Riverdale or Not Riverdale
28 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago -Tom and Savi have set themselves a goal: rewatch all of hit show Riverdale, a teen drama that's stolen their hearts and their minds (seriously, they can't stop thinking about it!). Each week they'll watch an episode and try to separate the good from the bad by rating each episode as 'Riverdale' (meaning bad) or 'Not Riverdale' (meaning good).
Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
S5E11: Dear Riverdale, Please Stop
August 22, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBTom and Savi's love of Riverdale is truly tested when they watch one of the worst episodes of Riverdale they have ever seen. Seriously. One. Of. The. Worst. Ever. Say hello to some classic Riverdalians in this episode - Governor Dooley, who we all definitely remember definitely, as well as Darla and Dodger Dickinson who everyone remembers immediately always. Savi is sad about the sudden Reggie backstory that throws his hijinks with Hiram into question, and Tom is rethinking everything includ...
S5B Trailer: Bring It On, Baby!
August 08, 2021 03:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBThe trailer for the second half of season five is out and Tom and Savi have a lot to say! Get ready for new romances, old villains, and an alien mystery (fingers crossed)... Tom hopes to see Tabitha and Jughead get the happiness and romance they deserve, and Savi dreams of Hiram and Reggie hijinks again. Some fan favourites return this season and Savi and Tom cling to the fantasy of a KKC (Katy Keene Crossover). Possible Fast and Furious 9 spoilers from 17:25 to 19:05. Music by Brendan By...
S5E10: THEY'VE GONE FULL UNHINGED
April 06, 2021 22:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBRiverdale has fully lost the plot and Tom and Savi couldn't be more unhappy. This episode brings a prison break, a magic mushroom trip gone wrong, a magical prayer, and a beloved Riverdale family held hostage - and that's not all! Riverdale insists on doing entirely too much this episode and yet none of their antics include spending more time with sweethearts Tabitha and dear Jughead - much to Tom's deep, deep devastation. Savi is excitedly awaiting the show's three month mid-season hiatus, ...
S5E9: RIP Aliens
April 01, 2021 22:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBSavi and Tom are brought great pain to talk about Riverdale this week - they'll talk about nearly anything else. Tom's episode assessment is in - Riverdale season five episode nine, ya BORING! The gang continue their alien, football, and murder mystery shenanigans... and also Veronica is still there for some reason. Savi must say goodbye to the goofy, surprisingly loveable Reggie/Hiram friendship, and Tom is still disappointed at the lack of Tabitha/Jughead smooching. The alien storyline is ...
S5E8: Justice For Reggie
March 28, 2021 04:00 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MBSavi and Tom are not happy. Spoiler warning, this is a Riverdale episode. All the things Savi and Tom love come crashing down around them; Jughead's alien experience is thrown into question, non-monogamy is mentioned and then subsequently ignored, and most dastardly of all, the return of Riverdale queer-baiting. It leaves our two podcasters with one and only one demand; #Justice4Reggie. Content warning for discussions of PTSD, trauma, alcoholism. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes....
S5E7: A Doozy?!
March 19, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBIn this episode, Tom and Savi are stumped as to where episode 7 falls on the RONR scale. On the one hand, they have Veronica and Archie exploiting children, Betty still pretending to be an FBI agent, and a dance battle... on the other hand they have, aliens?! Savi is confused about the function of war in Riverdale's storytelling, while Tom unleashes a Marxist tirade about how they maybe shouldn't actually make kids pick up rubbish as punishment when a certain someone has funds enough to brin...
S5E6: Team Reggie and Hiram Forever
February 28, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBArchie's RROTC responsibilities are temporarily side-barred as he tries to reestablish the Bulldogs football team; Jughead, to Savi and Tom's surprise, turns out to be a pretty bad teacher; Betty can't shed her Black Hood association; and Veronica... is the new admiree of the high school boys? Yeah... Sidenote: RIP to Reggie's beautiful mullet. Side Sidenote: Hiram and Reggie are new best buds and Tom and Savi are here for it. Mild Emperor's New Groove spoilers between 8:50-9:30. Content ...
S5E5: Goodbye Pop, We Love You
February 26, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBThis week Savi and Tom are thrown a curveball - an actually good episode? They discuss how the show can possibly be THIS inconsistent and bounce back from being utter trash. Jughead's gotta write a book, Betty's figuring out how to be a good sister, Archie is continuing his Save Riverdale campaign, and Veronica deals with more family drama. If you came for fun seven year reunions, Riverdale's got nothing for you - but it does have a strange fight montage and some very surprising sex... Con...
S5E4: IT'S 2026 CHAD!!!
February 16, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 45 MBTom and Savi try their best to understand the new and improved Riverdale - it's like a whole new show baby! Archie ended pursuing his sudden dream of being in the army, Betty continued her wacky FBI escapades, Jughead is ducking his new writing responsibilities, and Veronica... is also there. Like everyone else, Tom is confused about the WWII aesthetics surrounding Archie and his army antics and Savi wishes at least ONE person in the show could be happy. Content warning for murder, PTSD. ...
