began.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Keiko Agena, Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls is a show that still has a strong fanbase, who re-watch its even season run as well as the Netflix spinoff A Year in the Life. While Alexis Bledel grew up and became a grown actress before our eyes, Rory's best friend Lane was played by Keiko Agena, who was 27 when the show first began.

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Ben Platt, Dear Evan Hansen

This entry is one that folks might have guessed would appear. In 2021, Tony winner Ben Platt reprised his role as the title character the Dear Evan Hansen movie. Platt caught a ton of flak for starring in Dear Evan Hansen at 27 years old, and was made into countless memes as a result. Still, I thought he was great in the role and a lot of backlash was unjust; I mean, look at the other entries in this list!

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Nicholas Brendan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a cult classic TV show that's still super popular today. The first three seasons were set at Sunnydale High School, with the characters' personal drama mirroring their battle with demons. But Xander actor Nicholas Brendan was actually 25 when he landed the role in Joss Whedon's TV series.

(Image credit: Photo by Bonnie Schiffman/Getty Images)

Johnny Depp, 21 Jump Street

Johnny Depp has had a long career, including a number of truly beloved roles like Edward Scissorhands and Captain Jack Sparrow. But his first big role was as Officer Thomas "Tom" Hanson Jr. in 21 Jump Street. He played a young looking cop posing as a high school student, but was actually 24 years old when he started filming Season 1. And that show would go on to run for 5 seasons.

(Image credit: USA Films)

Paul Rudd, Wet Hot American Summer

Wet Hot American Summer is a cult classic comedy, and follows a group of teen camp counselors who are into all sorts of campy debauchery. Paul Rudd gave a hilarious performance as Andy, but was actually 31 years old. Although that's nothing since the cast of Wet Hot American Summer reprised their roles in a Netflix show, all of whom were vastly over the age of their characters.

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Gabrielle Union, Bring It On

Bring It On is another beloved teen movie, one that centers around two rivaling high school cheer squads in California. Gabrielle Union gave a killer performance as Isis, although she was actually 27 at the point of filming.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's

Audrey Hepburn was a classic actress with a number of beloved film credits. Breakfast at Tiffany's is definitely in that category, although she was 31 at the point of playing the 19-year-old character Holly Golightly.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Michael Rosenbaum, Smallville

Smallville was a popular series that served as a teenage origin story for Clark Kent/Superman. While the cast all portrayed teens during Season 1, some of them were a bit long in the tooth. Case in point: Lex Luthor actor Michael Rosenbaum who was actually 27 years old back in Season 1.

(Image credit: The CW)

Ashleigh Murray, Riverdale

Riverdale's series finale aired in August of 2023, with the show running on The CW for seven seasons. Plenty of iconic Archie Comics characters appeared, including Josie McCoy. But despite playing high school sophomore, actress Ashleigh Murray was actually 28 when she fist appeared back in Season 1.

(Image credit: Fox)

Cory Monteith, Glee

Glee became a huge hit when it premiered on Fox, and catapulted its cast of unknowns as full-blown TV stars. Late actor Cory Monteith starred as leading man Finn Hudson, but was 27 years old when debuting as his signature character.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Ross Butler, 13 Reasons Why

Netflix's 13 Reasons Why was a dark adaptation of the novel of the same name, and would eventually expand to a four-season run. Ross Butler played high schooler Zach, and was actually 26 years old back in Season 1.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Darren Barnet, Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever centers around 15-year-old girl Devi, and we watch various love stories play out throughout its run on Netflix. She has a huge crush on Darren Barnet's Paxton, who was 16. Although in reality the actor was 29 years old when Season 1 aired.

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Judd Nelson, The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is a quintessential '80s movie, and was released at the height of the Brat Pack's popularity. One of the leading characters was Judd Nelson's Bender aka The Criminal. But despite being in detention throughout the movie's runtime, Nelson was actually 24 years old when portraying that character.

(Image credit: Vestron Pictures)

Jennifer Grey, Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing features beloved performances by both Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. The latter actress danced her heart out as Baby, although she was 26 years old rather than her character's 17.

(Image credit: Columbia Pictures)

Winona Ryder, Girl, Interrupted

1999's Girl, Interrupted was an Oscar winning drama that was a huge critical success. Winona Ryder starred as 18-year-old protagonist Susanna Kaysen, and provided a deeply moving performance. No one could have done it better, although she was truly 26 years old at the time of filming.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Nicola Coughlan, Derry Girls

Derry Girls is one of Netflix's many coming-of-age TV shows that is included on this list. The show follows a group of teenage girls, and all the hilarious mistakes that occur as they grow up. But actress Nicola Coughlan was actually 30 years old at the time of filming the show's first season.

(Image credit: Lionsgate)

Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

Lee Daniels' Precious is a truly harrowing film experience, one that elicits strong emotions for its title character, 16-year-old Claireece Precious Jones. Actress Gabourey Sidibe received wide acclaim for her performance in the movie, although she was actually 24 years old when she got the role.

(Image credit: MGM)

Barbra Streisand, Yentl

Yentl is a masterpiece by Barbra Streisand, who directed, wrote, and starred in the acclaimed musical drama. But while her character was a young woman, she was actually 41 years old at the point of filming the acclaimed film.

(Image credit: Sony)

Florence Pugh, Little Women

Greta Gerwig's Little Women movie was a huge hit when it arrived in theaters back in 2019. It got a bunch of major awards nominations, with F lorence Pugh getting a Best Supporting nom at the Oscars for portraying Amy March. But while Amy was just 13 years old at her youngest point in the film, Pugh was actually 22.

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

Tobey Maguire, Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire was the first actor to play Spider-Man in live-action, before being followed by the likes of Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. But while the latter actor was the most age appropriate, his predecessors weren't. Maguire was actually 26 years old while playing the teenager Peter Parker.

Despite the discrepancy between many of these actors and their characters, many of the actors listed above still crushed their roles. Although yes, some of these actors are somewhat infamous for being too old to portray teenagers. Still, smart money says this trend will continue with future TV and film projects.

Lili Reinhart Went As Harley Quinn For Halloween And Her Riverdale Co-Star Camila Mendes Had The Best Comment

Carly Levy — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:31:29 +0000

Riverdale had its series finale this past August where we had to say goodbye to Betty, Veronica, Archie, Jughead, and the rest of the iconic cast. But just because the cast of Riverdale isn’t working together anymore doesn’t mean they’re without reunions. With Halloween coming tomorrow, Lili Reinhart showed off her Harley Quinn costume with her Riverdale co-star Camila Mendes sharing the best comment.

Considering Lili Reinhart’s Riverdale character Betty Cooper had her good-girl side, dark Betty moments, plus retro Betty when her character entered the 1950s, we’ve seen a ton of looks coming from the talented actress. And she can pull them all off with charm. This year for Halloween, Reinhart was a blend of wickedness and smiles wearing her Harley Quinn costume. Take a look at this talented actress posing on Instagram as the mischievous anti-hero down below.

A post shared by Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart)
A photo posted by on

In a dark background filled with smoke and fog, Lily Reinhart slays as The Suicide Squad member wearing the classic version of the DC character. The black and red form-fitting jumpsuit proves that jester attire can be incredibly sexy to wear during this spooky Halloween season. Reinhart tops it off with Harley Quinn’s signature pigtails, leather gloves, and jester hat showing she came more than prepared for this costume. I’m not the only one in awe of the Chemistry Hearts actress’s costume. Her Riverdale co-star Camila Mendes had the best comment for it.

truly unfathomable

Yes, it is. The preparation you put into a Halloween costume shows how dedicated you are to the spine-chilling holiday. Lili Reinhart and her two Riverdale co-stars Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch were betwitching last year channeling Hocus Pocus for Halloween. This year, the Riverdale trio stuck together again in the world of DC posing as Gotham City Sirens based on the comic book series of the three popular Gotham City female villains. Take a look at the flawless photo of these ladies down below.

A post shared by Madelaine Petsch (@madelame)
A photo posted by on

Madelaine Petsch with her trademark bright red hair was born to wear the costume of Poison Ivy who’s the primary love interest of Harley Quinn. It looks like such a fun costume to wear with that emerald green leotard with vines stretching down to her legs. And then there’s Camila Mendes rocking the black jumpsuit, clawed gloves, and bedazzled cat ears for her costume. In her Instagram post, she made sure to point out that her inspiration came from one of the most memorable live-action Catwoman actresses Julie Newmar. The Batman actress brought spunk to the character in the 1960s as well as being quite the seductress towards Bruce Wayne/Batman. Lili Reinhart commented in Mendes’ post what she wished she could have seen her former co-star do in the costume.

Really wish I could’ve seen you do her sick move in that clip at the end.

Camila Mendes responded to Reinhart that it’s never too late. This year’s Halloween has been the opportunity for a lot of celebrities to strut their stuff. Chlöe Bailey went as Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen for Halloween wearing an armored corset accompanied by dragon eggs. And then, there’s country singer Kelsea Ballerini who took it upon herself to dress as Barbie wearing the doll’s unforgettable pink Western getup. If you need some inspiration for your Halloween costume this year, you can look back on costumes from the biggest TV shows or inspired by 2023’s biggest movies to get some ideas.

Lili Reinhart and the ladies of Riverdale were at it again this year posing as the Gotham City Sirens trio. This makes me look forward to every Halloween to see what these ladies will come up with next. You can watch all seasons of Riverdale right now on your Netflix subscription. Feel free to take a look at our 2023 TV schedule so you don’t miss out on any premieres or new episodes for the rest of the year.

30+ Great Shows That Really Lost Their Way By The End

Alexandra Ramos — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:04:07 +0000

I'm a massive fan of television. It started when I was young and watched hours of Disney Channel shows, but of course, it has now expanded into the world of adult television through several different genres – drama, comedy, horror, you name it, and I've probably watched it. I had to do something while at home when the pandemic had us confined to our homes.

But in my time watching show after show, various options started out fantastic. They had excellent plots, brilliant storytelling, and great acting, then slowly dwindled. From terrible, horrible TV show endings or shows that dipped in quality over time, here are 30+ great shows that lost their way by the end.

(Image credit: AMC)

The Walking Dead

Do you want to hear a fun fact about myself? I watched The Walking Dead until the bitter end, and the emotional Walking Dead finale made me cry a ton. But man, it definitely could have been better.

The Walking Dead started hot when it first aired and had a pretty steady and brilliantly told storyline until about Season 6, and then when Andrew Lincoln ended up leaving, it all started to tumble down the weeds.

While we have a good amount of fan favorites coming back for The Walking Dead universe shows, it never quite picked itself up after that when the show was one the series to be watching.

(Image credit: ABC)

Lost

Lost is known now for its awful finale, but truthfully, the entirety of the series had a downfall slump. The main reason is that it was literally consumed by all the mysteries that needed to be solved by the end of the series, and somehow, the show 'lost' itself that way. And, of course, we don't even need to talk about the horrible ending. I hadn't even watched the show then; it was all I heard about for weeks.

(Image credit: The CW)

Riverdale

I remember writing long ago that I had plenty of issues with Riverdale, but I never expected it to turn into the off-brand MCU because that's exactly what happened somehow and they all had powers. And then, in the last season, the main group went back in time somehow. What the heck? What happened?

This hit CW show started so good with the murder mystery, and then it just tumbled completely.

(Image credit: HBO)

Game Of Thrones

So I'll be honest here and say that I have rewatched Game of Thrones, and plenty of it still holds up, but you can tell it starts to dip in quality at the very beginning of Season 7 – maybe even Season 6, though I did love "Battle of the Bastards."

Even so, the Game of Thrones ending is pretty much considered one of the worst of the 2010s, and as a hardcore Daenerys supporter, I fully stand by that. They did my girl – and almost all of these characters – dirty.

(Image credit: NBC Universal)

The Office

The Office is another clear-cut example of when a main character leaves, the show starts to fall apart. The hit sitcom did try to pick itself up after Steve Carell left in Season 7, but it never reached the heights of where it once was. I was glad we saw him for the finale, but it never felt the same.

(Image credit: NBC)

Heroes

The first season of any show is crucial, and Heroes had one of the best, featuring the story of ordinary people who discover they have superhuman abilities. This was the superhero show before all the MCU shows started to take over.

But then Season 2 came along, and this show went downhill fast. It was just horrendously bad, and I, for one, struggled to get through the rest of the seasons after that.

(Image credit: HBO)

Westworld

Westworld had everything going for it: a fantastic idea, an excellent Westworld cast, and, the best yet, the funding of HBO to truly take this world into the new age.

But then both Season 2 and Season 3 happened, and the plot got so convoluted I could barely keep up with it, and all the characters I once loved, I ended up hating. And then the fourth season came and it’s just so different from what we were given. Unsurprisingly, it was canceled after the fourth season when backlash started to grow more and reviews went down.

(Image credit: The Casey-Werner Company)

That '70s Show

I don't know what it is about Season 7 and some sitcoms, but that was the case for That '70s Show, when Topher Grace, who played Eric Foreman, left the show. And, of course, it never recovered. I don't care if he did appear in That '90s Show; it just doesn't feel the same.

(Image credit: CBS)

How I Met Your Mother

I don't need to get into this. How I Met Your Mother was great, from the fantastic cast to the comedy to Barney and his jokes, but the intensely divisive ending ruined everything. It just did. I can't return to the series and only recommend finishing it to some.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Weeds

Weeds is a black comedy that ran for several seasons on Showtime and tells the story of a widowed mother who starts selling marijuana to support her family. And while the first few seasons were great, the rest were very different. It felt like another show in its later seasons, and by the end (102 episodes), the plot didn't feel remotely similar to how it was in the first season.

(Image credit: Fox)

Glee

There is so much to like about Glee. The Glee cast is incredibly talented, and the best Glee covers still top my playlists, but the story took a nosedive after Season 3. Both Season 1 and Season 2 were great, and Season 3 was alright but still enjoyable, but Season 4-6 was just an utter catastrophe of a story that was only saved by some of the brilliant voices on that show. Other than that, it can stay locked away at McKinley High.

(Image credit: The CW)

Supernatural

Supernatural was an excellent fantasy series about two brothers hunting down demons, ghosts, and monsters. And I did enjoy this series until the end, but it certainly was not the same show from the beginning. Many plot points needed to be clarified, and there was plenty of fan service, so as much as I like my spooky boys, it didn't need to be like this.

(Image credit: CBS)

The Big Bang Theory

So I'll fully say that The Big Bang Theory is a great show, but this is another case where it feels that the last few seasons were there just for the money. There was no impressive story to be told, and the characters experienced little growth. It was just a dive into obscurity.

(Image credit: Freeform)

Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars was just an unnecessary drag. Again, a murder mystery is always good, but when the puzzle doesn't make sense towards the end, it makes the show that much harder to follow. And not only that, but the main characters weren't still in high school by the end. They were in college and out in the working world – this should have been just a high school story.

(Image credit: The CW)

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl should have just ended after a few seasons, but it went on because it was the biggest show ever at the time. The series was fun until the later seasons, where the reveal of who Gossip Girl is was utterly disappointing and nonsensical. Not only that, but the finale – and final season overall – felt rushed.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Television)

Two And A Half Men

Fun fact – I just binge-watched all of Two and a Half Men not long ago and I enjoyed it – until about Season 10.

Charlie Sheen did bring a certain vibe to the show that Ashton Kutcher couldn't, but he did keep the show going for about two seasons before it started to fall apart more than it already had.

(Image credit: HBO)

Euphoria

Okay, so Euphoria technically is still ongoing. However, I'm still determining if we'll even get Season 3 ever since the tragic passing of Angus Cloud. I'd be fine if it ends with two seasons.

The first season of Euphoria was great television, but the second was so out there and had so many plot points that didn't make sense. The acting was the only thing that saved it because that's always great. But other than that? There's little to love about Season 2. Some things were improved, but others weren't.

(Image credit: The CW)

Gilmore Girls

We all like to turn on Gilmore Girls when the fall comes around, but have we forgotten that the ending is terrible? And that Rory's character is utterly destroyed by the end of it? Yeah, I thought so – and the revival didn't do an excellent job of making it any better.

(Image credit: BBC America)

Killing Eve

The first two seasons of Killing Eve were brilliant, and I loved watching this cat-and-mouse game. But then the next two seasons' plots fell apart entirely, and it led to characters that really shouldn't have been featured getting the spotlight, followed by an ending that fans are not super happy with.

(Image credit: Netflix)

13 Reasons Why

I liked 13 Reasons Why during its first season because it told a bold message about the effects of bullying and words. But this show should have remained just a miniseries because the seasons that followed were unnecessary and ultimately dissolve the point of the first season when they somehow try to redeem Bryce (the assaulter).

(Image credit: NBC)

Scrubs

Scrubs ran for nine seasons and took the world by storm with its medical comedy mixed with drama. Plus, viewers got to know Dave Franco for the first time. But the later seasons feel like messy attempts to try and make funny jokes that do not land and a story that is not there at all.

(Image credit: USA Network)

Suits

I know Suits was wildly popular on Netflix in August 2023, but the series is just ok to me compared to many other great legal dramas. Don't get me wrong, the first few seasons are great television, but as the show goes on and the cases become stranger and more unique, it's different from the show it originally was.

(Image credit: Fox)

Bones

Twelve seasons happened for Bones, and the show was alright, but everything was dragged out so long that by the time there was a payoff, there were barely any more fans to care as much. And not only that, but the story would become more convoluted as time passed. I won't spoil anything, but it's a hard watch for later seasons.

(Image credit: NBC)

Community

Okay, hear me out; I love this show and the Community cast, but let's be honest: Seasons 4, 5 and 6 were not the best. Both Season 4 and 5 were bad, and while Season 6 was getting a little better, it was nowhere near as good as the first three seasons of this show. I'm hoping that the Community movie will bring that level of comedy back.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Money Heist

The thing about Money Heist is that it was so much fun at first. Was it over the top? Yes, totally, but that's what made it fun to watch. But then, as the series went on, it just got ridiculous with its story, and nothing made sense.

(Image credit: Disney)

Once Upon A Time

Admittedly, I was a big Once Upon a Time fan because I loved Disney movies, but by the time this show ended, it felt like a Disney cash grab using the most famous names from their list of princesses and characters to make a buck. Elsa somehow even made it into this show. The story didn't mean anything anymore.

(Image credit: HBO)

True Blood

I put this on here because I know how badly my mother and father hated the ending of True Blood, and I decided to watch it. Not only did the series' narrative completely fall apart by the finale, but the characters were making choices and decisions that didn't align with what the story had set up for years before. Nothing made sense.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Dexter

I enjoyed watching Dexter for the first time, and I actually say Dexter is worth re-watching, but I can see why most people don't watch it after Season 5 nowadays. The story certainly takes a dip in quality, and the ending is only for some and is controversial for a reason. I do think Dexter: New Blood made up for it a bit.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Shameless

Shameless was my favorite TV show, but after Emmy Rossum left, it was always different. The Gallagher family dynamic fell apart, and nothing ever flowed as well. Rossum wasn't even there for the finale, making it feel even more incomplete.

