Will all the Archie Comics TV series be connected?
By Rachel Roth
The Archie Comics TV universe is expanding past Riverdale with three new series. Is there a connection?
In a series that is Supernatural meets Gossip Girl, CW’s Riverdale manages to be a dark drama while also targeting towards young adults. The series seems to have taken the world by storm, just two seasons in and it’s more popular than most of the CW’s shows ever were by their second season. Jughead merchandise is all over Hot Topic, poor Lili Reinhart is being stalked by the press, and it’s already getting some spin-offs. The series is a darker take on the comic books it’s based on. The Archie Comics, “The Archie Adventure series,” are fun and uplifting. The books are more about teenage adventures rather than troubling issues such as murder and incest.
Archie’s first comic was released in 1942, but the character’s first appearance was in Pep Comics #22 in1941. The character, inspired by the Andy Hardy movies, was popular enough to get his own title series. The comic got a reboot in 2015 as part of the New Riverdale relaunch for a more mature audience, and soon after came the live action TV adaptation. Staring one of the Sprouse twins and some 90’s stars, including Molly Ringwald, Luke Perry and Skeet Ulrich. The series also rose some new faces into stardom, especially Lili Reinhart who plays Betty Cooper. The press seems to be very interested in stalking Reinhart and she’s been repeatedly fat shamed by fans because she looks like a normal person instead of a skeleton.
Overall, Riverdale has become big enough to make it possible for other Archie Comics stories to get a TV time slot.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
We already have a Sabrina the Teenage Witch show starring Melissa Joan Heart, but this new adaption is going to be completely different. The new series will be called, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and she’s rumored to live in the same universe as Archie and the gang. Originally it was in development with CW, meant to be a sister series to Riverdale, but was moved to Netflix in December of last year. Without the same network to connect them, the two series seem to be in two separate worlds as of right now.
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According to CW president Mark Pedowitz, “at the moment, there is no discussion about crossing over”, but executive producer of both series, Jon Goldwater gives good reason to believe there might be a connection. Goldwater reminded fans that the city Sabrina lives in, Greendale, has been mentioned in Riverdale and is therefore linked to Archie’s world. Even if no character makes the cross over, there is a Sabrina Spellman living somewhere within the Riverdale world. There’s a silly fan theory about Alice Cooper being a witch, but I think we can disregard that.
Sabrina is likely to be a darker show, rumored to be more horror than drama. Netflix makes amazing series and aren’t held down by the YA standards the CW seems to run by. Every series on CW, except for Supernatural, goes straight for love triangles, and over the top situations resulting in unnecessary melodrama. Netflix might do away with these clichés, and I pray that they do.
Sam Hill: Private Eye
Just a few days ago, Archie Comics announced that their short-lived comic, “Sam Hill: Private Eye”, is being picked up for a TV series. I’m sure it’s not what fans were hopping for, the detective comic has gone underground since its end in 1950. Not a lot of people know about it but there are some who’ve dug it out of their dust-covered boxes in the basement and started reading it again.
There isn’t a lot on the Sam Hill: Private Eye comic. Similar to and inspired by the cop noir stories of the 1940s and 50s, it only ran for seven issues. Hopefully the sleuth’s series won’t be as short as his comics. It seems an odd choice. Hundreds of Archie productions to pick from and they scrap Sam Hill out. But Riverdale does have a very sleuth like, detective feel to it, especially when it comes to Betty and Jughead. I can easily see the Bughead team running into Detective Hill to crack a case. Riverdale, though modern, has a definite 50s’ look. With Pop’s diner, their constant supply of milkshakes, Jughead preferring a typewriter, Betty’s “Lollipop” ringtone and their wardrobe; it feels like the 1950s. Plus the Southside Serpents look like Greasers
Two animated series to add
I doubt these will connect with the live action shows, but you never know. Anyone see that Supernatural episode where they go into Scooby-Doo? It could be like that. It turns out the creators of Riverdale were listening to the fans cry out their need for more Josie screen time. Josie McCoy and her all-girl band, the Pussycats, are getting their own series. Along with Josie, Archie and the gang are getting another series as a more light-hearted cartoon. Every series, but the second Archie, is going for dark. Josie and the Pussycats are going for dark undertones and horror, a lot like Scooby-Doo actually.
Nothing else about these series has come out yet, but I’d say both will appear on CW Seed. For those who don’t know, and I bet almost no one does, CW Seed is CW’s streaming service. Everyone needs their own streaming service because everyone’s online these day, but CW’s service prefers to stream series that aren’t available anywhere else. They not only stream CW shows but other series as well, and there’s a lot of animated ones on there; Vixen, Constantine: City of Demons, Freedom Fighters, and Star Trek.
What this could mean for Riverdale
Three live-action series sharing one universe has great potential. Riverdale can clearly stand on its own, and Sabrina will also be on her own for a while, neither show needs to rely on the other. If they cross paths then they’ll cross paths and it’ll be amazing. It can also introduce a whole new story in regards to Riverdale. Sabrina is a witch and lives in a world of magic, acknowledging her existence would introduce magic as well. So far, Jughead and Archie only deal with serial killers, biker gangs and corrupt business men thinking their Marlon Brando. It’s very human and reality ground, but a single guest appearance can turn that around.
If Sabrina doesn’t show up, then maybe Sam Hill will. Hill wouldn’t have the same effect as Sabrina, he’s entirely human, but it will still expand the Archie Universe. This is the more likely episode cross we’d get. Hill is a detective and Riverdale desperately needs some detective work. A character, such as Betty or a serpent with a cop connections, can contact Hill for help.
Next: Shows to watch while waiting for Riverdale Season 3
In right CW fashion, Riverdale will be around for a long time. The series is popular enough and they’re on a network that loves to stretch each show out forever. Archie Comics has many more stories in their database, giving us whole possible universe at our disposal. Cinematic universes are growing in popularity and CW is pro cinematic universe. They have two already with their Arrowverse, and their Vampire Dairies universe. Supernatural is trying to get one but nothings works out with them. Why shouldn’t Riverdale get a turn?
Do you think these series should be connected? Are you excited for Riverdale season 3? Leave your comments below.