Why Is ‘Riverdale’ Season 6 Called ‘Rivervale’?

Riverdale is returning to The CW this November, however there is a huge change for Season 6.

The brand new season of the present, which airs on Netflix exterior of the U.S., is about to alter its identify for some time. The collection is kicking off with a five-episode “particular occasion” titled Rivervale (that is Riverdale with a “v”).

Rivervale will see the present pay tribute to a number of the writers’ favourite horror genres, which is certain to spell hassle for Archie Andrews (performed by KJ Apa) and the remainder of the city.

Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) can be set to make her long-awaited Riverdale debut throughout these 5 episodes.

So whenever you tune into Riverdale Season 6 and it’s known as Rivervale, don’t worry: you haven’t fallen right into a Berenstein Bears-style parallel universe, the present has simply briefly modified its identify. This is why.

Why Riverdale Is Altering Its Identify to Rivervale

There appear to be 4 fundamental causes for the identify change—one from throughout the present’s actuality and three from ours.

1. Due to Sabrina

Let us take a look at the latter first. Calling this five-episode Rivervale lets viewers know that issues are going to be a bit bit totally different on the present. Whereas normally Riverdale is extra of against the law thriller, the present is transferring in additional of a horror course for the primary 5 episodes of Season 6.

Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa went into extra element about this in an interview with TV Line: “Clearly we have flirted with horror and issues like that previously, however principally it has been about crime and suspense and pulpy stuff. So when The CW requested us if we’d be enthusiastic about doing a five-part occasion, I really like these issues and we have by no means gotten an opportunity to do them, so we stated sure.”

Requested what viewers may anticipate from Rivervale, the showrunner added: “Episode 1 is people horror, Episode 2 is ghost tales, Episode 3 is ‘the satan has come to Rivervale,’ and on and on.”

Notably, the temporary identify change appears to be a manner of permitting the present to crossover with the world of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Beforehand, Aguirre-Sacasa has stated the problem with crossing over the 2 reveals was that issues like magic exist in Sabrina however not in Riverdale.

For instance, he advised Leisure Weekly: “It felt like if Riverdale is crime and pulp and all that stuff, then Sabrina may very well be horror. It felt like there was a separation between Greendale and Riverdale—magic ought to exist in Greendale, however not in Riverdale.”

Nonetheless, evidently magic may have the ability to exist in Rivervale.

2. As a result of The CW Loves a “Particular Occasion” Sequence

Another excuse for the identify change is just because one of many issues The CW likes to do with its reveals is take a batch of episodes and promote them as a “particular occasion collection” with a brand new identify, as a result of they’re doing one thing barely totally different with the present.

The most important instance of this occurs in The CW’s Arrowverse shows, which frequently crossover with one another in “particular occasion collection” like Crisis on Infinite Earths and Elseworlds.

In actual fact, one other present is airing a five-episode “occasion collection” at precisely the identical time as Rivervale.

That collection is The Flash, which is kicking off with a five-episode occasion known as Armageddon that sees Workforce Flash be a part of characters from Black Lighting, Batwoman, Supergirl and Arrow.

3. Due to Scheduling

The primary 5 episodes of Riverdale Season 6 have gotten a brand new identify as a result of they’re very a lot separate from the remainder of the present by way of timings.

Whereas these 5 episodes are airing by means of November and into December 2021, the present is then taking a protracted break, with the remainder of Season 6 not airing till March 2022.

Moderately than having followers merely wait for 3 months for the decision of the cliffhanger on the finish of Episode 5, The CW has determined to have the 2 elements of the season as separate however linked tales.

The Flash can be following the identical launch schedule.

4. As a result of the City of Riverdale Is Altering Its Identify

The in-universe purpose for the identify change is as a result of the city of Riverdale appears to be going by means of a rebranding—there’s solely so many serial killers a city can have earlier than they get a severe picture downside, in spite of everything.

This was revealed by a promo picture for Season 6 which noticed Jughead (Cole Sprouse) standing subsequent to the Rivervale city signal. The city’s new tagline, by the way, is the definitely-not-sinister “you will by no means need to go away.”

The episode’s synopsis additionally makes clear this identify change. It reads: “WELCOME TO RIVERVALE—Following the explosion that ended Season 5, a brand new day dawns within the city of RiverVALE, the place every thing is accurately. Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Reggie (Charles Melton) at the moment are the city’s energy couple, whereas Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Tabitha (Erinn Westbrook) transfer in collectively. However with Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) demanding a return to the ‘outdated methods,’ this serenity will certainly not final. And the way may Archie (KJ Apa) and Betty (Lili Reinhart) probably have survived?”

That logline, nevertheless, means that issues might not be as they appear.

Are the residents of Riverdale caught in some kind of dream? Or possibly some kind of spell that Sabrina has to get the city out of. We’re certain to search out out over the subsequent 5 weeks.

Riverdale Season 6 airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on The CW. Episodes air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. GMT on Netflix exterior of the U.S.