(Image credit: The CW)

The Vampire Diaries

Do I even need to get into this? The Vampire Diaries died when Nina Dobrev left, and the story fell apart. I don't care what spinoffs there are; you can't make me watch them.

(Image credit: ABC)

Modern Family

Don't even get me started on Haley in this show or any of the choices these characters make at the end of Modern Family that make me want to rip my hair out. I will go on for hours. This show was so good until it wasn't, and it drove me mad.

(Image credit: Netflix)

House Of Cards

House of Cards was a brilliant drama on Netflix, but of course, the central star, Kevin Spacey, faced several allegations of sexual misconduct, so it had to shift course – and from there, it just fell apart. It should have been canceled once Kevin Spacey.

All of these shows are worthy of a single watch, but maybe not a rewatch. There is plenty of great drama here, but I can also live without it. Either way, I'll go check out Breaking Bad for the umpteenth time – that'll never let me down.

Picking The Worst Season Of 30+ Major TV Shows

Corey Chichizola — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 20:04:39 +0000

Having a long-running TV show is a tricky thing. Namely because quality can ebb and flow depending on the season, for even the most acclaimed projects. Most shows have at least one clunker of a year, whether it be in the beginning of the series, the final season, or somewhere in between. And I've picked the worst season from 32 major television shows. Let's break it all down.

To be clear: this isn't to say that these seasons are unwatchable or made me dislike the show at a whole. Well... mostly. But these are the installments of major shows that simply didn't stand up to the rest of its run. Here are those shows, including major titles like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and more.

(Image credit: ABC)

Lost - Season 6

Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams' Lost was quintessential water cooler programming at the height of its run on ABC. But there were a few seasons that failed to really resonate with fans, including Season 6. The final season's big mystery was surrounding its flash sideways, which was finally revealed in Lost's controversial series finale. And it's for the way that it attempted to stick the landing that makes Season 6 the worst.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Dexter Season 8

There are a number of final seasons on this list, as it's fairly common for long-running shows to decline in quality as the years go on. Dexter was definitely in that category, with Season 8 offering a less than satisfying antagonist for Michael C. Hall's title character to face off against. Dexter's finale is also widely panned, so much so that a new season New Blood was produced to give the killer protagonist a better sendoff. And yes I'm still mad about Deb's fate.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Television)

Gilmore Girls - Season 6

Gilmore Girls has a wildly popular fandom, who re-watched the original series annually. But there are some parts of the show that remain controversial, perhaps the biggest of which is Season 6. In it there's a huge block of episodes where Rory and Lorelai are not speaking. And it's really not the same show without the titular Gilmore Girls snacking and dropping pop culture references. While Season 7 feels off because it was done without Amy Sherman-Palladino, the feud between protagonists puts Season 6 at the bottom of the list for me. As someone who watched the show live, those months of weekly episodes was especially painful.

(Image credit: ABC)

Grey's Anatomy Season 17

For a show to run as long as Grey's Anatomy has, there's going to be some ups and down in terms of quality. There are a number of season that don't work for the fandom, but for me the worst has got to be Season 17 aka the Covid season. Grey's incorporated the pandemic in real time into its main narrative for the season, with actors wearing masks and face shields in scenes to make the set a safe space. The results were awkward, and Meredith spent most of the season in a Covid related coma. While Grey's brought back McDreamy, George, Lexi, and Sloan during Meredith's beach scenes, I still would have preferred to see her involved in the show's main plot.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Weeds Season 6

Showtime's dramedy Weeds began with an intriguing premise: a widower in the suburbs starts selling marijuana in her affluent neighborhood to provide for the family. But as the show went on the stakes kept getting higher and higher for Mary-Louise Parker's protagonist Nancy. Season 6 saw the Botwin family on the run, hiding from the Esteban. While it was fun to see the Weeds cast in new situations, it ultimately ends up being a season without too much substance. And the gag of their road trip from hell got old after a while.

(Image credit: NBC)

The Office - Season 1

While there are plenty of shows with disappointing final seasons, there are also some that struggled to find their footing with early episodes. The US version of The Office is in that category, and it was unclear if Season 2 was even going to happen. Following the first season's performance, T he Office made Steve Carell's Michael Scott more likable, with his issues coming from a deep need for approval. And once we understood how Michael ticked, his bonkers managerial choices became endearing rather than enraging. And now its one of the most popular network comedies of all time.

(Image credit: HBO)

Game of Thrones - Season 8

Anyone who watched HBO's megahit fantasy series Game of Thrones probably could have guessed which season I was going to include on this list. The eighth and final season stood out among the rest for its strange pacing, and for delivering long-awaited moments like the CleganeBowl. Unfortunately, the final few episodes took some bold jumps that fans didn't appreciate include Dany breaking bad. The series finale of Game of Thrones is still controversial to this day, although fans have returned to Westeros via the new prequel House of the Dragon.

(Image credit: ABC)

Roseanne - Season 9

Roseanne was a super successful comedy series in the '90s, running for a whopping nine seasons originally. Part of its appeal was because the Conners family was working class, and was therefore more relatable to typical TV audiences than other picture perfect sitcoms. Then Season 9 happened, with Roseanne and Dan winning the literal lottery. The whole season felt out of place as a result, including the wild Roseanne finale which basically undid everything we saw throughout its tenure on the small screen. Luckily that finale would end up being retconned when the show returned to the small screen and was given a spinoff with The Conners.

(Image credit: AMC)

The Walking Dead - Season 9

AMC's The Walking Dead was wildly popular throughout its first few seasons, but some fans ended up eventually losing interest and falling off. What's more, some quit the show after Negan brutally killed off Glenn. But for me the worst chapter in its run on AMC was Season 9. We all knew it was going to be Andrew Lincoln's last few episodes on the show, which seemed to really slow down its momentum. Eventually The Walking Dead would get better by becoming more of an ensemble project without Rick, but this transitional period was a low point for me.

(Image credit: FX)

American Horror Story: Apocalypse

Ryan Murphy's anthology series American Horror Story is usually quite popular every October, but some of the seasons are stronger than others. There was a lot of hype surrounding Apocalypse ahead of its premiere, as it would serve as a crossover and feature the return of beloved characters from both Coven and Murder House. Unfortunately, the final result failed to live up to that premise, and instead felt like a bit of a jumbled mess. Considering how long fans like me waited to see the witches return to the screen, it was a letdown that final result left so much to be desired.

(Image credit: NBC)

Friends - Season 9

Friends is another insanely popular network comedy, one that was a complete sensation during its whopping ten seasons on the air. But some seasons were better than others, especially regarding its main plot line. Season 9 suffered because the show was originally going to end there, before negotiations were made to do the tenth and final season. And as such, the main storyline felt muddled and somewhat anticlimactic as a whole. Luckily the Friends finale would end up providing a great ending when it finally aired.

(Image credit: AMC)

Breaking Bad - Season 1

Breaking Bad is one of the most acclaimed TV shows to be on the air in years. It consistently performed well at the Emmys, and fans have applauded the final season as a whole, especially the Breaking Bad finale. But the show was also a bit of a slow burn at first. I personally had to try multiple times to get through the first season of Breaking Bad, before things started really heating up with the introduction of Giancarlo Esposito's Gus Fring. So Season 1 is at the bottom of my ranking for the story of Heisenberg.

(Image credit: Fox)

The Simpsons - Season 1

The Simpsons is a groundbreaking animated television show that has the honor of being the longest running American show on television. There's been plenty of discussion over the years about the quality of the series, which has gone through ups and downs during its decades on the air. And for me Season 1 was another example of a show that struggled to find its footing. Obviously the beloved series ended up hitting its stride, but I feel the OG episodes don't necessarily stand the test of time.

(Image credit: The CW)

Riverdale - Season 3

The CW had a hit on its hand with Riverdale, which served as a gritty adaptation of Archie Comics. The show's unique visual language made it fun to watch, and I'd typically binge watch a full season once it dropped on Netflix. But Season 3 saw the show take a wild turn. Rather than simply being a murder mystery, Riverdale began dealing with the supernatural for the first time. And there were some serious growing pains. Although we never could have known that Riverdale's finale would include a wild quad twist.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 1

This one might be a controversial pick for fans of the show. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite TV show of all time, and it's one that I often come back to throughout any given year. And while some fans don't like Season 6's dark tone, the show's first season is the weakest for me. During Season 1 Buffy functions much more like a procedural, rather than moving forward and overarching narrative. I personally think the show is best when Buffy's ensemble cast is all assembled, which doesn't happen until later seasons. Plus Season 1 just looks super dated.

(Image credit: NBC)

Heroes - Season 2

Heroes was a huge hit when it debuted on NBC, with the show offering an original live-action superhero story. Unfortunately, the momentum of that show came to a screeching halt with the Writer's Strike of 2007-2008. Season 2 ends up rushed as a result, and failed to meet the expectations of the series. What's more, Heroes' sophomore season introduces a number of character we'd never see again. One can only imagine which shows will be similarly affected by the recent WGA strike.

(Image credit: NBC)

Seinfeld - Season 8

Seinfeld is another comedy on this list that is pretty universally acclaimed. But that doesn't mean the iconic '90s sitcom didn't have a few low points throughout its run on TV. Season 8 was the first chapter Seinfeld without creator Larry David, and the difference was pretty obvious. Case in point: the show no longer opened up on Jerry performing a stand up set.

(Image credit: HBO)

True Blood - Season 7

True Blood arrived at the height of the early aughts vampire craze, and provided a R-rated take on the blood suckers. The show was violent and campy, and soon became a sensation. But like so many other popular shows, the Anna Paquin-led series failed to stick the landing with its final season on the air. True Blood's finale was generally panned, and the final season felt a bit messy as a whole. I mean, they killed Tara at the beginning of Season 7... offscreen. The disrespect!

(Image credit: ABC)

Happy Days - Season 5

Happy Days had an impressively long run on the air, and made household names out of talents like Henry Winkler and Ron Howard. The show had a long impact on pop culture as a whole, especially its somewhat infamous fifth season. Season 5 featured Fonzie famously "jumping the shark", which has now become a term for when shows go too far and lose the audience.

(Image credit: Fox)

New Girl - Season 5

New Girl had a long run on Fox, and has continued to have a life via streaming. But Season 5 failed to bring it the same way the rest of the show did. Namely because Zooey Deschanel was on maternity break, and the show was without its titular character. While Megan Fox's replacement character Regan was a great foil for Nick, the show just wasn't the same without Jess.

(Image credit: Netflix)

House Of Cards - Season 6

When the streaming wars began, Netflix had some major wins with Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. The latter became a prestige drama, with a killer cast that helped people subscribe to Netflix for the first time. But the allegations against Kevin Spacey saw him removed from the show, and it never really recovered. House of Cards Season 6 killed Francis Underwood off camera, while Claire became the sole protagonist. While Robin Wright killed it, the final season just felt off, and the series finale failed to satisfy fans who stuck it out.

(Image credit: Fox)

Glee - Season 4

Glee became a sensation after its first season on Fox, and had a few years of being wildly popular. But its quality started to wane after its first few seasons on the air, and some folks fell off entirely. Season 4 was when things started to change for me, as it took a number of the biggest characters out of William McKinley High School. Kurt and Rachel became roommates in New York City, and it no longer felt like the same musical series that captured the attention of so many.

(Image credit: NBC)

Parks And Recreation - Season 1

Just like The Office before it, Parks and Recreation struggled a bit in its first season on the air. The mockumentary comedy was charming, but the cast of Parks & Rec weren't all taking center stage just yet. And Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope was originally criticized for being too close to Steve Carell's Michael Scott. But the show eventually found its footing, and remains popular and utterly meme-able.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Shameless - Season 11

Like Grey's Anatomy, Shameless produced a season that was set at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. While incorporating mask use helped Season 11 be produced on time, it was a pretty distracting plot point. Overall, the final season failed to live up to what the Gallaghers were capable of. And the series finale felt more like a regular episode, leaving a number of unfinished plot points for the audience to ponder.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Angel - Season 4

The popularity of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was so high that after three a seasons a spinoff was produced starring David Boreanaz's Angel. These two shows embraced serialized storytelling long before the MCU would make it commonplace. But Season 4 of Angel is my least favorite, despite some exciting Buffy crossovers. Cordelia Chase ends up possessed for a good chunk of episodes, which was a story that got old. And the writing around Angel's son Connor was downright abysmal, as he remains one of the most hated TV characters of all time.

(Image credit: Paramount)

Community - Season 4

Community is the little show that could, with longtime fans watching as Six Seasons and a Movie came together against the odds. But that doesn't mean that all of its seasons were created equal. Case in point: Community Season 4 aka the Gas Leak Season. It was the first season without creator Dan Harmon, and had a number of gimmicks that failed to really resonate.

(Image credit: Hulu)

The Handmaid's Tale - Season 5

The Handmaid's Tale is available with a Hulu subscription, and is a gripping and grueling adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name. But the most reason installment to air, Season 5, didn't hit quite as hard as its predecessors. I think this is mostly because so many of the stories weren't actually set in Gilead, but in Canada. Add in the loss of Alexis Bledel's Emily, and the fifth season was my least favorite so far.

(Image credit: Fox)

That '70s Show - Season 8

That '70s Show made household names out of its cast of actors. But this level of adoration is why Season 8 ends up being the weakest link during its tenure on the air. The final season continued on without Topher Grace's Eric, and the absence of the show's protagonist was very noticeable. Especially when a new character was brought into the group in an attempt to replace him. Ashton Kutcher also left the show, which is why Season 8 is definitely at the bottom of the list.

(Image credit: The CW)

Arrow - Season 6

The CW's DC superhero show Arrow is one that famously had ups and downs in relation to quality. Still, many fans consider Season 6 to be the worst entry of the bunch. In it we saw Team Arrow frustratingly get split up, and fans took umbrage with the show's plot and pacing. Luckily there were two more season of Arrow to help and satiate disappointed audiences.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Felicity - Season 4

Felicity has a unique place in the grand history of network TV. After all, we'd never seen a haircut absolutely shake the entertainment industry as when Keri Russell cut off her signature locks back in Season 2. While the show started off as a teen drama, Season 4 ventured into new territory by introducing witchcraft and time travel into the equation. And while J.J. Abrams would prove his sci-fi skills in Star Trek and Star Wars, perhaps Season 4 of Felicity wasn't the right time.

(Image credit: CBS)

How I Met Your Mother - Season 9

How I Met Your Mother had a seriously impressive run on CBS, with a whopping 9 seasons. The premise of the show meant that all the years of stories from the show's narrator would eventually reveal... how he met the kids' mother. That eventually happened with the entrance of Cristin Milioti. But fans took umbrage with the final season's handling of that plot line, as well as Robin and Barney's divorce.

(Image credit: NBC)

The West Wing - Season 5

The West Wing is TV history, and helped make Aaron Sorkin into a household name. But the show's fifth season on the air was a bit of a disappointment, namely because it was the first one without Sorkin at the helm. Overall the story felt a bit of a jumbled mess when compared to the previous installments, which were rather universally acclaimed.

As beloved as these series are, even the greatest of TV shows can have a weak season.

A Polyamorous Group Is Very Much Not Pleased About Riverdale Introducing A Quad Relationship In Its Series Finale

Riley Utley — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:24:03 +0000

Spoilers for the series finale of Riverdale are ahead. All the seasons will be available with a Netflix subscription when Season 7 hits the streamer on August 31.

We’ve learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to Riverdale. From magic to time travel to parallel universes the show has done it all. It’s known for shocking fans with its unexpected stories, and during the series finale of the CW show, they surprised viewers one more time by revealing that Betty, Archie, Jughead and Veronica were in a quad relationship. Now, a polyamorous group has spoken out about this decision and why they were not pleased with it.

Brett Chamberlin, the executive director of the Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy (OPEN) shared his thoughts on the finale that recently aired on the 2023 TV schedule with TMZ. He noted that it’s “tempting to celebrate every portrayal of non-monogamy in popular media.” However, when it came to Riverdale and the relationship between Betty, Jughead, Veronica and Archie he was not pleased with it as he explained:

It's frustrating that Riverdale used its characters' non-monogamous relationship as a 'shocking twist' rather than engaging with an authentic portrayal of non-monogamy as simply being part of people's identities.

In the finale, we find out about the quad relationship, however, there isn’t much detail about it other than everyone gets with everyone except Jughead and Archie. It’s used as a sort of surprise twist at the end of the episode, and its lack of development is why Chamberlin took issue with it, he said:

We didn't see or hear anything about why these characters practice non-monogamy, what it means for them, the substance of their relationship agreements and communication practices, or any of the other underlying motivations and work that makes relationships of any type function.

During the episode, Betty explained that the four characters would just go on dates together, “and then it kind of naturally evolved from there.” She went on to say she would spend nights with Archie, while Veronica and Jughead went home together. Then on others, it would be Jughead and Betty and Veronica and Archie. Veronica and Betty would also sleep together.

Obviously, Riverdale fans had lots of thoughts about the finale, and they ranged from confused to angry to excited. However, Chamberlain has called out how polyamory was specifically represented on The CW show, and he was not impressed. As he explained, he didn’t like that this form of relationship was used as a “shocking twist,” and he felt like it wasn’t well developed.

As many fans noted, putting Archie, Veronica, Betty and Jughead in a quad relationship was unexpected, and that’s a major reason why Chamberlin and OPEN weren’t thrilled with the decision. Also, Riverdale has officially ended. What we saw is likely all we’ll get, and we likely won’t learn more about what brought them together or how their relationship works. The polyamorous relationship was used as a way to cap off the story, and according to Chamberlin they were not "engaging with an authentic portrayal" or polyamory.

Riverdale Producer Explains Why Archie And Jughead Were Never Seen Hooking Up Despite Finale Putting Characters In Quad Relationship

Megan Behnke — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 18:37:46 +0000

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Riverdale series finale, “Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Seven: Goodbye, Riverdale.”

The Riverdale series finale played out in true Riverdale fashion. It explained where the characters ended up and how they died via an angelic version of Jughead and filled in fans on round two of senior year. One reveal that really stood out, though, was the fact that the Core Four were in a quad relationship (yes, you read that correctly) during senior year. Betty Cooper would be with Jughead Jones at times, while Veronica Lodge was with Archie Andrews and vice versa. Sometimes, even Betty would be with Veronica. But amid all of that and the show's run in general, viewers never got a glimpse of Jughead and Archie hooking up. Now, producer and chairperson of Berlanti Productions Sarah Schechter explains why such a "Jarchie" moment never occurred on screen.

Throughout Riverdale’s seven-season run, there were some moments between Betty and Veronica that indicated there might have been something more, whether intentional or not. They kissed early on in the series, but that didn't amount to much. Yet during a recent Season 7 episode, it really seemed like they had developed feelings for each other. Still, nothing was ever done with Archie and Jughead, even upon the reveal of the quad relationship. Sarah Schechter explained to Variety that she didn't see the need for any intimate moment between the two friends:

I mean, that’s, like, too hot for TV. I don’t think there was a reason for it. I think there’s a fantastic, fantastic amount of LGBTQ representation on the show.

