The Epic Riverdale Series Finale: 10 Mind-Blowing Predictions for the Explosive 6-Year Conclusion!

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Riverdale season 7, episode 19, "The Golden Age of Television."

Summary

Riverdale

may be stuck in a time loop, with the characters reliving their lives again and again due to Tabitha's multiverse-saving scheme.

Jughead could use his memories to create the Archie Comics, adding a meta twist to the show's narrative.

The series finale may return to the pilot episode in a

Twin Peaks

-style innocence-stripping event, hinting at a time-bending roadmap for the conclusion of Riverdale.

Riverdale's second-to-last episode, titled "The Golden Age of Television," sets the stage for the series finale after a six-year run and 130 episodes. The popular teen drama, which initially premiered in 2016 and offered a darker and more intense portrayal of the iconic "Town with Pep" from Archie Comics, revisits its narrative as it approaches its end. In the nineteenth episode of the seventh season, Tabitha Tate (played by Erinn Westbrook), the mythical guardian angel of Riverdale with the ability to travel through time and dimensions, returns to help restore Jughead Jones' (Cole Sprouse) lost memories.

Previously, in order to protect her friends from a comet that could potentially destroy the town, Tabitha sent Archie (KJ Apa) and the gang back to the year 1955, resulting in their memories being wiped clean. In an attempt to assist Jughead in recollecting his past, Tabitha shows him the previous six seasons of Riverdale on VHS tapes. She discloses that she "wove" everything together to create a single timeline in order to stabilize the multiverse, making it impossible for the gang to return to their former lives. While this revelation suggests that the present-day storyline of Riverdale may not continue, fans can expect the usual unexpected twists from the show. Regardless of the outcome, the trailer for the series finale of Riverdale hints at an undoubtedly emotional conclusion.

10 Riverdale Is Revealed To Be Stuck In A Time Loop

Tabitha Tate, the self-proclaimed guardian angel of Riverdale, weaves together the different timelines of the town in order to stabilize the multiverse. However, the consequences of this life-saving move remain uncertain. There is a possibility that merging all the different versions of the characters and town could create a time loop, trapping Archie and the gang in an endless cycle. This revelation would surpass the mind-blowing twist ending of Riverdale's sixth season.

Viewers have already noticed several references to the show's first season in Riverdale's seventh season, including the return of characters like Miss Grundy, a teacher at Riverdale High. If a time loop were to occur, it could result in the Archies reliving their lives repeatedly, starting from the contemporary-set season 1 and ending in 1955's season 7. Although not ideal, this could be the aftermath of Tabitha's efforts to save the multiverse. Additionally, the only way to truly conclude an adaptation of an unending comic book series is to leave it open-ended.

9 Jughead Will Use His Memories To Create The Archie Comics

Jughead Jones has been the narrator of Riverdale since its pilot episode. He often writes short stories, books, and articles about his friends. In season 7 of Riverdale, Jughead and Ethel Muggs collaborate on writing and illustrating stories for a local studio called Pep Comics. For long-time fans of the franchise, they would remember that the character Archie Andrews made his debut in an issue of Pep Comics. The character became so popular that Archie Comics was created, featuring stories centered around the all-American teen.

However, since it is set in 1955, Pep Comics faces censorship from the Comics Code Authority. This leads to the censorship of an original story Jughead had envisioned, which was about Sabrina the Teenage Witch. This storyline references another popular series from Archie Comics and implies that a Jughead stuck in the '50s, with his memories restored, may end up creating the Archie Comics. Unlike his friends, who only hold onto happy memories, Jughead believes it is his duty as the "unofficial chronicler of the town" to remember both the good and the bad. This further implies the twist in the TV show, where it deviates from its main premise for a more diverse range of genres and fun storytelling.

8 Archie Creators Bob Montana, Vic Bloom, John L. Goldwater Will Appear

Riverdale season 7 embraces its meta nature through the inclusion of characters like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and references to on-page lore. The Halloween episode, for instance, features Archie dressed as his crime-fighting alter-ego, Pureheart the Powerful. These moments contribute to the show's status as a guilty pleasure, enjoyed by many secretly.

