16 of the biggest Riverdale questions answered (plus fun facts and spoilers)

Since its premiere in 2017, Riverdale has been one of the most talked about shows on television. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit The CW’s teen drama mystery series has made a lasting impact on pop culture and continues to cement that legacy with each new season.

But due to the evolving nature of its narrative, it’s not always the easiest series to keep up with if you aren’t watching every episode. (Even then it can be tricky to understand what’s going on, to be honest!) Beyond what’s happening on-screen, fans also wonder what’s going on behind the scenes.

Do you need clarification on specific plot points? Are you wondering what year the story takes place? What’s going on with the supernatural aspects? Here’s your guide to some of the most pressing questions surrounding the series, including fun facts and spoilers, too.

Warning: Some spoilers from the series are ahead!

Does Jughead die in Riverdale?

Which time? Just kidding! But it’s true that Jughead’s fate has had the most question marks of any other character in Riverdale. He’s almost died a number of times throughout the series, the most notably being the season 4 cliffhanger surrounding his supposed death. However, Jughead has never died and most likely will not die at any point in the series.

The sixth season tried to make us believe that Jughead would die at the cost of him and his friends saving the town from Percival. Tabitha traveled through time and saw multiple outcomes to their battle, and in each one, Jughead did not survive. Thankfully, he actually did survive!

Who is the Trash Bag Killer in Riverdale?

*SPOILERS!* The TBK mystery was ongoing in Riverdale season 6, and the killer was first believed to be Betty’s nemesis Glen… until the Trash Bag Killer started chopping him to bits. Archie and Betty believed TBK to be a construction worker involved in the work on Archie’s house, and they appear to have been correct.

Seemingly, the importance of the TBK storyline was more about Betty wrestling with her own darkness rather than the serial killer’s identity. TBK had an unhealthy attachment to Betty and tempted her to give into the dark side she’s been fighting for her whole life. Finally, she kills the Trash Bag Killer once and for all following the serial killer convention.

What are the superpowers in Riverdale season 6?

*SPOILERS!* In case you didn’t know or are fuzzy on the superpower twist in the current season, Archie, Betty, Jughead, and more of their friends received special powers after the bomb goes off in Archie’s house. Archie becomes invulnerable, while Betty can read threatening auras. Meanwhile, Jughead’s hearing loss soon turns into mind reading.

Later on in the season, Cheryl develops pyrokinesis and Jughead’s powers transform into opening portals between dimensions, too. Tabitha, the guardian angel of Riverdale, can travel through time, while Veronica has a “venomous” kiss. All of these powers are a result of the bomb causing a rift between Riverdale and its alternate dimension, Rivervale, when Percival Pickens arrived in town.

How do they end up in the ’50s in Riverdale?

*SPOILERS!* The sixth season officially opened the series up to the supernatural, and let’s just say it got a little crazy! After defeating Percival, the gang realizes that the evil sorcerer reverted the path of Bailey’s Comet to directly hit the town. Veronica realizes that she can absorb everyone else’s powers through their blood and transfer them to Cheryl with a kiss to better their chances of survival.

Once Cheryl harnesses each of their powers, she uses them in tandem to freeze the comet from hitting the town and obliterating their home and loved ones. Cheryl successfully stops the comet, but when Archie wakes up, he’s back in high school and… in 1955? Something with her powers and the comet sent them back to the ’50s and only Jughead remembers their lives before, thus opening up the show’s final mystery to solve in season 7.

Does Archie die in Riverdale?

No, Archie does not officially die. He survives a bear attack and many more attacks that could have taken his life, including an explosion. However, Archie dies in the five-episode “Rivervale” event, later coming back to life. That’s confusing, though.

Later on in season 6, Archie is one of the many people who dies as part of Percival’s biblical “first born” curse, but Cheryl’s spell brings him (and all of the dead) back to life. As of season 6, Archie is alive and well, and it’s sure to remain that way no matter how many times our red-headed hero is put in harm’s way.

Why did they rename Riverdale?

