Barchie

"Right now, I need you with me: I need Betty Cooper"

- Archie

Barchie is the het ship between Betty and Archie from the Riverdale fandom.

Canon
Betty and Archie have been best friends since they were kids. As teens, Betty develops a crush on Archie and wants to be with him, but is too shy about making a move at first. With support and intervention from Veronica and Kevin, Betty finally tells Archie and his reaction is confused, as if he didn't see it coming and doesn't get why Betty feels this way. After he makes out with new girl Veronica at Cheryl's after party and Betty's left, Archie goes to her house and breaks her heart completely, and also his own, by saying he doesn't consider himself "good enough for her", which really seems more like a poor excuse from a teen boy who doesn't know which foot to stand on.

Betty tells Archie that she forgives him, but realises she can't carry on being friends with him and that everything's changed between them. In an effort to uncover Jason's murder, Betty resurrects the school newspaper, which also provides a nice distraction, and seeks out Jughead's help. She is disappointed and hurt to discover that Archie has been sleeping with Ms. Grundy, but even more so when she uncovers Grundy's real identity. Thanks to Betty's efforts, the child predator leaves Riverdale and Betty recommits herself to Jason's investigation.

JEALOUSY

Once Betty and Jughead start dating, Archie starts exhibiting signs of jealousy. He tries to get both Jughead and Betty to tell him what's going on between them, but gets no real answer, which leaves him even more jealous as it may be serious between his two childhood friends. Archie starts focusing on music and gets help from Valerie, and the two start dating. They have fun until Archie gets swept up in courting Cheryl around and Valerie dumps Archie, who soon starts a fling with Veronica. All the while Archie tries to signal to Betty that he wants to be there for her and sticks up for her, such as when Chuck tells everybody about the hot tub torture.

In spite of the fact that he cares about Veronica, Archie is seen yearning for a chance with Betty, although he denies as much, most of all to himself. It's clear Archie and Betty share a close bond and a history, which has both Veronica and Jughead worried that they may be second choices. With Betty and Archie both in relationships with other people, they find their way back to a friendship, although it's underpinned by subtext, mostly from Archie's side.

THE BLACK HOOD

After driving his Dad to the hospital Betty is the first person Archie calls to tell her what happened and she rushes to the hospital and envelops him in a hug along with Veronica and Jughead. Unbeknownst to Archie, Betty tries to guide and support Veronica in being there for him, which she has trouble with. Archie's shaken and only wants to wait in the hospital, but Betty convinces him to go home for a bit, as Veronica suggests. When Grundy's found murdered, Betty gets her Mom to find out what happened so that Archie may have some peace of mind.

While Archie creates the Red Circle as a result of his PTSD, Betty gets a letter from the Black Hood. After cracking the cipher and thinking it might be over, Betty receives a call from the Black Hood. Archie, now moving on after his fight with the Serpents, is level-headed enough to be there for Betty when she confides in only him, that the Black Hood is calling her. Archie is there when the phone calls happen and tries to help Betty make smart decisions, but she briefly lies to Archie when the Black Hood asks her to cut people out of her life. When she tells him what's going on, he wants to contact the Sheriff, but Betty pleads with him not to. She asks Archie to break up with Jughead for her and Archie complies to soothe her.

Archie tries to mend fences with Jughead and tells Betty that she should explain to Jughead what happened, but Betty holds off. After Archie gets the Ghoulies arrested during the street race, Betty gets in the car with Jughead. Archie looks at her, as if sad that Betty chooses to overlook that Jughead joined the Serpents and also worried about her safety. A lot is said silently in that brief moment, as if it's a turning point for the two who had been in this fight with the Black Hood together, but now are parting ways somehow. Betty looks at Archie apologetically, as if she's choosing Jughead over Archie. Archie looks at her as if he's simultaneously realising that something's changed between them, accepting it and feeling that much more hurt that Betty's leaving.

Although the couple is reunited, Betty keeps her sleuthing to herself and doesn't tell Jughead while Archie is still keeping an eye out for Betty in his friendship with Jughead. When Archie helps Jughead transport drugs, he's hurt to see how far gone his friend is, but puts his foot down once Jughead suggests getting help from Betty. They're both dumped on the same night by their partners and continue tracking down the backstory of Janitor Svenson when the Black Hood seemingly holds Svenson hostage. A visit with Rose Blossom informs a shaken Betty of her murderous family history and she's overcome. Archie tries to ground her and comforts Betty with how close they are to saving Svenson and ending the horror of the Black Hood. In the intensity of the moment, Betty kisses Archie who responds.