However, the series finale of Riverdale takes it a step further by potentially casting fictionalized versions of Archie's creators: John L. Goldwater, Bob Montana, and Vic Bloom. It remains unclear if the trio will draw inspiration from Archie's adventures, revive the now-closed Pep Comics within the show's universe, or even reveal that Riverdale is a project they have been developing. In this self-aware series, anything is possible.

7 The Finale Will Return To The Pilot (In Twin Peaks Style)

In season 7, episode 19 of Riverdale, titled "The Golden Age of Television," there is a technical return to the pilot episode of the long-running show. However, this return is only shown through a few glimpses of the series' opening shots, accompanied by Jughead's voiceover. This is made possible by Angel Tabitha's magical VHS tape, which allows the characters to binge-watch their six seasons' worth of stories. Despite this, the series finale of Riverdale may have a more genuine return to the pilot episode. As Jughead's voiceover reminds viewers, season 1 of Riverdale begins with a significant moment that alters the town: the murder of Jason Blossom.

When Jason's body is discovered in Sweetwater River at the end of the summer, it represents the loss of innocence for both the town and its characters. It is well-known that Riverdale draws inspiration from David Lynch's Twin Peaks, as demonstrated by the presence of actor Mädchen Amick. Therefore, it would not be surprising to see the 1955 version of Riverdale revisiting the pilot through a similar event that strips away innocence. While Tabitha reassured Jughead that he and his friends have corrected the darkness of the original timeline, Riverdale may take inspiration from the time-bending narrative of Twin Peaks: The Return's ending.

6 Riverdale Is A Show Within A Show

Riverdale is likely a comic book written by Jughead or someone else, but it could also choose to take the classic show-within-a-show approach. Throughout the series, Riverdale has shown a fondness for movies, from Jughead's drive-in home to the Lynchian video store in the small town, and Veronica's attempt to run a theater. Additionally, there was a subplot involving videotapes with creepy footage of the characters' lives and homes.

Over the course of its six-year run, Riverdale has faced criticism and mockery for its exaggerated and supernatural elements. However, the cast of Riverdale recently highlighted in an interview with Vulture that this is the essence of a series based on comic books. The Archie gang has also explored dark and super-powered storylines in the comics. Despite the backlash, the show embraces its genre-hopping nature and continues to defy the critics. It would be entertaining to see a metanarrative twist within the show that directly confronts the skeptics.

5 The Riverdale Of The ‘50s Is All An Experiment

After harnessing the power of their Rivervale-enhanced supernatural abilities to seemingly halt Bailey's Comet, the Riverdale group is unexpectedly transported to the year 1955. The intention is to replicate the original setting of the source material; however, the atmosphere is far from cheerful. Jughead, realizing that he alone remembers the destructive comet that devastated the town, struggles to persuade his optimistic '50s companions that they once led fulfilled lives in the future. Tabitha steps in to enlighten Jughead, revealing that she, as the guardian angel of the town, transported everyone to 1955 in order to protect them.

The decision to shift Riverdale's final season to the 1950s has sparked mixed reactions among fans. While some appreciate the show's long-awaited return to its comic book origins, others feel frustrated with the reset of the characters and their dynamics. Despite the commitment to Angel Tabitha and the inclusion of supernatural elements and alternate universes, speculation arises from the premiere episode's titled "Don't Worry, Darling." This title possibly implies a more sinister twist, paralleling Olivia Wilde's psychological thriller of the same name, which revolves around the revelation of captivity in an illusionary 1950s community.

4 The Riverdale Of 1955 Is Actually The Sweet Hereafter

Riverdale draws inspiration from popular television shows like Pretty Little Liars and Twin Peaks for its captivating mysteries and thrills. However, the series also references other pop culture hits, and it wouldn't be surprising if it took a playful approach to Lost's divisive series finale. In that finale, it is revealed that the island is a purgatory for the main characters who have tragically passed away.

