This article is about the third season of Riverdale. You may be looking for the comic book. |
Season 3 of The CW's American teen-drama television series Riverdale was renewed on April 2, 2018.[3] The season began airing on October 10, 2018. The season finale aired on May 15, 2019.
Synopsis[]
The second season of RIVERDALE picked up moments after Season One's finale, with Fred Andrews (Luke Perry) shot by a mysterious assailant in a black hood—and his son Archie (KJ Apa) racing to save his father's life. No one was safe from The Black Hood's wrath…except for Betty (Lili Reinhart), whose speech at the town's Jubilee “inspired” the Black Hood and made her the object of his murderous obsession.
All of our gang teamed up to stop the Black Hood, including Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), who also acclimated to a new school and endured a trial-by-fire to become a full-fledged member of his father's gang, the infamous Southside Serpents —even as FP Jones (Skeet Ulrich) struggled to get back on the straight and narrow. As Archie and Betty wrestled with the “darkness” the Black Hood had revealed in them, Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) agreed to help her father Hiram (Mark Consuelos) and mother Hermoine (Marisol Nichols) with the “family business,” which pulled her and Archie into a dangerous world of mobsters and criminals. Even star-to-be Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray) was drawn into the Lodge's political machinations. Meanwhile, Queen Bee Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) was locked in a power-struggle with her mother Penelope (guest star Nathalie Boltt), and found an unlikely ally in Toni Topaz (Vanessa Morgan), a Southside Serpent, who had recently transferred to Riverdale High. Furthermore, Betty and Alice's (Mädchen Amick) lives were turned upside-down when Betty's long-lost brother Chic (guest star Hart Denton) moved into the Cooper house.
With tensions between the North and Southside at an all-time high—stoked by Hiram Lodge with the help of Reggie Mantle (Charles Melton), and intensified with the Black Hood's unexpected re-emergence—a civil war seemed imminent. And, indeed, after a brief respite during which everyone came together to put on “CARRIE the Musical,” directed by Kevin Keller (Casey Cott), Season Two built to a riot that brought out the worst (and best) of Riverdale and its citizens, and culminated in the shocking arrest of one of our main characters. [4]
Cast[]
Episodes[]
# | Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Chapter Thirty-Six: Labor Day" | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa | Kevin Sullivan | October 10, 2018 | |
AND THE VERDICT IS... — As the jury begins deliberations in his murder trial, Archie makes a surprising request about how he wants to spend his final days of summer. Betty is forced to deal with her problems head-on after a heated confrontation with Alice and Polly brings up some dark secrets she's kept hidden. Veronica pleads with Hiram to step in and help Archie before a verdict is announced. Finally, Jughead leads the Serpents against the Ghoulies latest attack. | |||||
2 | "Chapter Thirty-Seven: Fortune and Men's Eyes" | Michael Grassi | Jeff Woolnough | October 17, 2018 | |
FIRST DAY JITTERS — After a gruesome discovery is made in the forest, Jughead and Betty team up to investigate Riverdale's latest mystery. As Archie navigates his new surroundings, Veronica devises a plan to bring a bit of home to him. Elsewhere, when Moose decides to join the RROTC, Kevin worries he may be pulling away from him. | |||||
3 | "Chapter Thirty-Eight: As Above, So Below" | Aaron Allen | Jeff Hunt | October 24, 2018 | |
OPENING NIGHT — When a series of suspicious roadblocks threaten to delay the opening of the speakeasy, Veronica enlists the help of Cheryl, Toni, Reggie, Kevin and Josie to ensure opening night goes off without a hitch. Elsewhere, Betty and Jughead follow different leads to learn more about the strange incidents going on in the town. Finally, some unwanted attention forces Archie to make a difficult decision about his future. | |||||
