Dark, dramatic take on Archie comics is campy fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Many dead bodies appear, with some graphic murders and scenes of dying. A character dies by suicide; another is attacked by a bear. Characters shoot people (with blood visible); a serial killer stabs, shoots, and strangles their victims. Gang violence is a constant threat in town. There are several fires, rituals involving skin-carving, and supernatural events. An adult man has sex with an underage girl without any consequences. One teen asks another whether he killed someone and "did things to the body" afterward.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Characters drink socially, and it's implied that one person has an alcohol addiction. Adults and teens smoke cigars, take prescription Adderall, and mention drugs like marijuana and heroin (a character dies from an overdose). Characters get addicted to a fictional drug called "fizzle rocks."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
No graphic nudity, but characters are seen in their underwear and bathing suits. Teens and adults have sex in cars, showers, homes, etc. but none of it is explicit. Much of the plot involves a love triangle and romantic complications. Characters kiss and discuss sex (including virtual sex) and kinks. A teen is asked whether he "tapped some cougar ass." There's a sexual relationship between an adult and underage teen -- see Violence & Scariness for details.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Brands mentioned by name include HBO, Adderall, Twitter. The series is based on a large comic book universe that sells merchandise and toys.
Positive Messages
a little
It's important to maintain friendships and support your loved ones through tough times. High school kids shouldn't have to solve adults' issues.
Positive Role Models
a little
Veronica shows personal growth by learning how to be less selfish and have compassion. Betty is smart and loyal and lives by her values, though this sometimes puts her at unnecessary risk. Most characters fall into two-dimensional archetypes and have personal issues to solve, but they also work together when needed.
Diverse Representations
a little
Main characters are gender-balanced and racially diverse: Veronica (Camila Mendes) is Latina, Reggie (played by Ross Butler and Charles Melton) and Dilton (Daniel Yang) are Asian American, and Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and Chuck (Jordan Calloway) are Black. There are also LGBTQ+ characters like Kevin (Casey Cott), Moose (Cody Kearsley), and Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch). But most of this diversity is shallow, with characters tokenized and one-note. Most of the actors fit into the same, narrow conventions around beauty and body size. Older characters, such as parents and teachers, are sidelined.
Parents need to know that Riverdale is a teen drama based on the Archie comics that has a darker, more violent setting than its lighthearted predecessor. There are many murders (shooting, stabbing, strangling) and threats of violence (gangs and a serial killer), and dead bodies show up constantly (including someone who dies by suicide). Supernatural events, fires, and bear maulings occur. An adult man has sex with an underage girl without consequences. There's no graphic nudity, but teens and adults appear in their underwear and bathing suits. Characters kiss, have sex (non-explicit), and discuss sexual practices like kinks. Strong language includes "d--k," "ass," "damn," and "bitch." Characters drink alcohol at parties, a character smokes cigars, and drugs like marijuana and heroin are mentioned but not seen. Many characters become addicted to a fictional drug called "fizzle rocks." Main characters are racially diverse, and a few are queer, but they're tokenized and one-note. There's also little to no body diversity, and older characters, such as parents and teachers, are sidelined. But positive messages include the importance of friendship, and the show argues that teens shouldn't have to solve adults' issues.
Watch it with your kids - highly inappropriate scenes for younger viewers
I really recommend parents watch ALL of this with kids younger than age 15. I've just watched a scene where one of the characters is handing out drugs at a party. Everyone present (including Archie) and with the exception of one girl, took the drugs. Afterwards they're seen dancing and having a good time. We NEVER see any negative consequences for the drug taking. I'm absolutely astounded that any parent would let their teen kid watch this. Even to encourage 16 year-olds seems outrageous, frankly. I'm no prude and definitely not conservative. I can only imagine that parents who let their young kids watch this haven't actually watched it themselves, or they really don't care what their kids see.
Cliche teen drama with adult themes and ridiculous moments
This was perhaps... the most boring tv show for teens in existence.
INFO FOR PARENTS:
This show includes...
1. A student-teacher affair
2. Many, many deaths
3. Sex scenes (nothing is really showed)
4. (perhaps the most ridiculous one) A girl (Betty) performs a strip routine in front of her boyfriend, her mom, and her boyfriend's dad
5. Mild cussing
6. LGBTQ couples (I'm gay myself but I'm sure Christians would like to know)
There you go. Decide for yourself
What's the Story?
The town of RIVERDALE has been rocked by the death of football hero (and secret cad) Jason Blossom (Trevor Stines). Fellow football player Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), girl-next-door Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), talented singer Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray), Jughead (Cole Sprouse), and new teen in town Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) join forces, only to discover that their town holds more secrets than they thought. The early season murder mystery shifts genres and tones over time, introducing supernatural elements, cults, serial killers, a multiverse, and even musical episodes. While the characters deal with each new danger, in a town where adults are nowhere to be found, they also navigate romantic entanglements, friendship conflicts, and family issues.
Straining to escape the cheesiness of the old Archie comics, this series loads its storyline with new characters and complications, to the delight of many soap-loving teens. Riverdale is not for everyone -- some will love the kids' highfalutin language and get engrossed in the over-the-top mysteries they solve, ignoring plot holes and incoherence in favor of sheer camp. But many won't be able to overlook Riverdale's issues: Characters may be diverse on the surface, but they're uniformly one-note and feel tokenized. And wrong behavior (including sex with an underage girl) that should have consequences in the real world is treated casually, chalked up to "drama." Bottom line? Those who enjoy dark mysteries, wild plots, and model-type actors with a flair for the dramatic will probably enjoy getting wrapped up in Riverdale's world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the dysfunctional family relationships in Riverdale and discuss why writers so often turn to them for good material, both for drama and comedy. What is it about the relationships in Riverdale that's compelling?
Families can also talk about the series of comics on which Riverdale is based. Why do you think the show's creators decided to transform the light comedy of the cartoons into dark drama?
The show's characters are, on the surface, diverse. But without further depth or development, do you think this use of identity is harmful? Why, or why not?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
