What is it? Riverdale, Season 1, 13 episodes on three discs from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
When? Now
How much? $39.99
Is that a town? It is. In fact, it's the home of Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead, among others.
The comic book characters? Sort of. This series takes the classic town and its innocent, wholesome residents and gives them a makeover into a dark, twisted mirror image of themselves.
A new school year is starting at Riverdale High School and after spending a summer working at his father's construction company, Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa) has filled out and turned into a real heartthrob. But while he does try out for the football team, his heart's really in his new interest in music. His dad (Luke Perry) isn't thrilled. He'd be even less thrilled if he found out about his son's summer affair with music teacher Miss Grundy (Sarah Habel).
Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), the perfect girl next-door, continues to pine for Archie but he still sees her as his platonic pal. As she struggles with her feelings for Archie, she also struggles with her mother's (Madchen Amick) impossibly high standards and expectations.
Archie has had a falling-out with his other best buddy, outcast and deep thinker (and series narrator) Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), who has major parent problems of his own.
New girl in town Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) is hoping to transform her image and get off to a better start at her new school, shedding her snooty rich girl past and using her sharp-tongued talents for good. She immediately adopts Betty as her new best friend and stands up to queen bee Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch). Too bad she also has an instant attraction to Archie.
All of that would be enough gossip fodder, but the big story is Cheryl's twin brother Jason Blossom (Trevor Stines), who died mysteriously on July 4. Archie and his pals are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, but their investigation and what they uncover could have major impacts on their lives and the whole town.
Wait, that doesn't sound like the comics. It's not, really. Other than names and a few basic character traits, it's nothing at all like the old comic books. It's more like a veneer of Archie over a mashup of Pretty Little Liars, Twin Peaks and Gossip Girl.
There are at least references to the comics with familiar characters like Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray) and Reggie Mantle (Charles Melton) and hangouts like Pop's Chock'lit Shop. But, don't expect them to be exactly like you remember them.
That doesn't mean it's bad, though. As teen-centric, dark, twisted mystery series go, it's actually pretty good. The acting isn't bad, the atmosphere is film noir-ish and the story doesn't drag out forever.
But not everyone has a high tolerance for the old "small town full of dark secrets and ridiculous levels of dysfunction" kind of show.
Are there bonus features? A few. There are a couple of interview-based pieces on the show's characters and story lines, musical numbers, deleted scenes, gag reel and eight minutes of cast panel discussion from Comic Con.
New this week: Black Sails, Season 4; The Bureau, Season 3; Chicago Fire, Season 5; Chicago Med, Season 2; Designated Survivor, Season 1; Elementary, Season 5; Gotham, Season 3; Mom, Season 4; NCIS, Season 14; The Originals, Season 4; Will & Grace, Season 1
Next week: Criminal Minds, Season 12; Endeavour, Season 4; The Flash, Season 3; Homeland, Season 6; Just Shoot Me, complete series; Kevin Can Wait, Season 1; Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Season 1; South Park, Season 20; Supernatural, Season 12
Style on 08/27/2017