Riverdale

Cheryl Blossom comes out as a lesbian in Season 2 and enters a long-term relationship with Toni Topaz, which is a central part of her character arc, including them reuniting in the 1950s timeline of Season 7 and having a son. Kevin Keller is openly gay, with his relationships (e.g., with Moose in Season 6, and Clay Walker in Season 7) explicitly depicted and evolving over the series. Cheryl is subjected to abusive conversion therapy by the Sisters of Quiet Mercy in Season 2 in an attempt to change her sexuality. The show controversially erased Jughead Jones' asexuality, which was a canon trait in the comics, and depicts him engaging in on-screen sexual activity, leading to accusations of acephobia.

The initial premise revolves around the murder of Jason Blossom, and subsequent seasons introduce multiple serial killers, such as the 'Black Hood' (revealed to be Betty's father, Hal Cooper). Characters engage in gang violence, particularly involving the Southside Serpents, with frequent fights and threats. Other examples include Archie Andrews being attacked by a bear, Penelope Blossom murdering her husband and his brother, and Cheryl and her friends sexually assaulting a rapist.

Sex is frequently discussed and implied, with teens often engaging in sexual acts, such as the numerous hookups involving Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge, and Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones. The show includes instances of inappropriate adult-teen sexual relationships, notably between Archie Andrews and his music teacher, Miss Grundy, in Season 1. Later seasons exhibit an increased over-sexualization of characters, with close-ups on Archie's abs and Veronica's cleavage, and scenes of characters in underwear, described as often gratuitous and not plot-advancing.

Season 3 features a prominent storyline involving the 'Gargoyle King' cult, inspired by a Dungeons and Dragons-like game, which drives many of the season's events and features dark rituals. In Season 6, Cheryl Blossom explicitly discovers she is a witch and develops fire-based powers, which she uses to affect the storyline, including defeating the antagonist Percival Pickens. To become a witch, characters must pledge allegiance to a goddess like Hecate or sign a 'Book of Witchcraft' such as the 'Book of the Beast'.

The series includes prominent illegal drug use, such as 'Jingle Jangle' (a fictional recreational drug frequently consumed by teens) and the maple syrup business being a front for heroin trafficking. Alcohol consumption, including by underage characters, is a regular occurrence, with characters often seen drinking beer and champagne. Jughead Jones struggles with alcoholism, although he eventually achieves sobriety. The character Nick St. Clair is also mentioned as being 'in and out of rehab' for substance abuse issues.

The series is rooted in murder mysteries, with various serial killers such as the Black Hood terrorizing the town, leading to suspenseful and often violent confrontations. Plotlines involve cults like the Gargoyle King and Edgar Evernever's Farm, which include disturbing practices, organ harvesting, and psychological manipulation. Betty Cooper's 'serial killer gene' storyline and her father's attempts to groom her into a killer introduce elements of psychological horror.

The narrative often showcases teenagers navigating 'crazy families' and a severe lack of positive parental influences, as many adults are manipulative, abusive, or even serial killers, making teen rebellion a reasonable response within the show's context. Characters like Betty Cooper use disrespectful language, such as frequently calling her mother 'bitch' during conflicts, highlighting the breakdown of respect for authority figures. The core group of friends consistently takes on dangerous investigations and challenges corrupt adults, including Hiram Lodge and the various cult leaders, often explicitly against parental wishes.

The serial killer Black Hood frames his murders as morally cleansing Riverdale of its 'sins' and setting it on a 'righteous path,' co-opting religious rhetoric for violent ends. The introduction of explicit witchcraft and occult practices, such as Cheryl Blossom becoming a witch, pledging allegiance to Hecate, and the use of 'Books of Witchcraft' like the 'Book of the Beast,' directly conflicts with Christian doctrines. The abusive 'conversion therapy' administered by the 'Sisters of Quiet Mercy' to Cheryl, while fictional, portrays an institution with religious connotations in a highly negative light.