The WORST episodes of Riverdale
Every episode of Riverdale ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Riverdale!
A subversive take on Archie and his friends, exploring small town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome facade.
#1 - Chapter Ninety-Four: Next to Normal
Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 9/29/2021
Refusing to accept what’s going on around her, Alice creates an imaginary musical fantasy world in which the Coopers are one big happy family again. But as her mother continues to spiral, Betty does her best to pull her back to reality. Tabitha ropes Jughead into a family dinner with her parents. Veronica and Archie make a big decision about their future.
#2 - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One: Archie the Musical
Season 7 - Episode 14 - Aired 7/5/2023
After Principal Featherhead agrees to let Kevin present him with an original musical written by him and Clay, Kevin learns the group might not be as into it as he had hoped. Elsewhere, musical rehearsals prompt Archie to question what he wants in life, while Betty and Veronica confront what's going on between them.
#3 - Chapter Seventy-Four: Wicked Little Town
Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/15/2020
After the previous debacles of Carrie and Heathers, Kevin has decided to revive Riverdale High’s tradition of hosting a Variety Show. But when Mr. Honey forbids him from performing a number from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Kevin and the gang rally against their principal — by each performing a number from Hedwig, turning the Variety Show into a full-fledged musical that, as always, reflects their inner lives and struggles. And amidst all the drama, one forbidden “showmance” begins to blossom.
#4 - Chapter Ninety-One: The Return of the Pussycats
Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 9/8/2021
After going MIA during the middle of her world tour, mega-star Josie McCoy returns to Riverdale unexpectedly. But it's not until she reunites with her former bandmates Valerie and Melody, that she opens up about the real reason why she's back. Veronica gets creative after a surprise visit from her old friend Alexandra Cabot. Toni steps in to help Tabitha and Veronica land a deal.
#5 - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four: A Different Kind of Cat
Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/2/2023
Betty enlists help from Cheryl and Toni after deciding she’s going to publish her own book. Veronica, Kevin and Clay host Hollywood movie star Josie McCoy, who is in town to screen her latest film. Finally, Archie’s attempt to take his poetry to the next level doesn’t go as planned.
#6 - Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/20/2019
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.
#7 - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five: For a Better Tomorrow
Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 8/9/2023
As the gang gets swept up in Cold War paranoia, a new mystery brewing in Riverdale leads Jughead to suspect it may have ties to a string of suspicious murders in town. Archie reconsiders his future after Uncle Frank gives him a hard time about his poetry writing, and a shocking discovery involving her family shakes Betty to her core.
#8 - Chapter Ninety-Eight: Mr. Cypher
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/30/2021
After being visited by a mysterious figure who arrives in Rivervale, the gang find themselves faced with unexpected ultimatums.
#9 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five: Hoop Dreams
Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/17/2023
In order to keep Riverdale High’s basketball legacy alive, Frank and Archie recruit a new player to the team – a quiet farm boy named Reggie Mantle. Tabitha’s return to school inspires Toni to start a literary society for Riverdale’s Black students. Alice forces Betty to join the River Vixens, and Kevin starts a new job at the Babylonium.
#10 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty: Sex Education
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/12/2023
After a lesson in sex education leaves the gang more confused than ever, Veronica decides to organize a make-out party at the Pembrooke. Elsewhere, Jughead attempts to help Ethel out of some trouble only to find himself in hot water as well.
#11 - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Two: Miss Teen Riverdale
Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 7/19/2023
It’s time for the town’s annual Miss Teen Riverdale pageant and Betty, Veronica, Cheryl and Toni each have their own reasons for entering. However, when Alice doesn’t allow Ethel to enter the pageant, the girls band together to make sure she has a fighting chance.
#12 - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Three: Stag
Season 7 - Episode 16 - Aired 7/26/2023
Veronica sets up a screening at the Babylonium after Julian gets his hands on a stag film and invites Archie, Reggie and the guys over for a watch party. Betty unexpectedly reunites with Polly and learns about her sister's new life in New York. Elsewhere, Jughead goes to war with Dr. Werthers over his censure of comic books.
