The season begins with the last days of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the rest of the gang on Riverdale High; and as they prepare for their graduation, they try to solve the mystery of 'The Auteur', the mysterious person that has been sending disturbing videotapes to every citizen doorstep of Riverdale, while also dealing with some goodbyes, break-ups and their future life on college. Starting from the fourth episode of the season, there is a seven-year time jump, where the gang returns to Riverdale as young adults to escape their troubled pasts and also to save the town from being dissolved by Hiram Lodge.[1]
On February 3, 2021, The CW renewed the show for a sixth season.[2]
Betty and Jughead investigate snuff films, leading them to secret screenings by Blue Velvet's owner, David. To gain entry, Betty delivers a fake film but later surrenders a real one involving her father. Archie loses a boxing match against KO Kelly for a Naval Academy spot. Cheryl faces family disapproval in her relationship with Toni. At a rave, Betty and Jughead discover disturbing snuff films featuring the gang. Veronica learns about Archie and Betty's kiss, leading to their breakup at prom. A livestream depicts the gang killing David, and Cheryl and Toni part ways after prom. Veronica reveals Archie's infidelity to her parents. Archie finds a videotape recreating his encounter with the Black Hood at home.
Archie grapples with emotions after watching a disturbing videotape and is asked to write a letter for a lesser sentence for Fred's killer, George Augustine. Jughead and Betty initially suspect David in Bret's prison murder, only to discover he was hanged in the Lodge's cabin. Cheryl's attempt to secure a sanctuary for the Uktena tribe leads Penelope to deadly action. Hermosa intervenes as the Molloy family targets Veronica. Together with Hermione, they plot to force Hiram into retirement, leading to Hermione's decision to divorce him. A new tape hints at the auteur's presence, prompting Betty and Jughead to confront Charles. However, they realize Jellybean and friends were behind the tapes, expressing their discontent with Jughead leaving town.
As graduation nears, Archie discovers he must repeat his senior year but is still allowed to walk with his classmates. FP decides to move back to Toledo with Jellybean, and the gang graduates. Archie, struggling with Fred's absence, decides to join the Army. FP and Jellybean leave, and the gang buries a time capsule. Cheryl opts out of college and ends things with Toni. Archie announces his Army decision, and the gang bids farewell. Veronica vacations with Hermione, Betty confesses to kissing Archie, and Jughead moves out. One year later, Jughead waits at Pop's for the gang, but they don't show. The gang reunites six years later, drawn together by another mystery.
Seven years post-graduation, Archie returns from the army to a struggling Riverdale. Betty is an FBI agent, Veronica is married to Chadwick Gekko, Jughead faces writer's block and debts, and Kevin is now a teacher dating Fangs. Toni is a pregnant guidance counselor, and Reggie works for Hiram, who's reshaping the town. Pop's retirement reveals a drug den, and Archie learns of mysterious disappearances on the highway. Desperate to save Riverdale, he calls Betty, Veronica, and Jughead back for a reunion. Meanwhile, a waitress is picked up by a suspicious trucker, adding to the town's growing mystery.
Upon returning, the gang discovers Riverdale High's funding is at risk due to teachers and students defecting to Stonewall Prep. Betty finds Polly sneaking in late at night, suspecting drug use. Archie and Betty raid the Andrews house, finding evidence to send them to jail. They clean up, have a moment, and decide to become temporary teachers to save Riverdale High. Jughead, facing debt and writer's block, asks Tabitha for a job at Pop's. Veronica deals with Chad's control issues. Archie persuades the gang to teach, but Riverdale High is privatized by Cheryl, with Hiram dissolving the town. Polly, having run away, is chased by a truck.
The gang starts teaching at Riverdale High, facing Hiram and Reggie's attempts to further harm the town. Polly is missing, and Toni reveals she was meeting a trucker for sex. Betty and Alice find Polly's belongings on the Lonely Highway. Archie seeks funding for the football team from Veronica, whose husband Chad visits. Doris Bell becomes an informant for Cheryl and Hiram. Veronica plans a jewelry store, and Betty and Archie struggle to find private spaces. Tabitha aids Jughead with his book, leading to tales of Moth Men in the woods. The search for Polly leads to Swedlow Swamp, and Jughead warns Archie of fires near their home.