While you can never have too much LGBTQ representation, it seems like there just wasn’t a good reason to have Archie and Jughead together. You probably don’t want to force something that's so delicate. And to be honest, there weren't any true moments during the show’s run that even remotely indicated there was anything between the two other than just a brotherly bond. Personally, I also can't help but wonder how KJ Apa or Cole Sprouse would've felt about performing such a steamy scene.

Riverdale Fans Have The Best Barchie Theory After The Series Finale, And I Want To Believe

Laura Hurley — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 00:57:38 +0000

Spoilers ahead for the series finale of Riverdale on The CW.

Riverdale came to an end with a finale that not only didn’t return the characters back to the timeline of Seasons 1 - 6, but revealed that the core four finished high school in a quad to settle the romantic endgame once and for all... or so it seemed. As viewers took to social media following the final episode with plenty of thoughts about the love quad, some fans of Betty and Archie came up with an interesting theory about what the finale didn’t spell out, and there’s a surprising amount of evidence to back up the idea that Barchie were endgame after all.

At the very least, I want to believe that it’s true after a season of back and forth about Barchie! So bear with me and let's have some fun reading between the lines for what may or may not be there.

(Image credit: The CW)

The Origin Of The Theory

Let’s start with what exactly the show told us about Betty and Archie’s endings. Riverdale found a pretty convenient way to drop exposition about how all the characters’ stories ended, with an 86-year-old Betty with fading memories being visited by a version of Jughead to go back to a day of senior year that she missed. Angel Jughead had to jog her memory on the endgames, and she seemingly never remembered everything.

At least, Jughead had to jog her memories on endgames other than Archie’s. In their final one-on-one scene, Archie told her that he’d always felt that they would be together at the end of the story since it started with them as “a boy and girl next door to each other.” A tearful Betty said that was a “lovely sentiment,” but had a different story to tell:

But that’s not what happens in the future. Your mom was right. You make it to California and you don’t look back. Then you meet a sweet, strong girl who makes you laugh. And you settle down in Modesto. And you have a beautiful family. You’re a professional construction worker. And you are so, so content and happy. And when you die, you ask to be buried here in Riverdale next to your father.

Instead of looking surprised or confused at Betty’s extremely specific picture of his future, he just kissed her lovingly, and KJ Apa's performance seemed to suggest that Archie knew more than he was letting on. Then, a couple scenes later, we got to learn Betty’s backstory, this time from both Betty and Angel Jughead:

Angel Jughead: "First, it was the Teenage Mystique, a self-published bestseller. Then there was your advice column, Betty’s Diary… Then it was New York."
Betty: "Freelancing and protesting. There was so much to be angry about back then."
Angel Jughead: "Still is."
Betty: "The same fights, but other people are fighting them now. The younger generation."
Angel Jughead: "Who grew up reading the magazine you started. She Says magazine. The go-to source for feminist and progressive causes. Exposing hard truths. Still being published today, I might add."

When Jughead then asked if she had any regrets about not getting married, she replied that she had “none,” but she’s “so happy I adopted my daughter Carla.” She loved being a mother and grandmother, she said, and her family is her “true legacy.”

These are the stories of Archie and Betty's lives, with the former remembered by Betty and the latter filled in by Angel Jughead. If we take them at face value, Betty and Archie only ended up together in any way, shape, or form in The Sweet Hereafter. Barchie fans have a different idea.

(Image credit: The CW)

The Theory And Evidence

And here is where I have to give kudos and credit to the eagle-eyed Barchie fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) who caught some details that I missed on first watch. One fan was already connecting some dots shortly after the Riverdale finale finished airing on August 23, posting:

unreliable narrator betty with alzheimer’s, never seeing her redheaded daughter, never seeing archie’s wife, picture frame of archie, driving back to riverdale because she lived in california, knowing every detail of archie’s life….she is the wife we have all been bashing omgAugust 24, 2023

While the episode technically never said that 86-year-old Betty's memory problems were due to Alzheimer's, that she ever lived in California, or that her daughter had red hair, there's no denying that she was an unreliable narrator for most of the episode, and she did know a suspicious amount about Archie's life. According to @PaceynJoey on X, Archie may have been more aware than Betty knew during her blast to the past, writing:

Afterlife Archie knowing how everything turns out but Betty doesn’t remember bc of her Alzheimer’s and he doesn’t want to upset her (you don’t correct Alzheimer’s patients) but is also trying to hint to her they’ll be together and always were… yeah.

There's also the point that while there were flashes to the futures of Veronica, Jughead, and Betty (professionally), there were no scenes of Archie in California with a "sweet, strong girl" who makes him laugh, as another fan on social media noted:

They didn't show Archie's future because it's Betty who is his wife. She told his future, not jughead. And she is not a reliable narrator as that old Betty.So yes, Barchie actually got married and had kids. Betty is that sweet, strong woman who makes him laugh. pic.twitter.com/6iEccC7kQVAugust 24, 2023

If reading between the lines of Betty and Archie's seemingly separate life stories wasn't enough, there are also some visual clues that could point to the full story not being told after all, including old Betty having a framed photo of him. With showrunner Robert Aguirre-Sacasa both writing and directing the series finale (via EW), this fan suggested:

betty not knowing anyone’s future but archie’s, old betty having a heart shaped frame of archie in her room, aa + bc at the movie theater, carla andrews initials, archie being the one that greets her in the afterlife, ba drinking each other’s favorite shakes in that last scene.August 24, 2023

A seat in the movie theater had some graffiti on the bottom, including "AA BC" within a heart and "CA WAS HERE." I hope that all Riverdale viewers – Barchie fans or not – can agree that "AA BC" in the heart is a reference to Archie Andrews and Betty Cooper; if this Barchie theory is correct, than "CA WAS HERE" refers to Carla Andrews, Betty's daughter with Archie.

Now, I would be remiss as a journalist – even if I'm also one who wants to believe in a completely unconfirmed theory about Riverdale, of all shows – if I didn't do some digging and rewatching of my own, and here's what I came up with!

(Image credit: The CW)

Possible Supporting Evidence

When I rewatched Betty and Archie's final scene in the '50s and Betty's scene with Angel Jughead about her own story, I noticed some details that I missed the first time around. Betty told Archie that he would meet a "sweet, strong girl," settle down in Modesto, and have a "beautiful family." At no point in their conversation did she say that Archie married that sweet girl or how big his beautiful family was.

In Betty's story, we know from Angel Jughead – who does seem to have all the real information when he shares it – that Betty never married. Betty herself said that she adopted a daughter named Carla, and the existence of her granddaughter Alice gives me no reason to think that she was confused about adopting Carla.

Angel Jughead also explained that Betty went to New York after some professional success, and the episode established early on that she'd visited Kevin and Clay there. Jughead didn't say whether she spent her whole life in New York, and she even said that she'd attended some of Veronica's movie premieres, which were almost certainly in Hollywood.

So, we have Betty in New York for at least some of her time after high school, and Betty traveling to California at some point. If she went to some of Veronica's premieres, couldn't Archie have done the same and reunited with Betty there? Plus, in telling Archie's story, Betty said that he would "make it to California" and not look back, and then "settle down in Modesto." Who's to say that he wasn't elsewhere before settling down to build a family in Modesto? And is it important that only Betty and Archie were confirmed to be parents? Were Betty and Archie endgame, and she simply didn't remember in her old age due to her health?

Okay, I may be jumping to a lot of conclusions here for the fun of it, inspired by Barchie detectives on social media who caught some Easter eggs that I didn't the first time around, but I do think that there's a lot of wiggle room in Archie and Betty's endgames that could mean they ended up together after all... if you squint and nobody from the show comes out to debunk the theory, anyway.

Any word from Robert Aguirre-Sacasa may not come until after the end of the WGA writers strike anyway! Besides, this is Riverdale we're talking about. After all manner of crazy plot twists over the years, is any theory really too wild for this show? For now, you can always revisit the early days of Riverdale streaming with a Netflix subscription, as the first six seasons are available there. You can also check out our 2023 TV premiere schedule for some post Riverdale options.

Riverdale’s Finale Put Characters In A Quad Relationship, And The Internet Has Thoughts

Riley Utley — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 16:40:11 +0000

Spoilers for the Season 7 finale of Riverdale are ahead! Read with caution!

Riverdale just Riverdale-ed very close to the sun with its series finale on the 2023 TV schedule. As always, Riverdale’s series finale was full of surprises that seriously shocked the audience. However, the one that really got the internet going, and caused a myriad of reactions, was the revelation that Veronica, Archie, Jughead and Betty were in a quad relationship. Obviously, there were tons of dramatic, excited, angry and hilarious reactions to this news, and we’ve got some of the best ones for you.

Over the course of Riverdale’s seven seasons, both Betty and Veronica entered into romantic relationships with Jughead and Archie -- although Veronica and Jughead just kissed, but it still counts. Things were convoluted and messy when it came to this core four, and the story is pretty hard to follow when it comes to this love square (?). However, the writers decided to put this crazy relationship drama and our confusion about Betty and Archie plus Veronica and Jughead to rest by, naturally, having the four characters enter into a quad relationship.

Obviously, the revelation Betty had during her trip back to the ‘50s where she learned how she, Veronica, Jughead and Archie dealt with their romantic entanglements between Seasons 1 and 6 has the internet all fired up, and feeling a lot of feelings. For @barchiesorigin, this revelation was enraging as they tweeted:

introducing betty, archie, jughead and veronica to all be in a quad relationship in the finale has got to be the most stupid thing riverdale has ever done pic.twitter.com/2x6WOEBx00August 24, 2023

On the other hand, @beforekermit decided to accept and bask in this very unexpected story decision, as they posted:

riverdale fans hating on the archie/veronica/betty/jughead quad relationship y’all are so boring I’m sorry pic.twitter.com/vjSCaxHX9dAugust 24, 2023

Many couldn’t help but point out how the choice to put these characters in a quad relationship was very on-brand for Riverdale – a show that has included time travel, parallel universes, magic, bizarre episodes in the ‘50s, musicals and more. They really aren’t afraid to throw a curveball at their audience, which is exactly what they did with the series finale. @whyrev picked up on this too, and tweeted:

This is the most riverdale thing they could’ve ever done so props to them

Thinking along the same lines, @antikaia posted a thought on Twitter about how they loved the fact that Riverdale really did a full send when it came to this relationship choice. They tweeted:

they really riverdaled the series finale of riverdale and i think that’s great for them.

Others pondered what it was like writing this series finale, and posted about how much fun the writers probably had coming up with this episode, and specifically the quad relationship. @brandomsinger posted:

No one on earth is having as much fun as the Riverdale writers’ room.

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. I feel like the writers just decided to capitalize on how bizarre Riverdale has been post-Season 1, and they wanted to throw one final curveball at us that’s in the shape of a quad relationship.

While many posted about just going with the flow of Riverdale’s wild story, others were straight-up confused. For example, @criminalplaza posted:

what goes on in that show

Along the same lines, @nothnghppens also posted about how baffled they were by Betty, Archie, Veronica and Jughead as they tweeted:

not even the worlds most intelligent person could predict what happens in this show

Honestly, you really can’t predict Riverdale, and it's been that way since 2017, with each season being even more bonkers than the last.

We’ve seen a lot of shows come to a close this year, including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, possibly Ted Lasso and Succession, and I can’t help but think about how these shows all marked the end of an era, and the same can be said for Riverdale. @leylanocontext had this thought too, as they tweeted:

this is more earth-shattering and monumental than the ending of succession https://t.co/9o3Pcgwi1bAugust 24, 2023

I literally laughed out loud when I read that, and reacted in a similar way to all the other A+ reactions about Riverdale’s finale and the surprise quad relationship that was revealed.

It really is the end of an era now that the show inspired by Archie Comics has come to a close. If you are looking to go back and rewatch one of the most unpredictable and best teen dramas, you can stream Seasons 1 through 6 of Riverdale right now with a Netflix subscription, and you’ll be able to see its final season in full when Season 7 arrives on the streamer August 31.

Riverdale Series Finale Revealed Emotional Endgames For Betty, Archie And The Rest, But There's Still More To Come

Laura Hurley — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 03:55:44 +0000

Spoilers ahead for the series finale of Riverdale, called "Goodbye, Riverdale."

A long, unpredictable, and often bizarre era has ended on The CW with the series finale of Riverdale, which spent its seventh and final season with the characters transported into a 1950s timeline with them all back in high school again. The penultimate episode with its pilot callbacks explained why they could never go back to where the Season 6 finale left off for them in 2022, and "Goodbye, Riverdale" delivered a time jump to finish the story with an 86-year-old Betty revisiting a day from senior year with the help of angel Jughead before dying and arriving in The Sweet Hereafter. It was an emotional hour of endgame reveals, but fans who tuned in on The CW haven't seen the full finale story yet.

(Image credit: Justine Yeung/The CW)

How Riverdale Revealed The Core Four Endgames

It was hard to imagine how Riverdale could possibly deliver endgames that would please everybody, not least because Season 6 ended with Betty and Archie engaged while Jughead and Tabitha were going strong (comet notwithstanding). The core four characters were basically hopping from partner to partner for a fair amount of the season, with a surprise love connection between Jughead and Veronica. So, how did the show tie off loose ends?

Well, the first bombshell reveal about the core four came before Riverdale actually revealed their ultimate endings, as Betty rediscovered in her trip back to the '50s how she, Archie, Veronica, and Jughead had dealt with remembering their tangled relationships after recovering their Seasons 1 - 6 memories.

Instead of just pairing off, they became a romantic quad, with Betty revealing hookups between her and Archie, Veronica and Archie, and her and Veronica. She didn't say anything about Archie and Jughead, though! She and Archie did share a sweet final scene together, however, including a kiss after he confessed that he'd always felt it would be the two of them at the end of the road. (Me too, Archie. Me too.) Alas, it wasn't meant to be in Riverdale.

As for the final endgames, those were bittersweet. Betty, who looked back from present of 2023 to relive a day she'd missed from her senior year, became a successful author and founder of a popular magazine that is still going. She never married, but adopted a daughter and became a grandmother, telling angel Jughead that her family is her legacy.

Archie, whose decision not to remember the bad memories in the penultimate episode makes it a little hard to swallow some of what he mentioned in his big poem, went out west for the summer after senior year and never came back to live in Riverdale. He met and built a family with a woman there, and became a professional construction worker and amateur writer. When he died, he asked for his body to be returned to Riverdale so he could be buried alongside his dad.

Veronica moved back to Los Angeles to become a movie producer after her success with helping Josie premiere her movie a few episodes ago. She would be a hit there, winning two Academy Awards before dying and being buried in the Hollywood Forever cemetery.

Jughead, like Betty, never married but became a huge professional success when he established the Jughead's Madhouse magazine, which is still beloved by kids and teens into the modern day. Betty read her former flame's obituary early in the episode.

(Image credit: Justine Yeung/The CW)

How Riverdale Handled Other Important Endgames

Of course, Betty, Archie, Veronica, and Jughead aren't the only important characters from Riverdale, and the series finale took some time to establish the endgames for many of the others. Not all of them were happy, however!

Betty learned early on that despite his musical success and high hopes for the future, Fangs would die in a bus accident not too long after high school. His hit song was enough to support Midge and their daughter for the rest of their lives, however, so there was at least a silver lining to how his (and presumably Midge's) story ended.

Kevin and Clay stayed together, moving to New York after high school to become roommates while going to different colleges. They would live their the rest of their lives in Harlem, with Clay becoming a professor at Columbia and Kevin establishing an off-Broadway theater company. Kevin died peacefully in his 80s, and Clay followed a few weeks later.

Cheryl and Toni stayed together as well, and they moved out west where Cheryl became a successful painter. Angel Jughead didn't drop details about what Toni was up to professionally, but did reveal that they had a son named Dale – for Riverdale, of course – and they died peacefully after living full lives.

Reggie went on to play basketball in college and eventually be drafted by the Lakers, although he returned to Riverdale after the deaths of his parents. He became the basketball coach at Riverdale High and father to two sons.

As for the non-high schoolers of the show, Pops died in the teens' senior year, passing away in his sleep. Mary fell in love with a woman who came to her dress shop, and she moved into the Andrews house where they would remain together for the rest of their lives. Alice divorced Hal, became a stewardess, and married a man who helped realize her dreams of traveling the world. Polly gave birth to twins and never went back to her Polly Amorous burlesque life.

(Image credit: Justine Yeung/The CW)

Why The Story Isn't Over Yet

While the series finale ran for the normal hour with commercials when it aired on The CW, there were a number of scenes that had to be cut for time. KSiteTV reports that an extended version of "Goodbye, Riverdale" will become available on August 24 via The CW app and CWTV.com. It remains to be seen if the extended episode will be available to fans with Netflix subscriptions if/when the final season arrives on the streamer, which is currently host to Seasons 1 - 6.

The extended cut will include the fates of some characters whose endgames weren't revealed within the version of the finale that aired on The CW on August 23, as well as visit some Riverdale locations. None of this is to say that the extended episode will change anybody's endgame, but the storyline can be fleshed out a bit more.

You can find the extended episode starting on August 24, the day after the final episode aired on The CW. Netflix is the place to be to revisit earlier seasons, and you can also check out what Riverdale stars shared about working with Luke Perry as Fred Andrews prior to the actor's death. An era has truly ended with the conclusion of Riverdale, and it seems safe to say that no other show can recreate the epic highs and lows (for better or worse) that this show hit over the years.

Riverdale’s Stars Share Their Sweet Memories With Luke Perry Ahead Of The Series Finale

Megan Behnke — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 03:50:25 +0000

After seven seasons and countless kooky storylines, Riverdale will officially air its final episode this week. The seventh season of the ARCHIE Comics-based series exudes plenty of nostalgia, which was a given due to the backdrop and story arc. It takes place in the 1950s and in a new timeline (and has seemingly been building to something). As the show reaches it conclusion, one can't help but think of major moments and people that influenced the teen drama. One important individual is cast member and Fred Andrew actor Luke Perry, who died at 52 in 2019. Now, ahead of the finale, several members of the cast are sharing their fondest memories of Perry.

The principal stars of the long-running series took part in a lengthy exit interview with Vulture, and talk eventually turned to the late Luke Perry. Madelaine Petsch shared some particularly warm thoughts about the beloved actor. She specifically discussed how he predicted Riverdale's longevity and overall position within the cultural landscape before the series even premiered:

I had a long conversation with Luke Perry about this at Comic-Con when we first booked the show because he was on 90210. I asked him, ‘What is this ride gonna be like?’ And he said, ‘Nothing like you’ve ever imagined, but I promise you, it will be the last of its kind.’ Luke was an oracle for me and for a lot of the people on the show, especially in guiding us during those first two years of chaos and confusion and the rise to success. I think he’s a huge reason why the show is where it is today.

