#the DRAMA THE HEARTACHE THE ICONIC BEHAVIOR

[gyugyugaga]

not to be that person but someone give me robby/axel fanfiction, I need that size difference biblically

[filthy-reckless-rp]

♛ Spotted on the Upper East Side…

Name: Johnny Akana Pronouns: He/Him Age: 50 years old Hometown: Up To Player Occupation: Actor Social Status: Insider Faceclaim suggestion: Keanu Reeves

Who Is Johnny?

“I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride, I’m wanted dead or alive.”

Is that the elusive Johnny Akana or am I hallucinating? Where have you been hiding for the last decade? Back in the day, you were on the tip of everyone’s tongue. The ‘bad boy’ of Hollywood, the original heart throb. Getting into trouble was second nature to you (along with paying for the damages, literally and figuratively). Over the years, you started to resent the fame and you managed to burn through most of the fortune. It’s a good thing you have your own ‘non-judging breakfast club’ to help you out, even now: the iconic ‘brat pack’. The past is the past but I wonder if your sudden return to the spotlight will stir up old drama, and feelings. You might have played the part of the broody, tortured soul but I bet there’s a heart in there somewhere. XOXO ---Gossip Girl

A Little Extra

Johnny Akana was one of Hollywood's most enigmatic and unpredictable actors, known for his charm, intensity, and a penchant for trouble. His rebellious spirit and unpredictable nature earned him the reputation of being a "wild card with a sharp edge." He was a heartthrob, but more than that, he was Hollywood’s favorite bad boy—a man whose personal struggles often spilled over into the public eye, fueling his fame and notoriety. Born into a world of glitz and glamor, Johnny quickly rose through the ranks of the film industry, capturing the attention of fans and critics alike. His smoldering looks and undeniable talent made him a sought-after actor, but it was his off-screen life that cemented his place as a Hollywood legend. 

Throughout his career, Johnny’s personal relationships became tabloid fodder, particularly his high-profile romances with two of his co-stars. His whirlwind romance with Jamie Park, another rising star, culminated in a marriage that famously lasted just 17 days. The sudden end of their union only added to Johnny’s reputation as a self-destructive force in his own life. His second and more serious relationship was with Dianna Watts, another celebrated actress. They married in a highly-publicized ceremony, and for a time, it seemed as though Johnny had found a steady path. 

However, as with many things in Johnny’s life, the marriage eventually crumbled under the weight of his impulsive behavior and personal demons. He had, once again, ruined something beautiful—just as many suspected he would. Despite his flaws, Johnny Akana always tried to be better. Behind the public persona of the troubled star was a man struggling to overcome his mistakes, seeking redemption in a world that often seemed to conspire against him. Whether or not he ever truly changed is a matter of debate, but his legacy as Hollywood’s favorite heartache endures. Johnny Akana remains a symbol of the tragic allure of stardom—a man who could light up the screen but couldn’t escape the shadows of his own making.

What Does Gossip Girl Have On Them?

He adopted someone behind the backs of everyone, a child called Melody, though it’s his mother who raises her - but he is involved with her upbringing as well. Of course, this isn't knowledge that biological mother Veronica Ravenwood has.

Connections

Nilay and Latife Levent - Johnny’s best friend growing up was Nilay and Latife’s dad. He became the unofficial ‘uncle’ to the girls and still keeps in touch even if he hasn’t stopped by in a while.

Jamie Park - ‘brat pack’ member and a hot mess. Johnny and Jamie were famously married for exactly 16 days before calling it quits (just long enough to have the wildest honeymoon ever!). They’re both screw ups and soulmates, y’know?

Rebecca Ravenwood - ‘brat pack’ member, Johnny and Becca were always at each other’s throats when they were young. They were either arguing or laughing, screaming or dancing together. Johnny hasn’t spoken to her since her daughter was little.

Diana Watts - ‘brat pack member’. Johnny and Di were actually married (really married, not like with Jamie). She was everything good in this world and Johnny screwed it up. Some people just can’t be saved, right? Misses her like hell.

[lurxii]

The Thrill and Challenges of F1 Fandom

Imagine the roar of engines, the blur of speeding cars, and the palpable excitement in the air - welcome to the world of Formula 1, where fandom isn't just about cheering for your favorite team; it's a lifestyle. As an avid Ferrari fan, I've lived through the highs and lows, the victories, and the heartaches. In this blog, we'll dive into the fascinating world of F1 fandom, exploring everything from the adrenaline-fueled community spirit to the occasional pit stops of online toxicity.

The Essence of F1 Fandom

Formula 1 fandom transcends traditional sports viewership, creating a global community united by a shared passion for speed, strategy, and the thrill of racing. This diverse group of fans experiences an emotional journey with each race, living through the highs and lows alongside their favorite teams and drivers. The essence of F1 fandom lies in this deep emotional investment and loyalty. The fandom is unique in its blend of tradition and cutting-edge technology. Fans respect the rich history and legacies of iconic teams while embracing the latest advancements in motorsport technology. This mix of past and future adds an exciting dimension to the fan experience, offering a window into the evolving world of high-speed racing.

Social interactions also play a significant role in the F1 fan experience. The sport is a social catalyst, bringing together friends, families, and online communities. Fans bond over race strategies, share predictions, and celebrate their favorite moments, creating a sense of community in person and digitally.

Brand Loyalty and Community Spirit

One of the most notable aspects of F1 fandom is the fierce brand loyalty. Fans donning team colors, flags, and merchandise are a common sight at every Grand Prix. This loyalty isn't superficial; it's steeped in a deep connection with the team's history, drivers, and ethos. Take Ferrari fans, for example – a group I proudly belong to. Our commitment goes beyond the cars; we form emotional attachments to our drivers, cheering their every move while often playfully lamenting the team's strategy decisions. F1 fans don't just watch the sport; many actively contribute to its culture. From fan-made content like blogs, podcasts, and art to organizing meetups and discussions, the fan community is a hotbed of creativity and engagement. This involvement sometimes also extends to activism, where fans advocate for issues like diversity in motorsports or environmental sustainability.

Navigating the Challenges of Toxic Fandom

However, like any community, F1 fandom has challenges, especially in online spaces. The anonymity and distance provided by social media can sometimes fuel toxic behavior. Heated debates can escalate into personal attacks, and the competitive spirit can sometimes overshadow the respect for rival teams and drivers. It's a reminder that while passion is the heart of fandom, sportsmanship should always be its soul.

The recent F1 season has been a spectacle of Red Bull's dominance. This storyline has added extra excitement (and frustration for us Ferrari fans) to the narrative. Their strategic prowess and top-notch performances have reshaped the competition landscape, challenging other teams to up their game.

Conclusion

Being a part of the F1 fandom is like riding a perpetual wave of adrenaline and emotion. It's about celebrating the sheer talent and technology on display, the strategic mind games, and the unscripted drama of each race. For us Ferrari fans, it's a journey of unwavering support for our drivers, even as we playfully critique the team's strategies. At its core, F1 fandom is about being part of a community with a deep love for the sport, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. In this high-speed world, every fan's voice adds to the chorus, making Formula 1 much more than just a racing series; it's a global phenomenon.

