After a harrowing shooting at Pop's diner critically injures Fred Andrews, Riverdale descends into chaos.
Veronica Lodge, trying to support Archie, is further unsettled by her father Hiram's unexpected return, which complicates her situation.
Pop Tate's account of the attack leads Jughead Jones and Clarissa Blossom to investigate the shooting. Clary and Betty work to save Pop's diner as anxiety mounts with the gunman still at large.
Frustrated by the slow investigation, Archie takes matters into his own hands, worsening the chaos. Veronica's initial relief at Hiram's attempt at a fresh start is overshadowed by tensions, especially with Jughead meeting Toni Topaz, a Southside Serpent, on his first day at Southside High.
Clary becomes entangled in a deeper mystery, straining her relationship with Jughead, while Veronica worries about Archie's quest for revenge. The town faces a Northside-Southside showdown as Alice Cooper's controversial article fuels further conflict.
The Black Hood resurfaces time and time again, sending a chilling ultimatum to Riverdale's residents.
As FP Jones is released from prison, tensions rise between Jughead and FP, and Veronica uncovers a significant secret about Hiram during Christmas preparations. The closure of Southside High forces Jughead and the Serpents to Riverdale High, shifting dynamics.
As tensions rise, Clary seeks Jughead's help and riverdale's narrative intertwines personal struggles, community crises, and escalating conflicts, highlighting the town's ongoing challenges and complex relationships.
"Someone! P-Please! Help, I'm in labor-ah!" Betty Smith barges into a bar, owned by the south side serpents. She's 19 and in labor, she needs help, and who comes to her aid...Jughead Jones. Jughead takes Betty to the hospital and helps her through the birth of her daughter, Harper. Then, after she's born, Jughead offers to help Betty get back on her feet, she accepts, but little did she know that accepting would cause her great happiness and also great heartache. But as she always says, do what you gotta do, but do those rules apply when she has to keep a big secret from the man she loves?