Obviously, the late actor was no stranger to teen dramas, considering he starred as bad boy Dylan McKay throughout Beverly Hills, 90210’s 10-season run. He knew all of the ins and outs of working on such a show. And unsurprisingly, he was also knowledgeable of the intense fame that came with such a position. Cole Sprouse conveyed that very idea while weighing in during the conversation:

I think he knew everything we were all going to be going through. And I often think about how he would be sitting answering these questions if he were still with us.

Luke Perry starred as Fred Andrews during Riverdale first three seasons. The father of lead character Archie Andrews, he served as a mentor to his son and, after Perry's death, the elder Andrews was killed off screen in a hit-and-run accident. Though he died amid production on the third season, the show formally said goodbye to Perry during the Season 4 premiere. The character's send-off was sweet, and the episode even included a guest appearance from Shannen Doherty, who worked with Perry on 90210.

After Riverdale's Penultimate Episode Explained (Almost) Everything For The '50s, I'm Still Confused About Betty And Archie

Laura Hurley — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 11:07:25 +0000

Warning: spoilers ahead for Episode 19 of Riverdale Season 7, called "The Golden Age of Television."

An era is ending on The CW in the 2023 TV season with the upcoming series finale of Riverdale, and the penultimate episode set the stage for the end of the show's wild seven-season run. Season 7 has been set in the 1950s after the comet hurtled toward the Town With Pep at the end of Season 6, with none of the core characters remembering their 21st century lives for most episodes. There have been big questions throughout the season, and "The Golden Age of Television" finally provided some answers with just one episode left... but I'm still befuddled by how Riverdale is handling Betty and Archie.

(Image credit: The CW Press Site)

How Riverdale Explained The '50s Timeline

"The Golden Age of Television" initially didn't feel all that different from the other Season 7 episodes that weren't really building to anything, but that changed when the real Tabitha showed up in her guardian angel role to finally restore Jughead's memories. She did this by setting him up to basically binge-watch Riverdale starting with the pilot – yes, really – and arranged for the rest of the characters to get their memories back as well.

For Archie, that meant that he relived the final years with his dad via the memories that had been erased by the jump into the '50s timeline. For Betty, that meant realizing that her family in the original timeline was hiding far darker secrets than Hal as Ethel's secret dad and Alice losing her shot to become a stewardess. There was no chance for them or any of the other characters to return to that original timeline, however.

Tabitha explained the situation, saying that she had to merge all the timelines of the multiverse together in order to save them after the comet, which meant that she could restore the characters' memories but could not return them to 2023. According to Tabitha, their social progress in the '50s is helping the healing process, so I guess there arguably was a point to what felt like standalone episode after standalone episode (including one final musical).

She gave the characters a choice: they could keep all their memories of the timeline they lost or go back to just knowing their '50s lives. Veronica had another idea: keep only the good memories and lose the bad. That was apparently possible, and Tabitha set them up for a screening of the highlights of their previous lives with clips of early Riverdale episodes. Ultimately, only Jughead and Betty decided to remember everything.

(Image credit: The CW)

Why I'm Confused About Betty And Archie

It may seem strange for me to say that "The Golden Age of Television" left me puzzling over Betty and Archie when I myself didn't even note any important interactions between the two of them in the section above, but the lack of interactions is precisely the problem for me. Both Betty and Archie regained their full memories for at least part of the penultimate episode, and should therefore have remembered that one of the last things they did before the comet hit was get engaged.

In fact, as you may remember from the sixth season in 2022 or watching via Netflix subscription, they were in a very serious relationship, and each proposed to each other – with Betty getting the "yes" from a surprised and delighted Archie – in the Season 6 finale not too long after Archie's reveal that his heaven was a life with Betty and two kids.

The closest that Riverdale came to acknowledging the good ship Barchie in "The Golden Age of Television" came during the montage of characters watching the screening of their memories together, set to "Twilight Time" by The Platters. One of the blasts from the past was a clip of Betty and Archie sharing their kiss in the Season 4 musical that was an homage to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, when she was still dating Jughead and Archie was still dating Veronica.

On the one hand, I do get a laugh out of the fact that Riverdale decided to include Betty and Archie's cheating kiss as part of the montage of good memories, and I appreciated that the scene at least paused long enough to show both of them smiling at it. Plus, Betty and Archie kissing during that Season 4 episode was ultimately a huge game-changer for the series, as it led to the splits of both Betty/Jughead and Archie/Veronica ahead of the time jump. It made sense to include that kiss.

But why would their kiss from their senior year of high school be the only Betty/Archie moment included? Not only was their engagement arguably an emotional climax of Riverdale's last episode before the '50s, but their relationship was previewed as "endgame" going back to the first season. KJ Apa and Lili Reinhart are the two top-billed stars; why wouldn't the show at least spend some time on Betty and Archie's relationship beyond one teenage kiss before wiping half of his memories?

(Image credit: The CW)

Why I Still Care About Betty And Archie

Even if Riverdale wasn't/isn't going to give Betty and Archie the heavily foreshadowed endgame, I would expect the show to at least let the two characters acknowledge that they had been engaged before Tabitha sent everybody back to the '50s. Even a meaningful glance actually at each other in "The Golden Age of Television" would have helped! I'm hoping that Barchie gets more material in the series finale, but I'm also not too optimistic at this point based on what we know.

The series finale, which airs on August 23, is called "Goodbye, Riverdale," and the episode description from The CW is wild enough that I anticipate it earning a spot among the show's craziest:

Back in present day and longing for her former life in Riverdale, 86-year-old Betty (Lili Reinhart) turns to a special friend to help her relive her last day of senior year with her friends as they were, their memories restored.

"Goodbye, Riverdale" was penned by showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and nothing about the description makes me particularly hopeful that the show will pick up where it left off for the characters in the Season 6 finale... or even as recently at Season 7's Halloween episode. So, why do I still care about Betty and Archie's fate as a duo in Riverdale?

Well, I honestly stopped bothering too much with the show's plot quite some time ago, which is why I got a good laugh out of Jughead mentioning the bear that mauled Archie as one of the moments from their pre-comet lives. Riverdale just isn't a show to watch if you're going to be a stickler for plot consistency. After all, who would have guessed back in the pilot that the series would someday include witches, superpowers, and a multiverse?

I've held on because I care far more about the characters than about the plot, and Riverdale spent a lot of time in developing Betty and Archie to the point of their engagement at the end of Season 6. So, I'm hoping for at least a slight nod to that relationship before the final credits roll on the series finale. The promo for the episode unfortunately doesn't give a whole lot away:

Look, I didn't say that it was a GOOD idea to still care about the relationship! Based on the promo, the length of Betty's ponytail makes me think that we're in for a time jump (or reality jump?) in the story, but other than that? Only the episode has all the answers. Tune in to The CW on Wednesday, August 23 at 9 p.m. ET for the series finale of Riverdale, following the series finale of Nancy Drew at 8 p.m. ET.

Following Riverdale's Latest Strange Episode, Fans May Want To Rewatch The Pilot Before The Series Finale

Laura Hurley — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:17:18 +0000

Spoilers ahead for Episode 18 of Riverdale Season 7, called "For A Better Tomorrow," and the upcoming final two episodes.

A somewhat bizarre era is coming to an end with the upcoming series finale of Riverdale on The CW, which will wrap after the penultimate episode on August 16 and final bow one week later in the 2023 TV schedule. "For A Better Tomorrow" didn't do much to set up how the series will end, despite my hopes that the recent episodes have been building to something special. The promo for the next episode is more promising, however, and two clues leave me convinced that I – and the rest of the audience – might want to rewatch the pilot ASAP.

Luckily, the full first six seasons of Riverdale are available streaming with a Netflix subscription, so revisiting the series premiere couldn't be much easier if you're a subscriber. But why should you go on a blast all the way back to the Season 1 past for an episode that aired in in 2017? For that, check out the promo and keep an eye out for two quick shots of a TV screen:

Overlooking the fact that The CW evidently released the trailer that was intended to air on the night of the penultimate episode rather than following "For A Better Tomorrow," the promo reveals that Tabitha will make her long-awaited return in time for the ending, and Betty is heard saying that "Riverdale is at a turning point" and Archie saying "rich with possibility," while Cheryl comments on "the beginning of a new era." None of those teases are what had me hitting up my Netflix account to double check something, however. The teases that accomplished that happened in quick succession, around the promo's 11-second mark, with Jughead.

It appears that Tabitha is going to return to the '50s storyline to jog Jughead's memory with something that plays on that screen; if the glimpses of the screen looked familiar to you, that may be because they're from the original Riverdale pilot. In fact, both of the shots on the screen come from within the first thirty seconds of the original Riverdale pilot. It sure looks like Tabitha is about to show Jughead the series premiere of the show, which would be such a meta twist that it would be worthy of Supernatural. Maybe the show really will pay off on Jughead's narration!

Now, do I think that Tabitha is really sitting Jughead down to watch the first episode of the series? Not precisely, and they certainly don't have Netflix in this show's current reality, but it looks like he's in for a blast to the past that jogs his memories from before the comet hit. Between that and the shots from the pilot in the promo, I'm thinking now is the time to go back to 2017.

Honestly, even if the penultimate episode doesn't go any further in nodding to the series premiere than a couple of shots, I think revisiting how the whole show started could be fun. Remember when Riverdale was dark, mysterious, and relatively rooted in reality, when the ideas of twists like somehow going back to the '50s for the final season, Sabrina Spellman coming to town, a Rivervale alternate reality existing, Archie being mauled by a bear, and even musical episodes (with the most recent going full High School Musical) would have sounded ludicrous?

This show has had its fair share of crazy plot twists, but most of them didn't happen until after the first season. Comparing Season 1, Episode 1 to the final season could be an interesting – if perhaps not entirely flattering to Riverdale – experience. Whether or not you go back to the beginning, you can see the end in just a matter of days.

The second-to-last episode of Riverdale airs on Wednesday, August 16 starting at 8 p.m. ET, and the description reveals that Jughead and Co. will have to "make a difficult decision that will change each of their lives forever" as the secrets of the town begin to surface. Be sure to tune in to see how the saga ends!

After Riverdale's Latest Bizarre '50s Episode, Is The Final Season Building To Something?

Laura Hurley — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 02:44:26 +0000

Spoilers ahead for Episode 17 of Riverdale Season 7, called "A Different Kind of Cat."

The weeks are counting down until the final credits roll on Riverdale in the 2023 TV schedule, and the story is still set in the '50s with characters having no memories of their lives before the comet from the Season 6 finale. Episodes of Season 7 haven't felt particularly cohesive with the jumps from story to story, and even relationship to relationship; after the events of "A Different Kind of Cat," I'm wondering if the show is actually building up to a finale or these episodes have truly been as standalone as they seem.

"A Different Kind of Cat" was actually one of the more fun episodes of Season 7 for me, with Ashleigh Murray returning to her former show to reprise her role as Josie McCoy, although Josie is a movie star in the '50s timeline and not the singer that she was in the short-lived Katy Keene spinoff. The various threads of the Josie storyline stood out, and I also loved seeing Betty, Cheryl, and Toni working together...

But I definitely didn't need Archie reciting a poem to Miss Grundy, of all people, or the reminder that teenage Archie and Reggie visited an adult escort in the previous episode. Not even Fangs' rendition of "Great Balls of Fire" was distracting enough for me to overlook that! I don't even know what to make of Jughead and Veronica, given that Season 7 has picked up and dropped pairings pretty frequently.

All of this is to demonstrate how Riverdale's final season hasn't been the most cohesive, and "A Different Kind of Cat" is a pretty great example of some fun moments broken up by some bizarre moments with a pretty closed ending that doesn't seem to be setting anything up. I've been hoping that the show is using these seemingly random episodes to drop dots that will connect by the end of the penultimate episode, but that seems increasingly unlikely.

I could go along with the bonkers twists when there was the sense that maybe they were accumulating to something (and/or part of a musical episode); now they just feel kind of bonkers with no larger purpose, especially since it's unlikely that the show will return to the present for any significant amount of time. Cast member Mädchen Amick stated back in June that the show wouldn't get out of the 1950s, and The CW's spoilery episode description for the series finale below (via TVLine) just confuses what we know about the episode. Take a look, if you don't mind the spoilers!

Back in present day and longing for her former life in Riverdale, 86-year-old Betty turns to a special friend to help her relive her last day of senior year with her friends as they were, their memories restored.

Are we going to see Lili Reinhart in old-age makeup to portray 86-year-old Betty Cooper? What life in Riverdale is she longing for? Is the last day of senior year she's reliving going to be from her senior year in the '50s, or senior year of early Season 5? We clearly shouldn't rule out time jumps, and the description for the finale – called "Goodbye, Riverdale" – doesn't do anything to make me think that the previous nineteen episodes of the final season were really leading anywhere.

That's not to say that the final episodes of the series won't be fun, and I could be entirely wrong. Maybe Riverdale will reveal that all of these seemingly standalone episodes were really building to something all along, and we just couldn't see it before the final pieces were in place. At least we won't have too much longer to wait to find out! The series finale of Riverdale airs on Wednesday, August 23 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. If all this time in the '50s has made you miss the earlier days of Riverdale, you can find the first six seasons streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Cole Sprouse Shares Foot Photo On Instagram, And The Comments Are Wild

Laura Hurley — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 23:45:26 +0000

Cole Sprouse's time on The CW as Jughead Jones is nearly over with Riverdale coming to an end this August in the 2023 TV schedule, but a recent post on social media has fans of the actor a lot more vocal about his feet than his longtime character. Spouse posted a photo of himself on Instagram that puts the focus on his foot, and people have... well, quite a lot of thoughts in the comments.

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody alum shared a photo of his foot in the foreground for his more than 33 million Instagram followers, and it has already accumulated quite a lot of attention after just a couple of days, including more than 1.5 million likes and no shortage of comments. Take a look at what Cole Sprouse decided to share with the world:

A post shared by Cole Sprouse (@colesprouse)
A photo posted by on

Sprouse didn't give any context for why he decided on this particular picture, with his "Lately..." caption not giving away much of anything other than that he was going barefoot a couple of days ago. Of course, celebrity feet have been a source of discussion in recent years, particularly with regard to Margot Robbie and the Barbie movie that made her character's feet an important part of the storyline, to the point that there was the question of whether they were CGIed.

Cole Sprouse certainly doesn't seem to be promoting anything in this pic or even nodding to a Quentin Tarantino film, and commenters had a wide variety of reactions. The consensus seems to be fans asking why he would post such a thing, and (I assume) joking about unfollowing him because of it and telling him to delete. There are too many wild comments to list them all, but check out a handful of those that stand out:

_abbiecolwell: how do i dislike a photo
_emilyontiveros_: Zach and toedy
klairebear247: you know he used his toe to push the timed picture button LOL
liyahx24: This isn’t nickelodeon you were on disney
b.rrana4: It's not too late to delete

"Zach and toedy" is of course a nod to Cole Sprouse's role as Cody in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, on which he starred with his identical twin Dylan. That show (as well as spinoff The Suite Life on Deck) aired on Disney Channel, whereas Nickelodeon was the kids' network with a foot logo. As for that last comment... well, if Sprouse hasn't deleted the pic by this point, I think it's safe to say that it's staying up!

He doesn't seem to be making a habit out of these kinds of images, however, as none of his most recent posts involve feet. He did reveal via Instagram when Riverdale wrapped filming back in early July, but Sprouse presumably won't be hyping the final episodes of the series in light of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

For now, you can still find him as Jughead Jones with new episodes of Riverdale's final season on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW, or revisit earlier days of Seasons 1-6 streaming with a Netflix subscription!

Riverdale Went Full High School Musical For Final Musical Episode, But Archie Andrews Is No Troy Bolton

Laura Hurley — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 23:07:13 +0000

Spoilers ahead for Episode 14 of Riverdale Season 7, called “Archie the Musical.”

The weeks are counting down before Riverdale comes to an end on The CW in the 2023 TV schedule, but there was time for one final musical episode. This time, Kevin decided to write his own musical based on his high school classmates rather than just do Oklahoma like every other ‘50s-era high school. Archie was at the center of his original vision for the show, and I was getting major High School Musical vibes… until it became very clear that Riverdale wasn’t giving Archie Andrews a storyline worthy of HSM's Troy Bolton.

Sure, there were major surface similarities between Archie in “Archie the Musical” and Troy in all three HSM films – particularly High School Musical 3: Senior Year – with Zac Efron’s character trying to choose between musical theater and basketball. In the Riverdale episode, Archie felt that he had to choose between focusing on basketball and his poetry. He also was torn between Betty and Veronica, which is similar to Troy in High School Musical 2 if you squint at what Gabriella represented vs. what Sharpay represented.

Throw in how “Archie the Musical” was a combination of songs written for a student-run musical and fantasy sequences, and this really could have been a fun homage to the High School Musical movies. It certainly had me flashing back to my days of loving HSM, and I’m an adult now! Instead, we got an episode with a musical about Archie that made Archie seem more like the comic relief than the protagonist.

Part of this is due to the fact that Archie’s problems seemed kind of trivial compared to what Kevin, Clay, Cheryl, and Toni were facing with hiding their sexualities in the wake of Riverdale High's red scare, and the stakes felt lower than what Betty and Veronica were going through with each other. I even felt a few pangs of secondhand embarrassment when he announced to his two traditional love interests that he’s going to try not to kiss anyone for a while, then exited with “Later, gators!”

I’m not sure if it’s because KJ Apa seems to be camping it up in Season 7 more than others in the cast or just because Riverdale was going strong on a Betty/Archie love reconnection for much of the season before a hard swerve, but it just made me want to check back in with Kevin and see what he was up to. It also feels like Riverdale has played out the Betty/Archie/Veronica love triangle enough with only a handful of episodes left and no choice made. Honestly, it especially seems off after Archie and Betty were settled on each other in Season 6. Troy Bolton would never!

In all seriousness, I can admit that it may be a little unfair of me to hold the characters to their adult decisions in Season 6 now that they’ve been de-aged to teenagers, but I wanted Archie to make up his mind more in this musical and feel more like a protagonist than there for the laughs. Even though the final musical number was solid for all the characters, I would say that the best songs belonged to others in the cast, and it could have been a better episode if it was “Kevin the Musical.”

Am I projecting because this episode was the first to air after the news that Riverdale is never leaving the ‘50s to return to the timeline of the end of Season 6? Maybe, but I just wish that there was more of a logical progression between episodes this season… and I wish that if Riverdale planned to explore Betty/Veronica, it had happened sooner than the back half of the show’s final season.

For now, you can keep tuning in to The CW on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET for the remaining episodes of Riverdale, and find the first six seasons streaming via a Netflix subscription. If you want to revisit how Troy Bolton handled his musical conundrums, you can find all three High School Musical movies and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series with a Disney+ subscription!

Will Riverdale Ever Return To The Original Versions Of Characters After The 1950s? One Star Has A Complicated Answer

Laura Hurley — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:59:38 +0000

Spoilers ahead for Episode 13 of Riverdale Season 7, called "The Crucible."

