In the wake of seven seasons, the curtain has officially fallen on Riverdale, culminating in its series finale on the 23rd of August, showcased exclusively on The CW. As the premiere unfolded, spectators were led through the customary 42-minute episode duration, commercials excluded, embarking on a final odyssey alongside Betty (Lili Reinhart) and her comrades. While the narrative may have concluded its tale, The CW possesses one more clandestine revelation—an elongated rendition of the conclusion now graces the network’s digital domain. This alternate cut spans an additional approximate eight-minute duration.
The closing chapter, christened “Farewell, Riverdale,” commences with an octogenarian Betty, aged 86, nursing a yearning to revisit the realms of Riverdale for one last sojourn. Ere her departure, a celestial manifestation of Jughead (Cole Sprouse) materializes before her, lending assistance in reliving her culminating day of senior year—an episode she forwent due to an episode of the mumps. Ergo, the duo ventures back to the 1950s, a period affording Betty a secondary chance to savor an additional day in the company of her confidantes prior to their divergent paths. Notably, this revisitation endows Betty not merely the chance to rewrite her chronicle of that day but also permits Jughead to bridge the lacunae regarding the subsequent trajectories of their compatriots—be it their careers, amorous escapades, or even their demises. Within this sojourn, heartfelt oratory moments surface, further adding to its emotional tapestry.
Amidst the lengthier iteration, numerous vignettes shall be graced with augmented context. This encompasses a prolonged soliloquy from Betty herself, and supplementary fleeting scenes that were featured within the initial broadcast version, now imbued with enriched insights, especially concerning particular personages’ life arcs. Moreover, deeper interactions are portrayed among the central quartet—Jughead, Betty, Veronica (Camila Mendes), and Archie (K.J. Apa)—alongside an added juncture shared by Betty and the celestial incarnation of Jughead, preceding an impending gala. Additionally, the audience is granted an expanded vista of Betty’s responses to discernible revelations within relationships.
In tandem with the expansion of pre-existing sequences, this protracted rendition shall yield disclosure regarding the fortunes of personas beyond the nucleus ensemble. While Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and Toni’s (Vanessa Morgan) artistic exhibition unfolds, Betty unearths the destinies of the sundry characters who have intermittently graced the narrative landscape throughout the duration of the series. Among them reside Cheryl’s sibling Julian (Nicholas Barasch), their maternal grandmother Nana Rose (Barbara Wallace), Principal Weatherbee (Peter Bryant), and Mrs. Thornton (Frances Flanagan). Akin to the essence of Riverdale, a denouement ensues with an unforeseen twist that intertwines Frank Andrews (Ryan Robbins), Tom Keller (Martin Cummins), and a visage already familiar to the audience.
At present, the lengthened Riverdale curtain call awaits viewers’ indulgence on The CW’s digital platform and official website. Subsequently, the ultimate season shall embrace its availability on Netflix by the 31st of August.