Betty seems shocked at her own action and swiftly turns to drive to Svenson's rescue. Archie looks momentarily sad that Betty might be regretting the kiss and says her name just after the kiss to somehow deal with what happened, but reneges. After digging up the grave and being held at gunpoint by the Black Hood, a terrified Archie consents to being buried alive as the Black Hood threatens to shot Betty, although he refused when the gun was only pointed at himself. Luckily police sirens distracts the killer and Betty hits him with the shovel and frees Archie. The Black Hood attempts to jump off a bridge, and Archie almost shoots him but the Black Hood is shot down by Sheriff Keller. Archie and Betty hug as their extreme and intense ordeal is finally over. The two meet up with Jughead and Veronica at Pop's and, sitting next to Archie, Betty only looks at him, distraught at what just happened, yet confused at what happened between them as well.

AFTERMATH

The first time they see each other back at school is as Archie and Veronica, kissing, walk into the student lounge and Betty seems sad, but not surprised that they have reconciled. Archie looks at her swiftly and seems to not believe that Betty has true feelings for him, or maybe not be ready to fully declare his to her. They proceed to sweep it under the rug, although they share stolen, hesitant glances, seemingly unable to face what is going on between them. Archie swiftly reveals to Veronica that he and Betty kissed as a way to deflect from his investigating the Lodge family. Betty, meanwhile, gets back together with Jughead but doesn't tell him about the kiss. Cheryl tells Jughead and as revenge, he and Veronica kiss briefly, but Betty and Archie don't talk about their kiss at all. Jughead and Veronica keep going head to head over her shady family business, with Betty also briefly fighting with her.

While Archie gets mad at Jughead when the latter accuses Veronica, Archie doesn't ever fight with Betty, nor does she fight with Archie over his supposed allegiance to the Lodges. When the school puts on a musical, Betty and Archie are cast as the main couple and Jughead, filming rehearsals, actually warns Archie not to "get any ideas" when he talks to Betty. For the first time, Archie tries to assuage Betty's feelings about Veronica to mend the girls' friendship and succeeds. After Midge's murder, Archie and Betty heatedly discuss the night of Svenson's death at Pop's with Jughead and Veronica visibly uncomfortable at any direct interactions between Betty and Archie.

BETTY'S DAD "It was him, Arch. My Dad was the Black Hood"

- Betty and Archie witness Hal being taken away

Betty and Archie don't spend a lot of time together the following weeks when events in town come to a head. As Betty's father is arrested for being the Black Hood, Archie and Fred witness Hal being taken away and go to Alice and Betty. Betty, with fear written on her face, tells Archie the truth; that it was her father and shows Archie everything she's feeling, including the guilt she feels. Archie assures Betty that she is nothing like her father and that he doesn't feel her father's actions have anything to do with her or their relationship, to Betty's relief. Archie is more concerned with how Betty feels and that she is blaming herself.

Betty later goes to Archie's house and apologises to Fred Andrews on behalf of her family. Once things settle down a little and they're at school for Archie's inauguration as the new Student Body President, Betty is in the stands and beams at Archie with pride who shares her glance and smiles back. When Archie is abruptly taken by police and accused of murder, Betty is horrified and they look at each other as he's being taken away.

ARCHIE'S PLIGHT & BETTY'S ISSUES For the three months of summer before junior year, Betty works as an intern for Attorney McCoy and Mary Andrews, to help them in their quest for Archie's freedom, and also to take her mind off of her father's crimes and her mother and sister's behaviour. Betty hangs out with Archie and Fred, helping them finish the work on the old jalopy they have been restoring all summer. When Archie mentions the trial, Fred gets sad and leaves them alone to not worry Archie. He asks Betty to look after his Dad if he goes to jail and Betty protests the notion, but promises that she will. They spend one last day of summer swimming in a water hole that Betty, Archie and Jughead used to play at as kids, and Betty cries, telling Archie he doesn't deserve what's happening to him. Archie tells them that maybe he does, after how he acted last year.

After a hung jury, Archie takes a deal with two years in juvie to avoid the uncertainty of another trial for his loved ones, and Betty is in shock that he's going to prison. All the while, Betty's mental issues go untreated, and she's self-medicated with the medication Alice pushed on her a year prior (which is actually for treating ADHD) all summer in order to feel efficient and focused. She doesn't tell Archie about this, probably with everything that's happening to him, but isn't feeling well and not handling it. She has told Jughead, who doesn't seem to have had any concerns/reaction to it, worrisomely.