If you’re only a casual fan of the series and don’t understand what happened at the beginning of season 6 with the town’s “name change,” here’s the cut-and-dry answer. “Rivervale” was a five-episode event that took place in an alternate universe known as Rivervale. It was weird, dark, horror-centric, and tested the limits of what the campy series can do. But fear not, the town’s name change was only temporary, and it’s back to the name we all know and most love.

What year is Riverdale set in?

Even though Riverdale technically had a seven-year time jump after its fourth season, which aired in 2020, most would assume that the series now takes place in 2027. However, in an infamous line from Veronica, it’s revealed that the series is now currently in present day. Still, clever fans will notice that the gang graduated in 2020, so the math doesn’t really add up. Let’s just say Riverdale is more of a state of mind than a specific place you can pinpoint on a timeline.

Why did Mark Consuelos leave Riverdale?

Mark Consuelos joined the cast in season 2 as Hiram Lodge, Veronica’s father and the series’ perennial villain. Consuelos opted to leave the hit series at the end of the fifth season. Hiram was run out of town after causing the fire at Pop’s.

*SPOILERS!* He later leaves a bomb under Archie’s bed, nearly killing him and Betty, which prompts Veronica to call a hit on her father. Although she has second thoughts, the deed was already done, and Hiram’s funeral was held in Riverdale season 6, episode 7 with a final send-off to Mark Consuelos.

What state is Riverdale in?

The exact state where Riverdale takes place in has been left ambiguous in the series. From context clues, we can tell that it’s somewhere in the North East, perhaps even in New England. Most have assumed that the town is in Upstate New York since the characters have frequently made references to living close to the city. A recent season 6 episode featured “Riverdale, New York” on a police flyer, though it’s not supposed to be the actual town in New York.

Where is Riverdale filmed?

Although the series takes place in the United States, like a lot of popular American television series, Riverdale is actually filmed in Canada. Each season of Riverdale has been filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, where the cast resides while the show’s in production.

Who is the Black Hood in Riverdale?

Because of all the red herrings and false starts and stops in the various Riverdale mystery investigations, it can be difficult to keep track of who ended up being who. While there was a big race to unmask the Black Hood in season 2, the Big Bad wound up being none other than Betty’s father, Hal Cooper.

Who killed Jason in Riverdale?

If you’re still looking for clarification on the first season’s big mystery, we don’t blame you. It happened so long ago and so many more wild mysteries have occurred on the series since then. Riverdale’s first big mystery revealed that Clifford Blossom, Jason and Cheryl’s father, murdered Jason after he found out his father was involved in the drug business. Clifford later hanged himself in the syrup distillery and Cheryl burned down Thornhill Mansion.

In Riverdale season 6, Cheryl uses her newfound powers to bring Jason back to life. But when Percival uses those closest to the core group he’s attempting at get revenge on against them, Jason hunts Cheryl and Heather with a bow and arrow. After he hits Heather, Cheryl knows she shouldn’t have brought him back and sets him on fire to set his soul free. In the ends, Cheryl kills Jason, too.

When does Riverdale come back?

Riverdale season 6 returned on Sunday, March 20 at 8/7c on The CW. The series moved to Sunday nights for the first time in its run. After season 6 concludes on July 31, Riverdale season 7 will make its premiere in 2023, as confirmed by The CW.

When will Riverdale season 6 be on Netflix?

The sixth season of the series finished airing on The CW on Sunday, July 31, which means the 22-episode penultimate season will arrive on Netflix one week later. You can catch up on the latest season on Netflix when it begins streaming on Sunday, Aug. 7.

How many seasons of Riverdale are there?

As of August 2022, there are six seasons of Riverdale that have aired on The CW and will be available to stream on Netflix. In total, there will be seven seasons of the series once the final season premieres on the network in 2023.

Is Riverdale season 7 the final season?

Before The CW even renewed Riverdale for season 7, there had been rumblings that the season after the sixth could be the last season. A number of cast members, including Lili Reinhart, hinted that season 7 could be the endgame for the hit drama series.

While talking to GQ to promote his new movie Moonshot, Cole Sprouse told the magazine that he’s ready for the show to come to its final conclusion and “wrap it up with a bow.” And that’s exactly what they will do, as The CW announced season 7 as the show’s last.

Stay tuned for more Riverdale answers, fun facts, news, updates, and more from Netflix Life!