Veronica Lodge

"I know what you need, Cheryl, because I know who you are. You would rather people fear than like you, so you traffic in terror and intimidation. You're rich, so you've never been held accountable, but I'm living proof. That certainty, that entitlement you wear on your head like a crown? It won't last. Eventually, there will be a reckoning. Or... Maybe that reckoning is now. And maybe that reckoning is me. Betty and I come as a matching set, you want one, you take us both. You wanted fire? Sorry Cheryl 'bombshell', my specialty's ice."

- Veronica to Cheryl

Veronica Lodge is a main character on Riverdale. She is portrayed by Camila Mendes.

Veronica is a new student at Riverdale High School, who just moved from New York to her mother's hometown.

Character description
''An intelligent, confident, silver-tongued high school sophomore. Veronica moves to Riverdale from New York, eager to reinvent herself after a scandal involving her father.''

Early life
Veronica grew up in New York with her wealthy parents, Hiram and Hermione Lodge. She lived a life of luxury and fame. However, this all changed when her father was convicted of fraud and embezzlement. He was sent to jail, and Veronica and her mother were depleted of their fortune and treated to malicious gossip. Veronica was accused of being nothing more than a spoilt, icy socialite, which affected her greatly as she realized it was true. She and her mother left New York for Riverdale to start a new life, with Veronica determined to change her ways.

Season 1
Veronica arrived in town and moved into her mother's apartment, the only piece of property in her name and not her father's. They were greeted by the bell man Smithers, who took their bags to their room. Shortly after settling, Veronica went to Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe to pick up some burgers and onion rings for her and her mother, who had been craving them all day. While waiting for the food to be prepared, Veronica introduced herself to Archie Andrews and Betty Cooper, and quickly befriended them.

The next day, Veronica started her first day of sophomore year at Riverdale High School, with Betty as her tour guide. The two made chit-chat before Kevin Keller interrupted them and asked Veronica if it was true about her dad and what happened to their family. Veronica was dismayed to learn everyone knew about the scandal. They bumped into Archie again, and Veronica expressed her attraction for him, but put it to one side when Kevin informed her that Betty was in love with Archie. Keen to make friends with Betty, they tried out for cheerleading together, but cheerleading captain Cheryl Blossom only allowed Veronica on the team. Veronica stood up for her new friend and refused to join without her, forcing Cheryl to relent. She and Betty bonded over the sadder aspects of their respective family histories, and Veronica revealed that she used to be a mean girl like Cheryl and was trying to turn over a new leaf. She then encouraged Betty to ask Archie to the back to school dance, but Betty's courage failed her, and invited him to go with both her and Veronica as friends instead.

At the dance that evening, Veronica left Betty and Archie to their own devices, encouraging Betty to make a move. She eventually did so, but Archie did not reciprocate her feelings. At the after-party, they played a game of Spin the Bottle, and Cheryl, keen to stir up drama, forced Archie and Veronica to play Seven Minutes in Heaven together. Though determined not to hurt Betty's feelings, Veronica eventually gave in to the sexual tension and kissed Archie. They returned to the party to discover Betty had fled in distress, and Veronica implored Archie to go after her. A dejected Veronica then returned to her apartment to be comforted by her mother.

At school the next day, Veronica attempted to make amends with Betty, presenting her with flowers, cupcakes flown in from New York, and a gift certificate to the spa. Though Betty seemed to accept this initially, she struggled to forgive her, choosing to spend time with Cheryl over her. She participated in a pep rally with the rest of the River Vixens, and comforted Cheryl when she broke down in tears over her brother's death, which had recently been revealed to be a homicide. Betty, witnessing this, invited Veronica to get milkshakes at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, where they reconciled their differences and vowed to never let a boy get between them again. They were joined there by Archie and Jughead.

Veronica sat in the crowd as Archie choked during his auditioned for the 75th annual Variety Show. Looking to help out a friend, Veronica first had a chat with Kevin, the host of the event, who she reminded that he had heard Archie sing on numerous occasions, so if Archie had a spot in the show, she'd even sing along with him, if it would help with his stage fright. After school, Veronica visited the Andrews Construction work site only to discover that her mother was kissing Fred Andrews, so immediately following Hermione's arrival home, Veronica questioned if she'd be getting a divorce from Hiram, Veronica's father. She wanted to know what would happen to all of them once he's released from prison, but Hermione didn't have an answer, there was nothing she could do to help Veronica through the situation. The next day, she arrived at school, prepared to rehearse with Archie, unfortunately he had given her spot to Valerie, which Veronica didn't appreciate, referring to Archie as a "Ginger Judas", and on top of that, she told him about her mom, and his dad.

He then offered to give Veronica her part back, which she no longer wanted, instead, Veronica became the latest member of Josie and the Pussycats. At rehearsal, Veronica was more concerned with her phone than she was with the song, she was overwhelmed with stress, that involved both her mother, and her father, who she hadn't see in three months. Veronica and Josie would later meet up at Pop's shoppe, and exchanged sob stories, Veronica told her about the intimate moment between her mother and Fred Andrews, the only thing that keeps her going is the thought of her family being whole again, but that all goes away if she tells her father. Some time later, she was approached by her mother with a motion to award the construction contract to Fred Andrews, when Hiram was arrested, he made Veronica a legal officer of Lodge Industries, meaning her signature is needed to pass the motion, however, Veronica refused to sign as Hermione refused to stop seeing Fred Andrews. After performing at the Variety show with the Pussycats, apologizing to Archie, and then recording his amazing performance on stage, Veronica would come to learn that her mother forged her signature on the motion for the new development despite their prior disagreement.

Relationships

 * Veronica and Betty
 * Veronica and Archie
 * Veronica and Jughead
 * Veronica and Cheryl
 * Veronica and Hermione
 * Veronica and Kevin

Trivia

 * Veronica has a wonderful singing voice.