Content Warning: This article contains discussions and references to homophobia, suicide, and murder
Who could have thought that Riverdale, a show based on the Archie Comics universe, would get so dark? The CW series, which also streams on Netflix, has had a ton of deaths throughout its four seasons to date. As the core group has tried to hunt down sinister groups, cults, gangs, and people infiltrating Riverdale and giving the town a bad name, many people have been lost in the shuffle.
Some were villains and viewers were happy to see them go. But others didn't deserve it. So, who were the biggest character deaths thus far? Here they are, along with the exact episode they died in, as a recap.
Updated Nov 5th 2021, by Kayleigh Banks: With the announcement that Riverdale will now be crossing over with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, many fans are excited to see what Sabrina Spellman will bring to the show. Since Cheryl has now begun exploring the occult and inadvertently set a curse upon the town, it's likely that fans will see an increase in the number of supernatural instances. However, since the curse is designed to get revenge on the Andrews, Cooper, and Jones family, is it possible that another well-loved main character could be killed off? Anything is possible when it comes to Riverdale.
Clifford Blossom: "Chapter 66: Tangerine" (Season 1, Episode 12)
Clifford Blossom was a huge part of the initial plot that kicked off the first season. It begins following the tragic death of Jason Blossom and how his mysterious ing rocked the town of Riverdale and traumatized the students at Riverdale High.
It was even more shocking, however, when it was revealed that Jason's own father, Clifford, murdered him because Jason discovered that Clifford was trafficking drugs through the family's maple syrup business. How did Clifford die? Just before he was caught and brought shame to the family name, his equally malicious wife Penelope poisoned him with pufferfish then staged a suicide by hanging. This wouldn't be the last time that Penelope killed someone in Riverdale either.
Jason Blossom: "Chapter 1: The River's Edge" (Season 1, Episode 1)
Technically, Jason was dead before the show even started, though he was seen in various flashback scenes. The handsome water polo star and twin to Cheryl was part of the most powerful family in Riverdale (so it seemed he had it all).
While the entire first season centered around finding out who killed him and why, it was revealed at the end that Jason died at the hands of his father. He discovered the truth about the family business, and after attempting to fake his death and run away with Polly to start their family together, he was caught and murdered. It was a huge betrayal that none of the Riverdale fans and characters saw coming.
Dilton Doiley: "Chapter 37: Fortune and Men's Eyes" (Season 3, Episode 2)
While Dilton was only a recurring character, a loner kid in school who led the boy scouts, his death was a pivotal point for the series. At first, it seemed Dilton was only important because he knew about the gunshot Archie heard on the day Jason went missing.
But Dilton then became even more critical to the plot as one of the first to introduce the group to the sinister role-playing game Gryphons & Gargoyles (G&G) and the Gargoyle King. In the end, Dilton takes his own life via cyanide poisoning after getting far too involved in the game that would soon wreak havoc on Riverdale.
Warden Norton: "Chapter 40: The Great Escape" (Season 3, Episode 5)
This death came so suddenly after a lot of build-up around his character as a terrible villain. The warden of the juvenile detention center where Archie was sent to serve time, it was revealed that he was running an illegal underground fighting ring, forcing inmates to fight for sport (and money).
But then the group came to discover that he, too, had gotten caught up in the G&G game and was completely at the behest of the Gargoyle King and his mission to take down Archie. When he was finally caught, he drank his potion of cyanide to "ascend." And there went another villain.
Rupert Chipping: "Chapter 63: Hereditary" (Season 4, Episode 6)
When fans first met Rupert Chipping, they felt like he was one of the only people in the town who actually cared about the teens. He seemed to care about their education and would do his best to encourage them to go after their dream. However, fans soon learned that he, too, was keeping a deep and dark secret.
As season 4 progressed, it appeared that Chipping could feel the secret was about to be let out. With so much guilt on his conscience over his part in the Stonewall Prep murders, Rupert ended up dying by jumping out of the window. It did disappoint Riverdale fans that he left the show too soon as Rupert could have certainly been used in future storylines.
Joaquin DeSantos: "Chapter 41: Manhunter" (Season 3, Episode 6)
Joaquin went on the run after helping to cover up Jason's murder and making a minor appearance in season 2, so fans were quite surprised to see him get a more prominent role in season 3. Since he had some unresolved history with Kevin, many viewers believed that the writers were possibly trying to integrate him back into the series and give that relationship another try. However, this did not prove to be the case.
With much of season 3 surrounding the Gargoyles and Griffins game, Joaquin sadly ends up being another victim in the game as he is murdered in the name of a sacrifice. This did disappoint fans quite a lot as Joaquin had an interesting background and great chemistry with the other characters. It felt more like the writers were using it for shock value.
Midge Klump: "Chapter 31: A Night To " (Season 2, Episode 18)
Midge didn't deserve what happened to her. A kind, joyful soul, she became a public victim of the Black Hood, who stabbed then crucified her for all to see during a school concert production of Carrie White.
What's more, Midge wasn't even supposed to play Carrie: she had to fill in for Cheryl as her understudy when Cheryl was spooked out of participating. And seemingly for good reason, as Midge met her gruesome end that episode.
The Sisters Of Quiet Mercy: "Chapter 44: No Exit" (Season 3, Episode 9)
It was terrifying to discover that Sister Woodhouse and her entire establishment had become merciless minions of the G&G game and the drug trade, issuing "candy" to the women there in an effort to keep them in line as they conducted their gay conversion therapy, and to maintain funding from Hiram Lodge.
In the end, all of the sisters died by self-inflicted cyanide poisoning in an effort to "go to thee." Did Sister Woodhouse kill them? Probably, as it is revealed that she was the woman who mentored Penelope Blossom and taught her everything she knew about poison.
Bret Weston Wallis: "Chapter 78: The Preppy Murders" (Season 5, Episode 2)
Considering he was one of the main antagonists of season 4 who made life difficult for Jughead and his friends, it's safe to say that Brett didn't have the biggest fanbase. He was arrogant, rude, and extremely pretentious. Brett was also quite creepy and calculating too. Therefore, when Charles announced that he would be going to prison, fans thought they had seen and heard the last of him.
However, this did not prove the case as Betty and Jughead later discovered that Chic had murdered Charles in revenge for the crimes he committed. While Brett wasn't loved by fans at all, they were still shocked to hear about his brutal and violent death. It just wasn't something they were expecting.
Hal Cooper: "Chapter 57: Survive the Night" (Season 3, Episode 22)
In one of the strangest, yet also somewhat predictable twists, it turned out that Betty's own father was the mysterious and murderous Black Hood.
He wasn't killed immediately, though. He went to jail, then got out of jail, faked his own death, and became a part of Penelope Blossom's sick game. Penelope gives Betty the opportunity to kill her father, but when she can't bring herself to do it, Penelope shoots him in the head without a second thought.
