[Television] CW gives us our first hint of what to expect in Riverdale

The CW has already given the Archie Comics inspired television show a mid-season go ahead for the network, and yesterday, during the CW upfronts, we learned a bit more about what we can expect.

Here is the description sent to us by The CW:

“RIVERDALE”

As a new school year begins, the town of Riverdale is reeling from the recent, tragic death of high school golden boy Jason Blossom — and nothing feels the same… Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) is still the all-American teen, but the summer’s events made him realize that he wants to pursue a career in music — not follow in his dad’s footsteps— despite the sudden end of his forbidden relationship with Riverdale’’s young music teacher, Ms. Grundy (Sarah Habel). Which means Archie doesn’’t have anyone who will mentor him — certainly not singer Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray), who is only focused on her band, the soon-to-be-world-famous Pussycats. It’’s all weighing heavily on Archie’s mind, — as is his fractured friendship with budding writer and fellow classmate, Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse). Meanwhile, girl-next-door Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) is anxious to see her crush Archie after being away all summer, but she’’s not quite ready to reveal her true feelings to him. And Betty’’s nerves, – which are hardly soothed by her overbearing mother, Alice (Mädchen Amick) aren’t the only thing holding her back. When a new student, Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), arrives in town from New York with her mother Hermione (Marisol Nichols), there’s an undeniable spark between her and Archie, even though Veronica doesn’’t want to risk her new friendship with Betty by making a play for Archie. And then there’s Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch)… Riverdale’s Queen Bee, who is happy to stir up trouble amongst Archie, Betty, and Veronica, but Cheryl is keeping secrets of her own. What, exactly, is she hiding about the mysterious death of her twin brother, Jason? Riverdale may look like a quiet, sleepy town, but there are dangers in the shadows… Based on the characters from Archie Comics, RIVERDALE is from Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, in association with Berlanti Productions, with executive producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (“Supergirl,” “Glee”), Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”), Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”) and Jon Goldwater (Archie Comics).

So…. yeah… that’s the direction they are going. Archie’s getting it on with Ms. Grundy, no sign of Mr. Lodge, and of course Josie and the Pussycats. Can’t wait to see what happens when it is revealed that Cheryl Blossom has been dead all along, and it is really Jason who has been masquerading as the prettiest girl in school.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Camila Mendes said, “Oh my gosh, it’s so much grittier. We’re comparing it to Twin Peaks. The tone, I mean; it’s not the pace of Twin Peaks. This is upbeat, but there are mystery elements. It’s pretty cinematic too in the way that it’s shot. It’s different — it’s not the Riverdale you know.”

If you are all freaked out about this, the only thing I can say is Riverdale is being written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the mind behind Afterlife with Archie… and it rocks.

Though I’m probably not the demographic for Riverdale, I’m still going to give it a go, if for no other reason than to see what all the young kids are talking about these days.

Riverdale is set to debut in January 2017.