The 1950s action continued on Riverdale in "The Crucible" when – unsurprisingly, given the title of the episode – the high school went through a mini Red Scare of its own with communism claims made against the English teacher. Mark Consuelos and Marisol Nichols reprised their roles as Hiram and Hermione Lodge to complicate Veronica's life, a '50s version of Miss Grundy turned up, Archie gave his all in an Arthur Miller monologue, Betty got to do more than lust after her peers... and not even Jughead's storyline gave an indication that the show is leaving the past behind. Actress Mädchen Amick has now addressed whether the show will go back to the future, and her comments are complicated.

Mädchen Amick has been part of the Riverdale cast from the beginning as Alice, Betty Cooper's mom, and wearing '50s fashion like the others all season. She has also directed three episodes of The CW show, including "The Crucible," and spoke with Decider about the seventh and final season. When asked if the entire season will be set in the '50s, the actress/director had a surprising answer:

I don’t know if I should answer it. [pause] No, we don’t get out of the 1950s. So I guess that is a big spoiler. I will say you do experience the characters in three different… dimensions, that you get to see a lot of closures that are outside of the 1950s. I can tease it that way. I think that’s safe enough.

I'm not sure which surprised me more when I first read Mädchen Amick's comments: the fact that Riverdale isn't going back to the future before the final credits role on the series or the fact that Amick actually came out and said as much when there are still seven episodes left to go in the 2023 TV schedule. Of course, she didn't stop at just saying that they don't get out of the 1950s, and she was vague enough about the different "dimensions" outside of the '50s that there's plenty of room to speculate... even if it now seems like a safe bet that Riverdale won't be going back to how Season 6 ended.

Her mention of three different dimensions is particularly interesting, as Riverdale previously introduced "Rivervale" as a killer parallel universe back in the Season 6 arc that brought Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's Sabrina Spellman (played by Kiernan Shipka in a reprisal of her Netflix role) into the mix. Could Season 7 touch on Rivervale and present day while remaining in the '50s to explain what Mädchen Amick previewed?

Theres no saying with any certainty at this point, although I can't help but wonder if having three different dimensions is Riverdale's way of trying to please all the fans by serving several different endgames for characters. Archie and Betty arguably became the main relationship of the show after their climactic Season 4 kiss and the time jump that followed, but almost four seasons of Archie/Veronica and Betty/Jughead undoubtedly mean that there are still plenty of fans of those pairings crossing their fingers for an endgame.

All bets are off in Season 7 when none of the characters remember their relationships – and in Betty and Archie's case, their engagement – from the end of Season 6, and I wouldn't be shocked if we're in for several different endgame reveals without ever leaving the '50s. I can't say that I'm thrilled at the idea that there evidently isn't going to be payoff on the '50s plot in the form of seeing the original versions of the characters back in the present again, but when has Riverdale ever been entirely predictable?

I just wish that I could count on seeing new episodes set back in the present timeline again, instead of just revisiting that timeline with the first six seasons streaming with a Netflix subscription. For now, we can all just wait and see what the show has in store with the final musical episode coming up next. Check out the trailer:

New episodes of Riverdale's seventh and final season will continue airing on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. There's still time for the show to deliver plots wild enough to rival any of the entries on our ranking of Riverdale's craziest plot twists!

Lili Reinhart Shares A Memorable TikTok As Riverdale Wraps Filming On Season 7, And I’m In My Feels

Megan Behnke — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:21:16 +0000

It’s the end of an era as Riverdale has wrapped filming on its seventh and final season. Over the last several days, cast members from the CW series have been sharing posts on social media and behind-the-scenes content as they wrap filming (and have likely taken home a prop or two). These have been of both the sappy and sentimental variety, and Lili Reinhart’s latest TikTok will get fans in their feels as she says goodbye to Betty Cooper in the latest "farewell" post.

Much like her co-stars, Reinhart has been posting plenty of content lately from her time on the Archie Comics-based drama, counting down to her final day on set before Season 7's 2023 TV premiere. Her newest TikTok confirms the final season of Riverdale has officially wrapped, and it’s a short but sweet video that may or may not make you cry thinking about the end:

@lilireinhart
❤️
♬ Riverdale - Blake Neely

The final season of Riverdale has infamously taken things back to high school and back in time, even including some increasingly horny teenagers, so to have “Farewell” be written on the chalkboard makes it all the more real that the series is ending. There are still two months left of episodes to air, so there’s still time to actually say goodbye to the series, but the fact that filming has wrapped on the final season is the beginning of the end.

Lili Reinhart seems to have been one of the last few still rolling as most of the Riverdale cast wrapped filming before her. Seeing her longtime friends and colleagues say goodbye to the show and each other and seeing their posts about it cannot have been easy, but Reinhart made sure to keep the mood light about it before she finally wrapped on the final season:

(Image credit: Lili Reinhart)

While Reinhart is looking forward to more fitting roles after Riverdale, as she will hopefully no longer play a teenager in high school, it’s clear the actress is very much feeling emotional having to say goodbye to this chapter of her life. It’s definitely going to be hard to watch the series finale in August, and now that filming is complete, the end of Riverdale is starting to feel more real. It’s going to be both emotional and exciting to see how the series wraps up, especially when it comes to how the gang gets back to the present if they ever manage to do that.

The seventh and final season of Riverdale is still airing on The CW until August 23, so fans still have a couple more months to prepare their final goodbyes. Season 7 of Riverdale can also be streamed on The CW app or on FuboTV, as well as Netflix internationally or with NordVPN, so there are plenty of chances to catch up or rewatch before the final airs. Even though Riverdale has had some crazy storylines, it will be strange to no longer have the series airing, but for now, new episodes air on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.

Lili Reinhart Explains Why Betty Has Gotten 'Hornier And Hornier' Over The Course Of Riverdale

Megan Behnke — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:13:16 +0000

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Season 7, Episode 3 of Riverdale, “Chapter One Hundred and Twenty: Sex Education.”

The seventh and final season of Riverdale is set in the 1950s, with the gang back in high school. While the characters are still the same, they are also different in a way, and a chance at round two of high school gives the series a chance to explore more storylines, including the birds and the bees. The latest episode focused on a sexually-determined Betty, and Lili Reinhart revealed that her character will only get…hornier.

Having a series set in the 1950s means that there are certain storylines that would have been delicately danced around if the show was actually made during that time. However, since it is Riverdale they are not shying away from those topics, including Betty’s evolving feelings for her best friend and next-door neighbor, Archie Andrews. While chatting about this topic, Lili Reinhart jokingly told EW that Betty’s hormones will only grow throughout the season. She also teased that her character might explore her sexuality as well during this final season, saying:

I joke about it on set all the time. As the season progresses, she just gets hornier and hornier. It's so interesting to see how Betty's mind is warped around her sexuality when she's being repressed. In the '50s, sexuality was not openly talked about. And certainly me, as a bisexual woman, it was not talked about. And you may or may not see Betty explore her own bisexuality. It's been a fun opportunity.

Since it is a teen drama, it’s definitely not uncommon for Riverdale to focus on sex and sexuality. To see how it plays out in the 1950s will be a different story though since topics like these were considered taboo. Betty has already been trying to get with her boyfriend Kevin, who is doing some exploring of his own, and now that she’s developing feelings for Archie, it’s only just a matter of time before those feelings overtake her. If they’re anything like that freaky jungle dream sequence she had in this episode, she’s in for a ride.

It should also be interesting to see Betty possibly explore her bisexuality, as this wouldn’t be the first time Riverdale has done it. Season 6 saw the adult version of Reinhart's character get closer to fellow FBI agent Jillian Drake, who even admitted she had feelings for her. At one point, it even seemed like Betty felt the same way but ended up pushing them down because she was with Archie. Maybe this second chance in the '50s is just what she needs.

There is going to be much more romance, relationships, heartbreaks, and make-ups as the final season of Riverdale continues, and no doubt, some horny teenagers. How it all builds up to the series finale this summer will be something to look forward to. To check out the final season of the CW show, be sure to tune in every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET as episodes continue to drop on the 2023 TV schedule.

How To Watch Riverdale Season 7 Online And Stream Final Episodes From Anywhere On Netflix Now

Daniel Pateman — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 22:59:00 +0000

How to watch Riverdale Season 7

Time and date: every Wednesday from March 29 at 9pm ET / PT

Channel: The CW

Stream online: The CW website or with a free 7-day FuboTV trial (US)

International Stream: episodes available next day on Netflix (UK, CA, AU)

Watch anywhere: Stream from anywhere with NordVPN

Watch Riverdale Season 7: synopsis

Get ready to shake, rattle and roll as the hit CW teen drama comes to an end. Since 2017 we’ve seen Archie, Betty, Jughead and Veronica face serial killers, get trapped in alternate dimensions, and do a deep dive in the dark arts. Their latest challenge? Escape the decade of Rock ‘n’ Roll and get back to the future. Our guide below will explain how to watch Riverdale Season 7 online and from anywhere with your Netflix subscription.

Last we saw, Bailey’s Comet was on a collision course with Riverdale. Archie (KJ Apa) and his pals had transferred their supernatural powers to Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch), who blasted the hulking piece of space debris out of the sky – but also somehow propelled the gang back in time to the 1950s.

And things are all shook up in this new decade. They’re high school teens once more, with only Jughead remembering their previous lives. Archie, having just proposed to Betty, is infatuated with Hollywood starlet Veronica (Camila Mendes) in this reality, while Betty is on a quest to please her boyfriend Kevin, who’s living life here as a closeted gay man.

As always in Riverdale, darkness lurks beneath the perfect surface. Show creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa says the final season explores the American myth of what the 1950s were versus the reality, and the character’s attempts to become their authentic selves and address the dangerous consequences of the era’s prejudices.

So, grab a booth in Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe as we explain below how to watch Riverdale Season 7 online from anywhere now.

Is Riverdale Season 7 on Netflix?

International viewers in a number of territories can expect to find all-new episodes of Riverdale on Netflix on a weekly basis.

As detailed below, Netflix UK, Netflix Canada and Netflix Australia are among those regions that will get Riverdale Season 7 episodes every Thursday, beginning March 30 and less than 24 hours after they first air in the US.

And in the US, the final season of the CW show will be added to Netflix once it’s come to the end of its TV run, sometime around September 2023.

How to watch Riverdale Season 7 from anywhere

If you're a Brit, Canadian, or Aussie on vacation or working overseas, you can still watch Riverdale Season 7 just as you would at home with your Netflix subscription.

While Netflix libraries differ from country to country, there's a handy piece of software called a VPN which can change your IP address to make it look like you're accessing streaming services from any country in the world.

For example, Brits in the US can subscribe to a VPN, join a server based in the UK and access UK Netflix from anywhere in the world.

Watch Riverdale as if you were at home with a VPN
Offering a 30-day money back guarantee, try out NordVPN, the best VPN for unblocking Netflix with the ability to stream from any device, including your mobile or tablet, laptop, TV, or gaming console. Also boasting some top of the class security features, it's a no brainer. Run into any problems? NordVPN has an excellent customer support team on hand 24/7.View Deal

Step-by-step of using a VPN to unblock:

1. Choose a VPN and install it - our go-to recommendation is NordVPN.

2. Connect to a server - for British Netflix, for example, you'll want to connect to a server based in the UK

3. Go to the live stream you wish to access - for Riverdale, head to Netflix.

Watch Riverdale Season 7 online in the US

(Image credit: The CW)

One of The CW’s most popular exports, Riverdale Season 7 debuted on March 29 with episodes airing weekly every Wednesday at 9pm ET / PT. It is expected to run up until August 23.

If you miss an episode on linear TV, the great news is that it will be available to watch online via the CW website the following day. You'll be able to watch ASAP with your cable login, or you can wait a week and watch 100% for free.

For those who've cut the cord, FuboTV is a comprehensive cable TV replacement. The higher price tag starting from $75.99 a month brings with its an incredible roster of over 140 channels. And, even better, it offers new subscribers a 7-day free trial period.

Alternatively, you could opt for Hulu's Live TV plan. There’s no free trial, but for $69.99 a month you’ll get over 85 live channels, unlimited DVR, plus access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus thrown in.

And if you want to recap Archie's earlier adventures, Netflix offers every episode of Riverdale from Seasons 1 to 6, with plans starting at $6.99 a month (with ads) and peaking at $19.99 for the Premium (ad-free) plan. It’s expected that all-new Season 7 episodes should arrive on the streamer around September 2023.

How to watch Riverdale Season 7 online in Canada

(Image credit: Netflix)

Netflix continues to be the international home of The CW’s Riverdale. Its seventh and final season debuted on March 30 in Canada, less than a day after its linear TV broadcast, and with new episodes arriving weekly every Thursday.

There are a range of Netflix plans, starting with the budget Basic with Ads plan at CA$5.99 a month. You can ditch ads with the Basic CA$9.99 plan, and pay progressively more to allow simultaneous streams and improved picture quality. The top-level Premium plan is CA$20.99 and allows for four streams at once and UHD streaming on select titles.

A Canadian south of the border? Use a VPN to port yourself back home and access your usual streaming service.

How to watch Riverdale Season 7 online in the UK

UK fans can also enjoy Riverdale Season 7 with a Netflix subscription. New episodes are available weekly from 8am GMT, beginning on March 30 and landing every Thursday thereafter. Just pick a plan to suit your budget and viewing needs.

The £4.99 plan provides basic ad-supported access, so go for the £6.99 plan if you want to avoid mid-show breaks. A Standard subscription brings a bump in picture quality and two simultaneous streams for £10.99, while those looking to max out their viewing experience can choose the £15.99 Premium plan.

How to watch Riverdale Season 7 online in Australia

Aussies can expect new episodes of the final season of Riverdale to arrive on Netflix from every Thursday from March 30 too – the same day as its UK and Canadian release.

Plans start with Basic with Ads for AU$6.99 a month. Or you can opt for the AU$10.99 plan and ditch the interruptions. Memberships increase in price if you want to stream from additional devices or are looking for improved picture quality, with the top-tier Premium plan coming in at a monthly AU$22.99.

Of course, Riverdale isn’t available in all territories on Netflix, so if you happen to be abroad for whatever reason, connect to a VPN and watch as you would at home.

Riverdale Season 7 trailer

What is the episode release schedule for Riverdale Season 7?

Episode 1, "Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen: Don't Worry, Darling" - March 29
Episode 2, "Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen: Skip, Hop, and Thump!" - April 5
Episode 3: "Chapter One Hundred and Twenty: Sex Education" - April 12
Episode 4: "Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-One: Love & Marriage" - April 19
Episode 5: TBA
Episode 6: TBA
Episode 7: TBA
Episode 8: TBA
Episode 9: TBA
Episode 10: TBA
Episode 11: TBA

Riverdale’s Camila Mendes Reveals A+ Veronica Prop She Scored

Megan Behnke — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:58:07 +0000

TV cancellations were plentiful in 2022 were brutal, but 2023 will also mark the end of a number of notable shows. One such series that's coming to an end is The CW’s Riverdale, (and yes, it is still on). With that, the cast and crew will soon be saying their goodbyes and possibly even grabbing momentos from the set before they finish their work. To that point, Camila Mendes is opening up about the A+ prop that she's already made off with.

It’s not unusual for an actor to take something from the set of a movie or show they worked on, though such a feat can be tough due to security measures. It was probably only a matter of time before we started hearing about the Riverdale actors doing that very thing. Although the final season is reportedly still filming through early summer, Camila Mendes, who portrays Veronica Lodge on the Archie Comics-adapted series, was able to snag one of her character’s props already, and it's something that fans of the Lodge family will no doubt recognize. Mendes told InStyle:

One of the props people gave me a gift. There's a portrait that hangs above Hiram Lodge's office that's of Veronica, cross-legged with her hands on her knees. It's very regal, and I have it above my guest bathroom toilet currently. And I intend on stealing a different artwork that's of Veronica walking through lions. Once the show's over, I'm going to ask them to give me that. I also want that in the bathroom. I just want people to be peeing and then looking up at me staring at them.

It’s both sweet and hilarious that Camila Mendes was able to get that iconic portrait. I also sort of love the fact that she went ahead and put it in her guest bathroom. I'm not sure about any of you, but I'm hoping that she also gets to snag that other image before she finishes her work on the streamable teen drama.

Once production wraps, it’s likely that more cast members will be taking home props from The CW series. I'm as curious as ever to see what they manage to keep. At the very least, I'd love it if Cole Sprouse were to take home Jughead’s beanie, if he hasn't already. Considering that the Veronica actress said she was gifted her portrait, I'd expect the others to be presented with tidbits as well. Sprouse, Lili Reinhart and co. may be looking to move on, but I'm sure they'd love to hang to a few souvenirs from the show that boosted their celebrity statuses.

It's not surprising to hear that the prop Camila Mendes was given is pretty ridiculous, as Riverdale has crazy storylines that include some intriguing macguffins at times. And things are going to get even wilder in the seventh and final season. The series taking things to the 1950s, and the stories are bound to get even crazier.

Camila Mendes and her colleagues are probably doing all that they can to ensure that the show ends on a high note. While I'm curious to see how that all unfolds, I'll also be keeping my eyes peeled for updates regarding what props the stars were given as wrap presents.

Check out the final season of Riverdale when it premieres on Wednesday, March 29 at 9 p.m. EST on The CW. You can also stream past seasons using a Netflix subscription. In addition, check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 TV schedule to see what is arriving this year.

Cole Sprouse Got Candid About Losing His Virginity And More In New Interview, But The Internet Won’t Stop Roasting Him For Smoking Inside

Riley Utley — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 17:16:04 +0000

Cole Sprouse has been a working actor since he was a baby, and starred alongside his twin brother Dylan in movies like Big Daddy and shows like Friends and Suite Life of Zack and Cody. So, it’s safe to say he’s been around the block, and has been through a lot. With that being said on a new podcast, the actor spoke openly about a lot of sensitive topics like being a child actor, the difficulties of childhood fame, his close relationship with his twin, his parent’s divorce and the custody battle that followed, his break-up with his Riverdale co-star Lili Reinhart as well as losing his virginity at 14. However, while he spoke candidly about all these topics, the internet can’t get over the fact that he was smoking a cigarette indoors.

Cole Sprouse Candidly Discusses Losing His Virginity At 14

Sprouse really spoke sincerely and candidly about his past, but he also had a good sense of humor about it all. While his stories about his parents, brother and time on Disney Channel were fascinating, one of the more shocking moments from Sprouse’s appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast was his story about losing his virginity when he was 14.

The Riverdale star started the story by explaining that he was on a family trip to Florida, and met an older girl, the second time they saw each other he asked her if she was “DTF.” That’s literally what he asked, and he noted that his twin will never let him live that line down. He continued the story about taking her back to his hotel room, saying:

So we went back to the hotel room… and I text my brother and my buddy, Charlie – we were all staying in the same hotel because we were fucking 14. I was like, ‘Dude, you gotta get out of the room. I got a girl coming over, you gotta get out of the room, dude.’ And we’re walking down the hall, and I see my brother and Charlie walking towards me and as they’re walking towards me, my brother just looks at me and he goes, 'What the fuck are we supposed to do?' and I looked at him and I said another line that he's never forgiven me for. I looked at him, and I was like, 'I don't know, go play chess or something.’ [The sex] lasted about 20 seconds, and I never talked to her again.

