‘Riverdale’ Finale Slammed by Polyamorous Group for Show’s Shocking Twist

The “Riverdale” series finale left viewers puzzled, putting the show’s main characters in a four-way relationship … a decision that’s really pissed off the polyamorous community.

If you didn’t catch the episode, it was a strange one — which became par for the show — but the “shocking twist” included a sequence where Archie, Betty, Jughead and Veronica were part of a quad-relationship.

Reactions were mixed, but many fans felt show creators only used the relationship for a “wow factor.”

We spoke to Brett Chamberlin, Executive Director, OPEN (Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy) who tells us, though “tempting to celebrate every portrayal of non-monogamy in popular media,” it needs to be done both responsibly and from a place of understanding.

He continues… “It’s frustrating that Riverdale used its characters’ non-monogamous relationship as a ‘shocking twist’ rather than engaging with an authentic portrayal of non-monogamy as simply being part of people’s identities.”

Chamberlin continues, “We didn’t see or hear anything about why these characters practice non-monogamy, what it means for them, the substance of their relationship agreements and communication practices, or any of the other underlying motivations and work that makes relationships of any type function.”