In the Riverdale season 6 finale, viewers are left questioning the unexpected ending. Departing from its usual tone, the season takes a supernatural turn, contrary to creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's initial claims. In the penultimate episode, the villainous sorcerer Percival Pickens returns to his alternate universe home of Rivervale, ensuring that Bailey's Comet continues its dangerous trajectory towards Riverdale. To further complicate matters, Percival creates a magical barrier, trapping the town's residents inside.
During the finale, Veronica devises a plan where she absorbs her teammates' powers through a blood transfusion and transfers them to Cheryl through a kiss. As Cheryl redirects the comet and saves Riverdale, the show delivers a shocking twist: Archie Andrews, the main character, wakes up in the 1950s. Jughead Jones, the show's narrator, explains that Cheryl's heroic act has indeed succeeded, but somehow transported the gang back to Riverdale High School in the year 1955.
Why Riverdale Has Returned To The 1950s
Unfortunately, the reason behind the characters of Riverdale being in the 1950s at the end of season 6 was not revealed in the season finale. However, in the first episode of season 7, it was unveiled that Tabitha (Erinn Westbrook) realized just in time that Cheryl couldn't completely prevent the comet from hitting Riverdale. To change the course of events and ensure a better future for the town, Tabitha utilized the remaining power of time-traveling to transport the gang back to the '50s. Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has hinted that the 1950s setting will persist throughout Riverdale season 7.
Why Jughead Remembers The Comet
In the concluding moments of Riverdale's sixth season finale, narrator Jughead Jones delivers a significant revelation, stating, "I am the sole bearer of memories from the time before the Comet, the period referred to as B.C." This revelation implies that Jughead's friends and the entire town of Riverdale have been transported back in time, oblivious to the fact that their surroundings have aged six decades beyond what they should have. While the finale did not provide explicit details regarding Jughead's immunity to this phenomenon, it is plausible that his omniscient nature as a character grants him this unique perspective.
As the narrator of the show, there have been numerous indications that Jughead possesses godlike abilities. In his alternate reality incarnation in Rivervale, he has the power to manipulate the town's narrative as he sees fit. Remarkably, this doppelgänger version of Jughead acts as a crucial energy source, ensuring the coexistence of Rivervale and Riverdale within an entire parallel universe. Despite the lack of explanation in the Riverdale season 6 finale or season 7, Jughead appears to be immune to the peculiar circumstances that surround him, possessing an omniscient perspective.
What Was The Point Of The String?
In the Riverdale season 6 finale, Cheryl, who had been practicing witchcraft with Sabrina Spellman, is faced with the daunting task of unraveling a massive knot that is keeping the barrier over Riverdale intact. However, the limited time they have makes this endeavor seem impossible. As the show's protagonists grow increasingly desperate to save Riverdale from impending disaster, Cheryl turns to her ancestor, Abigail Blossom, believing she can offer a solution. Abigail suggests a simple yet profound answer: Cheryl can use her phoenix powers to destroy the comet, as it is composed of ice.
As the Riverdale season 6 finale approaches, Cheryl's girlfriend, Heather (Caroline Day), decides to end their relationship. However, with the impending comet about to strike, this decision seems futile. Nevertheless, depending on the plans for the season 7 finale, Heather may have chosen to leave before the time twist, allowing her to return to her (and Sabrina's) hometown of Greendale as previously intended. Regrettably, Heather is nowhere to be found in Riverdale season 7, with only one episode remaining.
Who Was A Couple At The End Of Season 6?
The season 6 finale of Riverdale dedicates significant screen time to acknowledging the original couples. One instance is when Veronica becomes envious of Betty and Archie, prompting her to ask Tabitha to glimpse into the future and determine who will ultimately end up together. Furthermore, there are multiple allusions to Betty and Jughead's past relationship, as Jughead experiences flashbacks and Ethel points out his struggle to sever ties with Betty. Nevertheless, the growing affection between Betty and Archie, as well as Jughead's newfound love for Tabitha, presented challenges in reuniting the original couples.
Since the events of Riverdale season 7 revolved around the gang's journey to the past, many of the original couples were reunited. Archie and Veronica embarked on a romantic relationship from the very first episode, while Betty found love with Kevin Keller (Casey Cott). Similar to the comics, Jughead remained focused on solving the mystery of returning the gang to the present, leaving no room for romance. Furthermore, Cheryl and Toni's relationship blossomed in Riverdale season 7. The unexpected twist in the final season 6 served as a brilliant opportunity to reunite the original couples for the ultimate season.
Does Polly Know About Jason?
A question that still remains unanswered from the Riverdale season 6 finale is whether Polly is aware of Cheryl's act of killing Jason after his resurrection. Cheryl unleashes her full phoenix force on the departed of Riverdale, successfully bringing Jason and Polly back to life. However, it becomes apparent that Jason is not what he appears to be, leading Cheryl to regret her decision and utilize her powers to burn him alive. Judging from Polly's composed demeanor in the finale, as she cherishes her final moments with her family without mentioning Jason, it is highly likely that she is unaware of his demise once again. Nevertheless, the unexpected 1950s twist reveals that Julian Blossom has replaced Jason, rendering his murder in Riverdale season 1 futile.
What The Finale Of Riverdale Season 6 Really Means
Riverdale's decision to completely abandon its six-season build-up may prove to be a fortuitous move. According to creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, this fresh start offers the show a virtually blank slate, while still retaining its familiar essence. With the upcoming conclusion of Riverdale after its seventh season, embracing a more faithful representation of the comic book source material would be a fitting tribute. The sixth season finale of Riverdale teased a captivating journey into the idyllic town of Riverdale, set in the dreamlike 1950s.
Despite the optimistic and vibrant portrayal of 1950s Riverdale in the season six finale, viewers can anticipate the showrunners infusing their signature dark twist, which distinguishes the comic and the series. Aguirre-Sacasa previously showcased this ability in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season four, with a clever nod to a 90s sitcom episode. The main cast has returned for the final season, and Aguirre-Sacasa has hinted at the possibility of familiar faces reappearing due to the time jump. As Riverdale season seven approaches its long-awaited series finale, audiences won't have to wait much longer to discover the culmination of the 1950s Riverdale storyline.
How The Riverdale Season 6 Finale Set Up Season 7
The Riverdale season 6 finale has set the stage for the final chapter of the series in multiple ways. Firstly, it reveals that the core group has been transported back to the year 1955, with Jughead being the only one aware of this. In the first episode of season 7, Jughead desperately tries to convince his friends of their situation, even showing them a time capsule they buried during their senior year. Future Tabitha approaches him at Pop's and explains that she used her remaining powers to ensure the group's safety by sending them back in time, but they must now untangle multiple timeline knots in order to return to the future.
Tabitha takes on the responsibility of bringing them back to the present, but before she can do so, she must erase Jughead's memory, which she successfully accomplishes. The rest of Riverdale season 7 unfolds within this isolated 1950s universe, combining elements from the show's first season and drawing inspiration from its comic book origins to tell a final and gripping story. The possibility remains that the cast may remain trapped in the 1950s, thereby creating a new and safer version of Riverdale as Tabitha had hoped. Alternatively, it is ultimately Tabitha and Jughead's responsibility to restore the timeline and bring normalcy back to Riverdale.