Shows like The Simpsons are infamous for keeping their characters perpetually the same age. This works to maintain character dynamics in animation but the same method doesn't quite translate in a live-action series. With that in mind, Riverdale's core four characters need to be aged out of high school in order to ensure the show's longevity. With Betty, Veronica, Jughead and Archie nearing graduation, the show could reach a greater height of interest and excitement if the show chose to take the characters to college.

Teen dramas of the past that share Riverdale's elements of relationship drama and mystery, such as Gossip Girl, Veronica Mars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all eventually developed their characters' journeys and followed them out of high school. These momentous changes always featured the main group finding themselves and introduced new characters and locations.

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Riverdale four - Betty, Jughead, Archie, Veronica

After spending four seasons in Riverdale High School, there are only so many stories to tell from a high school perspective until the river runs dry. In the case of teen dramas, it's extremely important for these shows to grow with their audiences. As fans of the series grow older, it makes sense to bring these beloved characters into the next phase of their fictional lives as the viewers simultaneously mature in their own lives. Graduating these characters translates to fresh storylines that mirror classic struggles that come with leaving high schools and hometowns. Reflecting the lives of their fans will surely fuel a deeper connection for audiences to the show.

Since all of these characters have proven their intelligence and cleverness through solving several crimes by their senior year, their college prospects are limitless. Betty could easily get into an acclaimed university for journalism while Veronica's dreams of going to Harvard may be fulfilled. Since Archie has expressed hopes of starting a band, his college years could show him meeting fellow musicians and healing from his father's death through his music. However, KJ Apa has also mentioned in a previous interview that there is potential for Archie to not go to college right away. It makes sense for Archie to get "held back a year" after all the hardships he had to deal with alongside missing days of school. Jughead's talent for writing could score him a spot at a top school outside of Riverdale. However, his responsibilities as the leader of the Southside Serpents and finances may mean being forced to stay closer to home.

Separating the core four would not only echo the lives of audiences who are also forced to leave high school friendships but provides the characters space to evolve on their own and face new challenges. Betty could be forced to solve mysteries on her own at university while Archie could navigate what it's like to be without friends by his side in high school. Proven by other teen dramas before Riverdale, physically splitting up characters who were once attached at the hip only enhances drama that audiences love to see and breathes some much-needed fresh air on the dynamics audiences are all too familiar with.

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Over the seasons, the spotlight of the show has shifted from the primary four leads to include more independent subplots from characters like Cheryl Blossom, Toni Topaz, Kyle Keller and Reggie Mantle. This expansion of the main cast lends itself well to moving on to college. Several familiar faces can be divided up to attend a few different schools alongside the main four characters. The variety of familiar cast members would help psychologically bridge Riverdale's high school years with the newness of college life or career exploration, making for a smoother transition. Pairing a few supporting characters alongside one of the leads would encourage writers to explore alternative romantic possibilities or unexpected friendships.

As these young characters age out of living with their parents, this could lead to bigger roles for the parental characters to play. Alice Cooper, FP Jones and Hiram Lodge have all had their fair share of drama interwoven with the storylines of their children but if their children finally leave their nests, these characters may get more individual development.

Although the original comics never saw Archie and the gang leave high school, The CW series would only benefit by deviating from the source material and leave it behind in favor of introducing fresher characters and settings to traverse. However, as the Archie-verse has expanded to more locations like Greendale from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and New York City in the Riverdale spin-off, Katy Keene, the possibilities for future character introductions and location expansion may already be endless.

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