Barchie

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

Canon
Archie and Betty have been next-door neighbours since they were 4 years old and become best friends. Their bedroom windows face each other, from which they wave to each other. One day, Betty falls in love with Archie. She writes about it in her diary and describes Archie and his dog, Vegas. Later on, Betty writes in her diary that she had the best day, because Archie invited her over to listen to records. They were lying on the floor, listening to an LP, dancing and laughing. In 2nd grade, Archie has trouble reading and the school suggests to his parents that he be held back a year. Betty refuses not to be in the same grade as Archie and tutors him until he learns reading. Archie, reciprocating Betty's feelings, kisses her and proposes to her. Betty tells him that they're too young and that Archie should ask her again when they're 18 and she will say yes.

Murder and Grundy


In 2017, on the last day before their sophomore year starts, Betty plans to tell Archie how she feels about him, supported by her friend, Kevin. Archie and Betty haven't seen each other all summer and Betty's nervous about telling Archie how she feels. Kevin sees Archie out of Betty's bedroom window, and they discover that he's become all muscular over the summer. Archie and Betty meet up at Pop's to finally see each other for the first time all summer. Betty tells Archie that she met Toni Morrison, her idol, while interning with a publisher, while Archie shares with her that he was bored working for his Dad and shares with her that he started writing music, saying he's only sharing this with her, which makes Betty happy and she says she would love to hear his work when he's ready. She starts to try and tell Archie how she feels, but he's distracted by a hot girl walking in the door. It turns out to be a new girl, Veronica Lodge. Betty's annoyed and jealous at Archie's attention to Veronica, whom Betty realises she's signed on to peer mentor much to her dismay, and his offer for Veronica to join them which Veronica declines. After she leaves, Archie asks Betty what she was saying and Betty just says it was nothing. At their first day back as sophomores, Betty shows Veronica around as scheduled and Kevin comes along. Veronica sees Archie and asks if Betty's seeing him, as Veronica casually drops that she lusts after Archie. Kevin interjects on Betty's behalf, informing Veronica that Archie is a no-fly zone as Archie and Betty are going to end up together. Veronica then suggests that Betty should ask Archie to the back-to-school semiformal, which Kevin echoes. At lunch, Archie plays one of his songs that he recorded for Betty and Kevin and Betty's really impressed with them. Archie shuts his computer as Veronica approaches and Betty's jealous again as Veronica sort of takes over the conversation with Archie. He bails when Cheryl approaches and Kevin chides Betty to Veronica about Betty still not having asked Archie to the dance, but Betty tells him to hush as Cheryl arrives. After making the cheerleading squad, she and Veronica bond when Veronica calls Archie over, who's running with the football team, and tells him Betty has something to ask him. Betty stumbles and turns it into a friend hang with Veronica, which confuses Archie at first. Archie says he's not in the mood for a dance, actually preoccupied with unknowingly being groomed by a predator, the school music teacher. Veronica insists he escort them and Archie agrees.

Betty is ecstatic and celebrates at home by dancing around her room and even tells off her controlling mother, who doesn't want Betty to spend time with Archie because of Polly's romance with Jason Blossom. Betty goes off to buy a dress for the dance, while Archie continues to struggle with his secret, lying to Coach Clayton and his father, who gives him a reality check. At the dance, Betty tries to help Archie choose between taking on varsity or not, but he excuses himself momentarily to try and deal with his qualms. Archie returns as Josie & The Pussycats start playing and asks Betty to dance. He tells her that he's figured out how to do everything and Betty supports him pursuing his dreams, at which Archie smiles. Betty looks off to see Kevin and Veronica egging her on, so she finally tells Archie that she's been thinking of them as a couple. Confused and surprised, an overwhelmed Archie just furrows his brow and says her name. Betty feels rejected as Archie looks off at the predator Ms. Grundy and as the song ends they slowly break apart and listlessly applaud.

Despite this, they go to an after party at Cheryl's mansion, where Betty's isn't feeling great. Cheryl intentionally instigates a spin-the-bottle game nominating Archie as the first target, with Veronica as his partner, while Archie and Betty exchange looks. When Cheryl says it's her or Veronica, Veronic and Archie go in the closet, get lusty and kiss. When they come out, Cheryl informs them that Betty left upset and they leave. Archie goes looking for Betty at Pop's, where Jughead advices him to go talk to her. Archie walks to the steps of her house and Betty comes outside. Betty speaks first, asking Archie if he cares about her at all and, upset, Archie affirms that he does but can't be with her because he doesn't consider himself "good enough for her". Betty turns around and leaves, heartbroken, leaving Archie standing there, his heart broken too. The very next morning they see each other at Sweetwater River, following Kevin and Moose's discovery there of Jason Blossom's corpse.

