Riverdale season 3 premiere photos: 3 things you need to notice

The new Riverdale season 3 photos might look pretty standard at first glance, but a closer look can reveal some interesting clues.

Although the Riverdale season 3 trailer has been out for quite some time, that trailer encompasses the whole season, not just next month’s premiere episode. However, as TVLine initially reported, there are now photos for the premiere.

While it’s a relatively small set, three photos in particular stand out. TVLine mostly focused on Mary Andrews’ confirmed return to help defend her son. We’re going to go a little deeper than that.

But, while we’re on the subject of Archie’s upcoming court case…

Riverdale — “Chapter Thirty-Six: Labor Day” — Image Number: RVD301b_0113.jpg — Pictured (L-R): KJ Apa as Archie and Robin Givens as Sierra McCoy — Photo: Jack Rowand/The CW — © 2018 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Sierra McCoy for the defense, Your Honor

Mary helping her son out isn’t a surprise. And, when you think about it, Sierra McCoy doing the same for Archie makes quite a lot of sense. She’s got her own grievances with the Lodges, and helping Archie out is just another way to show that she’s not going to work with them anymore … or at least for now. Hey, now that she’s no longer mayor, she has some more free time on her hands, right?

Riverdale — “Chapter Thirty-Six: Labor Day” — Image Number: RVD301a_0317.jpg — Pictured (L-R): KJ Apa as Archie, Camila Mendes as Veronica, Cole Sprouse as Jughead and Lili Reinhart as Betty — Photo: Katie Yu/The CW — © 2018 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

There’s still a divide between the core four

How do you show that things are still more than a little awkward between the four central characters of the show? Well, if you’re Riverdale, you literally put a blazing campfire between them and have no one look particularly happy (or just not show their faces at all). Season 2 saw them more often than not on their own sets of stories, only occasionally crossing over. Perhaps this trip is meant to bring them back together…

Riverdale — “Chapter Thirty-Six: Labor Day” — Image Number: RVD301a_0268.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Cole Sprouse as Jughead and Lili Reinhart as Betty — Photo: Katie Yu/The CW — © 2018 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Not all is right in the world of Bughead

Betty and Jughead sitting around and looking mildly to moderately sad is a solid quarter to third of their plotlines, and yet we’re still into it for reasons we don’t think we can adequately explain. Beyond that, though, they seemed to have reached a point where they’re settled by the end of season 2, with Jughead the new leader of the Serpents and Betty as his queen (sort of).

What’s happened in the ensuing time? Has being the leader of the Serpents worn Jughead down? Or are their lives just too dramatic to stay calm for long?

What will Riverdale season 3 hold? Stay tuned to Culturess for all the latest.