The actor noted during the story that after this moment he became a “serial monogamist.” Much like he did with other stories he told, Sprouse reflected on how that moment impacted his love life moving forward, but he also acknowledged how funny the story was, saying:

And after that, I became truly a serial monogamist. I went from long-term relationship to long-term relationship pretty consistently. … Not only that embarrassing display, I love that story now because it’s so youthful that I think it’s quite funny. But I ended up regretting it a little bit afterward because I hadn't made it special at all. I sort of got it out of the way. And that’s not to say that it needs to be [special], but from my own personal approach to it, I was kinda like ‘eh.’

Throughout the podcast, Sprouse talked about how he has done a lot of self-work, and openly spoke about very personal topics, like losing his virginity. However, throughout the entire episode, he was smoking a cigarette, and the internet will not let him live it down.

Fans Can’t Stop Roasting Cole Sprouse For Smoking Inside

Since seeing people smoke a cigarette inside is not a common sight these days, it comes as no surprise to me that the internet is roasting Cole Srpouse for doing it. While he asked for permission to smoke, and noted that people smoke weed indoors all the time, the internet is roasting him big time, posting things like what Ashley Reese wrote:

Him smoking indoors like he’s French or something this is so… https://t.co/lb25I8dHmTMarch 7, 2023

Many people seemed off-put by Sprouse’s decision to smoke, and posted things like what @brittanyzapataa wrote:

It’s giving rich white kid pretending to be a tortured artist ☠️

Michelle agreed with this sentiment by posting:

Cole Sprouse smoking a cigarette INDOORS on a podcast is the cringiest thing everMarch 8, 2023

Another listener, @barchiebaby, poked fun at the Riverdale star by posting a photo of Chandler Bing:

this is how cole sprouse thinks he looks when smoking pic.twitter.com/sbEQGtcR3JMarch 8, 2023

However, there were some people humorously supporting the actor, by noting one of Cole Sprouse’s best-known projects, Riverdale. For example, Yew posted:

He was on riverdale what’s more tortured than that?

Like most of these Twitter users, I don’t love that Cole Sprouse was smoking indoors, but honestly, it was kind of a vibe to see him reflect on Zack and Cody all these years later, his previous relationships and losing his virginity while casually holding a cigarette. It was giving Mad Men vibes, in my humble opinion. Overall, it was cool to see one of Disney Channel’s former stars speak so openly about his time working crazy hours like Jenna Ortega did as a kid, and his relationships with his family and partners.

If you want to see what Cole Sprouse is up to now, Riverdale’s final season is will start airing on the 2023 TV schedule on March 29, and you can stream the first six seasons with a Netflix subscription.

Riverdale’s Camila Mendes Just Went Pants-Free, And She Did It While Walking Around On The Street

Jessica Rawden — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 16:43:52 +0000

While going pants-free was notably a pandemic trend favored by celebrities like Alexandra Daddario, who lived the pantless lifestyle, and Tom Holland, who decided against pants for at least one Cherry interview, some bold celebrities are still trying out the look. That includes Riverdale star Camila Mendes, who certainly made a statement by walking around on the streets of New York in a pants-free outfit.

The actress headed to Coach’s New York Fashion Week show and totally opted to wear lingeries. Photographers caught her out on the street in the outfit, which included a pair of high-waisted underwear and a black bra. She paired the look with a Coach leather jacket, Coach logo loafers and a Coach handbag, of course.

(Image credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Contributor)

It’s also worth noting that it's actually been warmer than usual in New York this week when the actress chose to rock the outfit. I know she had a coat, but I'm still not sure forties and fifties weather is really warm enough to justify the choice, though it is striking and Mendes did mention it was "sunny' when she chose it.

(Image credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Contributor)

Camila Mendes has been noted for her fashion in projects like Do Revenge and more in the past, and now she's seemingly making bolder moves in public. While the pantless style has fallen out a bit since the pandemic, when Megan Fox went pants-free on a red carpet with Machine Gun Kelly (before her cryptic cheating post and alleged break-up) and others favored the style, it certainly is still attention-catching. Perhaps it's on the way to becoming a trend again.

Still, unless you live someplace warmer than New York, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend trying to emulate this outfit right now, in February. However, if you do enjoy the look you could always take inspiration from her shoes, which all-weather appropriate and can be purchased in multiple colors and silhouettes at retailers like Nordstrom and Coach itself.

Meanwhile, Mendes told Harper's Bazaar in an interview from the event that she was originally planning the look with a pair of shorts, but the pants-free version really appealed to her. She said:

I love picking one oversized thing and then balancing it out. We were going to wear shorts underneath this, but then I saw this little high-waisted underwear and thought, 'Maybe I'll just do that.'

At the end of the day, she certainly landed plenty of attention while out modeling the look on the streets of New York and later during the actual Coach event, which other celebs, like Zooey Deutch and Lil Nas X attended. As she put it in the same interview, she felt like the whole ensemble was "a move." More like a checkmate.

Riverdale Actor Ryan Grantham Admits He Has 'Work' To Do After Killing Mother And Plotting To Murder Justin Trudeau

Carly Levy — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 20:17:04 +0000

To many, Ryan Granthan seemed to have a rising career, having landed roles on notable TV shows over the years. That professional trajectory took a turn in 2022, however, after Grantham was found guilty of murdering his mother in 2020 and plotting to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In the time that's since passed, it would seem that he's since been seeking to make progress internally. Now, it's been reported that the young Riverdale alum admitted he has “work” to do on himself while in prison.

Ryan Grantham appeared on Riverdale as Jeffery Augustine, the young man who accidentally killed Luke Perry’s Fred Andrews -- a development that came after the 90210 star’s unexpected death of a stroke at 52. It was during the summer of 2022 that Grantham plead guilty to fatally shooting his mother and attempting to kill Justin Trudeau. Now, TMZ has provided an update from Grantham’s attorney, Chris Johnson, regarding how the 25-year-old is doing. The attorney said:

Mr. Grantham recently advised me that he’s doing well, getting the help he needs, and has gained some insight into what happened and why. He regrets what he did to his mother.

It's also TMZ's understanding that Chris Johnson has been very concerned about his client's well-being. Because the former actor is petite, Johnson feared him being "physically, psychologically and sexually intimidated" if he were to be placed in a maximum security prison. This ultimately led Johnson to request that he be relocated and, with that, authorities recommended he stay in a prison hospital located in British Columbia, Canada.

That situation will remain in effect until a new location is determined. As it stands, Ryan Grantham -- who landed roles on shows like iZombie and Supernatural over the years -- is serving a life sentence and is ineligible for parole during his first 14 years. Sources for the news outlet also claim that he's currently seeing a prison psychologist as well as a psychiatrist. With that, his attorney further emphasized that his client is looking to focus on his mental health moving forward:

He realizes that he has a lot of personal work to do, but he’s dedicating himself to that, so that he can hopefully be a mentally healthy and contributing member of society at some point in time in the future.

Ryan Grantham was experiencing feelings of depression and self-loathing and felt the urge to commit violence during the months leading up to the murder, per Complex. Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly said Grantham was afraid his mother would find out about his poor school performance and that he participated in recreational drug use. After Grantham eventually shot his mother in the back of the head in March 2020, he reportedly loaded his car with three guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails, camping supplies and a printed Google map with directions to Justin Trudeau’s cottage. His sister, Lisa, was the one who found their mother’s body and revealed she was battling cancer before her tragic murder.

Only time will tell whether or not the actor's alleged focus on his mental health will continue for the foreseeable future and if he can put in the "work" he needs. And of course, it also remains to be seen if he'll get parole when he's finally eligible years from now.

Lili Reinhart And Her Riverdale Co-Stars Channeled Hocus Pocus For Halloween, And The Results Were Flawless

Carly Levy — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 23:05:14 +0000

With the Hocus Pocus movies considered to be one of the best family-friendly Disney+ movies to watch on Halloween, it’s brought back a love for the spooky classic. If you’re in a trio, why not make an appearance at your Halloween party or go trick or treating as the Sanderson Sisters? Lili Reinhart and her Riverdale ladies had the right idea of dressing up as the Hocus Pocus witches for Halloween, as the results were flawless.

As Riverdale is reaching its seventh and final season next year, that means we need to soak up the Riverdale trio before we don’t see them together on our TVs anymore. With Halloween here, Lili Reinhart posted a photo of her and her Riverdale co-stars Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch, showing their Hocus Pocus love as the Sanderson Sisters with the caption “It’s just a little HOCUS POCUS.” Take a look at this spell-binding Instagram photo below:

A post shared by Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart)
A photo posted by on

Everything these talented actresses did was flawless, from their wickedly colorful 17th-century garb to their insanely accurate hairstyles from the Halloween classic. Not only did the Riverdale ladies take photos for their Instagram accounts, they also posted a TikTok video to celebrate their picture-perfect costumes. In the video, you can see Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch lip-sync the classic musical number from the movie "I Put a Spell On You." Because how else can you make a Hocus Pocus fan video?

Lili Reinhart had to show off her new look on Instagram with individual photos of her magical costume. The Hustlers actress fashioned a red velvet skirt, matching cape and embroidered bustier with a number of cute poses. Her caption read, "'Hang him on a hook and let me play with him!' ~Sarah Sanderson." Check out these dazzling photos below:

A post shared by Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart)
A photo posted by on

Riverdale may have reached its end, but that doesn’t mean the Betty Cooper actress is going anywhere. Lili Reinhart plans on moving on to more fitting roles for her 26-year-old self. We saw her show off her dramatic film chops in the Amazon Prime must-watch movie Chemical Hearts, and she played a stripper who couldn’t keep her stomach down in Hustlers. She most recently starred in and executive produced the romantic comedy-drama Look Both Ways which you can find on your Netflix subscription.

It’ll be exciting to see Reinhart play more adult roles to show off her acting range, but it doesn’t mean she’ll be done with the young adult world. Her production company, Small Victory Productions, is working with Amazon Studios to present young adult content for film and television promoting diversity and inclusivity. I predict Reinhart will be on the path to great things post-Riverdale.

Lili Reinhart and her Riverdale co-stars show the world how you can go all out for your Halloween costumes as they dress as the Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters. Hopefully after their time on Riverdale, we can still see this fabulous trio reunite every Halloween for more creative costumes. You can get in the Halloween mood too by watching the Hocus Pocus movies with your Disney+ subscription. The final season of Riverdale comes to The CW next year.

Ryan Grantham Sentenced After Being Found Guilty Of Killing His Own Mother And Admitting To Plot To Kill Justin Trudeau

Dirk Libbey — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:31:23 +0000

Some child actors grow up to become movie stars, some leave the business and lead more regular lives. Unfortunately, however, there are some child actors that end up in trouble, and due to their former celebrity, they do so with a spotlight still on them. Such has been the case of actor Ryan Grantham, who in 2019 appeared in an episode of Riverdale, but in 2020 was under arrest for the murder of his own mother.

Ryan Grantham pled guilty to second degree murder last July, so the sentence, life in prison, was a foregone conclusion as that sentence in mandatory for that crime in Canada. The only question, as reported by Deadline, was when Grantham would be eligible for parole. The law requires that parole not be available for at least 10 years. Grantham will be eligible for parole after he’s served 14 years. He’s now 24-years-old.

It was March of 2020 when Ryan Grantham shot his mother in the back of the head, in their home in a town north of Vancouver, BC, then loaded up his car and, according to his journals that were entered into evidence, planned to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He also contemplated a mass shooting event. It’s unclear how far he actually went in any of these plans. In the end, however, he simply choose to turn himself in and confess to the murder. He remained in custody for two years pending trial.

According to prosecutors, the motive in the case was that Grantham had been doing poorly in school and smoking pot, and he was afraid his mother would find out. It’s been reported that Grantham was experiencing severe depressive episodes in the months leading up to the murder. Grantham has been participating in a mental health program since his arrest, but will now be transferred elsewhere to serve his sentence. According to his sister, who testified during the trial, their mother had been battling cancer at the time of her death.

Grantham had nearly 40 film credits to his name before his arrest. His most recent performance was in the role of Jeffrey Augustine, the character who killed Luke Perry’s character on the show after Perry unexpectedly died of a stroke during production. He made guest appearances on a number of TV shows including Supernatural and iZombie and in films like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

This will likely be the end of the headlines for Ryan Grantham, at least until the question of parole comes up several years from now. It does seem the young man was troubled, making this outcome tragic on multiple levels. While the prion sentence may be what is necessary under the circumstances, it's unlikely to bring anybody the closure they need.

10 Awesome Whodunnit TV Shows And How To Watch Them

Alexandra Ramos — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:04:45 +0000

It’s a mystery - a murder mystery.

Like it or not, lots of people are into murder mysteries. We like the adventure that it brings, the questions that are raised, and everything else involved. And while there are plenty of murder mystery movies out there, such as Murder on the Orient Express or Knives Out (which is getting a 2022 sequel on Netflix), sometimes, we want a mystery that takes place over several episodes and not just two hours.

That’s where these fantastic “whodunnit” TV shows come into play. From hits coming from the 2022 TV schedule, such as Only Murders in the Building, to older shows that you’ll surely love just as much, these are 10 of the best “whodunnit” TV shows that you should most certainly check out.

(Image credit: Hulu)

Only Murders In The Building (2020 - Present)

If you want an amazing show that’s recent, you need to check out Only Murders in the Building. Starring Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin, the series tells the story of a group of true crime fans who decide to create their own murder mystery podcast when a murder occurs in their building, and also attempt to solve the case.

Truly, this has been one of my favorite shows of 2022 overall, and a fantastic whodunnit show. Not only is the chemistry between the three lead stars spectacular, but the story itself is full of twists and turns that you would never expect, and it makes you wonder what could possibly happen next. As someone who has been a fan of all of these actors for many years (especially Selena Gomez, since I grew up watching her), this is one of their best projects in years. And, a third season is already on the way for 2023 - with Paul Rudd!

Stream Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

(Image credit: ABC)

Twin Peaks (1990-1991)

Next up, we have Twin Peaks, an older show from the nineties that is an amazing whodunnit series. In this show, we follow Dale Cooper, the detective on the case of the murder of Laura Palmer. But, as the mystery starts to unravel, he begins to notice that things aren’t all that they seem.

The series, while it originally only lasted for two seasons, returned for a third in 2017 after it gained a cult following. The show itself is such a staple in whodunnit television and a series where you have no idea what the heck is going to come next. And, let me talk about the cinematography, some of the shots in this series are beautiful. It’s done so well and is a series you should certainly check out if you’ve never seen it before.

Stream Twin Peaks on Paramount+.

(Image credit: HBO)

True Detective (2014 - Present)

This HBO anthology series is one of the best out there. True Detective is a crime drama where, in each season, we follow a new cast and a new story as they take on a new mystery that somehow gets even crazier than the last, from serial killers to corrupt politicians to so much more.

This show is seriously so good, and the fact that each season has a completely new plot makes it even better. The stories themselves are widely different and really capture your attention right away, and the casts are always star-studded. The latest season of the show (which released in 2019), stars Mahershala Ali. Season 4 is already confirmed with several new stars.

Stream True Detective on HBO Max.

(Image credit: Freeform)

Pretty Little Liars (2010 - 2017)

If you want to talk about a landmark in teen television dramas, this is the one. Pretty Little Liars tells the story of five best friends in a clique that falls apart when Alison, their leader, suddenly vanishes. But, a year later, they begin receiving messages from an unknown source called “A,” threatening to expose their past and secrets. Now, it’s up to them to figure out what happened to Alison and who A is.

God, this series. I remember distinctly when this show came out when I was in middle school that it was so popular, to the point where I didn’t even want to watch it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve given the show a shot and honestly, it’s a lot of fun. I do enjoy the mystery behind it and I believe that it was worthy of the hype. It even got a new HBO Max spinoff, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, years later, so it’s worth your time.

Stream Pretty Little Liars on HBO Max.

(Image credit: Showtime)

Dexter - Season 1 (2006 - 2007)

Dexter is one of the best Showtime shows out there. Featuring the titular character, Dexter Morgan, the first season of this series follows a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department, who has a habit of killing bad people to soothe his carnal desire for blood. However, when another killer begins to play games with him, he takes it upon himself to figure out who it is.

While I would mainly consider the first season of Dexter a “whodunnit” show for the purpose of this list, the rest of the series is great (minus that ending, but Dexter: New Blood made up for it). Michael C. Hall is a great leading man for the role of Dexter, and the show has plenty of moments that will shock and amaze you all at once. The mystery of the first season, though, is one of the best. And, the ending will leave you with your jaw hanging wide open.

Stream Dexter on Showtime.

(Image credit: HBO)

Mare Of Easttown (2021)

Next up on this list, we have Mare of Easttown, an HBO limited series starring Kate Winslet. In this drama, we follow a detective in Pennsylvania who is struggling with her own issues and her world is rocked when a murder occurs in her small town. Now, it’s up to the detective to figure out who did this, as well as the link between the murder and a suspicious amount of missing women who have been reported.

I think what I love about the Mare of Easttown is that it’s a very condensed story. It doesn’t get too crazy or out of this world, mainly just takes place in this small town, and features some truly amazing actors. The Mare of Easttown cast is great, too, offering very compelling performances. The mystery is believable, and you won’t be able to put down the remote after you start watching it.

Stream Mare of Easttown on HBO Max.

(Image credit: UPN/The CW/Hulu)

Veronica Mars (2004 - 2019)

Next up, we have the popular CW series (which returned later on Hulu), Veronica Mars. Starring Kristen Bell, this teen drama follows her story as the titular character who also tries to solve mysteries as a private investigator, with her father’s help. And while each season she tries to solve smaller mysteries, there’s always one major case that she’s working towards solving by the end of the season. The first focuses on her friend’s murder, the second on a group of students killed in a bus crash.

The first two seasons of Veronica Mars are truly the “whodunnit” seasons of the show and the best, but the other two seasons have interesting mysteries that people can enjoy. It’s really Kristen Bell in her lead role that makes this show so fun, because she’s just so good as Veronica Mars. Truly, one of Bell's best characters.

Stream Veronica Mars on Hulu.

(Image credit: Peacock)

One Of Us Is Lying (2021 - Present)

If you’re looking for a Peacock original series, check out One Of Us Is Lying. In this teen mystery, five students go into detention one day, and only four come out. Now, we're along for the ride to see who of the four students is lying about the death of one of their classmates.

As someone who read the book, this was such a good adaptation that I actually ended up watching it twice. The One Of Us Is Lying cast is outstanding in their roles, and the mystery is played out very well over the course of the first season. There’s even a Season 2 coming out very soon, so you might as well check it out now.

Stream One Of Us Is Lying on Peacock.

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

The Afterparty (2022)

AppleTV+ has been coming out with some awesome shows, and The Afterparty only adds to that. This Apple TV+ original stars plenty of famous names, such as Tiffany Haddish, Dave Franco, Sam Richardson, and more, and tells the tale of a high school reunion gone wrong when someone is murdered.