After Archie goes to prison, Betty starts focusing on uncovering the mystery of The Farm and the death of Dilton Doiley, likely to keep her focused on a task to avoid thinking about what happened with her Dad, and what Archie must be going through. Archie, in turn, just goes day by day in juvie trying to keep his head above water once he's forced into an illegal fight club. Veronica confides in Betty that her speakeasy, Le Bonne Nuit, has been ready for a while and Betty convinces Veronica to open it, as Archie didn't want Ronnie's life to stop with him in prison, and Betty sees to it that his wish is fulfilled.

ARCHIE LEAVES

Veronica finds out what's happening to Archie through her contacts and stages an escape plan, which succeeds. Archie escapes from the fight club through the sewers and Betty receives him at the end of it. She gets it opened and helps Archie out. Overjoyed at seeing her best friend, Betty hugs Archie's body and Archie, though in pain from his wound, smiles happily at Betty, the two of them at last reunited and safe. They bring Archie to Dilton's bunker, where he can hide out and everyone takes turns staying with Archie at all times, with Betty volunteering to take the first shift. As Archie sleeps, Betty watches over him and tends to him, caressing his face and wondering aloud to Archie, what is going on with the Gargoyle King.

After Jughead comes in, which wakes him, Archie tells them that Joaquin will know who the Gargoyle King's disciples are. Betty decides to gather the "Midnight Club" for an inspector style debunking of Featherhead's death, including Archie's Dad, Fred. Kevin calls Betty when Archie's wound is infected and she sends them to Dr. Curdle, Jr., so Archie can get medical treatment under the radar. Archie decides to find the guys who've been paid to incriminate him and when he and Kevin find them dead in the mines, and one survivor dies in the hospital after they bring him there, Archie becomes determined to leave Riverdale to escape Hiram's attempts to kill him. Meanwhile, Alice decides that Betty is best protected at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy after the Gargoyle King shows up in their house and before Betty can contact anyone, she is dragged away. Archie ventures alone into Canada, while Jughead returns to Riverdale and a month passes. Betty tells Jughead that if they can manage to beat Hiram, Archie can maybe finally come home. Meanwhile, Archie works as a sort of ranger in the woods, living in a cabin with Vegas. He's attacked by a bear and severely wounded, returns to the cabin and calls for help. Bandaging his wounds, Archie heaves himself onto his bed and passes out. In intense pain, Archie has fever dreams of how he felt he went wrong since starting his sophomore year. He plays Gryphons & Gargoyles with various deceased victims, while visiting critical moments in the last year and altering the outcomes. Archie hallucinates Betty, Jughead and Veronica as they were at the start of sophomore year, with Betty in the dress she wore to the dance where she told him how she felt. Betty asks Archie if he's got any new songs, and Archie tells her he hasn't played in a long time. Betty gives Archie the dice to roll and he looks at her, pained.

ARCHIE RETURNS After being treated in the hospital, Archie walks back to Riverdale. Betty and he see each other again in a booth at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe. Archie's almost in disbelief that the SATs are upon them, but Betty promises to help him study. Betty and Jughead quiz Archie in his room, but he's far too distracted by his pain to absorb anything. Jughead leaves and Betty and Archie talk. She convinces him to let her dye his hair back to its red hue. Betty brings Archie to La Bonne Nuit where Veronica is having a surprise welcome home party for Archie. Suffering from PTSD, Archie storms out while Veronica sings to him. Betty and Archie take the SATs, but he leaves the classroom as well, unable to finish.

Moments
THE MAN IN BLACK
 * On the road, Jughead can't reach Betty, and Archie is very worried about her.

Fanon
Betty and Archie is one of the most popular pairings in the fandom. It no doubt carries the weight of its comic book history, but it actually wasn't very popular at the onset of the series, likely due to its issues with establishing the character of Archie. Fans campaign for screen time for the two on social media and over the course of Season 2 the fanbase grew steadily vocal.

Quotes
"You don't deserve this, Arch. Any of it"

- Betty, as she cries

Songs

 * bruises | LEWIS CAPALDI

Fandom
FAN FICTION

FORUMS
 * Archie & Betty

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * Betty and Archie have lived next door to each other since they were 4 years old and always been in the same class at school.
 * KJ Apa (Archie Andrews) ships Barchie

Photos

 * Barchie/Gallery