S5E3: ... Six Years?!
February 09, 2021 02:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBTom and Savi are blown away by the complete 180 Riverdale managed to pull off - they made a great episode! Well… Tom calls it ‘palatable’ and Savi calls it ‘great’! You decide. In this episode the gang finally graduate from high school! Goodbye Principal Weatherbee, goodbye musicals, goodbye drama… Unless? The only thing that matters in this episode is the final reveal, forget about everything else - and boy oh boy, what a reveal. Riverdale is back baby! Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendan...
S5E3: ...six years?!
February 09, 2021 02:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBTom and Savi are blown away by the complete 180 Riverdale managed to pull off - they made a great episode! Well… Tom calls it ‘palatable’ and Savi calls it ‘great’! You decide. In this episode the gang finally graduate from high school! Goodbye Principal Weatherbee, goodbye musicals, goodbye drama… Unless? The only thing that matters in this episode is the final reveal, forget about everything else - and boy oh boy, what a reveal. Riverdale is back baby!
S5E2: WORST EPISODE EVER!
February 04, 2021 22:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MBAre you ready for one of the worst episodes of Riverdale of all time? Tom and Savi weren’t! In this episode, Tom and Savi discusses what can be done to save the show (if that’s even possible) and wonder just how things go this bad… Tom wonders what is going on in the minds of the Riverdale creators while Savi suggests Riverdale needs to be cancelled… Content warning for suicide, murder, colonisation. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes.com). Art by Eleni Koumi (@loukoumh on Instagr...
S5E1: What's With The Tapes???
January 24, 2021 03:00 - 59 minutes - 41 MBRiverdale is back, baby! And so are Tom and Savi, determined to unravel the chaos of the small, mysterious, incredibly unlucky town of Riverdale. Remember the Archie and Betty fling? Remember Archie's interest in the Naval academy?! Daddy Hiram is sick?! Season five starts strong, reminding us of the gang's impending graduation and, more importantly, the unknown violent tape creating group who threatens everything! Well... it's not actually clear if they're a big threat but Savi and Tom are ...
S1E13: This Episode Is Bad and We're Sorry
January 18, 2021 08:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBIt's season finale time! How did things get so bad so fast? Tom and Savi discuss their Riverdale-induced sadness and season five dread. Tom poses an important question - is it even important to have a good show, or is it just important to have good cliff hangers? We know what the Riverdale writers think... Savi loses all concept of time and confuses Riverdale timelines and Tom is tired of Riverdale's bizarre depictions of suicide - it's just plain bad! Riverdale season one is over and Tom an...
S1E12: It's All Coming Together!
January 15, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MBConfessions are made, tears are shed, and secret investigations are investigated! This episode is ripe with Jughead sadness and it's too much! So the gang get together and try and make things right by unraveling the murder mystery... Savi is confused by Kevin and Joaquin's relationship and Tom is left feeling unfulfilled by the unmasked murderer. Incest is suddenly canon... but it's not the incest you'd expect! Content warning for drug overdose, suicide, and incest. Music by Brendan Byrne...
S1E11: So Many Jason Revelations... Jaselations... Revelasons...
January 07, 2021 21:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBMajor moves are finally being made - and some of them might be the key to getting FP out of jail! Alice is up to her good ol' wacky sleuthing/vendettaing under the guise of 'journalism', Veronica and Archie bond through a casual B&E (with B&A!), and the Blossoms are acting very suspicious... Savi has to issue a second official apology to Tom for confusing Riverdale facts yet again. Tom is as gracious as ever and challenges the writers to better address self harm in the show. Content warning...
S1E10: BEST! EPISODE! SO! FAR!
January 01, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 45.6 MBBirthdays, brawls, and backstabbing! This episode is amazing. 10/10. Thanks goes to Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Britta Lundin, and Brian E. Paterson for writing this spectacular masterpiece! It's Jughead's birthday and the whole gang is intent on giving him exactly what he DOESN'T want - a party that quickly gets out of hand when Cheryl and Chuck show up! Cheryl introduces a game named Secrets and Sins, which brings a whole world of chaos onto the unsuspecting teens... Mild spoilers for Amazing...
S1E9: Wait... What Happened To Jason??
December 25, 2020 02:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBPeople can't stop dogging Cheryl... except Archie, who's as sweet as the Blossom's famous maple syrup empire (and finds out some juicy secrets after being invited to their humble abode!). Meanwhile, Hiram Lodge, who is yet to appear, continues to cause trouble for Veronica and her friends from behind bars - sneaky sneaky! Kevin is confused and so are Savi and Tom. Content warning for suicide. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes.com). Art by Eleni Koumi (@loukoumh on Instagram).