[tabloidtoc]

In Touch, July 13

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks 

Cover: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi $500 million divorce -- tears, nasty fights and getting even 

Page 1: Contents 

Page 2: Who Wore It Better? Lizzy Caplan vs. Caitriona Balfe ✅, Kaia Gerber ✅ vs. Lily-Rose Depp, Joan Smalls vs. Dakota Johnson ✅

Page 4: She rose to fame playing a character named Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect and Rebel Wilson quickly learned that her salary depended on her staying that way but she’s chosen this year to slim down regardless of how it affects her job 

Page 6: Crib of the Week -- Travis Scott has shelled out nearly $25 million for a hilltop home in Brentwood, Nostalgia of the Week -- Jennifer Aniston on finding Friends outtakes online with Courteney Cox, Makeover of the Week -- Teresa Giudice in a platinum-blond wig, Winner of the Week -- The Bold and the Beautiful becomes the first daytime drama to return to production after lockdown using a lifelike female doll for love scenes, Loser of the Week -- Winona Ryder accused disgraced Mel Gibson of making homophobic and anti-Semitic remarks to her at a party 

Page 8: Up Close -- Blake Shelton celebrates his 44th birthday with Gwen Stefani and Smithworks Vodka 

Page 10: Justin Theroux walks his rescue dog Kuma in NYC, Diane Kruger looks terrified in the dentist’s chair, Ciara and Russell Wilson rock robes on a DIY red carpet while the Seattle Seahawks quarterback co-hosts the ESPY Awards remotely from their backyard 

Page 12: Bella Hadid wears a black bikini for a photo shoot at the beach in Sardinia, Italy 

Page 13: Justin Bieber on his customized Drew motorcycle, Amy Schumer and son Gene, Busy Philipps celebrated turning 41 

Page 14: Kate Middleton and Prince William make their first post-lockdown public appearances at local businesses 

Page 16: Leona Lewis rocks a glam gown while vacuuming 

Page 18: Jersey Shore co-stars Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jenni “JWoww” Farley and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Deena Nicole Cortese and Antonio “Uncle Nino” Giaimo take on the cast of The Hills on Celebrity Family Feud with Steve Harvey, Sarah Michelle Gellar shares a safe smooch with pal Selma Blair 21 years after their iconic Cruel Intentions kiss, Jessica Simpson autographs copies of her memoir 

Page 20: Cover Story -- Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at the breaking point -- after nearly two decades together Ellen and Portia face their biggest test yet 

Page 24: Meghan Markle dumps her best friend Jessica Mulroney -- a mortified Meghan can’t forgive Jessica’s offensive behavior -- as Meghan and Prince Harry have settled into life in L.A. Meghan has begun to open herself up to new pals like Reese Witherspoon 

Page 26: Co-Stars From Hell -- these celebs weren’t always on their best behavior -- Lea Michele gets lambasted, Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte didn’t mix, Bruce Willis behaved badly, Katherine Heigl was a diva, Johnny Depp wasn’t on time 

Page 27: Kiefer Sutherland was unprofessional and Freddie Prinze Jr. was furious, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey clashed 

Page 28: Scott Peterson going free? Convicted of murdering his wife Laci and their unborn child the notorious death row inmate has lodged a new appeal 

Page 30: Lori Loughlin is just weeks away from serving her two-month prison sentence for the college bribery scandal and she’s a basket case 

Page 31: Steve Bing who died by suicide on June 22 had a very special bond with Nicole Kidman and they even dated and Steve carried that heartache with him until the end, how God saved Carrie Underwood’s marriage to Mike Fisher 

Page 34: The Big Interview -- Beverley Mitchell is overjoyed to welcome her third child which is her miracle baby 

Page 36: Style -- Staycation -- Lucy Hale 

Page 38: Beauty -- summer hair repair -- Hailey Baldwin 

Page 40: Entertainment -- Stateless 

Page 41: Home Entertainment -- Bobby Berk 

Page 42: Animal Overload -- My dog looks like Busy Philipps 

Page 44: Double Take -- Debi Mazar celebrates Pride Month 

Page 46: Horoscope -- Cancer Kevin Hart turned 41 on July 6 

Page 48: Last Laughs 

[brckenhymns--a]

despite this icon, this is going to be more of a serious post than the last couple of jokey ‘hur dur elita sucks’ esque posts. I’m not putting this under the cut because I think its something that genuinely needs to be addressed right here, right now. 

TO my followers: I genuinely promise this blog isn’t a drama blog, or a drama central blog. It’s both an rp blog, and my way of having fun on this website; I like shit posting and I like writing, and I like making people laugh whenever they see some stupid thing I do on the blog. I understand that stuff like this gets annoying, especially compared to what I normally post (either those aforementioned shitposts, or deep, passion-filled headcanons for under loved characters I adore with just a sprinkle of well-written mlm/wlw that we all could use)

but @c.ieloreign is a genuinely /vile/ fucking person. I already linked all the links to her many callouts, to her many drama posts, to her many ‘i’m going to willingly misgender people and call them slurs’ posts, the many circle-jerky posts where the same 10 people like her posts just because they want to kiss her ass for her purple prose and somewhat decent graphics;

Please, do not give Elita/Dionysus the time of day; she represents everything fucking wrong with people who feel they’re entitled to do what they want and face no reprecussions. She feels the need to use slurs she has no business reclaiming, then pulling the ‘I didn’t mean it like {x} I meant it like {y} card while ignoring the reason why they’re slurs in the first place. She’s grossly truscum and both misgenders people (as myself and leech can attest to) and fully believes that if the person isn’t using he/she/they pronouns, they’re faking it despite the fact that multiple genders that don’t abide by the he/she/they pronoun list is a thing present in many, MANY cultures. She grossly fetishisizes lgbtq+ people, particularly men, for the sake of smut to the point of obsessing over testosterone in her trans friends in conversation not even about it.

She’s so blatantly ableist that she hates the fact that a lot of people on the autism spectrum, such as myself, embrace that about us. In her mind, she thinks its because we think we’re better than everyone else and that we should be worshiped for it, which is a twisted way of thinking when, speaking from my own personal experience, most autistic people embrace it because they’re tired of it being a crutch and they want people to understand them better so they can avoid pain and heartache. 

Elita also has a horrible track record when it comes to stealing art, especially from porn artists, for use in her ocs because ‘porn art is free game and not real art’ (paraphrased from her own fucking words), and then uses the ‘other people do it so I can do it’ argument. No, other people shouldn’t be using art without, at the very least, credit. Permission is preferred, of course, but her lack of even crediting the artists is fucking awful. Even today, she’s still doing it with /tracing/ rather than stealing the art.

This is made worse when, a lot of the time, the art she steals is already someone else’s OC; including stealing a gay trans fursona and turning that character into a horny bi cis man. Even artists that explicitly say ‘don’t use my art’ aren’t safe from her, and when called out, she’ll directly lie to your face about it.

In fact, anything she says is a lie; one of the artists that she stole from called her out for lying in her ‘i talked to the artist’ posts.

And this isn’t new, one off behavior; Elita’s been around for /years/ and shows no willingness to change, instead, wanting to sit on her high throne and accuse everyone else of being the exact problems she is because she can’t face the problems in of herself; It’s like she hates who she is and doesn’t want to face it; and anyone that leaves her echochamber is a villain.

