Riverdale Queer Watch season 5 episode 1: Here we go again, Kevin

Welcome to Riverdale Queer Watch, where we look out for Riverdale’s LGBTQ folks each week. Whether it’s a snuff film or prom night, we’re watching.

If you’re a longtime fan of the show, and a queer fan specifically, you likely know that Riverdale isn’t always kind to its LGBTQ characters. A prime example of this is the character Kevin, who has been relegated to cruising the woods, starring in tickle tapes, and much worse.

That’s why this season, we’ll be keeping track of how the show is treating its queer characters each week in our Queer Watch column, because while Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Riverdale‘s creator and the Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics, is gay, he still needs to be held accountable.

A lot happened in Riverdale‘s season premiere, including a very minimized prom moment, but there were two moments of concern for Queer Watch.

Kevin Eagerly Hops Aboard the Snuff Film Train

While Betty and Jughead continued their search for the Auteur, the person behind the voyeur tapes, they decided to create a snuff film of their own as bait. Kevin all too eagerly joined in with, “You had me at snuff film.” Once again, yes, these are children in high school.

It’s all the more disappointing considering that we didn’t really get any other good Kevin moments this week, and barely a crumble of Kevin and Fangs at prom.

I thought maybe Riverdale was past this with Kevin and that we’d left the tickle tapes behind with the rest of 2020’s curses. But apparently, Riverdale gives us the hate we think we deserve.

Cheryl and Toni Break Up

The one good thing Riverdale had going for its queer characters over the last few seasons was Cheryl and Toni’s relationship.

But apparently, the season five writers room woke up and chose violence, breaking up the show’s best couple with a really random storyline about a feud between Toni’s family and the Blossoms.

After everything these two have been through, including Cheryl hiding her brother’s dead body and talking to it, this is what finally breaks them up. It’s even weirder that a lie about homophobia surrounds it, considering that Toni originally lived with Cheryl because she had nowhere else to go.

Riverdale is far from logically consistent, but at least stay true to your characters. And if breakups need to happen before the time jump, at least come up with a good reason to do it.

What did you think about the Riverdale season premiere? Let us know in the comments below!