Content Warning: This article contains references/discussions of violence, abuse and suicide ideation.
A wild rollercoaster of emotions, Riverdale is a show that has it all - mystery, murder, angst, and most importantly - joy and sorrow. Each main character has had their share of crests and troughs on the show, and they have come out riding strong through the good times as well as the tough times.
Fans of Riverdale have smiled with their favorite townspeople as they experienced the bliss of dreams fulfilled, requited love, and sweet vengeance on the show. They have also wept silently as Archie and his friends felt the pain of loss, humiliation, and agonizing family secrets. Here are those special moments that each of the show's leads encountered through their journeys on the CW show.
8 Jughead Jones: Happiest - When He Is Invited To Become A Serpent / Saddest - Gladys Doesn't Want To Meet Him
It's no secret that Jughead had a difficult family life in season 1. FP was an absent father till he straightened his act, his mother had left with Jellybean, and he was secretly homeless for a while. The only time he felt a sense of belonging was in the finale of the first season when the Serpents arrived at his doorstep, leather jacket in hand, to invite him to join their gang.
That doesn't mean that he didn't miss his family. In one of the most heartbreaking moments of the show, Jughead calls his mother, telling her he had a bus ticket and was thinking of visiting them in Toledo. However, she rejects this idea, which then leads to Jughead crying in the phonebox. Fans were devastated for him here.
7 Archie Andrews: Happiest - Sings In Public For The First Time / Saddest - He Loses His Father)
As a jock, nobody could initially swallow the fact that Archie Andrews wanted to sing, play guitar, and write music over football. His own father, a lovely parent otherwise, didn't understand Archie's dream. So, when Archie performed publicly to resounding applause and his father's wide smile, he looks the happiest he ever has on the series. Fred even made a soundproof room for Archie to practice in after this.
An everyday lunch at Pop's Chock'Lit Shop with friends turned into the saddest day for Archie on Riverdale, when he received news that Fred had died over the phone. He collapsed to the ground, and what's even more emotional is that the next scene is of Fred's dog Vegas whining at the door, waiting for him to reappear.
6 Betty Cooper: Happiest - Dances By Herself After Becoming A Vixen / Saddest - She Finds Out Hal Is The Black Hood
Since Alice Cooper was a strict and overbearing mother, Betty didn't have much control over her life; she was always determined to be the perfect daughter. However, this all changed after Betty got a spot on the Vixens, where she ended up having a moment of unbridled joy as she danced around her room in her new uniform. Fans were glad that she did something for herself.
That doesn't mean Betty's arc was full of joy. In season 2 of Riverdale, one of the saddest things Betty discovered was that her father was the mysterious Black Hood. What made this discovery even worse was the fact that Hal manipulated his daughter into doing several awful things (like burying Archie alive). It was so cruel and horrific.
5 Veronica Lodge: Happiest - Says I Love You To Archie / Saddest - Targeted By A Serial Killer
After being hesitant to admit her love for her Archie, Veronica couldn't keep it in any longer in a Christmas day episode of season 2. She appeared at Archie's doorstep with mistletoe, insisting that they need to kiss now, and admitting that she needed his goodness and light in her dark life. With her life often full of drama, Veronica's proclamation of love for the redhead was indeed a peaceful and happy moment.
Sadly, Veronica's life has been on the line several times. On Halloween day, Veronica was working at Pop's as usual. She was serving a lone customer late at night when she heard the news of a patient from Shady Grove called the 'Family Man', who made his victims cook for him before killing them. As soon as fans heard the broadcast, they were extremely frightened for the younger Lodge.
4 Cheryl Blossom: Happiest - She Asks Toni To Move In With Her/ Saddest - She Tries To Take Her Own Life
One of the best couples on Riverdale, Toni and Cheryl were one of the few pairings to ever make sense as they were both extremely supportive of one another and happy together. So, it was only a matter of time before Cheryl asked her to move in. It was a nice moment that certainly pleased Toni and Cheryl's fanbase.
Unfortunately for Cheryl, her life has also been full of tragic events that have negatively affected her mental health. Her mother abused her constantly, her brother and best friend was murdered, and in a surprising twist, her father was revealed to be the one who was responsible. The fans' hearts broke for Cheryl as they could see she was struggling in the aftermath but no one was noticing. As a result, her mental health continued to decline and she attempted to take her own life.
3 Hiram Lodge: Happiest - Dissolves Riverdale / Saddest - Veronica Refuses To Nurse Him
Devious as he was, the mafia kingpin's moment of joy came when he managed to dissolve Riverdale as a town, thus erasing its existence from history forever, and giving way for his township SoDale to shine brighter and make more money. He had run Riverdale into the ground already, and this final pound of the gavel satisfied him immensely.
When he was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder, Hiram struggled to come to terms with the news. He went out and fought thugs to try and prove to himself. However, one night, when he returned bloodied and beaten, he asked Veronica to help him with first aid, which she refused to do. Although Hiram isn't the nicest person on the show, there was a small part of fans who felt a little bit of sympathy for him here as they knew that Hiram was not one to ask for help. To go to Veronica, even though they had a strained relationship, showed he was feeling really vulnerable at this moment,
2 Reggie Mantle: Happiest - Destroys His Father's Convertible / Saddest - His Father Mistreats Him
Always jovial and lighthearted, Reggie kept things breezy. However, he had a history of abuse from his father that only came to light in season 4. To avenge his years of misery, and prompted by Archie to take charge of his life, Reginald went and smashed his father's expensive convertible in a triumphant moment of vindication, to keep him from ever laying a hand on him again.
His father didn't hesitate to mistreat Reggie in public, and one day he showed up to football practice and yelled at the jock from the sidelines continuously. When he made a mistake, his father publicly humiliated him in front of the team, which made for an awful watch.
1 Fred Andrews: Happiest - Archie Returns The Firebird And Gets An Old Car For Them / Saddest - Gets Shot At Pop's
Archie's father was perhaps the best parent in the twisted town, but Archie tested his limits regularly. When Hiram gifted him a Firebird, it upset Fred and made him feel inadequate. In an emotional scene, Archie led Fred into their garage and showed him the vintage car he had bought by selling his music equipment for them to fix up together. It was a gesture that brought tears of joy to Fred's eyes.
The most shocking moment of the show was when Fred got shot at Pop's diner by the Black Hood, and a distraught Archie was held at gunpoint, not able to help his injured father. Fans were heartbroken at this moment as they had seen several times how much Fred loved Archie and would do anything to protect him. Archie was the most important thing in his life and this moment proved that.
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July 25, 2021 at 12:00AM
