The shows Riverdale may share plenty in common, but each show has still done things better than the other. From stalkers to teen detectives, the similarities at work in each show have allowed fans to compare everything from mysteries, reveals, and plot twists to character dynamics. Both series have had a devoted fanbase, even if what enticed the fans came from different standpoints.
While the shows may share similar tones, there were moments when the shows diverged onto very different paths. While Pretty Little Liars did some things better than Riverdale, Riverdale has gotten some things right as well.
Pretty Little Liars: The Board Game
In the last season, the Liars were sent a board game from AD. The game included mechanics that ensured it was played, and involved tasks for the girls to accomplish. The game used a similar stalking torture scheme as A's text messages.
If the girls won the game, they would discover Charlotte's killer, but only if they followed the rules. The game differed from A's techniques in the past but made sense in the context of the show. Riverdale used Gryphons and Gargoyles as a way to create chaos in town. While it did cause all sorts of mayhem, it did not have a personal connection to the main characters the way AD had.
Riverdale: Single-Minded Jason Blossom Mystery
In the later seasons of Pretty Little Liars, it got very convoluted tracking the multiple of the A-team while also trying to follow who the current A was. As the story broadened and several characters got pulled into the mix, it became harder to follow a specific timeline of events.
The first season of Riverdale evades that problem. The single-minded storytelling behind the mystery of Jason Blossom's death holds the entire show together. Every character is involved or affected by Jason's ing. While Riverdale did not keep up the single-minded focus in its following seasons, Jason Blossom's mystery was a cohesive plot.
Pretty Little Liars: Teen Detectives
Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily never wanted to dive into the detective world, and that is easily visible in the early episodes. However, when they start receiving messages from the mysterious A, they realize they need to step up their game.
If they don't determine who A is, they, or someone they love, may end up hurt. It is a matter of necessity to know who is stalking them. Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones may be successful on their own, but their first murder investigation, Jason Blossom, was not tied to them. Betty and Jughead got involved because they wanted to know the truth and enjoyed sleuthing around. Their reasons for detective work did not hold the same urgency.
Riverdale: Craziness
No show can do craziness like Riverdale. While things may have gotten insane and bizarre in Rosewood, the CW drama enhanced the crazy and multiplied it. Strange things happened on Pretty Little Liars. But, they seemed possible within the context of the show and justified by technology, even if things were unrealistic.
However, Riverdale picked that up a notch, creating storylines that were so out of the realm of possibility that it could not even as slightly realistic. Riverdale's yearly musical episodes have also played a part in the craziness, having the characters break randomly into song.
Pretty Little Liars: Who Is A Mystery
While Jason Blossom's death was well done throughout the first season, Riverdale had nothing on Pretty Little Liars. The elusive A encaptured audiences as they created several theories about the identity of Rosewood's stalker. A's identity and capabilities to manipulate the Liars was on an entirely different level.
The Freeform mystery was even the most tweeted about television show as fans were captivated by the characters, storylines, and plot twists. Throughout the series, there were three main A characters and an A-team to help torture the girls. The frantic search for A, or who could know something about A, was always included in the storylines.
Riverdale: Involved Parents
While the Liars were off lying to their parents left, and right, Riverdale's parents are involved in the drama. The drama amongst the parents affects the kids and the town itself. Hiram Lodge's schemes do not end with Veronica but create problems for all her friends as well.
The parents may be heroes or villains, but they are heavily included in the storylines. Meanwhile, Pretty Little Liars did have the Liar's parents asking about what their daughters were up to, but for the most part, they remained blissfully oblivious or left out of A's plans.
Pretty Little Liars: Villains
Rosewood and Riverdale each have an array of opponents, but Pretty Little Liars succeeds at making theirs much more exciting. The three infamous A's each made their mark in stalking and torturing the Liars, whether it be subtle or overt.
A could get into each of the girl's personal lives and integrate through their weaknesses and worst fears. However, the main antagonist was never the only villain. Characters like Jenna and Ian could be just as dangerous and unforgiving. The villains on Riverdale may have been hazardous, but they lacked the dynamic factors in a villain that Pretty Little Liars succeeded in.
Riverdale: Intense Family Dynamics
While there are plenty of family disputes in Pretty Little Liars, Riverdale arguably has more. In Rosewood, Spencer's rivalry with Melissa was the central family problem until secrets revealed that Spencer had much closer relations to Alison than she thought.
On Riverdale, nearly every character has some type of problem with a parent or sibling. The issues for some never cease, sometimes only getting worse. Relatives of the main characters are murderers, drug lords, and much more. Betty had to deal with Hal being the Black Hood and Alice's negative actions as well. Veronica's struggles with Hiram have been a central storyline since the second season.
Pretty Little Liars: Plot Twists
Both shows have plenty of plot twists, but Pretty Little Liars use theirs in better use. Not every plot twist helped the show, but some were too well done to up. Most notably, A trapping the Liars in an underground bunker during "Welcome To The Dollhouse" may be one of the best.
Everything about the event is terrifying, eerie, and it is difficult to look away. From the duplicate bedrooms to the way A controls the girls to act, it was an iconic moment in the show's history. Riverdale has had some interesting plot twists, but nothing to that caliber.
Riverdale: Drastically Different Storylines Per Season
Throughout all seven seasons, Pretty Little Liars followed the similar mystery of trying to find the identity of A. While several other subplots had taken up some time, A was the most visible question in the series. Riverdale went the opposite direction. Each season is drastically different from the previous, changing everything from the mystery to the overall capabilities of the show.
Even character-wise, each main character has their own completely different storyline, making it look as if the viewer is watching four separate shows at once. While both shows are drastically unpredictable, Riverdale has more different storylines.