Entertainment Weekly released a selection of first looks from Riverdale’s forthcoming final season in their 2023 preview. The characters in Riverdale season 7 are still trapped in the 1950s, according to recent images. The CW has been airing the gritty revival of the iconic Archie Comics since 2017, and the show is getting ready to release its seventh and final season in the spring of 2023. The shocking twist that ended season 6 saw Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) use her newly discovered abilities to stop a comet from destroying Riverdale, accidentally sending the entire town back to the 1950s with only Jughead (Cole Sprouse) remembering their modern lives. This season will follow that season’s shocking twist.
The photos depict the new setting for the season, and two of them feature Veronica and Jughead in brand-new outfits. Jughead’s hat, in particular, appears to be much more faithful to the character’s original comic book design. The images also showcase the revamped setting, with scenes of Betty, Toni, Jughead, and Chery in class and a group of females dressed up for what appears to be a sock hop.
When Riverdale first debuted, it twisted a previously wholesome comic book concept, which was a big part of why it attracted people. The original Archie comics, which debuted in 1941 and have largely maintained a retro look and story structure, have a wealth of recognisable characters that were given new contexts by the shenanigans portrayed in the series. The first season made a significant impact by following the characters as they attempted to solve a grisly murder mystery, and the subsequent seasons took things even farther by including narcotics, gangs, a serial killer, a cult, and even witchcraft and superpowers.
Some viewers might initially perceive the show’s return to a 1950s setting as a step backward. In addition, some cast members, including the actress who plays Cheryl Blossom, have hinted that Riverdale season 7 will be more subdued and character-focused. That doesn’t mean the series won’t continue do some of its old pranks, though. As fact, it appears highly probable that Riverdale season 7 will exploit its 1950s setting to emphasise to viewers how distinct these characters are from their original comic book portrayals. Given that several of its core cast members are actors of colour and since Casey Cott’s character Kevin Keller is gay, the show will undoubtedly rapidly gravitate to depicting the darker aspects of the time. That’ll probably set off a drama cascade that the Archie Comics of the 1950s could never have imagined.