4 | "Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Midnight Club" | Tessa Leigh Williams | Dawn Wilkinson | November 7, 2018 | |
ANTHONY MICHAEL HALL AND MICHAEL CONSUELOS GUEST STAR IN A FLASHBACK TO RIVERDALE HIGH CIRCA 1992 — When Betty confronts Alice about Gryphons and Gargoyles, Alice has no choice but to come clean about how she, along with a young Fred, FP Hermoine, Hiram, Sierra, Penelope and Tom, played the game in the early 90’s – and how a shocking mystery has been plaguing them all ever since. | |||||
5 | "Chapter Forty: The Great Escape" | Greg Murray & Ace Hasan | Pam Romanowsky | November 14, 2018 | |
ROLLING THE DICE — After weeks go by with no contact from Archie, Veronica devises a dangerous plan to break him out of juvie. Meanwhile, when Betty learns that Jughead has taken their investigation into Griffins & Gargoyles a step too far, she finds herself in a race against the clock to save him. | |||||
6 | "Chapter Forty-One: Manhunter" | Cristine Chambers | Rachel Talalay | November 28, 2018 | |
THE COVER-UP — After confronting the parents, who were part of "The Midnight Club" twenty-five years ago, Betty follows some strong leads in hopes of finding out who the true Gargoyle King is. Meanwhile, Veronica's attempt to prove Archie's innocence lands her in hot water. Finally, Archie turns to Kevin for help making things right. | |||||
7 | "Chapter Forty-Two: The Man in Black" | Janine Salinas Schoenberg | Alex Pillai | December 5, 2018 | |
INTO THE BELLY OF THE BEAST — Fearful that he will be caught, Archie hits the road and ends up at a farm outside Riverdale, where he meets Laurie Lake. Meanwhile, after Alice takes extreme measures to ensure Betty's safety from the Gargoyle King, Betty finds herself up against a formidable foe from her past. Finally, after learning that La Bonne Nuit is in trouble, Veronica makes a risky business decision that could cost her everything. | |||||
8 | "Chapter Forty-Three: Outbreak" | James DeWille | John Kretchmer | December 12, 2018 | |
GINA GERSHON GUEST STARS AS JUGHEAD'S MOTHER GLADYS JONES — On the road and running out of places to stay, Jughead and Archie head to Toledo to visit Jughead's mother Gladys and sister Jellybean. Back in Riverdale, Betty inches closer to uncovering the truth about Gryphons & Gargoyles, while Veronica and Cheryl take on Hiram, Hermoine and Penelope after more students fall victim to seizures. | |||||
9 | "Chapter Forty-Four: No Exit" | Arabella Anderson | Jeff Hunt | January 16, 2019 | |
A TOWN WITH NO PEP – With Riverdale in disarray following Hiram's takeover, Veronica leads the charge against her father after he takes aim at La Bonne Nuit. Meanwhile, as Betty reluctantly houses the group of patients who escaped the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, Jughead confronts a group of desperate Serpents, who have resorted to drastic measures to make ends meet. Finally, Archie is forced to face his demons. | |||||
10 | "Chapter Forty-Five: The Stranger" | Brian E. Paterson | Maggie Kiley | January 23, 2019 | |
SAT PREP – With SAT's around the corner, Alice and FP urge Jughead and Betty to stop investigating G&G and start focusing on their SAT prep. However, when Alice takes things one step too far, Betty is forced to come face-to-face with someone from her past. Finally, Jughead makes a bold move against the Gargoyle Gang. | |||||
11 | "Chapter Forty-Six: The Red Dahlia" | Devon Turner & Will Ewing | Greg Smith | January 30, 2019 | |
KELLY RIPA GUEST STARS AS HIRAM’S MISTRESS — After one of their own becomes the target of an unseen assailant, the gang works together to get to the bottom of Riverdale's latest mystery. Meanwhile, Betty works with a surprising ally to piece together clues about a series of deaths in the town. Elsewhere, a spiraling Archie sets out on a new path, while Jughead comes face to face with Ms. Mulwray, Hiram's alleged mistress. | |||||
12 | "Chapter Forty-Seven: Bizarrodale" | Britta Lundin | Harry Jierjian | February 6, 2019 | |