S1E8: Archie Means Well But He Needs To STOP
December 17, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 46.9 MBThis episode has everything we didn't ask for and we love it all - a baby shower full of drama, bitter family rivalries, and a dangerous adventure to a Southside Serpent bar! Tom and Savi get a peek at Archie's questionable vigilantism that immediately sees him and his friends in hot water... Tom reflects on the lack of community aid from the Serpent's and Riverdale's corrupt politics. Savi can't stop hating on Archie. Content warning for abortion and family abuse. Music by Brendan Byrne...
S1E7: Where is Polly and Why is Veronica Like This??
December 10, 2020 21:00 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBSavi makes a formal apology for previously not believing in Tom's Riverdale knowledge and Tom generously offers his forgiveness. The Sabrina/Riverdale crossover is finally addressed and Savi and Tom mourn what supernatural adventures could have been. Tensions rise between a few beloved (and some not so beloved) Riverdalian families and the town with pep is left wondering - Where is Polly? The Blossoms flex their wealth by yielding some sniffer dogs and Savi and Tom wonder when in the future ...
S1E6: Actually a Fantastic Riverdale Episode?
December 03, 2020 21:00 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MBA pregnancy revelation has Savi and Tom thrilled, while a variety show at the school throws some of the students into panic spirals. Savi wants everyone to know they still don't like Alice and Tom questions the Pussycats outfits and Riverdale's constant need to sexualise teens. Tom and Savi realise they also want to be like Polly and Jason and run away and live on a farm... Content warning for fatphobia. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes.com). Art by Eleni Koumi (@loukoumh on Ins...
BONUS: 'Freaky' and How Vince Vaughn Won Our Hearts
November 29, 2020 21:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBIn this bonus episode Savi and Tom review and rate 'Freaky', a 2020 comedy horror that, in the same vein as classic 'Freaky Friday', sees a teen and serial killer swap bodies! Confusing chaos ensues... Tom and Savi discuss their love of Vince Vaughn, as well as how the movie's weird queer representation and strange sexualisation of teens screams Riverdale! Content warning for homophobia, rape, extreme violence, death, and alcoholism. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes.com). Art by ...
S1E5: Murder Mystery Memorial and More Mayhem!
November 26, 2020 21:00 - 49 minutes - 34.4 MBAs Tom says, a lot happens in this episode... but we can't quite tell what is and is not important! The Blossoms organise a memorial for Jason and Archie faces some cold truths. Savi suggests an alternative memorial mystery and is still confused about Reggie's relationship with Archie. Tom confesses his secret love of the South Side Serpents... Meanwhile, our favourite sleuths continue their search for the truth! Content warning for family abuse. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrne...
S1E4: Please Let This Be The Last Time We Talk About Grundy
November 19, 2020 21:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MBTom and Savi reach their Grundy limit as her time on Riverdale seems to come to an end... or does it?! While snooping in Betty's diary, Alice discovers Archie and Grundy are "together" and seizes the opportunity to take down her red-haired nemesis... Meanwhile, the local drive-in (and Jughead's makeshift home) is hosting its final show before being torn down. Shady deals are made behind the scenes and some surprising family ties are revealed. Content warning for pedophilia. Music by Bren...
S1E3: Let The Sleuthing and Scandal Begin!
November 12, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 53.9 MBA hidden book full of 'conquests', a guilty conscience confession, and a gunshot explained - this episode has something for everyone! Tom dives into the small problem of teen on teen hot tub torture and Savi criticises the show's tendency to create minor Black characters and then promptly forget about them. The show sets up some pretty exciting plot points that it will definitely not deliver on in the future... Content warning for pedophilia and torture. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brend...
S1E2: More Mystery and Monologuing, It's Still Kinda Bad
November 06, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBThere's nothing we love more than good 'ol unrequited teen love and dramatic pep rallies (well, maybe there are SOME things...). In this episode, Tom and Savi discuss Riverdale's strange habit of sexualising teens, the Archie/Ms Grundy problem, and the show's lacking LGBTQIA+ representation. Tom and Savi plead with the 2017 Riverdale writers to give more information on Jason but they do not agree... Content warning for pedophilia and homophobia. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes....
S1E1: Riverdale Is Immediately Bad and We’re Excited
October 30, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBIn this episode Savi and Tom introduce themselves and the not so quiet town of Riverdale. From a missing teen and love triangles, to mysterious villains and questionable secret 'romances', this episode has it all. Savi wastes no time suggesting polyamory and Tom questions the writer's choice of shopping mall names (spoiler: "Rockland County" is mentioned and Tom is upset about it). Content warning for pedophilia and fatphobia. Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes.com). Art by Eleni...
Riverdale or Not Riverdale S1 Sneak Peek!
October 28, 2020 00:00 - 1 minute - 892 KBIntroducing Riverdale or Not Riverdale, a weekly podcast where Tom and Savi watch an episode of teen drama Riverdale then rate it according to their handy metric as either 'Riverdale' (meaning bad) or 'Not Riverdale' (meaning good). If you're confused... join the club. Follow us on Twitter at @RiverdaleOrNot to stay updated! Music by Brendan Byrnes (www.brendanbyrnes.com). Art by Eleni Koumi (@loukoumh on Instagram).