Riverdale concluded its sixth season with a significant plot twist. Rather than destroying Bailey's Comet and moving on with their lives, the show found everyone in Riverdale in 1955. The characters have been stripped of their natural timeline, but that is not all. They have also been de-aged into teenagers and are lacking all the memories of their natural lives. Well, everyone except Jughead Jones. Jughead remains the sole person to recall what life had been like before the comet. The finale leads to plenty of questions and storylines that need to be handled as Riverdale heads into its final season.
It would not be fair to fans or the characters to end the series in an alternate timeline. After spending so many seasons with Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Cheryl, and the rest of the group, everyone deserves to see their stories get true endings. But, what does that mean for what will occur in season seven? It is unlikely Archie and the group will regain their memories and be sent back to the present day within the first episode of the final season. So, what does that mean for being a teenager in Riverdale during the 1950s, and what does it mean for Jughead to have memories of their lives before? Riverdale's final season needs to deliver on explaining everyone's new reality while crafting a solid ending.
The New Timeline
What exactly happened when Bailey's Comet exploded? All of Riverdale had been sent back to 1955 with no memories of their lives previously, and Jughead is the only person who knows the truth. But, to what extent do these results reach? Is Riverdale existing within 1955 but leaving town still exists in the present day? Is the entire world outside of Riverdale in the 1950s, too? Can the town's residents leave Riverdale? Or is Riverdale taking a page out of Once Upon A Time's book by using a similar concept to the season one dark curse that kept all the cursed residents stuck in Storybrooke? Is there residual proof that the world before Bailey's Comet existed? What will it mean for the characters if they realize things in their lives are not quite right?
Returning to high school without memories of their lives before allows all the characters a clean slate. To an extent, at least. Jughead, still having his memories may change his behavior toward his friends. Beginning with a fresh start means new first crushes and new relationships, giving the characters a fresh reset in its final season.
Return To Their Real Lives
Although Riverdale may want to take advantage of its reset and new timeline, the series can not end in a separate timeline without allowing everyone to regain their memories. Doing that would undo their character development and deem everything they have gone through irrelevant. So, how long will it take to recover their memories? But, it is not just about remembering who they are and where they come from. It should also be about finding a way back to their present-day home. Although 1955 may be considered a simpler time, it is not their actual lives or timeline. Being unable to leave a 1955 Riverdale would also mean never getting to be involved with the outside world again. For Veronica and Jughead, that means no more communication with Hermione, FP, or Jellybean.
Can it be considered a natural ending to a show if they do not get to return home? What would be the meaning of going through so many seasons if it all led up to suggesting that their most excellent ending meant leaving their world behind? Archie's goal for so long had been to return Riverdale to the happier town he remembered as a child. Abandoning his version of Riverdale for a cleaner version may be more accessible. Still, it seems out of character for Archie not to want to return and rebuild the home he desperately wanted.
Closure For The Main Characters
When Riverdale finally ends, it should conclude with genuine closure for the central characters. "Night of the Comet" gave several hints toward what could potentially be their futures, such as claiming Cheryl and Toni are soulmates; a look into the future for Jughead and Tabitha, and Archie and Betty's engagement. Jumping back in time means no one is aware of these happenings. Instead, everyone is going about their time as if it is the first time they are experiencing life.
But, the audience deserves to see an ending for the versions of the characters they had spent so much time following. Those characters' counterparts deserve to be given a natural conclusion, whether it means confirming relationships, rebuilding Riverdale, or leaving town to pursue other passions. While plenty of the characters got some closure as Bailey's Comet came closer, the series finale could show how those decisions eventually came to fruition.