Rivervale: The significance of sacrifice

Sacrifice has been an underlying theme throughout the 5 part “Rivervale” event. Since “Welcome To Rivervale” used Archie as a human sacrifice to answer many of the town’s problems, sacrifice has continued to play a role in how the main characters go about things.

The element of sacrifice also played a significant part in “Ghost Stories.” With the arrival of La Llorona, Rivervale is on edge as a vengeful spirit targets young children. In the end, Toni Topaz sacrifices herself to La Llorona to protect and save her child.

As of the three “Rivervale” episodes that have aired, this is the most self-sacrificial act. Toni is not concerned about her own life, choosing to exchange her life for her son’s. At that moment, Toni gives her child to Betty as Toni becomes La Llorona.

It is an emotional and heartbreaking moment for Toni, but it is also wrongly ignored throughout “Mr. Cypher.” There are no references to Toni or Anthony, an odd decision considering the weight and significance of Toni’s sacrifice.

Instead, “Mr. Cypher” chooses to focus on how the Devil’s arrival impacts the remaining citizens of Rivervale and their reasons for making deals with him.

Reggie had signed away Veronica’s soul to gain the Devil’s investment in the casino. When Veronica learns about Reggie’s betrayal, her willingness to sacrifice is called into question. However, she has the chance to get out of the deal with the Devil if Veronica can hand over Alice Cooper.

Although Veronica tries, ultimately, she can not allow Alice to sign her life away. Still, Veronica chooses to save her own life anyway, signing Reggie’s away and agreeing to give the Devil more lost souls.

Jughead’s sacrifice calls his identity into question. After an interview with the Devil, Jughead has two choices. He can publish the interview and gain fame but with the catch of never being able to write again. Or, Jughead will continue to have immense creativity but must keep his interview with the Devil to himself.

Deciding to publish the article and receive fame, it does not take Jughead long after posting for him to realize he has made a great mistake. Jughead defines himself as a writer, going as far as to claim that he is nothing else. To regain his ability to write, Jughead sells his soul to the Devil.

Kevin’s storyline, while brief, does show him selling his soul to the Devil as well for a chance at fame and fortune in the entertainment industry.

In the end, what is the price of sacrifice? How will these decisions continue to haunt the Rivervale citizens? Will these decisions affect their Riverdale counterparts?

There are still more opportunities left for sacrifice in the two remaining Rivervale-centric episodes and to see if there is any substantial aftermath in how the events play out.