Betty, Alice, and Kevin take an unidentified body from Swedlow Swamp to the morgue, suspecting it's Margaret, missing for years. Veronica builds her jewelry store with students, combating Hiram's interference. Archie reinstates the Fire Department but faces a visit from Corporal Jackson. Cheryl and Toni coach the Vixens but clash. Jughead and Tabitha discover a disfigured Moth Man corpse in Nana Rose's maple barrel. During a late shift at Pop's, Jughead sees a mysterious light, blacking out. The corpse disappears, raising more questions. Betty, realizing women are missing from nearby towns, suspects a serial killer is at large.
Jughead grapples with potential alien encounters, seeing hallucinations at Riverdale High and his house. Kevin and Fangs announce engagement but Kevin struggles. Cheryl, upset, hosts a key party, causing tensions. Archie and Chad's clash prompts Veronica to file for divorce. Cheryl reveals a nursery to Toni, who is disinterested. Archie and Betty end their affair, and Archie reunites with Veronica. Kevin calls off his engagement, and Cheryl shares a moment with Minerva. Polly calls Betty and Alice from a phone booth, but upon arrival, it's dismantled and covered in blood.
Archie and Veronica struggle to keep the Bulldogs' spirit alive after they lose several games. Betty receives a call from Glen about the blood discovered on the destroyed phone booth; and it is a match to Polly. Betty struggles with realizing that Polly is most likely dead, and tells Alice that Polly's blood was not a match. Meanwhile, Jughead realizes a student in his class may have had encounters with the Moth Men. However, the student leaves town with his parents. Betty and Jughead visit Old Man Dreyfus off of the Lonely Highway, and he is convinced that Polly had an encounter with the Moth Men. Kevin decides to go back to cruising, but hits a roadblock. The Bulldogs face the Stonewall Stallions, and receive a small victory when they score for the first time in the season. Betty goes to the truck stop to save girls and get justice for Polly. Back at home, Betty finds Glen, who tells Alice that Polly's blood was a match.
Betty discovers Glen's dissertation on her family's darkness and worries about Juniper and Dagwood inheriting it. Archie learns about a shady mission and prepares for Parent Teacher Night with Kevin. Cheryl rejects Hiram and Reggie's offer to buy the Blossom Maple Groves. Jughead takes psychedelic mushrooms to aid writing, and Tabitha agrees to watch over him. Hiram orchestrates a prison breakout, causing chaos. Charles and Chic arrive for a sinister game at the Cooper house, resulting in a violent confrontation. Penelope returns, Frank protects the school, and Reggie burns the maple groves. Veronica faces divorce complications. Jughead has a trippy experience, and Betty takes matters into her own hands. Tabitha finds bloody handprints on Jughead's completed novel in the bunker.
Archie and Kevin work on capturing escaped inmates. Veronica returns, and Archie puts their relationship on hold until her divorce is final. During a robbery at her jewelry store, Veronica faces Darla and Dodger. Tabitha worries about Jughead and seeks Betty's help. Jessica, from New York, drugs them with psychedelic mushrooms to obtain Jughead's manuscript. Hiram and Governor Dooley clash over palladium beneath the prison. Hostages demand palladium, with Veronica as collateral. At Thornhill, Penelope starts a ministry for coping with Jason's death. Cheryl has a revelation and joins. Jughead, living among the homeless, heads back to New York, leaving Tabitha a voicemail about his plans.
Reggie, working for Hiram to settle his father's debt, completes his task but opts to continue due to his strained relationship with his father. Hiram agrees, requesting an untraceable gun from Reggie. During the exchange, Hiram reveals his life story as Jaime Luna. After moving to Riverdale, the palladium mines' collapse led him to work shining shoes. Seeking respect, he joined gangster Vittorio Alto, impressed Hermione, and adopted the name Hiram Lodge. When his father learned, Hiram killed Alto's men and took over. Reggie is impressed, but Hiram expresses regret, wishing for reconciliation with his father. Hiram locates Alto, kills him, and urges Reggie to reconcile with his own father.
