Riverdale, the fun and utterly unassuming town of Archie and his gang, is where memories are made, and people die. At least, they do in the newly revamped television show based on the iconic comic books that I used to read every time I went to the grocery store with my mom! They were my favorite comics; I’d beg my mom to go to the section with the magazines and comics and pick up any edition of Archie and his pals and read as much of it as I could while my mom packed up the cart! Archie was the best, and I envied Betty greatly! I am a natural brunette, and she had all that beautiful blonde hair, always up in a pony!
“Are you familiar with the works of Truman Capote? I’m ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ but this place is strictly ‘In Cold Blood.’ – Veronica on Season 1, Chapter 1. (You’ll notice each episode in the guide begins with the name, airdate, writer/director info, and a quote!)
Veronica and Betty had their ups and downs in the comic series, and they “fought” somewhat over Archie. They had fun, laughter, silly outfits, interesting names (Jughead, anyone?), and just the right amount of drama – but nothing DEATHLY! Written by Melissa Ford Lucken, you can check her out here, or check out her alias, Isabelle Drake here. After reading this one, I’ll definitely have to go and pick up some of her romance novels as well! I love the way this book was written and I can’t turn down a romance!
“It’s positively Dickensian. I love a long-lost brother.” Veronica on Season 1, Chapter 13. (I adore the references to famous authors and movies, etc., that pop up throughout this series! Ms. Lucken is sure to tell you about them!)
Flash forward to 2016/2017, and I hear a rumor that a new television show is coming out based on the comics. I CAN’T WAIT! I have to say, with Declan having been born in 2016 and the show airing in 2017, I didn’t always have time to keep up with the show. Now with the dawning of the era of Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more, even if you miss the original airing, chances are you can catch whatever you desire somewhere online, and Riverdale is no different!
“The answer is a double cherry-on-top no.” Cheryl Blossom on Season 2, Chapter 15. (I need to remember this as an answer instead of just the standard, NO!)
Open up your Netflix app, ladies and gentlemen, and dive into the wonderful world of Riverdale! While you’re getting ready to binge this delightfully well-thought-out show, make sure you pick up your very own personal guide, “The Bingewatchers Guide to Riverdale,” published by Riverdale Avenue Books. It also boasts of being an unofficial companion and will last you through season 4!
“I self identify as a loner.” Jughead on Season 2, Chapter 16. (Same, Jughead, same.)
Now, when Alyssa with Riverdale Avenue Books first reached out to me, I was skeptical. A “guide” to a television show? I’d never heard of such a thing! However, since I’m a big fan of the show, I couldn’t turn down a chance to take a peek inside. I’m so glad I did – thanks, Alyssa!! This book is very thoroughly written and doesn’t miss a single thing! (Side-note: If you’re into guides and popular shows, this company has a few more up it’s sleeve, including one for Doctor Who, Harry Potter, The Handmaid’s Tale, & Black Mirror!)
“It’s like the four of us are in a powder keg. All it would take is one match, and we’d all blow up.” Jughead on Season 2, Chapter 27. (My friends and I – back in the day – always getting into something, LOL)
The book guides you through every episode. You get background information on the characters, a breakdown of what’s happening during any particular episode, and more! There are bits of trivia, quotes, references to the original comics, and all sorts of fantastic information!
“The moment you set foot in here, you lost your humanity. You’re an animal in a cage now. An animal does whatever he has to do to live, to survive.” Mad Dog on Season 3, Chapter 37 (Very accurate – you never know what you’re capable of until something catastrophic happens!)
The Binging guide sums up every episode while intertwining the characters’ dimensions, feelings, and general personas. It’s brand new, having just come out this year! It would be a perfect gift for any Riverdale fan, old or new! It will be an excellent gift for yourself if you’re an Archie fan! I definitely have had to adapt to the way the new show is playing out as I wasn’t used to all of the intrigue, stealth, mystery, and plain EVIL!
“You sinful girls. I will strap you to your beds, and electroshock the sin out of you!” Sister Woodhouse on Season 3, Chapter 43 (Um, say WHAT exactly?!)
“The Bingewatchers Guide to Riverdale” is available wherever books are sold, including Amazon and Walmart. Riverdale, the television series, is available to BINGE on Netflix! If you haven’t already seen at least an episode or two, I highly encourage you to go check it out! I’d be entirely caught up with it if my kiddos weren’t around all the time! (If you don’t have Netflix, the show is available elsewhere, but you’ll probably end up paying extra for it!)
“How many times did you try to kill Archie?” Veronica on Season 3, Chapter 52 (Oooh, the intrigue!!! This NEVER happened in the comics!)
As much as I love to read, this is the first book review I’ve done in quite some time. I blame this on life, LOL! This year has been absolutely nuts, and I’m sure you can agree! Thank you for taking the time to catch up on another review of mine, and drop me a line with your thoughts if you have time!
“Hedwig is not a niche show. It celebrates identities, genders, expressions of all kinds. And it speaks to my entire generation. We are relentlessly slammed with crisis after crisis. And we take it, and we’re numb, yes, but also screaming on the inside. Please just… just listen to us. We’re people, not numbers. We’re Generation Z.” Kevin on Season 4, Chapter 74. (I don’t know about you, but this quote speaks for a lot more than Gen Z, I do believe.)
Here’s another one of the reviews I’ve done this year which is children-friendly and for all ages!
Love ya,
Kelly Ann