Speaking of that echochamber, she also surrounds herself with other vile people; most notable is a.strahero / b.attlefcrgcd (also known as viral) that has gone on record admitting to both harassing another user, stealing head canons, and lying about their age while underage to write smut. Why this is notable is because, under Elita’s own admission, she and viral have been friends for years, and with Elita’s interest in writing smut and nothing but smut... well, you can see where I’m going with that; Its all speculation, of course, but the evidence points to /that/ being the case. 

I want Elita to change; I want her to realize her mistakes and be a decent person. Yet all the while, she’s misgendered me, she’s lied, she’s called me a r*tard 20+ times and had the audacity to say ‘I don’t mean it because you’re autistic, I mean it because you’re stupid’ despite the fact that the two are synonymous with each other in regards to it being a slur. And worse of all, when called out on it, she likes to pull the ‘i’m [insert minority here] card and ignoring the fact that minorities can be offensive to each other; being part of a minority doesn’t negate that offensiveness to other minorities. Hell, she still misgendered leech and had the audacity to say ‘oh whoops it was a typo’ despite the fact that it’s almost impossible to typo ‘he/they’ as a different gender, and she still traces art to this day.  She’s not going to change, and this type of behavior is something we shouldn’t welcome in the rpc. it’s a step below outright abusive, and if it wouldn’t be tolerated irl, it absolutely shouldn’t be tolerated here. 

I guess what I’m saying is; i’m sorry for the drama, but this needs to happen to better the community, especially as someone directly affected by this person. 

[snowmcid]

1-38 or ur a coward

Meme || No longer accepting (CAUSE THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK) || @agirlofwinterfell​

the be honest meme.   

WoW Britney. 

Questions under the cut. 

What would prevent you from following someone?

Excess drama, reblog karma, vauge-posting, and general aggressiveness are big ones for me, but the main thing is if I like their writing style and if I can see our characters getting along.

Are aesthetics important to you? If they are, why?

Aesthetics are kinda “meh”?? I mean, I like pretty things, but it’s a lot of effort and I’m very lazy.

What current rp trend do you hate?

Over edited icons and tiny dark themes?? That’s just a personal preference because I have poor vision and it’s hard for me see/read. 

How do you explain rp to someone in the real world?

hahaha I don’t. I just say I do collaborative writing as a hobby. 

Do you prefer interacting with male muses or female more? Why?

Female muses. I love male muses, but I’ve been here so long and since I’ve only written female muses, I had to deal with that particular brand of discrimination and so every time I interact with male muses I’m still filled with this sense of anxiety. 

Do you prefer writing male muses or female more? Why?

Female muses, and I guess it’s because that’s what I’m comfortable with??

What’s your opinion on call out posts?

I understand why it might be done, but at the same time I think it’s a bit unfair? No matter how good the intentions are, someone is being branded as this, that or the other thing according to a handful of people on the internet. If that information is wrong, or someone is misled - that causes a lot of heartache for the accused and I would just prefer not to be a part of it. 

Name any three things about the rpc that bother you.

Discrimination

Mob mentality

BRITNEY SENDING ME ALL 38 QUESTIONS (no I’m kidding, ilu)

What is your opinion on exclusivity? Do you practice it? Why / why not?

I get it 100%. I get pretty attached to my partners and sometimes it gets to a point that I have a hard time writing with someone else that writes that particular muse since I already have so much history with my partner, but on the other hand, tumblr is constantly changing. People drop in and out all the time and that’s cool, so I feel like exclusivity is just a temporary thing. 

Have you ever had a bad experience with commissions? As either someone who makes them or as someone who buys them?

Nope. 

What do you know now about rp that you wish you knew when you first started?

While we know that communication is integral to real life relationships, online friendships tend to require more upkeep and more effort at reaching out. 

Have you been involved in drama? Do you regret it?

Possibly? It was private stuff and my name was never brought up.

Have you ever thought about leaving rp? What caused it? What changed your mind?

Nah, not really.

Do you think rp has had a positive or negative affect on your life or you as a person?

I think that it has a positive affect! I’ve met a lot of nice people and it’s a fun hobby. 

How has rp changed you personally?

It’s made me more confident in my skills as a writer and more honest with how I feel about certain subjects. It’s taught me to focus on me and not what the world or internet might think about me. 

If you could change one thing about rp on tumblr, what would it be? Why?

Any of the three things that bother me from above, for obvious reason. 

Have you ever sent a message to yourself on anon? Why?

Nah

Have you ever sent hate to yourself on anon? Why?

Nah

Do you delete anon hate or post and address it? Why?

I delete it, I don’t see a point in reinforcing that sort of behavior? Someone that is sending anon hate is going to be continuously checking your blog to see how you respond. They want that attention, they want the satisfaction of knowing that they hurt you or got to you in some way and nothing is better than frustrating someone that hateful. 

Have you ever felt pressured to write something you weren’t comfortable with?

Yes. 

Have you ever followed someone because you felt like you had to, not because you wanted to?

Nope. Tumblr is a hobby and it’s meant to be enjoyed. 

What would make you block someone?

Rudeness, blatant disregard for my rules, harassment, and drama. 

Have you ever stolen something from someone else?

Not intentionally and not that I’m aware of. This is something that I’m constantly afraid of?? I love duplicates and I often follow/discuss my muses with them and I’m always scared that at some point, I’ll claim that something we’ve spoken about or that I saw around, was my own idea. I tend to avoid metas for this reason and if there is ever something that I do want to make canon for my muse, I always ask first and credit where possible. 

Have you ever had something stolen from you? If so, how did you handle it?

Not that I’m aware of?? 

Are you open to duplicates? Why / why not?

See above.

How do you feel about vague posting?

I think it’s childish. Just talk to the person that you’re having issues with and I just am too tired and too anxious to put up with it. 

Do you follow people even if they don’t follow you back?

Not so much anymore. I tend to do a lot of mobile browsing/blogging and I don’t ever want to push myself into place where I’m not welcome, so by only following mutuals, I save myself a lot of time. 

Do you read people’s rules before following or interacting?

Yes, but I forget them pretty immediately, so I tend to do a refresher before I send memes or write a reply to a thread. 

What is your opinion on “reblog karma” and do you practice it?

No, I can understand how disheartening it can be to reblog memes and not get anything while other users are reblogging things from you, but it’s the internet and everyone is free to do whatever the hell they want so long as it is not exploting/hurting others and I don’t think it’s fair to coerce/force/guilt other users into interacting with someone.

How have you responded to popular slang used on tumblr? Do you use it in every day life? Do you use it at all?

Nah, not really. Vines are the ones that have fucked up my vocabulary. 

Is there something you don’t know the meaning of but you haven’t asked anyone because you think it’s supposed to be general knowledge? Was there ever something you had to ask someone to explain?

I used to be confused about the differences between “private” and “mutuals-only”, but I’ve got it figured out now. 

Have you ever experienced discrimination?

I’ve been writing female muses on tumblr for just over seven years. 

How do you feel about personal blogs following your rp blog?

It’s fine, so long as they don’t reblog threads. 

Have you ever cried while writing a reply?

Ohh yeah. @rcsethcrn​​  is to blame for most of my tears. 

Do you read other people’s threads or do you only read your own?

I read ones that come across my dash, but I don’t really follow them? I’ll read the ones that catch my eye.

