Unveiling the Myths and Mysteries of Rivervale: Riverdale Season 6 Alternate Universe Revealed!

Riverdale season 6 introduces viewers to the town of Rivervale, where a series of bizarre events unfold. Serving as the core setting for the Sabrina crossover and Riverdale's penultimate season, Rivervale takes the already strange happenings of Riverdale to a whole new level. In the first episode of season 6, titled "Welcome to Rivervale," Jughead assumes the role of a host in a Twilight Zone-esque storytelling format, guiding audiences through this alternate world. From animal sacrifices and curses to unexpected pregnancies, Rivervale dives headfirst into the realm of the supernatural. To add to the intrigue, the series shocks audiences by killing off Archie in the season premiere. Unlike a mere dream, Rivervale remains the backdrop for the first five episodes of the season, mirroring the familiar setting of Riverdale with a supernatural twist. With character doppelgängers and ritualized sacrifices, Rivervale's origins and mysteries date back centuries. With two sets of similar characters, the Rivervale storyline can be quite perplexing, but it is Jughead who ultimately unravels the enigma of this peculiar town in season 6.

Rivervale Is An Alternate Dimension

In season 6, Rivervale is revealed to be a parallel alternate dimension, functioning as its own pocket universe. While the town's residents are the same as those in Riverdale, their behavior is exaggerated. Jughead, who typically serves as Riverdale's narrator, takes on the role of a host who is aware of the mysterious events happening in Rivervale, breaking the fourth wall. After a bomb explosion, Archie and Betty find themselves transported to this alternate universe. The backstory of Percival Pickens, a settler from the 1500s, is also explored in Rivervale.

Each episode in Rivervale concludes with the death of a major character, only for that character to wake up in the Riverdale universe, suggesting that it was all just a dream. However, Rivervale is proven to be very real when Jughead starts noticing anomalies in the universe. He witnesses characters dressed in their season 1 attire and individuals who were previously killed suddenly coming back to life. This prompts Jughead to turn to the comics and seek guidance from his friend Dilton. They both reveal that Rivervale was created by the bomb explosion and that both universes are unstable as long as they coexist. A doppelgänger of Jughead emerges and offers to sacrifice himself in order to continue writing Rivervale stories and maintain the stability of the universe.

Rivervale Wasn't A Dream (And Showrunner Robert Aguiree-Sacas Teased It Was Real Early On)

Aguirre-Sacasa, in an interview with TVLine, confirmed that Rivervale's existence in Riverdale season 6 is explained and is part of the show's canon. While he didn't explicitly mention alternate dimensions or dreams, he stated that the events in Rivervale would have an impact on and relate to the events in Riverdale. This suggests that Archie's death will continue to be part of the storyline in some way. However, Aguirre-Sacasa also hinted at surprises and twists in the remaining Rivervale story. One highly anticipated aspect of the Rivervale story and Riverdale season 6 was the introduction of Sabrina Spellman, a character from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Despite her death in her own show, Sabrina's appearance in Riverdale through a crossover event adds an element of mystery and the possibility of parallel dimensions like Rivervale. The inclusion of witchcraft and spells in Riverdale further enhances this potential. While Riverdale provides some explanations for the mysteries in Rivervale, there are still enough unanswered questions to keep the narrative engaging if needed.

The 1950s Riverdale In Season 7 Wasn't Rivervale

In Riverdale's final season, the show takes a surprising turn by starting in 1955. Veronica returns to town, but her memories have been erased, and the characters are more reminiscent of their comic book counterparts. It is revealed that Percival Pickens broke free from the Rivervale universe in season 6 and attempted to direct Bailey's Comet towards Riverdale. However, Cheryl, empowered by Veronica, seemingly thwarted his plans. Jughead seeks answers for their current situation and Tabitha finally reveals the truth. Despite Cheryl's efforts, Bailey's Comet did collide with Riverdale, prompting Tabitha to use her remaining powers to send the group back in time with the hope of creating a better future for Riverdale. This complex situation adds to the already tangled timelines that Tabitha must unravel in order to bring a satisfying conclusion to the series.