Archie's condition worsens after the body is found. He can't sleep and texts Betty if they can talk, but she doesn't want to after what happened between them. Betty's told her mom what happened after the dance and Alice tries to use it to keep Betty from spending time with any of the people at school. Betty's responds by going to Archie's house and ask if he will walk her to school. She tells Archie that she's trying to discern what she wants, separate from her mother's demands, and confesses that she still wants them to be best friends, despite Archie's rejection. Archie apologises for hurting her and tries to formulate his reasons, but Betty cuts him off quickly. At school, Betty has to endure Veronica's attempts at making amends with her, while Archie tries to learn what the police know in order to alleviate his conscience. At lunch, Kevin makes a reference to the closet in front of Archie, Betty and Veronica, prompting awkward silence. Veronica asks Archie to play to combat it, and he hesitates, until Betty says she'd love to hear him play. As he starts to play, Betty flashes back to the dance and Archie rejecting her. She's overwhelmed and starts to silently cry. Archie finishes playing, looks up and sees her tears. He asks if she's okay and she says she's supposed to say yes, but that everything is too much and leaves. Archie jumps up and runs after her. He tries to talk to her, but Betty shoots him down, saying that their relationship and how she thinks of them has changed and she can't handle it right now. She walks away and Archie calls after her, starting to follow but is halted by the principal who wants to see Archie. After running into Veronica at Pop's, Archie acquiesces to Hermione's request that he walk Veronica home. As they walk, Archie tells Veronica about his life with Betty: how she was there for him, how he kissed her and proposed and how she told him to ask again when they were in high school. He also tells Veronica that he hates that he hurt Betty, and she tries to console him, telling him that she's sure Archie and Betty's story isn't over. The next day in the student lounge, Reggie's antagonising Kevin over being questioned by Sheriff Keller and Betty's supporting Kevin. Archie comes in as Reggie starts on Jughead and moves in between them as Reggie advances on Jughead. Betty watches horrified as Reggie starts fighting Archie and punches him in the face. At the Pep Rally, Archie bumps into Betty accidentally on the field, him in his football uniform and her in her cheerleading one. Betty sees his bruises and gentle touches a finger to Archie's wounded eye, at which he subtly flinches, looking at her intensely, almost as though seeing her differently. The players run into Archie and he's flung away by the horde as Betty looks after him. After making amends with Veronica, Betty invites her to Pop's where Archie, having made amends with Jughead, arrives. Archie and Betty lock eyes, and she decides in the moment to try and truly be friends, inviting both boys to join them in their booth.

After Cheryl confesses to hearing a gunshot on July 4, Archie decides to come clean to the Sheriff and Weatherbee about being at Sweetwater River at dawn on the day. Meanwhile, when her mother writes tabloid stuff about Jason Blossom, Betty decides to revive the Riverdale High Blue & Gold student newspaper, to find out what really happened to Jason. When Veronica gets slut-shamed by Chuck Clayton following their date, Betty comes along to Veronica's confrontation with Chuck in the boys' locker room. Veronica bumps into Archie, who's surprised to see them there and Betty tries to avoid looking although she does make a wow face when briefly seeing Archie in only a towel. When Veronica confronts Chuck he shames her in front of everyone, citing her closet-time with Archie. This makes Betty stand up for Veronica, saying that doesn't matter, possibly incited by her own desire to minimise the importance of that event. Later, Cheryl wants to thank Archie for corroborating her story. He says he was only telling the truth and didn't do it to get any kudos, prompting Cheryl to tell him he can save his sweet disposition for Betty. Archie's Dad talks to Grundy at the Taste Of Riverdale event and tells Archie that Grundy 'believes in him', prompting Archie to pursue her again. Jughead blackmails Doiley, who gives up new information to Jughead and Betty: he knows Grundy was at the river.

