After seven chaotic, genre-bending seasons, Riverdale has reached its final chapter. Known for mixing small-town drama with supernatural twists, serial killers, and even alternate timelines, the CW’s cult hit concluded with an emotional and surreal finale that gave closure to its core characters while still embracing its trademark eccentricity. With Season 7 now streaming on Netflix in the U.S., here’s a full breakdown of how Riverdale ended — and how each major character met their fate.
How Did Riverdale Reach Its Ending?
The path to the finale was anything but straightforward. In Season 6, the gang transferred their powers to Cheryl Blossom to stop a deadly comet, only for the cast to be thrust back into 1955. Guardian angel Tabitha Tate revealed this was her attempt to save them from extinction, erasing their memories in the process.
Season 7 followed the teens navigating the 1950s, tackling issues of racism, homophobia, and censorship while uncovering a dark Blossom family conspiracy tied to palladium and Cold War espionage. By the end, Tabitha returned, restored their memories (leaving out the worst trauma), and stabilized the multiverse, paving the way for the show’s farewell.
The Final Episode: Betty’s Last Goodbye
The finale centers on Betty Cooper, now 86 years old and the last survivor of the group. On the verge of death, she’s visited by a version of Jughead, who offers her the chance to relive the final day of senior year — one she originally missed due to illness.
As Betty walks through Riverdale High and the town itself, she reconnects with friends, relives joyful memories, and learns how each of her companions lived and died. Ultimately, she passes away peacefully in 2023, guided to the afterlife where all her friends are waiting. As Jughead narrates, they are “forever juniors, forever 17.”
The Core Four’s Fates
- Archie Andrews: Moved to California, married, raised a family, and was buried beside his father Fred in Riverdale.
- Betty Cooper: Became a pioneering feminist writer, founded She Says magazine, and adopted a daughter. She lived to 86.
- Jughead Jones: Created Madhouse Magazine, a beloved comic institution, and died at 84.
- Veronica Lodge: Rose to Hollywood stardom, won two Oscars, and was buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Notably, in their senior year, the four shared a quad relationship, reflecting the show’s unconventional approach to love and identity.
Other Key Characters’ Endings
- Cheryl Blossom & Toni Topaz: Stayed together, built thriving artistic careers, raised a son named Dale, and died peacefully after “full, gorgeous, sexy lives.”
- Kevin Keller & Clay Walker: Lived in New York, with Clay teaching at Columbia and Kevin founding an off-Broadway theater. They passed away weeks apart in their 80s.
- Reggie Mantle: Became a basketball star, later coached at Riverdale High, and left behind sons who ran Mantle Motors.
- Fangs Fogarty: Achieved rock fame but tragically died in a bus crash early in his career.
- Alice Cooper: Left Hal, became a flight attendant, found love, and traveled the world.
- Mary Andrews: Found happiness with Brooke, living out her life in Riverdale.
- Julian Blossom: Died in Vietnam at 28.
- Polly Cooper: Focused on raising her twins Juniper and Dagwood.
- Shepherd figures like Pop Tate and Principal Weatherbee: Passed with dignity, with Pop honored by Betty in her final moments.
Riverdale’s Final Message
For all its wild twists — serial killers, cults, time travel, alternate universes, and even alien abductions — Riverdale ended on a surprisingly heartfelt note. The finale focused not on chaos but on love, memory, and friendship, cementing the idea that the bonds formed in youth define a lifetime.
In the end, Riverdale’s farewell suggests that while life ends, connection doesn’t. As Betty reunites with her friends in the afterlife, the series closes with the bittersweet reminder that in Riverdale, nothing — not even death — can separate them.
Did Riverdale’s ending live up to your expectations after seven unpredictable seasons, or were you hoping for more closure on certain storylines? Share your thoughts in the comments on investrecords.com.