Within the Archieverse, there is a dimension called The Sweet Hereafter that exists in the afterlife. This dimension is perfectly suited for exploring a similar twist. The Sweet Hereafter, first introduced in the Riverdale-adjacent series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, allows individuals to find peace by reliving their most cherished memories. For Sabrina, the Sweet Hereafter takes the form of an art gallery where she can spend time with her boyfriend.

3 The Series Finale Of Riverdale Will Just Be Some Good Ol' Fashioned Fun

The Sweet Hereafter is often mentioned in the Archie Horror imprint as a term for the afterlife. In the Rivervale event, which features Sabrina Spellman's return to Riverdale, several characters from the Archie gang are brought back from the Sweet Hereafter. They appear as their 1950s-style comic book counterparts. However, there is a possibility that Riverdale might take a Lost-like twist and reveal that season 7 is actually set in the afterlife. Adding to the complexity, "The Sweet Hereafter" is also the title of Riverdale season 1's finale.

Tabitha enhances Jughead's recollection of the previous six seasons in episode 19 of Riverdale's seventh season. Since Tabitha can no longer transport the group to the present or future, the pair proposes a proposition to their comrades to witness their "alternate escapades." Initially, only Archie accepts Tabitha and Jughead's invitation, but eventually, Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica, and most of the other teenagers also view the videotape. Subsequently, Tabitha consents to erasing all detrimental memories, ensuring that her friends solely retain the positive aspects of those past experiences.

Earlier in the episode, Tabitha confirms with Jughead that he and the rest of the Riverdale gang have successfully changed the course of their future for the better. She acknowledges their collective effort in making this timeline less dark, nihilistic, and hopeless. In a meta moment, it seems like Riverdale the series has reassessed its reputation for being dark and gritty, instead embracing a more positive outlook, much like the characters themselves. Considering the setup and the recently released photos from the series finale, it's possible that the show's final episode will completely abandon wild twists in favor of the Archie gang simply enjoying one last memorable and enjoyable time together.

2 Betty's Decision To Keep Her Good And Bad Memories Will Backfire

Tabitha questions her friends from 1955 about their preference: to preserve this knowledge throughout their lives or to rather forget it. She poses this question after sharing the first six seasons of Riverdale. The overwhelming intensity of the show's storyline proves to be too much for most characters. Betty concurs, acknowledging the profound darkness that pervades that world. Of course, this sentiment particularly resonates with Betty, given the numerous deaths and presence of serial killers within her own family.

Even so, Betty chooses to retain all her memories, embracing both joy and pain, happiness and suffering. Jughead acknowledges in his narration that Betty understands the importance of embracing both extremes. However, this decision does not come without consequences. According to the synopsis of the Riverdale series finale, an older Betty reflects on her last day of high school in the present day. This narrative framework allows for one final celebration for the Riverdale teens, as they technically return to the present day. Yet, the emphasis placed on Betty, who remembers everything, hints at something more significant.

1 We Won't Actually See Old Betty's Future — Or Any Endgame Pairings

Riverdale skillfully avoids committing to a tidy ending by showcasing 86-year-old Betty Cooper reflecting on her final day of high school. Throughout the series, devoted viewers have fervently shipped various romantic pairs, resulting in divisive opinions on almost all potential endgame couples (except for Choni). The showrunners of Riverdale are acutely aware of this fact and, on a grander scale, aspire to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of satisfying as many viewers as possible.

The brilliant setup of the last day of high school in Riverdale leaves the characters on the brink of their future, allowing viewers to imagine what lies ahead. It also avoids the need to determine final pairings for the characters. The fact that the series will feature an older Betty does not necessarily provide any insight into her life's outcome. Instead of relying on time loops or major twists in the final episode, this approach serves as the ideal farewell for Riverdale. By refraining from committing to a specific ending, the series finale successfully captures the essence of the continuously evolving Archie Comics.