The Unbelievable Intricacies of Riverdale's Epic Quad Relationship

Summary

Riverdale's series finale introduces a quad relationship between Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead, defying traditional endgame pairings.

The final scene offers closure as an older Betty gets to experience her final day of high school again and discovers what the future holds for her friends. Choosing the quad relationship is a smart decision that manages to satisfy fans while also challenging conventional notions of how stories should end.

Riverdale's series finale skillfully avoids any criticisms by introducing a quad relationship for its main characters. Throughout the Archie Comics, the iconic red-head Archie is torn between Betty and Veronica. Since comic books have no definitive end, the TV series can continually explore different romantic pairings. However, Riverdale concludes with a more definitive ending. Nonetheless, the show adeptly navigates the debates between fans of Barchie, Beronica, and Bughead through its unique polycule twist.

Titled "Goodbye, Riverdale," the series finale covers a wide range of events and surprises. An insightful Jughead appears as an omniscient figure, allowing an older Betty to relive her last day of high school and witness the future of her friends. This gives viewers a sense of closure, even if the outcomes are not what they had expected for the Riverdale gang. However, the final scene of the finale reveals Betty's arrival in The Sweet Hereafter, the afterlife of the Archie Comics, where she will forever remain at the age of 17 with her friends. The Riverdale finale deliberately avoids solidifying the characters' endings, and the quad relationship represents one of its clever choices.

Riverdale's "Quad Relationship" Between Archie, Betty, Veronica & Jughead Explained

The Riverdale series finale predictions were filled with various guesses about who the showrunners and writers would pair together. However, no one could have predicted the quad relationship between Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead. In "Goodbye, Riverdale," an elderly Betty gets the opportunity to relive her last day of senior year. With the help of an all-knowing Jughead, she enters her childhood bedroom but finds her memories jumbled. Betty struggles to remember the details of her youth and what happened to her high school friends.

This situation allows Betty to represent the audience, as she discovers the 1950s-set senior year along with them. During their final high school lunch, Kevin asks Betty if the four of them have made any decisions yet, referring to Archie, Veronica, and Jughead. Betty had completely forgotten about the secret quad relationship that defined their senior year. It turns out that the four of them went on double dates, but everything changed when they regained their memories of the past six seasons. With a newfound awareness of their previous feelings, they realized that a quad relationship, where they all dated each other, was the best fit for them.

Why Riverdale's Series Finale Went With A Polycule Relationship

The potential couplings for Riverdale's core four — Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead — have always been a source of contention among fans. Riverdale executive producer Sarah Schechter explains that the show intentionally veered away from the traditional love triangle storyline in the pilot episode. While Archie's choice between Betty and Veronica is a defining aspect of the comics, Riverdale challenges this concept throughout its seven-season run, particularly in the finale. Departing from the expected endgame pairings not only deviates from the show's source material, but also challenges conventional views on endings.

Rather than disappointing fans who believe Betty and Veronica should be the endgame or favoring Barchie over Varchie, the series avoids this dilemma altogether. Instead, it presents a more universally appealing form of fan service. Viewers discover that the core four engage in a polyamorous relationship, taking turns spending nights with each other and embracing a more carefree approach rather than getting caught up in typical relationship drama that characterized earlier seasons. Throughout its duration, Riverdale is known for its extravagant wish fulfillment and idealized portrayal of nostalgia. The core four's polyamorous dynamic captures both of these sentiments, allowing the show to provide fans with the ultimate kind of fan service.

How Long The Quad Relationship Lasted In Riverdale

The Riverdale series finale is remarkable for its ability to balance between catering to fans and remaining grounded in reality. Although the quad relationship provides excitement for the core four characters, it is only temporary and ends as they move on from high school. Betty and her friends ultimately drift apart, dispelling the notion that they would end up together in the future. This bittersweet truth feels authentic and relatable, a departure from the usual wish fulfillment associated with Riverdale. However, the series manages to have the best of both worlds.

In the present day, when Betty, now 86 years old, passes away, she finds herself in her own version of The Sweet Hereafter: Pop's nostalgic diner, bathed in the glow of neon lights and filled with her perpetually youthful friends and delicious milkshakes. As Betty joins Archie, Veronica, and Jughead at their booth, it becomes apparent that they have been patiently awaiting her arrival. This afterlife setting transcends both time and space, reflecting the eternal, everlasting nature of the Archie Comics and Riverdale. It also leaves room for viewers to envision countless more stories with endlessly varied conclusions. Creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's brilliant Riverdale finale brings the characters together in the afterlife, allowing fans to continue rooting for them indefinitely.