The Afterparty is such a distinct murder mystery, and what I like about it is that it tells the night from different perspectives. You don’t really know who to trust at first because everyone seems to have a reason as to why they aren’t the killer, but seeing it through the eyes of everyone else is so cool, and it helps that the show is seriously funny. Season 2 is on the way, so you might as well watch it now.

Stream The Afterparty on Apple TV+.

(Image credit: ABC)

How To Get Away With Murder (2014 - 2020)

Last but not least, we have How To Get Away With Murder. Starring Viola Davis, this series starts off when a local sorority girl is murdered. A law professor and five of her students end up getting all caught up in it, and not everyone is being so truthful about who knows what.

This show is so unbelievably good. The murder mystery is done so well and I truly am astounded at what they were able to do. The How To Get Away With Murder cast is amazing - and of course, Viola Davis is always a win. She ended up winning an Emmy award for her portrayal in the show, so you know she is just astounding.

Stream How To Get Away With Murder on Netflix.

(Image credit: The CW)

Honorable Mention: Riverdale In Its Earlier Seasons (Seasons 1 And 2, 2016-2018)

Okay, hear me out.

Riverdale is a CW show that takes place in the town of Riverdale where strange things happen all the time, mainly following Archie Andrews and his friends. Don’t watch Seasons 3-6. They’re just bad, and the twists and turns have gotten even stranger - and some don’t even make any sense.

However, the first two seasons of the show are actually pretty good television. The murder mystery surrounding the death of Jason Blossom, and the Black Hood killings really captured attention, and I think that for anyone who is into whodunnits, this would be entertaining to watch. Give it a shot. Just don’t see the rest of the show after, ugh.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.

With so many amazing choices, you’ll be swimming in murder mysteries for ages. It’s time to get on your detective hat and retrieve your notepad - we got some murders to solve!

Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart Went Topless On A Balcony In Venice For The Stunning Views

Heidi Venable — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:26:42 +0000

Lili Reinhart certainly seems to be leaning into what the future holds for her post-Riverdale. Even though there’s still one season to go on the supernatural drama, the 25-year-old Betty Cooper actress has already opened up about her excitement to move past playing a teenager for most of her adult life. Perhaps that more mature audience was what she had in mind when she chose to forgo her top whilst taking in the gorgeous Venice scenery from a balcony.

Many celebrities flocked to Italy last week for the start of the 2022 Venice International Film Festival, but Lili Reinhart proved that not all of the best views were on the big screen. The star of Look Both Ways (available to Netflix subscribers) posted a stunning and classy topless photo to Instagram, in which the actress gave a scalding over-the-shoulder look as she looked out at the Italian landscape. Check out the post for yourself:

A post shared by Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart)
A photo posted by on

Lili Reinhart channeled her inner Lana Del Rey in the caption, quoting a line from “Venice Bitch” as she looked out over the balcony, with a gorgeous sun basking the city in its glow. It’s clear that she’s ready to shed her teenage character after playing Betty Cooper on the Archie Comics-based series for the past five years (though Riverdale’s seven-year time jump in Season 5 did help that).

Lili Reinhart has spoken about the “dramatic, deep roles” she hopes to get going forward, and her latest work has definitely gone in that direction. In 2019 she played stripper Annabelle in the critically acclaimed crime dramedy Hustlers, and she also leads the new rom-com Look Both Ways, in which she plays a recent college graduate.

In the Netflix film, Lili Reinhart plays Natalie, who finds herself at a crossroads on the night of her college graduation. Look Both Ways explores two different scenarios for the path Natalie’s life takes — one in which she pursues her dream job in Los Angeles, and one where she stays in her hometown to start a family. As she’s in her early 20s at the start of the movie, the time progression allows Reinhart to play a character who is true to her age.

Apart from emphasizing the direction her career path is taking, Lili Reinhart’s topless post supports her consistent messages about body positivity. In earlier seasons of Riverdale, Reinhart spoke out against body shamers who unfavorably compared her body to that of a model in side-by-side images.

Lili Reinhart was also critical of Kim Kardashian earlier this year, when the reality star publicly spoke about losing a lot of weight very quickly in order to fit in a classic Marilyn Monroe dress for the Met Gala. The actress asked fans to “Please stop supporting these stupid, harmful celebrities whose entire image revolves around their bodies.”

Regardless of who’s right or wrong in that situation, we very much support Lili Reinhart’s strong confidence in her social media posts from Venice! If you want to see more of the actress, Look Both Ways is streaming on Netflix, as are all six seasons of Riverdale. Be sure to check out our Netflix TV schedule and Netflix movie schedule to see what’s coming soon to the streaming service.

After Playing A Riverdale Teenager For Entire Adult Life, Lili Reinhart Talks About Moving Onto More Fitting Roles

Megan Behnke — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 23:10:00 +0000

While Riverdale still has one more season left, some of the stars are already thinking about the future after The CW series. Lili Reinhart, whose new movie Look Both Ways recently hit Netflix, is ready to move past playing a teenager and looking forward to playing more fitting roles after Riverdale.

Lili Reinhart was the latest guest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where she discussed her role as Betty Cooper on Riverdale and her future after the series comes to an end next season. Although she didn’t get into all of the details, the actress did preview the types of roles that she’ll be doing in the near future (via EW):

I have a lot of sort of dramatic, deep roles in my future after Riverdale. Definitely, roles that you have not seen me in — I'm an adult! I'm an adult woman, and I'm going to start playing those more adult roles.

Reinhart has already shown off her ability to play roles that are completely different than Riverdale. She starred in 2019’s Hustlers as a stripper, proving that she can do more adult roles. Plus, after playing a teenager well into her 20s, I can imagine that she is more than ready to move on.

However, Riverdale did have a time jump towards the beginning of Season 5, and it was seven years. So at least Lili Reinhart and the rest of the young cast have been able to portray their characters around their actual ages. Though with the Season 6 finale turning back time and making them teenagers once again, that breath of fresh air is no more going into the final season.

Meanwhile, if Lili Reinhart’s Netflix movie is any indication, she will definitely do well in roles post-Riverdale that are more adult. Look Both Ways, which follows two different versions of Reinhart’s character where one is pregnant and raises a family and the other moves to LA with her best friend to try to break into animation, is trending on Netflix as of August 19 and is the #1 movie on the streamer. It’s definitely nice to see her in other roles, and I am excited to see that continue after she is done playing Betty Cooper, especially if it means finally being able to play an adult. Reinhart turns 26 in September.

It's definitely not uncommon for an older actor to play a teenager, but it sounds like it can get a bit tiring. With Riverdale officially ending after Season 7, it won’t be much longer now until the cast is free to pursue more roles. It should be interesting to see how the season plays out, considering it will not only feature the characters as teenagers again, but it’s taking them to the 1950s, which is crazy, even for Riverdale.

Riverdale’s seventh and final season premieres on The CW midseason 2023. Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what’s coming to a small screen near you to keep you occupied.

Riverdale: The Show's Craziest Plot Twists, Ranked By How Ridiculous They Are

Alexandra Ramos — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:04:28 +0000

When it comes to some of the best CW shows, there are plenty that come to mind, from All American, to Gossip Girl - heck, even The 100 cast was full of talent and made a super good show (besides the last season, but that’s just my opinion). However, one show that has seemed to dip in quality over the last few years is Riverdale, and I honestly think it’s because of the ridiculous twists they have included.

While at first, many of these can actually be believable - as they feel like modern twists you would put in something like a murder mystery - down the line, some just border on pure insanity. As someone who's kept up with the show for as long as I have (it literally came out my freshman year of college), I’m going to take a look back at all the biggest twists of Riverdale, and rank them on how ridiculous they are - going from the least ridiculous to the most ridiculous.

And yes, a huge spoiler warning to anyone who is not caught up with Riverdale.

(Image credit: The CW)

Jason Blossom’s True Death (Season 1)

Like many TV shows out there, Season 1 was really the best of Riverdale. It was super popular on the CW, and brought in millions of viewers with its simple telling of a classic murder mystery plot that surrounded high schoolers. We had Archie, who was just trying to write and sing, affairs, first kisses, murders - you know, regular high school things.

Jason Blossom’s death was the big mystery of Season 1, and the reveal in the finale of the first season - that Jason was actually murdered by his father instead of it being a suicide, which was the rumor - was actually a really good twist, and had me coming back for more. It was an overall great episode.

(Image credit: The CW)

Betty’s Father Being The Black Hood (Season 2)

Season 2 of Riverdale was also really good, and I genuinely really liked the tale of trying to find a serial killer amongst all of the chaos that was happening in the town at the time. It was still relatively normal high school stuff with relationships, just with higher stakes.

Finding out that Betty’s father was actually the Black Hood who was going around terrorizing and murdering people, in the episode, “Judgement Night,” made sense. And when you take into account that Betty does have a dark side, which she has talked about several times before, I had a feeling it did run in her genes, so this twist adds up as one of the better ones.

(Image credit: The CW)

Hiram Framing Archie For Murder (Season 2)

While I would say this is starting to lean a little more towards unrealistic in my eyes in terms of Riverdale standards, it still makes a hell of a lot more sense than many of the other twists in this show. Hiram, who has had it out for Archie since he began dating his daughter, Veronica, has Archie framed for murder at the end of Season 2, during the episode, “Brave New World.”

While Archie’s time in jail isn’t that long - as he gets through it with the power of song (strangely) and fight clubs - I can certainly believe this twist more than some of the others here.

(Image credit: The CW)

Cheryl Hosting A Swingers Party (Season 5)

Riverdale is known for having pretty chaotic characters, and Cheryl has always been one who is all over the place (as we’ll get into later). In Season 5, in an attempt to win back her pregnant ex, Toni, years later, she hosts a swingers party (where romantic partners switch to have sex with other people) in the episode, “Lock & Key."

It’s not that hard to believe, considering Cheryl has done some pretty ridiculous stuff on the show. What sort of pushes it more towards the top of the list is the fact that most of the characters seem to like the idea, even though half of them are in very monogamous relationships that seem quite serious. I don’t know, maybe it’s just the hopeless romantic in me that doesn't buy it.

(Image credit: The CW)

Jughead Faking His Death (Season 4)

To be honest, I’m genuinely surprised they took this long for Jughead to fake his death in Riverdale. We spent a good amount of Season 4 guessing if he was really dead after that mysterious cliffhanger in the Season 3 finale, and it’s finally revealed in Season 4 during the episode, “To Die For,” that he was indeed alive and had faked his death in order to hide from the Stonewall Prep students who were looking to murder him.

I mean, it makes sense. And to be honest, with how much these kids have been doing, it doesn’t surprise me. It also kind of peeves me off that we only see the Stonewall Prep kids once after this season. Such a shame. Waste of a storyline.

(Image credit: The CW)

Archie Getting Mauled By A Bear - And Surviving (Season 3)

I remember when the initial attack of Archie and the bear happened during the Season 3 episode of Riverdale, “No Exit,” I was stunned to think that Archie had died. But nah, this man survives a whole-ass bear attack.

This is where the twists start to get into “meh” territory for me. I know that surviving a bear attack is very possible - as long as you have proper medical attention. But Archie was literally in a cabin that was far away from any sort of help and bleeding to death and yet somehow, he survived by, what, the power of his abs? It says he was saved by rangers but I genuinely don’t believe they would find him that quickly.

Also, can we talk about how he literally doesn't have a single scratch on him? Like barely any scars years later?

(Image credit: The CW)

Barchie Becoming A Thing (Season 4)

One of the biggest issues I had a few years ago when I first started writing about Riverdale was Barchie - the ship name for Betty and Archie. And while this twist is still meh, I hate it to this day, because it just makes me so upset.

I’m not saying that their relationships with others were any better, since both had issues, but I think what ticked me off the most with these two is that it felt so unnatural. They were so in love with their partners and then, in Season 4, just because they were working on a damn song together, they ended up sharing a kiss in the episode “Wicked Little Town,” during this pathetic musical episode. Ridiculous.

That led to a whole issue with cheating and mutual pining and just ugh. This was a murder mystery at one point, and Season 4 just felt like petty high school drama with some decently interesting moments filtered in. I just can’t picture them as endgame.

(Image credit: The CW)

That Whole Gryphons And Gargoyles Cult (Season 3)

Look, there’s no specific episode to reference with this - Season 3, just as a whole, is a wild ride with the inclusion of the board game, Gryphons and Gargoyles, and that organ-harvesting farm.

Reading that just gave you a headache, didn’t it? Because it sure as hell did the same for me. It baffled me.

While I can totally believe cults exist in the world of Riverdale, Season 3 took it to another level where it just felt unbelievable that these kids were getting roped into literally donating their organs, thinking it was for some board game, and never questioned it. How dumb can someone be? That’s just ridiculous.

(Image credit: The CW)

Jughead Literally Getting Abducted By Aliens (Season 5)

This, just…why?

We had never had a single hint to there being aliens prior to this season, and now, in the Season 5 episode of Riverdale titled “Fire in the Sky,” Jughead had some writer's block, so what did he do?

He took some shrooms, and somehow, someway, got abducted by aliens - I think?

At least, that’s what the general consensus was, because the inclusion of drugs with Jughead was something that was never needed before and certainly didn’t add anything that was good to the plot. It was just strange and weird and didn’t make any sense whatsoever. The fans were also not happy either.

(Image credit: The CW)

Rivervale (Season 6)

Listen - I loved the Netflix series, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I loved the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina cast, I loved the story, and I was so sad when it got cancelled - but this show did not need to cross into Riverdale territory. Like, are we serious? I didn’t like the whole twist with Cheryl at the end of Season 5 with her family apparently being witches, but we were never alerted to that before at all, and including this whole series event was so silly.

While it was cool to see Kiernan Shipka return as Sabrina in the series, the whole Rivervale plotline for the first six episodes of Season 6 of Riverdale was just so ridiculous in every conceivable way that I can’t re-watch those now, no matter how much I love fantasy movies or fantasy TV shows. It just doesn’t fit with Riverdale.

But, there’s one twist that outdoes every other one, and I’ll explain it now.

(Image credit: The CW)

Everyone Has Powers???? (Season 6)

Hey, Riverdale? It’s Marvel, they want their superpowers back.

In Season 6 of Riverdale, we saw Rivervale, which introduced the idea of the supernatural into the show. In the episode, “Unbelievable,” after a bomb explosion that was featured several episodes prior, it gives the characters superpowers. Superpowers. All of which continue on until the end of the season.

I’m just…I didn’t need more superheroes, The CW! I had enough with the Arrowverse and I didn’t need to see horrible CGI of Cheryl using her powers to somehow stop a comet from flying into Riverdale - God, just writing this is making me lose brain cells. Good God.

Riverdale is finally ending with Season 7 (thank God), but with the last twist of the end of Season 6 - with them being literally sent back in time, who knows what Season 7 will hold for us. I’ll be there for this crazy ride to finally come to an end. And, if you haven’t caught up, be sure to check out Riverdale streaming.

Riverdale Showrunner Talks Archie And Betty’s Growing Bond As Season 6 Returns To The CW

Megan Behnke — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 21:10:44 +0000

After a few months off, Riverdale is finally returning to The CW following the insane five-episode “Rivervale” event, which featured a massive death and a visit from Kiernan Shipka's Sabrina Spellman. Something fans are definitely looking forward to seeing more of is the growing relationship between Archie Andrews and Betty Cooper. Now, showrunner Roberto Aguire-Sacasa is previewing Barchie’s bond in the upcoming episodes.

When Riverdale jumped ahead seven years last season, the show was given the chance to explore a relationship that has been long-anticipated by viewers. With Archie and Betty no longer seeing Veronica and Jughead, respectively, they started to rekindle their own romance. Ahead of the show’s return following its winter hiatus, Roberto Aguire-Sacasa discussed Archie and Betty’s relationship with EW, and Barchie fans will likely appreciate what he told the trade:

Good question, and it's a pertinent question, because it feels like we've flirted with the idea of Betty and Archie. Again, when we resumed in Riverdale, we kind of realized we've actually never really, really explored what it would be like for them together over a longish haul. So let me say this, I think we're going to experience Betty and Archie in a fuller way than we ever have before — romance-wise, friendship-wise, even just plot-wise. Coming out of the events of 605 and 606, Archie and Betty are pretty bonded.

An Archie and Betty romance has been a long time coming, to say the least. Things between them haven’t been the same since they kissed in the music room during Hedwig and, now, old feelings are truly rising to the surface. It’s a relief to know that the show will finally address that dynamic, and it’s going to be interesting to see how things develop between the two of them -- and how their former partners react.

The two characters have been friends since they were little, having also been lifelong neighbors. In the first season, Betty admitted to having a crush on Archie but, once Veronica Lodge came to town, she realized she wasn't going to be getting with her best friend any time soon. Cooper soon found solace in Jughead but, of course, that relationship fizzled out as well.

When Season 6 returns, the show will pick up with the aftermath of the bomb-related explosion at the Andrews household. According to the episode’s official synopsis, both Archie and Jughead will be struggling to deal with what happened and, since Betty was with the former when the bomb went off, the two will likely become even closer and bond over the near-death experience.

As the two get together, things will only get more insane, and I'm not talking about the typical fare that comes with teen dramas. For instance, recent trailers for the upcoming episodes tease that Betty will be dealing with the Trash Bag Killer once again. So while “Rivervale” is behind them and isn't truly part of the gang's timeline, Riverdale will still experience its usual dark shenanigans.

Aside from that, though, I'm hoping Barchie will actually stick. The show has yet to be renewed for a seventh season and, if it does, it would mean Roberto Aguire-Sacasa could have more time to flesh out a romance between Betty and Archie.

While you await news on that front, check out Riverdale when it returns tonight, Sunday, March 20, at 8 p.m. EST on The CW! Also, take a look at CinemaBlend's 2022 winter and spring TV schedule to see what else you can look forward to this year.

Will Sabrina Spellman Return To Riverdale? Kiernan Shipka Weighs In

mick.joest@CinemaBlend.com (Mick Joest) — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 04:16:32 +0000

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Riverdale episode “Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s).” Read at your own risk!

It took time to happen, but Riverdale finally managed to get Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s Kiernan Shipka on to play Sabrina Spellman. A very-much-alive Sabrina arrived in “Rivervale” to help her witchy friend Cheryl Blossom complete a transference spell and reveal that Cheryl was the centuries-old immortal soul of her descendant who lived across multiple timelines. Audiences may not want to unpack that confusing reveal right now, but they probably do want to know if Shipka will play Sabrina in future Riverdale episodes.

Kiernan Shipka fielded questions from CBR about whether it’s possible that Sabrina will return to Riverdale in the future. Shipka shared her honest thoughts, and I think it’s good news for anyone who enjoyed the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star’s cameo appearance.

