Riverdale Creator Explains Archie And Betty's Superpowers Amid Fan Backlash
This makes a lot of sense!
The sixth season of Riverdale is well underway but one peculiar detail that has left viewers bemused is Archie and Betty's superpowers.
Fans who have followed the show since it debuted in 2017 originally tuned in for a dark and twisted teen drama, with the occasional musical number. It's fair to say, no one expected the show to basically transform into The X-Men however this is exactly what appears to be unfolding before our eyes.
In the latest episode, Betty discovered she could see people's auras and Archie realised he now has impenetrable skin and super strength.
Fans took to Twitter to complain about the latest twist, with one viewer writing: "I'm just wanting to throw this out there. What show is #riverdale trying to be because I don't even know anymore. Is it a teen drama? A mystery show? A supernatural show? A superhero show? What is it because I don't even know anymore."
Reflecting on the superpowers, another viewer shared: "I'm not gonna talk about the 'superpowers' of Archie and Betty because it's weird, but then again, everything is weird on this show. "
While someone else complained: "So they have given these lot powers now, what the f*ck is going on #Riverdale".
One fan asked: "Lmao are they really giving them powers??? What is going on. #Riverdale".
Although the decision to introduce the superpowers might seem completely random, series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said it all links back to the Archie Comics that serve as the source material for the show.
Speaking with TVGuide, he explained: "There's actually a really hilarious sort of tradition in Archie Comics, like Jughead's Time Police, Archie's Weird Mysteries, and Archie's Madhouse that are kind of more supernatural and bonkers stories."
When asked about whether Archie and Betty's new abilities are linked to their personalities and how Archie, who occasionally pursues boxing, will use his new gift, Aguirre-Sacasa teased: "It's funny. When we were talking about this, we wanted to pick up on abilities the characters had already sort of displayed or manifested.
"We always joke that Archie's unkillable, and with Betty, we've made a big deal in the past that she's been able to identify serial killers by looking in their eyes and having this sort of sixth sense about it.
"So that's how we started talking about these gifts, if they're gifts, or curses, if they're curses."
Well, that makes a lot more sense!
Riverdale continues on Monday, 28th March on Netflix UK.
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.Topics: TV and Film, Riverdale
Gregory Robinson