What’s one thing that other people seem to hate that doesn’t bother you?

I’m not sure tbh?? There isn’t anything I can think of at the moment. 

How do you feel about tagging triggers? Do you tag them? How do you determine what is triggering content and what isn’t?

I do my best to tag triggers. I think they are valid and given my work/education, I can’t bring myself to leave them off. I try to stick to general terms for things that may be upsetting to others?? I’m not very specific, but I try to go off of what I would find uncomfortable or refer to this mental list of things that are more generally upsetting. 

What advice would you give to someone new to rp?

Be kind to yourself. Don’t let what people say get under you skin, don’t get hung up on who follows you and who doesn’t. Do what is best for you and your mental health. 

[ramajmedia]

Grey's Anatomy: 5 Relationships Fans Were Behind (& 5 They Rejected)

During the fifteen years, Grey's Anatomy has been on the air, the hit medical drama has been no stranger to controversy. This is primarily due to the major relationships that have been such a big part of the show. Throughout the years, Grey's has caused countless uprisings in its fanbase due to pushing relationships no one actually wants to see.

On the other hand, Grey's Anatomy has also provided several of the most beloved, well-known couples on TV. What would television romances be without iconic couples such as Meredith and Derek, or Arizona and Callie?

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: The 10 Hardest Hitting Break-Ups

Grey's Anatomy has certainly given fans a lot of romance over the years, and that's primarily why it's been so successful. Let's take a look at a few major couples that the audience loved, and a few that they hated.

10 JACKSON AND APRIL - BEHIND

"Japril" as it was lovingly dubbed by fans, was a prominent success with the audience. The chemistry that Sarah Drew and Jesse Williams had was undeniable, and many moments shared between the duo were exceptionally well-written. Jackson and April definitely had a quality about them that made people fall hard and fast for their romance.

Before Jackson interrupted April's wedding, before they got married, before they had Harriet, Jackson and April were close friends. After some unforeseen events, they were the only two doctors left from the Mercy West merger. This brought them closer and strengthened their bond, and is presumably a big reason as to why they were so loved.

9 JACKSON AND MAGGIE - REJECTED

Contrary to Jackson and April, Jackson and Maggie had no chemistry whatsoever - none that made their romance believable anyway. The generally negative reaction to the pairing of Jackson and Maggie was fuelled by the fact that Jackson and April were recently separated and had a young daughter together.

After all the drama that had ensued between a fan favorite, Grey's wasted no time throwing Jackson into another relationship without giving the audience any time to mourn, and that was a big mistake.

8 MEREDITH AND DEREK - BEHIND

After much drama and heartache, Meredith and Derek finally tied the knot via a cute post-it note marriage in season 5. Their makeshift marriage didn't guarantee a happily ever after, though; their relationship hit turbulence in later seasons, leading up to Derek's ultimate demise in season 11.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: Every Season Finale, Ranked

Fans still love this iconic duo though. As far as the majority of the audience is concerned, Grey's will never create a better couple. Meredith and Derek hold a special place in many viewers' hearts, especially those who have been watching from the beginning.

7 MEREDITH AND FINN - REJECTED

After Izzie adopted a dog in her post-Alex misery, she, Meredith, and George banded together to raise the lovable Doc. The dog seemed to be in good health at first, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Meredith ended up having to take several trips to the vet.

The veterinarian who attempted to treat Doc for what was later revealed to be aggressive cancer was Finn, and he quickly became Meredith's dashing love interest. The two had the chemistry, for sure, but since the majority of the audience would not give up on the iconic "MerDer" pairing, Meredith's relationship with Finn ended before it even started.

6 MARK AND LEXIE - BEHIND

McSteamy and McDreamy were two of the most beloved characters ever to be created on Grey's Anatomy, and both of their ultimate relationships were just as well-loved. Much like many fans viewed Meredith and Derek as soulmates, the same title was used for Mark and Lexie.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Meredith Grey Quotes We Can All Relate To

This is a love story that ended up being probably the most tragic in Grey's Anatomy history, but to this day, fans still love and miss this couple dearly.

5 OWEN AND AMELIA - REJECTED

Owen has had a bad track record when it comes to his romantic relationship, and Amelia is no different, so the fact that these two were nothing but bad and damaging for each other is no surprise. After feeling the results of Cristina's departure and the loss of the ongoing drama that stemmed from her complicated relationship with Owen, Grey's writers became desperate and thus, the dynamic between Owen and Amelia.

This relationship was similar to the infamous Owen and Cristina bond, but way worse. Owen and Amelia started off sweet but became problematic in no time at all. Despite backlash from fans over this distasteful relationship, Grey's shows no signs of giving it up just yet.

4 CRISTINA AND BURKE - BEHIND

Cristina was no stranger to a turbulent relationship, and though her ordeal with Owen Hunt is probably the most infamous, Cristina was severely put through the wringer when it came to her whirlwind romance with Preston Burke.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Hilarious Memes Only True Fans Will Understand

Not only was Burke prone to mood swings and selfish behavior, but he abandoned Cristina at the altar on their wedding day and showed no remorse for it when they reunited years later. Nevertheless, Isaiah Washington and Sandra Oh had the chemistry that made fans root for their characters' romance.

3 RICHARD AND CATHERINE - REJECTED

Richard's earlier character arcs primarily revolved around his infidelity. His affair with Ellis Grey was one of his absolute worst moments, and the way he treated Adele during that time was inexcusable.

But Grey's gave Richard a chance to redeem himself and his marriage, and a while things were good between him and Adele. But then Catherine came into the picture, and although Adele had fallen ill with Alzheimer's, Richard moving on so fast felt wrong.

2 CALLIE AND ARIZONA - BEHIND

Being the first main LGBTQ+ couple on the show, Callie and Arizona will always be iconic. The two hold a special place in fans' hearts today, despite both characters having been written out of the show. There were very few fans that didn't root for Callie and Arizona from the beginning.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Times The Show Broke Our Hearts

The couple's relationship was put through some rough waters and ultimately, Callie and Arizona did not get the happy ending that they deserve. But that doesn't discount the fact that they were groundbreaking, and people are still talking about them today.

1 ALEX AND JO - REJECTED

Izzie and Alex ended their romance in the sixth season of Grey's Anatomy, but they are still one of the show's most talked-about couples to this day, and there's a reason for that. The writers seemed to underestimate the success of this relationship and the fact that so many people absolutely loved it.

After notable backlash following Katherine Heigl's departure from the series, the Grey's writers did the right thing and waited a few seasons before introducing another major love interest for Alex. The romance with Jo was also developed quite tastefully and realistically, but none of the changes the fact that fans just loved Alex and Izzie more.

NEXT: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Storylines that Have Aged Poorly

source https://screenrant.com/greys-anatomy-relationships-fans-love-hate/

[briangroth27]

Riverdale Season 1 Review

I’m not usually into teen dramas that don’t have a genre bent, but I do love a good murder mystery. Some of the first mysteries I remember really engaging with and trying to solve were on soap operas when I was home from school for summer as a kid, so perhaps the teen soap-with-a-killer Riverdale was always going to be right up my alley. I've liked what I've read of Afterlife with Archie (also by Riverdale’s creator, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa) and the old Archie's Weird Mysteries cartoon was a lot of fun too, so apparently I dig a darker side of Archie Comics. With engaging characters and a compelling mystery, Riverdale certainly delivered on that front! I’m not well-versed in Archie lore, so the changes this show made to the characters didn’t bother me and I wasn’t worried about sullying the wholesome Archie image; as Cole Sprouse (Jughead) pointed out during a Critics’ Association panel, Archie’s met Predator before! Clearly, everything is on the table. The cast, cleverly comprised of newcomers and teen heartthrobs from 20 years ago, was solid all-around and most of the characters seemed just like their counterparts from other versions of Archie (though I can't speak to the adults’ accuracy and I know Chuck was drastically altered), so it's impressive how versatile these characters are even with a radically different tone.

