Riverdale is taking a risk confronting conversion therapy

Riverdale has never shied away from some risky topics, but throwing one of their characters unwillingly into conversion therapy is a big one.

More from CW

• The CW’s culture of pulling shows continues as Everyone Else Burns and Run the Burbs are removed from the schedule
• All American: Homecoming season 3 release updates, strike delay, and more
• The CW is out of the superhero business with Superman and Lois canceled
• The Spencer Sisters filming locations: Where is the CW drama filmed?
• The Librarians: The Next Chapter release updates and everything we know so far

This article might require a trigger warning for some people so fair warning and feel free to click over to something else if you want to. The growing relationship between Cheryl Blossom and Toni Topaz has become a fast fan favorite. I mean most of us were just waiting for Toni to move past Jughead and get to Cheryl. But now that burgeoning relationship seems to already be in trouble.

Cheryl’s mom seems to follow the Riverdale trend of crazy parents and take it to a whole other level. Her mother has apparently been discouraging Cheryl’s relationships with other women since a young age and shows no signs of slowing down now.

At the end of the most recent episode, it appears that Cheryl has been unwillingly enrolled into conversion therapy by her mother to rid her of the feelings that she has been repressing. All of this looks to be part of the mother’s larger plan to take over the Blossom fortune and wrest control away from Grandma Blossom and Cheryl. It feels pretty risky even by Riverdale standards to be confronting conversion therapy on a popular prime time show.

I mean it is a valid story line to address as this sort of thing still happens today, but if handled in the wrong way this idea could blow up in their faces. It will be interesting to see how they handle this and what the fallout will be. My hope is that Cheryl is rescued quickly before any permanent damage can be done. I’m also ready for Mama Blossom to get some karma. Honestly, this series focuses too much on the parents and never enough time on the possible happiness of the kids.

Next: Riverdale season 2, episode 16 recap: Betty catches bad men… Who’s next?

Riverdale returns next week on Wednesday night on the CW at 8/9 C, be sure to tune in!