THE NEXT LEVEL — Amidst preparations for their upcoming wedding, Sierra and Tom receive an unsettling message, which forces "The Midnight Club" to reunite. Meanwhile, Veronica and Reggie take drastic measures to clean up a mess they created. Cheryl learns some unexpected news about the college she has set her sights on. Lastly, Kevin gives Moose an ultimatum. | |||||
13 | "Chapter Forty-Eight: Requiem for a Welterweight" | Michael Grassi | Tawnia McKiernan | February 27, 2019 | |
GLADYS RETURNS TO RIVERDALE — As Veronica attempts to steer Hiram away from the drug business, Gladys' return to Riverdale throws a wrench into her plan. Betty grows concerned when Alice decides to take her commitment with The Farm to the next level. Elsewhere, Archie's rush to get into the boxing ring lands him in hot water, while Cheryl's attempt to send the Serpents a message causes tension between her and Toni. | |||||
14 | "Chapter Forty-Nine: Fire Walk With Me" | Aaron Allen | Marisol Adler | March 6, 2019 | |
THE LOST BOY — Betty takes matters into her own hands when she learns that The Farm has set their sights on someone in her inner circle. Meanwhile, when Hiram and Gladys' control over Veronica becomes too much to handle, she sets a plan in motion to turn the tables on them. Elsewhere, Archie grows concerned about a young runaway he meets at the gym, while Jughead struggles to maintain control over the Serpents. | |||||
15 | "Chapter Fifty: American Dreams" | Gabriel Correa | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa | March 13, 2019 | |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FP — As Gladys prepares for FP's 50th birthday party, Jughead questions his mom's motives for returning to Riverdale. When an unexpected encounter brings Archie back into the world of G&G, Jughead and Betty devise a plan to help him face his past head-on. Finally, Cheryl and Toni find themselves at a crossroads, and Veronica reveals a damaging secret to Betty. | |||||
16 | "Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun" | Tessa Leigh Williams | Maggie Kiley | March 20, 2019 | |
RIVERDALE HIGH PRESENTS "HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL" — As rehearsals for this year's musical "Heathers: The Musical" get underway, Cheryl, as queen bee Heather Chandler, channels her own HBIC to deal with a recent fallout. Meanwhile, Betty grows increasingly annoyed by Evelyn's involvement with the musical – as well as the lives of her friends. Elsewhere, Veronica learns some devastating news about her family, and Archie and Josie make a decision about their future. Lastly, Jughead makes a surprising move against Gladys. | |||||
17 | "Chapter Fifty-Two: The Raid" | Greg Murray & Ace Hasan | Pamela Romanowsky | March 27, 2019 | |
THE RAID — As Betty enlists Cheryl's help to infiltrate The Farm, Archie and Veronica help an ally from his past. Meanwhile, Jughead's attempt to put a stop to Riverdale's drug trade puts him on a collision course with Gladys. Finally, Hiram breaks some surprising news to Veronica. | |||||
18 | "Chapter Fifty-Three: Jawbreaker" | Brian E. Paterson & Arabella Anderson | Gabriel Correa | April 17, 2019 | |
REMATCH — When a tainted batch of fizzle rocks makes its way through Riverdale, Jughead and FP set out to find who’s responsible. After asking Veronica to help get him into an upcoming boxing tournament, Archie quickly learns he may be in over his head. Elsewhere, Betty makes one last attempt to rescue Alice from The Farm’s grip, and Toni becomes unsettled by a sudden change in Cheryl’s behavior. | |||||
19 | "Chapter Fifty-Four: Fear The Reaper" | Janine Salinas Schoenberg & Will Ewing | Alexandra La Roche | April 24, 2019 | |
JELLYBEAN GOES MISSING — When Jellybean goes missing, Jughead, Gladys and FP follow a series of cryptic clues to get her home. Elsewhere, Archie faces the fallout from his latest boxing match, while Betty makes a major discovery about Evelyn's past. Finally, Josie makes a big decision about her future. | |||||
20 | "Chapter Fifty-Five: Prom Night" | Britta Lundin & Devon Turner | David Katzenberg | May 1, 2019 | |
CHAOS ON PROM NIGHT — Betty takes matters into her own hands after learning some unsettling news about her father. Mary grows concerned by Archie’s desire to take boxing to the next level. Elsewhere, Cheryl runs into a roadblock during her campaign for prom queen, while Jughead and Betty’s plan to confront the Gargoyle King takes an unexpected turn. | |||||