#13 - Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s)
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/7/2021
As Bailey’s Comet passes over Rivervale, Cheryl and Nana Rose revisit the tragic stories of the Blossom women through the years. Meanwhile, the once-in-a-lifetime celestial event prompts Cheryl to summon a familiar face to Rivervale - Sabrina Spellman.
#14 - Chapter One Hundred Thirty: The Crucible
Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/28/2023
Panic ensues after Archie and the gang learn that Mrs. Thornton is accused of being a communist. Cheryl’s father Clifford forces her to out gay students at Riverdale High or risk losing power over the Vixens. Meanwhile, Hiram’s surprise arrival to town is quickly met with suspicion by Veronica, and Jughead devises a plan to get around a boycott of comic books.
#15 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six: Betty & Veronica Double Digest
Season 7 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/24/2023
After devising a plan to bring in some money at the Babylonium, Veronica is surprised to learn somebody may be sabotaging her. Elsewhere, after beginning sessions with Dr. Werthers, Betty begins to question his motives.
#16 - Chapter Ninety-Seven: Ghost Stories
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/23/2021
A vengeful spirit from folklore, la Llorona arrives in Rivervale to terrorize the rainy town. Betty and Toni find themselves in the specter's path and must seek Cheryl’s help to protect the children in Rivervale, including Baby Anthony. Meanwhile, Jughead and Tabitha, along with Veronica and Reggie, experience their own hauntings that begin to put a strain on their respective relationships.
#17 - Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos
Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 6/12/2022
In order to catch the Trash Bag Killer once and for all, Betty devises a plan to hold a serial killer convention in Riverdale. Elsewhere, Cheryl receives some news about Toni and Fangs that sends her spiraling, while Archie and Tabitha try to loosen the grip Percival has over his workers.
#18 - Chapter Ninety-Six: Welcome to Rivervale
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/16/2021
Following the explosion that ended Season Five, a new day dawns in the town of RiverVALE, where everything is as it should be. Veronica and Reggie are now the town's power couple, while Jughead and Tabitha move in together. But with Cheryl demanding a return to the “old ways,” this serenity will surely not last. And how could Archie and Betty possibly have survived?
#19 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Seven: American Graffiti
Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/31/2023
Jughead and Tabitha team up to investigate a mystery involving Ray Bradbury. Cheryl asks Toni if she can attend an afterschool book club with her and other Black students. Betty and Veronica ask Archie and Reggie out on a double date, and Fangs prepares for his first big gig.
#20 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Nine: After the Fall
Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/21/2023
Archie and Reggie lean on each other as they prepare for their big basketball game against Stonewall Prep. Meanwhile, as they deal with ongoing issues with their parents, Betty and Veronica decide to throw a slumber party with Kevin and Clay.
#21 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Two: Tales in a Jugular Vein
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/26/2023
Principal Featherhead takes aim at the negative influence comic books have over kids, just as Jughead is tasked by Pep Comics to write four tales for a new issue.
#22 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Eight: Halloween II
Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/7/2023
Veronica decides to host a ghost show after learning that Riverdale doesn’t celebrate Halloween the way she’s use to in LA. Betty makes the most out of her night out with Archie and Reggie, and Jughead makes a major discovery in a mystery brewing in Riverdale.
#23 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three: Peep Show
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/3/2023
At her wits end over Archie’s recent actions, Mary turns to Uncle Frank to get him back on track. Meanwhile, Betty asks Veronica for help understanding her sexuality. Elsewhere, Jughead takes action after he discovers plagiarism taking place at Pep Comics, and Cheryl and Toni’s budding attraction catches the attention of some River Vixens.
#24 - Chapter Eighty-Seven: Strange Bedfellows
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/11/2021
In the aftermath of the prison break at Hiram’s jail, Archie leads the charge to round up the remaining convicts on the loose. Tabitha reaches out for Betty’s help when she realizes Jughead is missing. When Penelope re-enters the fold, Cheryl becomes suspicious of her true intentions.
#25 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Four: Dirty Dancing
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/10/2023
Fearing that Betty is going down the wrong path, Alice forces her to join the after-school dance show, “American Grandstand.” Meanwhile, Kevin is forced by Tom to join the Riverdale High basketball team, and Veronica finds herself cut off by her parents.