Riverdale Queer Watch season 6 premiere: Welcome to Rivervale

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

Riverdale is officially back for its sixth season and things are wackier than ever. When we last left off, Cheryl had seemingly summoned her ancestor, a witch who had been burned at the stake at the hands of Archie, Betty, and Jughead’s ancestors in turn.

As a result, the gang now finds themselves in an alternate reality of Riverdale called Rivervale. What makes this world so different beyond the name is unclear, but let’s go ahead and dive in further.

Riverdale Queer Watch: Toni and Fangs

Toni and Fangs are struggling with a colicky baby Anthony, leaving them at their wits ends. Fangs finally suggests they take him to the woods and leave him there to cry it out, which his mom apparently did to him. (Uh…okay?)

A desperate Toni agrees, but Cheryl finds her and soothes the baby before he can be left out in the cold. Cheryl offers to make a permanent tincture to cure baby Anthony and a desperate Toni agrees. I suppose this is how sleep-deprived new parents get sucked into cults…

Riverdale Queer Watch: Cheryl

While Cheryl took over her mother’s fake church last season to worship her dearly departed brother, Jason, she’s now moved onto a higher calling–the Maple Maiden. Heavy sigh.

This week’s episode was weird and confusing with Cheryl basically looming in the background as the new villain, quietly and slowing pulling people into her new Midsommar-esque cult with the promise that worshipping the Maple Maiden could return Rivervale to its fully glory.

This all culminated in a bizarre closing sequence in which the endlessly clueless Archie shows up to a ritualistic trap laid for him, a blood sacrifice that, according to Cheryl, will appease the Maple Maiden and bring order back to Rivervale.

In a bizarre move, Cheryl actually kills Archie, taking out his heart while everyone else watches and dances. It’s tough to say where the show is going with this and, most importantly with her character.

I’m on the record as being dubious about her arc for the past season, and now I’m more confused than ever. I can only assume Cheryl is possessed by the spirit she’s summoned, which will prompt Sabrina’s arrival in town. But where this ends up in the meantime is anyone’s guess.

What did you think of the Riverdale season six premiere? Tell us in the comments below!