I loved the world of Riverdale. The town felt real and there was a sense of true, dense history between everyone, kids and adults alike. You could tell these people had known each other for a long time and their lives were intimately entangled. It never felt like there were connections just for the sake of whatever plot points needed to connect in the moment. Nods to the comics, like Jughead’s Classic Archie dream and Jughead's burger-shaped birthday cake, were perfect and I hope they do more. The pilot's scene with Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead sitting in a booth at Pop Tate's was iconic. I also loved that they included what I assume are the Archie Comics stand-ins for real brands, like Veronica’s “American Excess” credit cards. The show did a great job of at least touching on relevant issues like classism, slut-shaming, and white guys telling minority women’s stories for them. I love the implied supernatural darkness this season—I totally believe Clifford did see a ghost and the Blossoms have been involved in dark rituals (what's up with their cult-like board of directors?)—and hope they open those floodgates next year. Like Jughead asked, is Riverdale a good place, or is it full of (supernatural) darkness?

 Full Season Spoilers…

My biggest issue was the Fake Miss Grundy (Sarah Habel)/Archie (K.J. Apa) fling: it wasn’t portrayed as some forbidden true love—Grundy shot that down when Archie asked what they had—but all the sex scenes and their picnic were shot so dreamily that it wasn't depicted as a bad thing either. Even though Grundy was forced to leave town in (secret) disgrace, the final scene of her creepily scoping out other teen guys seemed like a twist to show her true nature—and that Archie got played—rather than an indictment of their relationship. Fred Andrews’ (Luke Perry) almost total lack of response to the news his son had been sleeping with a teacher also felt way off and minimized the seriousness of the situation (which was implied to have also gone on between Grundy and Jason Blossom). While it’s true Grundy clearly hurt Archie and he didn’t see their relationship as “scoring with the hot teacher”—it was never something to brag about—they should’ve explored the illegality more, particularly as this show is so steeped in film noir. I wasn’t satisfied with Grundy getting off so easily and Archie dealing with nothing more than heartache. They could’ve gotten a strong arc out of Archie dealing with the clear statutory rape of it all instead of playing it like any other failed teenage romance. I wouldn’t necessarily want Archie’s life blown up by the news (though it came out later among the students and no one really cared), but a bigger deal should’ve been made of it. Had it been Betty or Veronica sleeping with a male teacher it would’ve been a much larger issue and probably would’ve destroyed their reputations, so at the very least exploring that double standard would’ve been appreciated. Riverdale subverted other clichés, like dismissing the Betty/Veronica kiss in the pilot as a dated way to appear “hot and edgy” (which in retrospect is even funnier, given The CW marketed the show with that kiss in all the trailers), but I feel like they could've found a way to subvert expectations with the Archie/Grundy relationship too.

The show’s biggest surprise was how likable and three-dimensional Veronica (Camila Mendes) is. That this is her first professional acting credit (at least according to IMDB) is astonishing, and Mendes is going to have a bright future. I was constantly impressed with Veronica’s ability to cut to the point and bring people together or make things happen. She and Jughead quickly became my favorite characters, something I never would’ve thought having seen the spoiled Veronica in Weird Mysteries. Like I saw pointed out in an early review, it was very smart of them to make Veronica and Betty (Lili Reinhart) friends first before the love triangle with Archie takes effect. In fact, Betty and Veronica’s friendship was the strongest part of the show. I'm glad Veronica provided Betty with "sometimes they just don't like you" advice about Archie rather than the usual "hang in there and win them over/they'll see what they're missing" plan. I didn’t exactly buy all of the power structure in the Lodge family—Veronica making demands to know things and Hermione (Marisol Nichols) caving and telling her felt a little “TV kids have more power than they should”—but otherwise I found the Lodge family dynamic interesting and entertaining, especially given a third of it never appeared onscreen. Veronica’s “negotiations” with Hermione were not what I’d imagine normal people do, but they were certainly fun to watch. I was surprised at the depths they continued to give Veronica as the season went on: not only did she go about atoning for her past spoiled behavior, but she went out of her way to make up for the damage her father left in his wake as well. I thought Veronica and Archie finally getting together worked—she seemed to understand him (and he her) better than Val did—but it did result in the one part of Veronica’s arc I didn’t feel was entirely in-character. Not telling Betty that she and Archie were dating felt off, especially since she told Betty about their kiss in the pilot almost immediately and they were much better friends by the end of the season. Fortunately, the eventual reveal of Veronica and Archie’s relationship didn’t come with the clichéd jealous fireworks; instead, their friends were simply happy for them (a welcome departure from the norm!).

Jughead was my other favorite character and I loved that the series was framed through his true crime novel. While I do think some of his narration was a little too melodramatic even for teen angst, like him describing himself as not a person (although it’s led me to wonder whether there’s actual dark weirdness going on), it always matched the heightened reality of the show. My sister wants his narration to wrap up an episode with “…in a little town called Riverdale” as an homage to the Weird Mysteries cartoon, and I’d love that next year! The one bit of his character that I had a hard time connecting with was his rift with Archie: it seemed like one missed camping trip shouldn’t have ended their friendship and I thought there must’ve been something else to it, but nothing ever surfaced. On the other hand, Jughead and Betty coming together as school paper reporters investigating Jason’s murder felt like a natural and well-crafted development of their friendship, as did their romance. I would’ve liked to see the show incorporate the current Archie Comics’ asexual Jughead to increase representation, but Sprouse and Reinhardt’s chemistry has made me a Betty/Jughead shipper. As the show peeled back more layers to Jughead and Betty’s lives, their relationship made even more sense and I loved the support they found in each other. Riverdale’s writers also found some great comedy between Betty and Jughead, like when creepy Grandma Blossom emerged from the shadows of Jason’s room and Jug hid behind Betty like she was a human shield! I also enjoyed him referring to her singing happy birthday as "haunting," because as good as her voice is, it definitely was. When the show drove wedges between the couple, it never felt like unearned or random drama. I felt sorry for Jughead when Betty’s mom tried to use a “family dinner” between the Coopers and Jones’ to interrogate his dad and was glad Jughead reasonably didn’t blame Betty for it for too long, since she was aware of some of her mom’s plans but didn’t know about the larger plan (and didn’t know Archie and Veronica were using it as an opportunity to search the Jones house). I really liked the low-key exploration of class differences between the Jones’ and Coopers; there was a strong thread running through the season about how Jughead didn’t feel he fully belonged in the middle-class Riverdale. I didn’t expect Jughead to start out living at the town’s drive-in theater, and his subsequent moving in with Archie worked well to help rebuild their friendship (even if Jughead was often sarcastic about sharing their feelings). The Jones family proved an excellent source of drama and Sprouse knocked scenes like FP Jones (Skeet Ulrich) telling him to get lost from a jail cell and Jughead’s mom heartbreakingly telling him not to come live with her and his sister in Ohio, even when he had nowhere else to go, out of the park. FP’s criminal past and present, Jughead’s resulting move to the south side school, and his later induction into the South Side Serpents certainly dealt major blows to his connections to the rest of the cast (though we are getting Hot Dog out of it!), and I’m interested to see how those connections are maintained and rebuilt. I wonder if he accepted the Serpents jacket (and his seduction to the dark side as he put it on was palpable!) to be/feel closer to FP, since he knew his dad’s attempt to push him away was done to protect him. Might we see dark Jughead next season? Whatever his affiliation with the Serpents brings, I can’t wait to see where Sprouse and the writers take Jughead!

