Why isn't Riverdale as good as it claims?

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Adulated by fans, as well as critics (including on JustFocus !) Riverdale became the new teen series of 2017. However, there are many problematic points. Explanations. 

Warning slight spoilers on season 1 are present.

 

An LBGT + representation absent

One of the main points of the promotion of the first season of Riverdale was the presence of main characters who are part of the LGBT+ community. From the first episode, the series literally kept its promises by offering us the famous kiss scene between Veronica and Betty. And let's be honest, many started following the show just for that. Fans were quick to accuse the show of queerbaiting. The actresses accentuated this feeling. "Everyone loves Beronica (Veronica + Betty) and would like to see them together, but it's just not our show," said Lili Reinhart (Betty). This statement had caused a lot of ink to flow on social networks. Some fans found her quite "borderline" or even "homophobic". bvkiss Why isn't Riverdale as good as it claims?

This is not the only problem. Let's look at the case of Jughead. As a reminder, Jughead is aromantic asexual (person who does not feel romantic and sexual attraction to others) in the comics. His faithful representation in the series would have been a great first, and was expected by fans. Unfortunately, this detail has simply been omitted.

Kevin, meanwhile, is the only openly gay main character. But the more the series progresses, the more he unfortunately becomes a cliché of the gay best friend and his screen time decreases from episode to episode.

A diverse cast but…

The character of Josie is totally erased from the series. If she is supposed to be an African-American character with a strong character and proud, her screen presence gradually disappears. His storyline debut with his father has been forgotten. In the same way, nothing is known at all about the character of Valerie, while she has been the heart of several plots. Even when she dates Archie, the main character, nothing is known about her. And Melody, the third member of Josie and the Pussycats literally has two lines of dialogue in the series.

Josie and the pussycats Why isn't Riverdale as good as it claims?

In the same way, the Maori origins of KJ Apa, the actor of Archie, and those of Veronica are not exploited at all.

Questionable humour…

During episode 3 of the first season, applauded for its feminist side with its fight against-shaming (guilt or disqualify any woman whose attitude or physical appearance would be considered provocative or too openly sexual), we also discover "Dark Betty". In reality, this nickname present to make viewers smile hides a real mental illness, which is forgotten by the writers and especially presented as a joke.

In another area, a "joke" about scarification is put forward in episode 11 of season 1. Betty says of Archie's songs " Your songs make you want to cut your wrists ", to which Jughead adds " in a good way! ". No real need to add anything to that.

TOYYqrk Why isn't Riverdale as good as it claims?

Glorification of a toxic relationship

One of the main points of the first season was the relationship between Archie and Miss Grundy. Besides the fact that he is 15 years old (minor, therefore), she uses her authority over him. She controls him and especially makes him feel guilty by making him take responsibility for their relationship. The series turns their relationship into something romantic, when it should rather be called statuary rape. It is not a "forbidden love", much less a "sexy love". Rape is not something romantic and should not be taken so lightly.

The series is currently airing season 2 on The CW and Netflix.