Betty and Tabitha develop a plan to lure truckers to Pop's after Betty is prohibited from affiliating with the FBI. Meanwhile, Archie and Eric wrestle with trauma and Frank gives them a dog to help them cope. Later, though, they realize that their dog was in a fighting ring and they target the leader of the dog fights in town. Elsewhere, Reggie and Veronica build business at the jewelry store and aim at poaching investors of SoDale, due to it being a complete scam. Cheryl offers Kevin advice, telling him to reconcile with Fangs, but Fangs has begun dating Moose. Kevin later joins Cheryl and Penelope's ministry. At the Whyte Wyrm, there is a ladies night that helps lure potential suspects in the highway murders in. Betty is eyed by a trucker and baits him under the false pretense of sex. Tabitha tracks her location and he pulls over and tries to kill her with a chainsaw. Betty eventually strikes him with a wrench and they haul him off to keep him hostage.
Cheryl unveils four paintings to Minerva, revealing intricate stories. The first depicts Archie leading a palladium-harvesting crew in the reopened mines, causing hallucinations due to carbon monoxide exposure. The second portrays Betty interrogating a captured trucker, suspected serial killer. Despite his suicide, Betty believes he wasn't acting alone. The third painting showcases Jughead's post-high school success aided by Jessica and psychedelic mushrooms. Jughead's spiral begins after a bender and lost three days. Returning to New York, he hallucinates a "Rat King." The last painting captures Cheryl and Minerva's night together before Minerva leaves the country.
Josie McCoy, an international pop star, returns to Riverdale following her father's death. She reconnects with the gang but initially refuses to help save Riverdale. Reestablishing friendships with Valerie and Melody, and reigniting her relationship with Sweet Pea, she comes to terms with her father's death. The Pussycats reunite, and during a concert, Toni delivers her baby, Anthony. After the performance, The Pussycats, their romantic partners, and Josie's mother decide to return to the tour. Before leaving, they learn her father's death may not have been an accident, sparking differing opinions. Meanwhile, Toni, Tabitha, and Veronica aim to franchise Pop's Diner with help from Veronica's friend, Alexandra Cabot.
Archie seeks justice for his army men's deaths. Veronica, with Reggie and Cheryl's help, challenges Chad and Hiram to regain financial stability. Kevin and Cheryl aim to control the ministry, countering Penelope's defiance. Jughead faces consequences for his actions, put on leave from teaching and struggling to meet his book deadline. Maintaining sobriety, he avoids Jessica but loses his agent. Betty poses as Polly on the Lonely Highway, prompting Tabitha's concern and assistance.
As Veronica's divorce approaches, Hiram gives Chad a chance to kill Archie, but he fails. Veronica gets everything in the divorce to save Chad from a murder charge. Kevin leaves the ministry, and an explosion at the mines tests Cheryl's faith. Veronica threatens Hiram for endangering Archie and Eric's lives, sparing him when they survive. Chad attacks Veronica, but she kills him. Jughead and Betty discover inbred Blossoms living in the forest, with Old Man Dreyfus and the captured trucker among them. Lynette Fields' body is stolen, leading to a complex investigation tied to Toni's situation. The group finds Moth Men and a shed with victims in the junkyard. Old Man Dreyfus confesses to the murders, leading Betty to Polly's body in the junkyard. Betty and Alice confirm her identity.
Alice struggles to cope with Polly's death and imagines a world where the Coopers are still a happy family. Betty tries to get her to cope as best she can, but Alice blames Betty for Polly's death and for breaking her promises to return to Riverdale sooner. Meanwhile, Cheryl takes in Britta when she is kicked out of her parents' house. Archie and Veronica break up after Veronica realizes that they are on separate paths. Toni and Fangs declare their love for each other and vow to have each other's backs moving forward. Tabitha lures Jughead into a dinner with her parents, and the two decide to begin a romantic relationship. The gang buries Polly's ashes at the cemetery.