Betty Cooper was initially presented as the good girl next door, but the show quickly dispelled that notion. Not only is she repressing her anger to the point of digging her fingernails into her palms until they bleed and going beyond standing up for herself to threatening people like Cheryl when things escalate too much, but she has some sort of dissociative disorder where she has no memory of taking on a different, much darker persona. Going by “Polly,” she nearly killed Chuck (Jordan Calloway) when she and Veronica were trying to get him to admit he’d slut-shamed several high school girls. I loved this darker side—and the fact that it hasn’t been resolved yet—and it definitely felt in line with the show’s Twin Peaks lineage. Those “Polly” moments could’ve easily been way over the top, but Reinhart made them real, and really dangerous. I liked the implied reason for her Dark Betty persona: she needed comfort and support from her big sister Polly (Tiera Skovbye) as a kid, and now she needs “Polly” to deal as a young adult. While the show started with Betty being eternally smitten with Archie and touched on the classic Betty/Archie/Veronica love triangle in the pilot, I’m glad they largely avoided it. Both through the beautifully-written Betty/Veronica friendship and the well-developed Betty/Jughead romance, any sort of triangle with Archie was sidestepped, and frankly the show didn’t need that added layer of drama. I'm also happy they let Archie and Betty be friends without ignoring how hard that can be when one person likes the other. Of course, Archie was more involved with Fake Miss Grundy this year, and Betty and Veronica’s reaction to finding out about it was surprisingly understanding and well-handled. In fact, Betty’s empathy in general was a standout part of her character, and I loved the concern she showed for all her friends, particularly Jughead (again, their issues are very compatible and I’m glad they’ve found each other). Betty’s empathy was put to great use as she delivered her “We are All Riverdale” speech, reminding the people that Riverdale isn’t just a clean-cut “town with pep!” but it’s also the lower class people who the rich would rather forget and write off as criminals. It would’ve been easy to write Betty as a naïve, somewhat helpless girl to counter Veronica being so driven and present, but instead they had Betty pursing the murder case even moreso than anyone except Jughead. Reinhart handled the range inherent in this Betty’s characterization with ease. I’m interested to see where Betty goes now that Jughead is joining the Serpents and it seems like her opinions on class differences—and more pressingly, Jughead’s inner goodness—are going to be tested.

I liked Archie, though I have to say he didn’t have as exciting an arc as the other main characters this year. Once he was free of the Grundy mess his material improved a lot, though I still think we needed to see more fallout: digging deeper than just his pain inspiring his music would’ve fueled his arc much better. On the other hand, as one of my friends pointed out, it was refreshing to have a central character just trying to figure out who he is and what he wants to be; Archie (and Apa, who like Reinhart is a relative newcomer to acting) felt like a normal, genuine, all-American kid. Sure he displayed some of the classic Archie obliviousness like not realizing Betty was into him, but he also showed some great maturity, like when he gave up his football team captain spot, knowing he couldn’t handle the time commitment, and when he immediately gathered a group of guys to help out with his father’s construction project when his crew got better offers and left. I really enjoyed his music sessions with Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and Val (Hayley Law); he seemed to get much more out of them than he did working with Grundy, both in terms of musical application and some social awareness when he broached the subject of writing songs for them to sing, rather than them giving a more accurate depiction of their own experiences by writing their own music. As with the show’s handling of the classic triangle, I’m relieved there was no cliché jealousy over Archie’s friendship with Veronica or Betty from Val or from Veronica over Archie and Val dating (something I’m told is drawn from the recent Mark Waid Archie comics; good to know they’re pulling from all eras!). Almost across the board, the teens in Riverdale seemed to respect and trust each other in a way that a lot of TV teens don’t. I was impressed. Archie’s best qualities came out when the show got into how much he cared about his friends, particularly Jughead—offering up his house as a home for Jones—and, surprisingly, Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch). Even after he realized Cheryl’s parents were manipulating him through her, he didn’t stop caring about her well-being. The frozen lake rescue scene was incredibly intense (Apa even broke his hand in real life!) and seemed like a moment that will bond the kids tightly for a long time to come. One (extremely minor) aspect of Archie’s life I thought was random was part of the set: he’s got multiple Justice League posters up in his room. The Warner Brothers/Greg Berlanti connection aside, I’m pretty sure Archie—and no one else, in fact—has ever mentioned being into comic books or superheroes even once on the show. He didn’t strike me as a superhero fan at all, so having posters that aren’t even of the movie adaptations felt like awkward product placement. I’d also like to know what was up with the werewolf mask he had in his room and why he hallucinated the jocks wearing similar masks while he sang on stage. What was that about? I liked Archie finally finding happiness with Veronica—they seem to complement each other well—though I can’t imagine what possibly losing his father is going to do to him…particularly if one of the Lodges was behind the hired gun.

Cheryl Blossom was a fun minor villain who revealed hidden depths over the course of the season and I was surprised by how sympathetic she was by the end. The writers and Petsch (another very talented newcomer) found a great balance between Cheryl’s genuine humanity, like when she was forced to confront the fact that her brother wasn’t always a great guy and when she genuinely seemed to accept Polly as a sister, and her more toxic mean girl side as queen bee of Riverdale High. Cheryl embodied the heightened reality of the show more than anyone with her often campy (but never out of place) vibe, and I loved it. I wouldn’t want the show to be pitch black noir anyway, so her character’s brand of high school villainy struck the perfect semi-comedic balance to the darkness. Her reaction to finding out her father killed her brother—confronting him at dinner, rather than getting out of the house like Betty warned her—was so perfectly Cheryl! It was an excellent use of the melodramatic nature of her character to reveal which of the Blossoms was the murderer. Petsch also did a great job in her melodramatic frozen lake suicide attempt and I really thought they might kill her off, but I’m glad they didn’t. Cheryl burning down the Blossom mansion was great and I can’t wait to see where she goes from here!

The parents of Riverdale were, on the whole, far from the best parents you could find. The Andrews were the best of them, though again I would’ve liked some more parenting from Fred when the Grundy affair was revealed. Otherwise, Fred Andrews was the upstanding, salt-of-the-Earth dad who’d made bad choices in his youth but was a better man in spite of them; he reminded me a lot of Smallville’s Jonathan Kent. I liked his relationship with Archie and Jughead and I hope he survives his shooting. Archie’s mom Mary (Molly Ringwald) was likable too; I enjoyed the fact that she was simply above all the drama the rest of the parents in Riverdale came at her with and I was surprised she didn’t show up with a boatload of issues of her own. Another one of the best parents was Sheriff Keller (Martin Cummins), who despite some classism blinders showed surprising support for his son Kevin (Casey Cott): instead of being stereotypically ashamed of his gay son, he wanted him to date safer guys than Southside Serpents. I hadn’t considered it until I heard it pointed out, but this allowed the show to dodge a lot of cliché “gay kid in a small town” plotlines. He also seemed level-headed, if not the most effective criminal investigator.

