The CW has been building a name for itself in recent years with its incredibly varied lineup; the network has established a massive DC Comics-based television universe with Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow while two of its other genre series - the telenovela Jane the Virgin and musical comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - have earned The CW awards attention. Still, the network is perhaps most well known for its comic book-inspired fare, which additionally includes iZombie, based on the Vertigo series of the same name, and the recently premiered Riverdale - based on iconic Archie Comics characters.
So far, the first season of the show has setup and slowly investigated the murder of Jason Blossom, a local high school student, while shedding light on all the darker aspects of small town America. Rather than the typical goof, Riverdale’s Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa) is a tortured songwriter/football player who had an affair with his teacher, while his friends Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), and Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) are harboring secrets of their own. Riverdale debuted in January to plenty of critical acclaim and now fans will get to see even more of Archie and his friends.
The CW has renewed Riverdale for a second season, just six weeks into the show’s first season. So far, it’s the only series of The CW’s freshman dramas to receive a renewal decision - second seasons for No Tomorrow and Frequency will likely depend on how well they perform on Netflix. Riverdale is slated to return as part of The CW’s 2017-2018 lineup, though it remains to be seen if season 2 will debut in the fall or at the midseason.
Riverdale hasn’t been the best performer for The CW in terms of ratings, earning an average of 1.6 million viewers and 0.4 in the 18-49 demographic per episode in its post-Supernatural slot. However, it’s live+7 and live-plus-same-day ratings have grown, and Riverdale has become one of the network’s most watched shows on its digital platforms with the likes of The Flash, Jane the Virgin, and long-running series The Vampire Diaries.
Still, ratings aside, it seemed likely The CW would give Riverdale a second season since the network prides itself in renewing series that may not do well in the ratings but do inspire a devoted fan base - which Riverdale has thanks to its murder mystery plot and compelling teen drama. Prior to Riverdale’s premiere, The CW renewed Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and a number of its other popular series. So, considering how Riverdale has fared with critics and fans, it seemed likely to receive the second season renewal.
Of course, now it remains to be seen how Riverdale will continue in its second season. Will the show wrap up the mystery surrounding Jason Blossom’s murder in season 1, or will it continue to remain unsolved into season 2? Additionally, since Archie Comics signed a deal with Warner Bros TV, The CW may also explore the possibility of Riverdale spinoffs - introducing Sabrina the Teenage Witch before spinning her off into her own series, or following Josie and the Pussycats should they leave Riverdale. How Riverdale continues to develop in its second season, and whether The CW pursues the idea of spinoffs, remains to be seen - but fans enjoying the Archie Comics television series can at least rest assured it will return next season.
Next: Which Riverdale Characters Have Been Changed the Most?
Riverdale continues Thursday March 9 with ‘Chapter Seven: In a Lonely Place’ at 9pm on The CW.
Source: The CW
