“Riverdale” is notable for its often dark and noir tone which is a total change from the classic Archie characters and filling the once wholesome town with drugs, murder, and corruption. Season 3 has mainly focused on Hiram's reappearance in Veronica's life and his target on Archie, the twisted game of G&G, Jughead leading the Serpents, Veronica opening up a speakeasy, and plenty of relationship and family drama between mysteries.
The season has been steadily building up suspense over the Farm but has yet to introduce the mysterious Edgar (soon to guest star Chad Michael Murray) who runs it.
Most of their influence so far has been through Edgar's daughter Evelyn who has converted students into joining, including Kevin who recently resorted to threatening Betty in order to protect the Farm. Alice has even gone so far as give the Farm all of Betty's money and selling their house so they can officially move to the Farm.
According to press releases, remaining episodes will continue to explore the Farm's motives and will tie into the larger season mystery surrounding G&G and the Gargoyle King.
No word yet on how the series will handle the recent passing of beloved actor Luke Perry who starred on the series as Fred Andrews, father of Archie. The set was temporarily shut down and last Wednesday's episode featured at the end an in memoriam with the actor's name.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa shares via Twitter the remaining episodes will be dedicated to Perry.
Archie asks Betty and Jughead for help
Photos released by the CW for Wednesday's episode tease recent Farm member Kevin (Casey Cott) talking to Cheryl, Cheryl having a word with her grandma, Betty and Veronica having a chat, Archie fighting, and Archie assumed to be asking Jughead and Betty for help.
The upcoming episode is the fiftieth for the series so the episode will find a celebration underway for FP's fiftieth birthday just as Jughead (Cole Sprouse) questions his mother's return.
Following the shocking attack from Joaquin's little brother, Archie turns to Betty and Jughead for help as he's propelled back into G&G. The episode also finds Betty learning a secret from Veronica and fan favorite couple Cheryl and Toni (Vanessa Morgan) finding themselves at a crossroads.
The episode is entitled “Chapter Fifty: American Dreams” and airs March 13.
Following this, things will take a musical turn with the production of The Heathers as it's next musical. The press release teases that along with the musical, Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) will be working through a recent fallout, Betty (Lili Reinhart) getting fed up with Evelyn's presence in the musical and with her friends, Veronica discovers devastating news involving her family, and Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and Archie coming to a decision regarding their future, and Jughead making a move against his mother.
The episode has previously released a cast list for the musical with Cheryl as the lead and Kevin as director. Evelyn's involvement shows that the Farm is still a problem in town and chances are that Kevin, Alice, and Polly are all still under the influence.
The episode is entitled “Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun” and airs March 20.
Betty will finally make a move against the Farm in the following episode “Chapter Fifty-Two: The Master” which according to the press release will find Betty (Lili Reinhart) teaming up with Cheryl for a mission to infiltrate the Farm. While this mission is going on, Jughead could be facing a move against his mother as he works to get rid of drugs out of Riverdale, Archie (KJ Apa) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) will team up to help someone from his past, and Veronica will receive even more news, this time from Hiram. The episode airs March 27.
Katy Keene spin-off news
“Riverdale” has a companion series spun from the comic books in “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” which can be found on Netflix.
The new take on “Sabrina” is a complete change from the lighthearted comedy series starring Melissa Joan Hart. Though there have been references to the two towns on both series, no crossover is currently in the works. Though fans can enjoy the brief appearance of Ben Button from “Riverdale” on both series.
The CW series is currently developing a spin-off from the series which will follow the adventures of Katy Keene as she takes on New York City to follow her dreams. The series is described as a musical dramedy and will find four people working to make their dreams a reality. Greg Berlanti teased to Deadline the series is viewed as the family that's formed when four people lean on each other as they work to fulfill their goal of becoming artists.
Lucy Hale from “Pretty Little Liars” and the short-lived CW series “Life Sentence” has landed the title role of Katy Keene. “Riverdale” star Ashleigh Murray who plays Josie (of the short-lived Josie and the Pussycats) has jumped aboard so if the series is picked up she will be making her way full time to the series. Music is the most important thing to Josie and has been her dream since “Riverdale” began which often seems to have her in a separate world than the other characters who deal with situations such as murder and drugs. The series is set sometime after "Riverdale" with the characters in their twenties.
Jonny Beauchamp and Julia Chan have also joined the potential series as the other two characters trying to live out their dreams.
Beauchamp stars as Jorge who the CW teases spends his days at his family's bodega and his nights as his drag queen alter ego Ginger working as a performer and bartender at a club. Chan stars as trendsetter Pepper Smith who has a large personality and a big dream to open up what the CW refers to as her 'own version of Andy Warhol's Factory.'
Also on board is Camille Hyde and Lucien Laviscount who will portray two siblings working at their father's record label and who are competitive with each other thanks to their differing visions for the company. Laviscount's character has specific plans to reboot the company which will bring him into Josie's path.