While the rest of the parents weren’t the best role models, they certainly fit the film noir leanings of the show and proved that not only is no one perfect, but your past can and probably will come back to bite you. The moral grayness got to the point where I was surprised all the adults reacted like real parents after Archie told them they'd broken into FP's house: I expected at least one of them to congratulate them and cheer them on. Alice Cooper (Madchen Amick) made for a subversive, overbearing, and serious villain to contrast with Cheryl early on (and a cool shout-out to the show's dual inspirations in that she was on both Twin Peaks and Dawson’s Creek), before revealing that her heart really is in the right place. Though the Cooper’s reasons for locking Polly away were extremely flimsy, they still sounded like something a real parent would say; I was impressed by that. I liked that Alice was the one leading the charge against Fake Grundy and Amick showed us Alice’s deeper caring side as the season went on, particularly after she threw Hal out of the house. I ended the season thinking she needs to back down and let her daughters live their lives, but overall liking her (and Amick was consistently great!). Perhaps we’ve already seen a bit of mellowing on Alice’s part, like when Betty was hungover and Alice barely said a thing. I liked the dynamic she brought to the school paper and I’d like to see more of her mentor side come out as Betty and Jughead (and Veronica?) continue their investigations (not that they needed much help!). I wonder if further exploration into Betty’s dissociative disorder is going to cast Alice back into a darker light, though; it seemed like she was trying to keep Betty away from things that got Polly “into trouble”—“bad girls” like Veronica/Cheryl and redheads like Archie/Jason—and she’s certainly encouraging her daughter’s medication, so how far will she go to protect Betty once she knows the truth?

Much like Alice, FP Jones initially came off as a terrible parent, but Ulrich and the show did a great job of peeling back layers to draw a more complex picture of him. While Skeet Ulrich playing a dad made me feel old, since I remember him as a teen in Scream (Jughead climbing into Betty’s room through her window was a cool homage to that movie, BTW), he was great as Jughead’s criminal-yet-caring father. We didn’t get much of FP as a caring man, but I liked what we did see (allowing a houseful of teens to drink and play a terrible secrets game notwithstanding) and believed he was truly trying to put his life together for his son…right to the point of blowing it up to protect him. I also liked that the bad blood between Fred and FP wasn’t made out to be entirely either man’s fault and they were both to blame. 

Hal Cooper (Locklyn Munro) had much the opposite arc; going from a guy who I figured had no backbone at all to one of the most despicable parents on the show. I knew he was the one to steal Sheriff Keller’s murder board, but I thought he’d done it under Alice’s orders. Once Betty started questioning whether he was behind Jason’s death, he started showing some shadiness and when they revealed he’d tried to force Alice to have an abortion and intended to do the same to Polly, I hated him. Even the reveal that he’d stolen the murder board to protect Polly in case there was evidence against her was too little, too late; it was nice to give him dimension, but wasn’t enough to redeem him in my eyes. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to be carrying on a hundred-year blood feud with the Blossoms—or for the Coopers to be Blossoms!!! I also wonder how he’s going to react to Polly’s incestuous twins once they’re born and to the son Alice didn’t abort when he inevitably resurfaces…whether Chic Cooper is Hal’s kid or not.

Ah, the Blossoms. Penelope Blossom (Nathalie Boltt) makes Alice and Hal look sane, Grandma Rose (Barbara Wallace) is super creepy, and Clifford (Barclay Hope) is a straight-up murderer who is fully willing to hurt teenagers. Then there’s all those rumors of dark magic and occult dealings in the family. If Grandma Rose has “gypsy blood” (and she totally does, given her predictive abilities) so do Betty and the rest of the “Coopers,” BTW. It’s great that there’s this town mythology about the Blossoms: it gave the whole family a mystique that would’ve been sorely missed if they were just a rich old miserly family. I wanted to believe they truly cared about Polly, but they’re the Blossoms and I know it was just the twins…speaking of, Clifford and Penelope’s “incest, whatevs!” reaction to Polly and Jason’s relationship was so gross, yet I laughed at how perfect it was for them. Aguirre-Sacasa had Cheryl and Jason in a maybe-incestuous relationship in Afterlife with Archie, but I never thought The CW would go there, even if Polly and Jason were third cousins. Penelope seems to be losing it in the wake of her husband killing her son, and I hope that brings some dimension to her, because while I believed her sorrow and wrath, I never came around on her like with Alice and FP. I thought they played Clifford very well, keeping him a certainly compromised parental figure but not really tipping their hand about how evil he was until late in the season. I did figure out he was the killer before they revealed it, but it took a long time to disabuse me of my initial theory. Looking back, there’s more than enough evidence of how little he cared about Jason (he often seemed more disappointed, to be honest) to fully buy him as the murderer; the most satisfying mysteries are unexpected but inevitable in hindsight, and this one certainly was that. Cheryl raised a good question, though:  if Clifford didn’t care about the incest or the drugs, why’d he need to kill Jason? I’m excited to see more of Clifford in flashbacks (I assume) next year to get those answers. And did he really hang himself? I think he did, but I think it’d be fitting if Polly did it. I could also see it being Cheryl, but not Penelope. What's going to happen to those two now that their house is gone? Are the Blossoms not as rich as they claim? Just how lucrative is the Blossoms' maple syrup company and how much of their wealth is from heroin?

I liked Hermione Lodge and appreciated how her connection to her husband Hiram (Mark Consuelos) adversely affected her attempts to get a stable job, but as the series wore on I became more and more convinced that she’s the real schemer in the family. She’s the one forging her daughter’s name on contracts, after all. Since the Blossoms made it sound like they had their choice of who to send to jail, I wonder if Hiram’s really guilty of anything at all. Either that or Hermione was guilty too, but Clifford didn’t think she’d be a problem. I still think the payments the Blossoms were sending the Lodges for the past several decades were repayment for the Lodges getting them out of legal trouble when Great-grandpa “Cooper” was killed, but I’d like to find out exactly what went down back then. I’m excited to meet Hiram next year and I hope he’s much more honest than the Clifford-lite we’ve been led to believe he is. Seeing him on the legal rebound, genuinely trying to rebuild his reputation, would be a cool twist after we’ve been told for so long that he’s a terrible man. Still, he seems like the logical guess as to who put the hit on Fred, but I don’t think Hermione is any less capable.

Fake Miss Grundy stealing the classic Geraldine Grundy’s ID is a classic move for Greg Berlanti when it comes to adapting comic book characters. Regardless of how I felt about Fake Grundy, I appreciated the respect he gave the source material while doing something fresh. Unless she comes back to bring feelings of being used to the surface in Archie and to fully play out the implications of a student-teacher relationship, I won’t miss her, however. 