Betty graduates as a Special Agent at the FBI, reopening the Riverdale field office and facing a call from TBK. Veronica vows to exile Hiram for a fire at Pop's. Jughead and Tabitha retaliate by burning the Lodge Ledger office. Toni and Fangs struggle with Serpent control. Cheryl learns of her ancestor's burning and demands an apology. She plans a school on Thornhill and seeks independence from Riverdale. Veronica and Reggie revive their romance, planning a casino. Archie names Tabitha, Toni, Alice, and Frank to the town council for Riverdale's reincorporation. Betty and Archie plan to start a romantic relationship, but a bomb under Archie's bed, placed by Hiram, interrupts. As Hiram drives away, Archie's house explodes in fiery smoke.
On January 7, 2020, The CW officially renewed the show for a fifth season.[24] Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa returns as showrunner.[25]
The first 3 episodes of the season were originally conceived to serve as the last 3 episodes of the fourth season, however after a member of the cast or crew came in contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19, production of season 4 was shut down after the completion of the nineteenth episode, and was unable to resume due to the rise of the pandemic; and as a result, those episodes were ultimately moved to the beginning of this season.[26][27][28]
Aguirre-Sacasa told TVLine about the first 3 episodes "They're big and emotional, and there’s a lot of stuff with the characters that we’re still playing out".[29] About Archie and Betty's storyline, he said "We’ve definitely not seen the last of that story. On a basic level, Veronica and Jughead don’t know anything that happened in the bunker or in Archie’s garage, so there’s still absolutely that to play. [...] But definitely, there are major, major repercussions for what Betty and Archie did that go down at prom, in true teen drama fashion. So no, we haven’t seen the end of that story by a long shot".[29] Aguirre-Sacasa also confirmed a time jump after the first 3 episodes of the season,[30] which was at first believed to be a 5 year time jump, but Lili Reihart later confirmed it's going to be a 7 year jump, adding "I'm psyched about it...I think it will be nice to play an adult".[31]
Nichols and Ulrich were originally set to depart the show after the fourth season,[35] however, Nichols later confirmed she was going to return for season 5 after all, adding "I had a very long talk with Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa [...] And I’m proud to announce that not only will Hermoine be back for season five, but she will be back stronger and better than ever!".[36] Her role was demoted to recurring starting from the episode "Chapter Eighty: Purgatory". Ulrich, on the other hand, only returned to finish filming the episodes from season 4 that moved to this season.[37][28] He comment on his exit to be because he got "creatively bored", adding "I’m incredibly grateful for the friendships I’ve made on Riverdale, and I will miss seeing everyone on a daily basis, I’m proud to have been part of such a talented group of people, in front of the camera and behind. But I’ve decided that it’s time for me to move on to explore other creative opportunities".[38] His final day on set was on October 15, 2020.[39]
On January 7, 2021, Chris Mason joined the season as the recurring role of Chad Gekko, Veronica's husband after the seven-year time jump, his role was described to be "controlling and jealous".[23]
Filming
Filming for the fourth season, which was made on Vancouver (British Columbia), was suspended on March 11, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[40] which resulted in the final 3 episodes of season 4 being moved to the beginning of this season.[27] On June 24, 2020, Vancouver obtained the official COVID-19 safety guidelines to restart the production of movies and television series.[41] By mid-July, Warner Bros. Television hoped to resume the productions of its shows, including Riverdale, at the end of August.[42] The first script reading, made through Zoom, took place on September 5, 2020.[22][43] Production of the fifth season finally began in Vancouver on September 14, 2020.[44][45][46] The actors were notified a month in advance and carried out 2 weeks of quarantine before starting filming.[42][46] However, on September 29, filming was temporarily suspended due to delays in receiving the results of the COVID-19 tests of the cast and the crew.[47][48] Filming resumed on October 17, 2020 and concluded on June 1, 2021.[49]
Reinhart felt that the quarantine gave her time for herself that she "already needed," while returning to filming said "I genuinely feel like a prisoner, going back to work, because I cannot leave Canada," she expressed. "That doesn't feel good. You can't go home for Thanksgiving, can't visit your family. No one can come visit you unless they quarantine for two weeks. It just feels f--ked.[50] Apa revealed through a video on Instagram that one of the protocols of filming during the pandemic was to rinse his mouths for 30 seconds before each make-out scene, which he described as "our new normal."[51]
Shared universe
In July 2020, showrunner Aguirre-Sacasa stated that there were plans for a crossover between Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (both of which were set in the same universe), to take place in part 5 (season 3) of Sabrina, however, on July 8, 2020 the series was cancelled by Netflix after 2 seasons due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, making Part 4 the final of the show.[52] Zane Holtz reprised his role as KO Kelly from Riverdale's spin-off Katy Keene, following the show's cancellation after its first season.[53]
Racial controversy
Vanessa Morgan declared having a hard time on how black people was portrayed in media.