21 | "Chapter Fifty-Six: The Dark Secret of Harvest House" | Cristine Chambers & James DeWille | Rob Seidenglanz | May 8, 2019 | |
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED — Veronica turns to Mary and Archie for help after uncovering a secret that Hiram had been keeping from her. Betty raises questions after witnessing some strange activities at The Farm. Jughead finds himself one step closer to uncovering the Gargoyle King’s identity. | |||||
22 | "Chapter Fifty-Seven: Survive The Night" | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Michael Grassi | Rachel Talalay | May 15, 2019 | |
THE FINAL QUEST — After receiving mysterious invitations, Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead band together to confront the evils of their past once and for all. Meanwhile, chaos ensues at The Farm after Edgar makes a chilling announcement. |
Press Release[]
THE CW NETWORK PICKS UP TEN CURRENT SERIES FOR 2018-19 SEASON
Network Gives Early Renewals for Next Season to "Arrow," "Black Lightning," "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," "DC’s Legends of Tomorrow," "Dynasty," "The Flash," "Jane The Virgin," "Riverdale," "Supergirl" and "Supernatural"
April 2, 2018 (Burbank, CA) — The CW Network has given early renewals to ten of its primetime series for the 2018-2019 season, it was announced today by Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW.
"As The CW expands to a six-night, Sunday through Friday schedule next season, we are proud to have such a deep bench of great returning series for 2018-19. By picking these ten series up for next season, we have a terrific selection of programming to choose from when we set our fall schedule in May, with more still to come," said Pedowitz. "And I’m especially happy that we’ll continue to work with the incredibly talented casts, producers, and writers who create the series our fans are so passionate about."
The series being ordered for the 2018-2019 season include second seasons of the electrifying freshman hit BLACK LIGHTNING and DYNASTY, which recently saw the debut of Nicollette Sheridan as Alexis Carrington, as well as new seasons of ARROW (Season 7), CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND (Season 4), DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (Season 4), THE FLASH (Season 5), JANE THE VIRGIN (Season 5), RIVERDALE (Season 3), SUPERGIRL (Season 4), and SUPERNATURAL (Season 14). Specific premiere dates for each series will be announced at a later time.
The CW also recently announced it would expand its primetime schedule to six nights, Sunday-Friday (8:00-10:00pm ET/PT), beginning in October 2018.[5]
Production Notes[]
- On May 2, 2018, Charles Melton (Reggie Mantle) and Vanessa Morgan (Toni Topaz) were promoted to series regular status.[6]
- Filming for season 3 began on July 9, 2018 and ended on April 19, 2019.[7]
- Riverdale started airing on The CW starting on October 10, 2018. Netflix carries the show internationally and Netflix US began streaming the third season on May 23, 2019.[8]
- Season 3 episodes of Riverdale become available for streaming on UK Netflix on Thursdays, starting October 11.[9]
- A three-month time jump takes place between the Season 2 finale, Chapter Thirty-Five: Brave New World and the Season 3 premiere, Chapter Thirty-Six: Labor Day.[10]
- Much like Season 2, Season 3 included another full-fledged musical episode.[11]
- It was later revealed that the musical for this season would be Heathers: The Musical.
- A cult-like storyline plays a role in this season, and it was partially inspired by the Netflix television series Wild Wild Country.[12]
- Season 3 marks the final appearance for Luke Perry. In addition, production was temporarily shut down on March 4, 2019 in the wake of his passing.[13][14]
- Drew Ray Tanner (Fangs Fogarty) and Cody Kearsley (Moose Mason) have been promoted from "Co-Starring" to "Guest Starring". However, Hart Denton (Chic) has been demoted to "Co-Starring" from "Guest Starring".