Like many of the parents, I appreciated that what we thought we knew about Polly Cooper didn’t turn out to be true at all. I thought for a brief moment after she escaped and went missing that Jason’s death had snapped Polly, but I’m glad she was never the crazy girl her parents made her out to be. I was surprised Hermione was able to take her in—albeit briefly—when they apparently couldn’t afford Veronica going clubbing, but that was the most minor of quibbles. I was even more surprised Polly chose the Blossoms over going home to her family, even though her parents had tried to force an abortion on her and shipped her off to a nunnery, but I loved the twist that she’d gone to be a spy. I wish she had found out more vital information about Jason’s death, though. I did think Polly just going back to school like nothing was a bit of a stretch, but the season finale also featured a lengthy school escape and Archie, Veronica, and Betty waltzing into the Southside Hell School, so I guess late enrollment isn’t that big a deal. Haha I liked what we saw of Polly this year, and I’m interested to see what she’s like after fully processing Jason’s death. I can’t imagine life is going to be easy once word gets out that her twins are the product of incest.

I wish we’d gotten to know Jason Blossom (Trevor Stines) better to sympathize with his loss more, but I was impressed that we got enough to paint him as an imperfect, complex person rather than either a saint or a secret scumbag. My sister called him faking his death (and someone else subsequently killing him), and I liked that the dreamy storybook quality to his and Cheryl's boat trip was a subtle indicator that it wasn't real. I wonder if he’ll keep popping up in his zombie visage next year.

I was sure the Southside Serpents were a red herring for Jason’s death, so I was surprised they were as involved as they were. I knew they’d burned his car, though. They were well-utilized as both the town threat and as a representation of the “wrong kind of citizen” classism going on in Riverdale. I can’t wait to get to know more about their softer side as Jughead is inducted into their ranks…if they have one, that is. We know Alice is from the South Side; could she have been a Serpent at some point in her youth too?

I liked Kevin Keller and his love of drama, but even though it’s understandable they don’t have time to showcase everyone, I hope he gets some meatier material next year. Hopefully that’ll be the case, as Cott’s been made a series regular for season 2. His relationship with Joaquin (Rob Raco) didn’t feel very tragic when the latter skipped town (to San Junipero, of all places…uh oh) because we didn’t get to see them building their bond as much as we could have. I liked that Kevin got to play a role in resolving Jason’s murder, even if “I’m asking you as the Sheriff’s son” was a little melodramatic.

Josie and the Pussycats were fun local celebrities and their rendition of “Sugar, Sugar” was playful and catchy enough for me to forgive it being their song and not Archie’s (though in truth, I was familiar with the original version, but never knew that The Archies were THE Archies haha). I like that Josie’s focus on branding herself and the rest of the Pussycats, even in highschool, allowed for the iconic cat ears to be ever-present without being over the top. Murray brought a strong drive and focus to Josie that made me believe she’s going places, if she can get out of Riverdale. It was also great to get to see Josie’s family life and the pressure her parents, Mayor Sierra McCoy (Robin Givens) and Myles McCoy (Reese Alexander), put on her to excel; chalk up a couple more well-meaning but problematic adults! I hope the second season has Josie and/or Val mentoring Archie more; again, he seemed to get a lot out of working with them. I also liked that Val was levelheaded and straightforward the whole season and I’d like to get a glimpse into her home life next year. I wasn’t expecting her to dump Archie, but she was totally right to do so. I didn’t dislike their relationship, but her unwillingness to put up with his or the Blossoms’ foolishness—from a place of self-respect rather than jealousy, no less—felt so fresh and mature; definitely not something you’d get on run of the mill teen soaps. Like Kevin, I hope Josie and Val get more screentime next year, along with Melody (Asha Bromfield), whom we know nothing about thus far.

The rest of the kids got minimal screentime. Ethel (Shannon Purser) was an interesting addition with the biggest arc of the supporting students, going from slut-shamed quiet girl to gleefully watching Betty almost murder Chuck to finding confidence through her friendship with Betty and Veronica. I enjoyed her interaction with Veronica when it became clear what the Lodges had done to her family and I’m glad she forgave Ronnie instead of holding a grudge. It felt like a cleverer and more reasonable choice to forgive the innocent kid instead of blaming her for her father’s actions. Again and again, the teens on this show actually seem better-adjusted than their parents. Well, not Reggie (Ross Butler), who’ll be recast next year due to scheduling conflicts. Butler was fun as the stereotypical jock jerk with just a hint of a heart, though I hope having an actor who’s more available will give Reggie greater dimension next year. Moose (Cody Kearsley) being gay felt like it was going to be a bigger storyline, but by Episode 2 it seemed like an open secret and it (and he) were barely mentioned again; only popping up to get beaten up by Clifford’s hired thugs at Fred’s construction site. Dilton Doily (Major Curda) came off like Dwight Shrute, Jr. and I want to know what drove him to become a survivalist (which I suppose is the noir equivalent of a science brainiac). At least he’s comfortable being a self-proclaimed weirdo. You do you, Dilton. The one really egregious one-dimensional character was Chuck Clayton, who was unapologetically 100% evil. This was an unfortunate choice, given he is so out of line with the character in the comics. Chuck was Archie Comics’ first prominent black character, in fact, making the change an even more questionable decision. I wish he had more layers, but I’m not sure they can bring him around at this point.

The central murder mystery was very well-crafted. I loved how it unfolded and even though I’d pieced it together before the reveal (though possibly not the motive and I didn’t expect such deep Serpent involvement; my final theories can be found here), it was still emotionally satisfying. I wasn't expecting so quick a wrap-up of the penultimate episode’s cliffhanger (great pun, Jug!), but I liked that it allowed the characters to deal with the fallout in the season finale. While I always wanted the show to veer into supernatural Lovecraftian horror (and it could so easily!), it’s smarter that they resolved Jason’s murder within the mortal realm instead of pulling the rug out from under everyone in the last episode of the season. At one point, I thought they could bring Sabrina the Teenage Witch in as a "psychic" to help the cops investigate Jason's murder, but again, that may’ve been too much for season 1. The only point that didn’t make sense to me was why neither Archie nor Fake Miss Grundy thought to say they were at the lake by themselves; either one of them could’ve just said they heard the gunshot while camping on their own. It seemed like that generated a lot of unnecessary drama between the two of them, but since it was a red herring all along, it didn’t bother me in terms of the mystery. Besides Clifford’s motive and the Blossom/Lodge payments, the big red herring that still hasn’t been addressed is why Jughead asked for a lawyer when questioned about his whereabouts the week Jason died. Fred went so far as to create an alibi for him, no questions asked, and the tie-in comic doesn’t indicate any criminal behavior, so what was Jughead doing? Did he just not want to answer, feeling the classism working against him? Was his way of bucking the system? It felt a little odd for the show not to follow up on this, even with a line explaining it away, and I hope it does next season.

Riverdale had a great first season and I can’t wait to see how much crazier they’ll go next year. If they do go supernatural, I have no doubt that the well-drawn characters, strong actors, and more-than-capable writers will ground it enough to keep things relatable and fresh, no matter how crazy things get. If you haven't checked out Riverdale yet or want to hook your friends, the first season is streaming on Netflix now! Until it returns in October, we have the Riverdale tie-in comic for a glimpse before the series and between episodes. I'm not sure how groundbreaking it can be, but I'm glad to have it.

I can’t wait for season 2!