On May 31, 2020, Vanessa Morgan defended her ex co-star Ashleigh Murray, after she was accused of being a diva during her time on the show. Morgan stated via a tweet: "You don’t know what the fuck your talking about and don’t talk about my friend like that. Another thing i [sic] hate BLACK women being called DIVAS for sticking up for themselves. Maybe the show should write for her like the white characters. You picked the wrong day get off my page".[54][55] Morgan later tweeted about being "Tired of how black people are portrayed in Media, tired of us being portrayed as thugs, dangerous or angry scary people. Tired of us also being used as sidekick non dimensional characters to our white leads. Or only used in the ads for diversity but not actually in the show".[54][56] She captioned the note with “I’m not being Quite anymore #BlackLivesMatter.” while claiming to be the least paid actor being at the time of the tweet the only black member of the main cast.[54][57] In another tweet, Morgan clarified, “My role on Riverdale has nothing to do with my fellow castmates/friends. They don’t write the show. So no need to attack them, they don’t call the shots & I know they have my back.”[54]
On June 4, 2020, showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa responded to the allegations of Morgan, saying "We hear Vanessa. We love Vanessa. She’s right, we’re sorry and we make the same promise to you that we did to her. We will do better to honor her and the character she plays. As well as all of our actors and characters of color. Change is happening and will continue to happen. Riverdale will get bigger, not smaller. Riverdale will be part of the movement, not outside it”, adding “All of the Riverdale writers made a donation to @BLMLA, but we know where the work must happen for us. In the writers’ room.”[58][59]
On June 28, 2020, Bernadette Beck, who played the recurring character of Peaches 'N Cream on seasons 3 and 4, said she believed she was cast to "fulfill a diversity quota."[60]
Music
Riverdale: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack) track listing[61]
Jacquie, Lili Reinhart, Mädchen Amick and Tyson Ritter
1:29
7.
"She's Not Here"
Lili Reinhart
1:20
8.
"I'm Alive"
Jacquie and Tyson Ritter
3:15
9.
"I Am the One"
Jacquie, Lili Reinhart and Tyson Ritter
3:19
10.
"Didn't I See This Movie"
Madelaine Petsch
1:00
11.
"I've Been"
Casey Cott and Lili Reinhart
2:44
12.
"Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling"
Camila Mendes, Casey Cott, Lili Reinhart and Vanessa Morgan
3:00
13.
"Hey #3/Perfect For You (reprise)"
Cole Sprouse, Erinn Westbrook
2:23
14.
"A Promise"
Lili Reinhart
2:12
15.
"Maybe (Next to Normal)"
Lili Reinhart and Mädchen Amick
3:02
16.
"Light"
Camila Mendes, Casey Cott, Drew Ray Tanner, Erinn Westbrook, KJ Apa, Kyra Leroux, Lili Reinhart, Madelaine Petsch, Mädchen Amick, Ryan Robbins and Vanessa Morgan
4:23
Release
The first promotional poster was released on August 17, 2020.[64][65] On November 24, the showrunner revealed another poster with the caption "Nothing remains buried forever."[66][67] On December 8, promotional images of a large part of the main cast at the prom were released.[68][69] The next day, the first official trailer was released.[70][71]
The season premiered on The CW on January 20, 2021[72] and the mid-season finale was released on March 31, 2021. The second half of the season was at first schedule to premiere on July 7, 2021,[73] however, on April 29 it was announced the date was pushed back to August 11.[74] The complete season was released on DVD on January 18, 2022 by Warner Archives.