Yeah, I think it's open. I think the odds are good. I would love to! I love Sabrina. I loved playing her, and I think that you know, up next is probably Riverdale for her. . .I would love to see her in the town of Riverdale, obviously, probably with some sort of witchcraft involved, because that makes sense for her. But also just having personal relationships with all the characters, which I think is what people always love about Riverdale and still do, is that the characters are thrilling to watch, and their relationships are as electric and vibrant as the storyline and as their surroundings. So if somehow Sabrina could get to Riverdale and the interpersonal situations with the characters we know and love, plus provide assistance in whatever external storylines are happening? I think that's the aim. That's the goal in my mind.

Sabrina Spellman’s inclusion in Riverdale wouldn’t be that weird, especially since the show teased her and various elements of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina over the years. I’d argue that an actual witch living in the real Riverdale would be one of the tamer storylines of the past few seasons of The CW series, and with a star like Kiernan Shipka sounding optimistic, I’m not sure why producers would say no if she’s willing to be a larger part of the show.

The big question, though, is whether or not Sabrina Spellman’s debut in Riverdale was canon. “Rivervale” is not Riverdale, and as revealed in a preview for next week’s episode, appears to be two parallel universes. Provided Riverdale is the actual universe The CW continues with, then technically, Sabrina Spellman didn’t actually appear in the canon universe.

This doesn’t mean that Sabrina Spellman doesn’t exist in the Riverdale world, especially given the teases over the years. What it may mean, however, is that the various things revealed about her so far wouldn’t be used if Kiernan Shipka returned in a future episode after this Rivervale story is over. We’ll just have to wait and see, though, because if there’s one show that never ceases to amaze me with its wild and unpredictable twists, it’s Riverdale.

Riverdale airs on The CW next Tuesday, December 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET to possibly unravel all of the weirdness of this season. Hopefully, it all paves the way for Kiernan Shipka to join the series full-time, but if not, I’m sure there are other ways for that to happen.

The Best Teen Drama Series To Watch Streaming

Alexandra Ramos — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 01:04:38 +0000

One of the most well-known genres of television is the teen drama. For years, these types of shows, filled with steamy romances, the highs and lows of high school sports, fashion gods, and so much more, have been a major part of television. From some older options to brand new ones, there are plenty of shows out there for the teen drama enthusiast.

If you’re looking for your next binge, check out the best teen drama TV shows streaming, that you can watch right now.

(Image credit: The CW)

Riverdale (Netflix)

Riverdale is the titular name of a small little town in upstate New York on this show from The CW, where everything seems normal until one person begins to dig a little deeper into the area's dark history, and murders start to pile up, creating plenty of drama for its residents.

Riverdale has certainly gone up and down in quality over its run, but I’ll always have a special place in my heart for its craziness. The characters are all so different, and the relationships are very entertaining to follow. It’s definitely a great murder mystery show and while it has its moments of utter strangeness - like those weird musical episodes - it’s still an entertaining teen drama.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.

(Image credit: The CW)

All American (Netflix)

Next up, we have a classic sports show, All American. This teen drama follows a young high school football player who transfers to Beverly Hills High after being recruited from South L.A. We follow his wins and losses, both on the field and off.

As someone who is a huge fan of sports movies, and loves watching football, I can confirm that this is an awesome show. I especially love that All American isn’t afraid to really dive deeply into hard to talk about topics that not a lot of older teen dramas really got into, such as racial injustice. The series is a lot of fun, and has great storylines filled with inspiration.

Stream All American on Netflix.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Elite (Netflix)

This international series on Netflix, Elite, is set in an elite secondary school, and follows the story of three working-class students who end up attending through a scholarship program, and clash with their wealthy classmates.

I’ve always felt that Elite is like the Spanish version of Gossip Girl, except I think the characters are a lot more personable and fun to follow. We follow some truly crazy storylines, and I also especially love that the school they film in really does look like an amazingly private prep school. The romances in this are also so much fun to root for as well. There are six seasons and a seventh on the way, so time to binge.

Stream Elite on Netflix.

(Image credit: HBO)

Euphoria (HBO Max)

Next up, we have the HBO original series, Euphoria. While there’s a whole ensemble of characters, the main two that we follow are Rue and Jules, two young women, as they struggle through high school, and the social problems that surround them.

Out of all the picks on this list, Euphoria is definitely the most mature. I’d say it even teeters between teen drama and adult drama with some of its content. However, I do feel that it’s an important show to watch, as it talks about some serious themes such as sexual assault, drug abuse and addiction, gender transitioning, and more. Zendaya is brilliant in her starring role, but the whole Euphoria cast is excellent, as well. Truly a great hit for HBO.

Stream Euphoria on HBO Max.

(Image credit: The CW)

The 100 (Netflix)

Another CW show, The 100, follows a group of delinquents from a spaceship, who are sent back down to Earth to investigate if the planet is ready to be occupied by humans again, after a nuclear apocalypse. But, the kids find out that not only is the planet habitable - they are not alone.

I absolutely adore dystopian shows like this, but mix that in with some teen drama and it’s a winner for me. From The 100 cast to the storylines to its surprisingly great costuming and set design, it’s such a well-done show, and the lore is truly interesting. I’m not the hugest fan of the last season, but the rest is great.

Stream The 100 on Netflix.

(Image credit: CTV)

Degrassi: The Next Generation (Amazon Prime)

Taking place more than a decade after Degrassi Junior High, this show, Degrassi: The Next Generation, follows the obstacles of being a teenager, whether that means having to deal with relationship problems, sexuality, bullying, or even darker themes like sexual assault, gun control, and more.

I’m going to be honest - Degrassi: The Next Generation was a little bit before my time of teen dramas, however, I recently binged it with a friend and I have to say, it holds up. The topics that are talked about are still relevant to today’s teens - if not even more so - and Degrassi: The Next Generation’s cast is full of talent and produced an entertaining show. I mean, the show even has Drake before he was super famous. It’s definitely worth a watch.

Stream Degrassi: The Next Generation on Amazon Prime.

(Image credit: The CW)

Gossip Girl (HBO Max)

A classic CW show, Gossip Girl follows Serena Van der Woodsen (played by Blake Lively), a teenager growing up on the Upper East Side of New York City. We follow her daily struggles with schooling, her best friend, relationship issues and more, through six seasons of craziness.

As someone who recently just watched all of this for the first time, I can understand why it was so popular. The Gossip Girl cast is ridiculously skillful in their portrayals of these characters, and it’s no wonder why most of them went on to have very fulfilling careers. The storylines are intense and crazy, the characters easy to follow, and the fashion impeccable. The latest HBO Max remake isn’t that great, in my opinion, so better to just stick with the original.

Stream Gossip Girl on HBO Max.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Ginny & Georgia (Netflix)

With two seasons so far – and a third one on the way – this is probably one of Netflix’s most popular original teen shows. Ginny & Georgia follows Ginny, a young teenager who moves to a new town with her brother and mother, who had her as a teenager. Ginny lovers her mother, but as she starts to settle into this new town, she begins to discover secrets about her mom’s past that she never would have guessed – and it changes her life forever.

Ginny & Georgia is one of those shows where you either enjoy the heck out of it or you can’t make it past the first season because the way the high schoolers talk can be very dated (as is the case with many teen shows). But what I will say is that the story is honestly really good and has a lot of suspense around Georgia’s character, and Season 2 especially dives into much heavier themes.

Stream Ginny & Georgia on Netflix.

(Image credit: The WB/The CW)

One Tree Hill (Hulu)

Another classic teen drama, One Tree Hill, is all about the Scott brothers, Lucas and Nathan, half siblings who are competing against each other for spots on the basketball team, romances, and a lot more, in the town of Tree Hill, North Carolina.

I feel like everyone has heard of One Tree Hill. It’s such a great combination of genres within a teen drama, like having a sports storyline, including so much romance it’s almost impossible to keep up with it, and much, much more. Plus, the One Tree Hill cast is full of stars, such as Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton, and James Lafferty. The show had nine seasons, so you know it was, at the very least, quite successful.

Stream One Tree Hill on Hulu.

(Image credit: Freeform)

Pretty Little Liars (HBO Max)

Pretty Little Liars follows a group of five best friends, but their lives start to fall apart when their leader, Alison, suddenly vanishes. A year later, the friends reunite when they are threatened by a person named ‘A,’ who is saying they will expose all their darkest secrets.

I feel like Pretty Little Liars is famous for so many reasons, whether it be for its drama, its romances, its dark twists and turns, or something else. The show became incredibly popular, and Pretty Little Liars cast went on to succeed in many different projects after the series finale.

Stream Pretty Little Liars on HBO Max.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Television Distribution)

Veronica Mars (Hulu)

In this popular CW series, Veronica Mars follows the titular character as she moves from high school to college, while also working as a private investigator, thanks to her father, who is a detective. In each new episode, we get to follow Veronica as she takes on a new case, while constantly trying to figure out the bigger mystery at hand.

Starring Kristen Bell, Veronica Mars is the perfect example of a teen drama that can be entertaining for teens and adults. The mysteries that are involved are so much fun, but what really makes it such a great series is how, at the end of each season, it’s all tied to the bigger mystery of the season. And, how can you not love Kristen Bell as Veronica? She has that spunky personality that’s just impossible not to like.

Stream Veronica Mars on Hulu.

(Image credit: MTV)

Teen Wolf (Hulu)

Loosely based on the '80s film of the same name, Teen Wolf follows Scott, a seemingly normal high schooler whose world is turned upside down when he is bitten by a werewolf the night before his sophomore year, completely changing the course of his life.

This is an excellent werewolf show, if not for the costume design, then for the Teen Wolf cast. Everyone works so well together and helped create a truly entertaining fantasy series that’s full of lore, enjoyable characters, and really cool monsters. My personal favorite character from the series is Stiles. Definitely one of Dylan O’Brien's best movies and TV shows.

Stream Teen Wolf on Hulu.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Outer Banks (Netflix)

Lastly, we have the Netflix original series, Outer Banks. This series is set in the town of Outer Banks, North Carolina, where there’s a stark difference between the wealthy and the working-class, called Kooks and Pogues. We follow a group of Pogues, who are on a mission to find out what happened to their ringleader’s father, who mysteriously disappeared.

I personally think that this show sometimes dives a little too deep into teen drama tropes by making these romances as intense as they are. However, Outer Banks provides some awesomely fun adventure with its inclusion of mystery, mixed in with a warm feeling provided by the setting’s atmosphere. I love to watch this show in the winter when it’s cold, as it reminds me of summer.

Stream Outer Banks on Netflix.

While there are plenty of awesome teen dramas that we can all look forward to popping up on the 2023 TV schedule, sometimes it’s better to just sit back, relax, and binge what's come before. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to re-watch Gossip Girl for the umpteenth time.

The Best Riverdale Episodes (So Far), Ranked

Alexandra Ramos — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 19:04:18 +0000

The CW has been producing hit shows for some time. Some of their biggest have been the fantasy series, The Vampire Diaries, or perhaps the dystopian TV show, The 100. But, another that made quite the splash when it debuted was Riverdale, a story about a supposedly quiet little town in upstate New York that’s filled with secrets.

As someone who has watched the show from the very beginning, I feel qualified to talk about which of these episodes are the best, because of the twists and turns, the romances, and everything else. Luckily for you, we’re not going to go through the whole series, but just talk about the top 10. Here are Riverdale’s best episodes so far.

(Image credit: The CW)

10. “Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation,” Season 5, Episode 3

Ah, one of the first episodes of Season 5, “Graduation” is exactly what you would expect it to be - the group’s graduation from Riverdale High after their several years of crime-solving together, and looking at what was going to happen in their future.

I’ll be honest - Season 5 of Riverdale is not that great. I said nearly a year ago that I was having problems with the show, and how it was starting to go in a different direction that I wasn’t a huge fan of. And that’s exactly where Season 5 went.

However, I can appreciate this episode for the fact that it’s finally over. This same group of kids have been on Riverdale for so long, going through so much horrible stuff, and now, they’re finally free to go and live the rest of their lives.

Do they come back to their town not that long after? Yeah, and it kind of ruins the emotional aspect of this episode. I still enjoy it wholeheartedly for the memories it created for fans of the show, and capping off the kids' time at Riverdale High.

(Image credit: The CW)

9. “Chapter Thirty-Two: Prisoners,” Season 2, Episode 19

“Prisoners,” is one of the last episodes of Season 2 of Riverdale, primarily following Betty and her tango with the Black Hood, leading to an all out brawl between the people she cares for the most, and the ones she hates.

The Black Hood storyline for Season 2 of Riverdale is good. Not as great as the first season, but I genuinely enjoy the murder mystery and the fear this villain would bring to each of the characters, as they tried to figure out what to do. But, the reason why this episode makes the list is because of Betty.

Lili Reinhart is fantastic and acts her ass off in this episode, giving amazing character development to Betty, showing that she’s far darker than we ever thought she was, and is willing to work with the enemy to protect the people she cares about.

(Image credit: The CW)

8. “Chapter Twenty: Tales from the Darkside,” Season 2, Episode 7

In Season 2, Episode 7 of Riverdale (titled “Tales from the Darkside”), the residents are put to the test after chilling letters are delivered to all of them, challenging them all to try and remain sinless for 48 hours or the Black Hood will kill again.

While most of this episode feels like buildup to the very end, it was a worthy way to go about it, and feels wonderfully done. That moment where the Black Hood calls Pop’s and says that they still failed, and that they better get ready - that is the best way to build anticipation for this villain.

We had seen what the Black Hood was capable of before this, but there’s just something about this moment that sends chills all up and down the spine. Brilliantly done, and I wish there had been more buildup like this in later seasons.

(Image credit: The CW)

7. “Chapter Seventy-Three: The Locked Room,” Season 4, Episode 16

Next up, we have “The Locked Room,” Season 4, Episode 16 of Riverdale. In this episode, Betty and Jughead take it upon themselves to explain everything that has happened to them, and how they were able to pull off their biggest stunt yet.

All of Season 4 almost feels like a blur with how happened. So many times, it felt like someone was going to die, but then Riverdale took a 180 and made sure that these people would live another day. I have to admit, I am impressed by how they managed to answer all of the questions I had in this one episode.

Seriously, from the confusion surrounding Jughead’s “death,” to the careful planning of everything, it was intriguing to see it all broken down, all because of a locked room. I’d definitely watch the episode again.

(Image credit: The CW)

6. “Chapter Thirty-Three: Shadow of a Doubt,” Season 2, Episode 20

Next is “Shadow of a Doubt,” in Season 2 of Riverdale. Here, Betty starts to turn to Cheryl for help when she has a suspicion about who the Black Hood might be, while strange letters begin to pop up everywhere, leaving the town on high alert (as if it weren't already).

Mainly, I love this episode for the fact that we really get to see Betty and Cheryl work as a team. While we knew they were family at this point, we never really saw them get along super well, and it’s a plot point and relationship I really wanted to see explored more in later seasons.

The effort and work they both put into trying to figure out who the Black Hood is still amazes me to this day.

(Image credit: The CW)

5. “Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Midnight Club,” Season 3, Episode 4

In this throwback episode of Riverdale - starring the same actors playing their characters' parents - we get to see the past of Riverdale High, showing how the iconic characters and their parents connect to everything else that is currently happening in town.

I’ll be honest - this is my biased favorite episode of Riverdale. There are clearly better written and produced episodes, as we’ll see later, but I’ll always have a special place in my heart for this one, for the fact that this group reminds me of a twisted version of The Breakfast Club characters.

Each of the cast members play the young versions of their parents so perfectly, from Lili Reinhart’s portrayal of Betty’s badass mother, to Veronica’s style of Hermione Lodge - it’s such a fun episode, and I really wished we had gotten to see more like it down the line.

(Image credit: The CW)

4. “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night,” Season 2, Episode 21

Season 2, Episode 21 of Riverdale is “Judgement Night,” telling the story of when a bad accident happens at the Sheriff's Station, and war is sparked between the Northside and Southside, leading to a fight for their lives, while everyone else is dealing with revelations and people looking for revenge.

Excellent, excellent payoff. This is how a penultimate episode is done. I love this episode for the simplicity of it. This was before Riverdale started adding in weird magic and strange monsters and everything else; when it was just two factions of a town and a serial killer on the loose.

And, somehow, someway, everything is solved. Well, not solved, but figured out, and now, it’s up to Betty, Archie, and everyone else to stay alive on the night their pasts begin to catch up to them. It’s suspenseful, thrilling, and everything you could want in an episode like this.

(Image credit: The CW)

3. “Chapter Fifty-Eight: In Memoriam,” Season 4, Episode 1

In this tribute episode of Riverdale, “In Memoriam,” the premiere episode of Season 4, we follow the loss of Archie’s father after he is killed in a car crash, and Archie's devastating crash with reality as he realizes his dad is gone.

Rest in peace, Luke Perry. This episode is moving all around. While it’s not as action-packed and suspenseful as many of the other episodes of Riverdale, it was a necessary story, showcasing how impactful Perry’s character was to the show, and sending him off without leaving any questions.

The Riverdale cast had fantastic performances, coupled with a genuine story of friendship in your lowest times, and showing that no matter what you’ve gone through, there will always be someone there to take care of you and keep you comforted in your darkest moments. As someone who was a big fan of Fred and everything he did, I cried a lot the first time this came out, and still find myself sniffling anytime I find myself binge-watching the show. Such a beautiful tribute.

(Image credit: The CW)

2. “Chapter Twelve: Anatomy of a Murder,” Season 1, Episode 12

The penultimate episode of Season 1 of Riverdale, “Anatomy of a Murder,” follows the gang as they go on a quest for the truth, hunting down the pieces to uncover this season’s biggest mystery, and shocked at the consequences of who killed Jason Bloom.

While I have a special place in my heart for the penultimate episode of Season 2, this one will always stand out creatively. It was like the perfect bow on the mystery that captured everyone’s attention, from the clues, to the reveal of who did it, to the very ending sequence. Everything was so delicately crafted that it felt like a true murder mystery, one that almost reminded me of Knives Out.

But, what really makes this episode so great is the build-up it does for the next and last episode of Season 1.

(Image credit: The CW)

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

Lastly, we have “The Sweet Hereafter,” the season finale for Season 1 of Riverdale. It’s the aftermath of the group finding out the truth, and now, they must wrestle with the reality of what has happened, and what might occur next in their little, dangerous town.

This is, hands down, the best episode of Riverdale, and I personally think it will forever remain that because of how well it was handled. From Cheryl’s dealings with grief, to her suicide attempt in the lake, to how the gang saved her and said they’d never let her drown, even after all the shit she has put them through - it’s all wonderfully done, ending the season in a way that makes Riverdale feel worthy of a second season.

Even better? They properly set up for the next season with the ultimate cliffhanger, as one of the characters supposedly gets shot and it cuts suddenly to black. It’s masterful and the best way to get viewers to tune in again - which I did do the next season. Such a great episode, and one that isn’t talked about enough.

If you’re looking to binge all of Riverdale so far, the first five seasons are available to stream on Netflix, while the rest are coming out on The CW now. Will any of Season 6 make it on this list? Or perhaps Season 7? I’m not sure. All I do know is that Riverdale will be a part of the 2022 TV schedule, and we’re going to be watching the ridiculousness all the same as we normally would.