It's only been a week since Jason's body was found. Betty's wrestling with whether Archie and Grundy where at the river together, writing about it in her diary. In the evening, she goes to Pop's with her friends, but is absent-minded while they discuss the drive-in closing, telling Veronica she's fine when asked. Archie walks in with his father and Grundy, and Betty turns to see them together, it seemingly cementing for her that Archie and Grundy are together. Despite Jughead's protests, she gets up and walks over to their table, asking to talk to Archie outside, to which he complies. Betty asks if there's anything he wants to tell her and Archie is unsure what it's about, saying he doesn't think so. Betty then tells him that Grundy was at the river and shock immediately paints Archie's face, prompting Betty to ask if they're together. He tries to refrain from telling the truth, but can't lie to her and Betty asks again if they're together as Veronica walks out and hears, prompting Archie to answer Betty's question affirmatively. Betty is completely shocked, and horrified, she immediately points out to Archie that it's wrong. She's hurt and scared that Archie lied to her and to the police and asks defiantly if he did it to protect her. Archie responds that Grundy 'believed in him when no one else did', displaying the effects of having suffered predatory treatment by Grundy: intentionally distancing the victim from the people they love. Betty takes his words like a shot through the heart and is at a loss for words. Archie tries to get her to talk, as her mom drives up. Betty is just crestfallen and gets in the car at her Mom's demand, with Archie staring after her, pained. At home, Betty writes about it in her diary and is so angry that she breaks her pencil, getting the inkling to start researching Grundy.



Archie talks to Jughead and continuing the pattern of being abused starts questioning whether Betty will do something with the information. Betty, meanwhile, interviews Grundy for an alleged profile in the Blue & Gold, trying to get as much information as she can. Betty, backed up by Veronica, presents her findings to Archie at Pop's: that Grundy's online presence was created only when she came to Riverdale and that the name is otherwise untraceable, apart from an elderly woman of the same name who passed away. Archie tells her he's not in danger, but Betty persists that he could be and doesn't know who Grundy really is. Archie gets defensive of the 'relationship' which hurts Betty again, and he asks her to be his friend and stop looking, to which Betty agrees. Betty's efforts stick with Archie, however, and he tries to ask Grundy about herself but she stays vague. Meanwhile, Betty goes against her word to Archie for his sake and breaks in to Grundy's car with Veronica, searching for clues. Veronica asks if Betty is doing this because of her feelings for Archie, which Betty vehemently denies, stating that Archie is being manipulated by Grundy and they have to find out whether she is posing as someone else. They are shocked to find a driver's license with the name Jennifer Gibson and a handgun, and go directly to Archie's house to tell him. Archie's shocked by their findings and Betty asks him why he didn't question Grundy about her name. Archie doesn't say anything and turns to walk into his house, as Betty lowers her head, an unspoken understanding between them that is painful for both.



Betty's words stay with Archie, however, and he asks Grundy about her fake name, to which she feeds him a story about being on the run from an abusive former spouse. Unbeknownst to both Archie and Betty, Betty's parents go to Fred and ask that he help enforce that Archie and Betty can no longer see each other, which Fred balks at. Archie and Betty take a walk as Archie fills Betty in on what Grundy said, and Betty is steadfast that Grundy is hurting Archie and cutting him off from everyone he knows, but Archie is unable to see what's happening to him. While sorting the laundry, Alice finds Grundy's gun in one of Betty's drawers, panics and starts reading Betty's diary to find out what's going on. When Betty gets home from her walk, Alice confronts her and orders her to get in the car. Alice gets Fred and brings them to catch Grundy and Archie together at the school. Fred is horrified and Betty is incredibly upset at her mother's intentions to have Grundy arrested. Alice admits that she wants Betty to think that Archie is a bad person and Betty responds by saying that she will never stop being friends with Archie. Archie puts the responsibility of what happened on himself, saying that he sought out Grundy and that it's all his fault.

Betty tries to protect Archie by telling her mother that she will counter any publicising Alice does of the situation with her having broken in to Grundy's car and tell the town that she made up the affair. In tears, Betty says that the town will think 'crazy' runs in the family, that Betty's just like Polly, and Archie is pained seeing how much Betty is suffering. Grundy agrees to quit and Alice tells her she has to leave town. Afterwards, when they get home, Fred tells Archie what happened to him wasn't his fault and Archie breaks down crying in his father's arms. Betty confronts her mother's assumptions about her following Polly's path and Betty angrily tells her Mom off for trying to separate her and Archie. Later, Betty is about to write in her diary when she takes her phone, goes to her window and peeks out behind the curtain at Archie's room. He looks up and sees her, and she writes to him that she's sorry. She waits nervously at his response and he says she was trying to help. She puts the phone to her heart in relief and they smile at each other. Betty sits down and writes in her journal that her love for Archie had her do what she did but maybe Grundy was dangerous, and, unbeknownst to everyone, it is shown that Grundy is a predator and that Betty's actions helped save Archie from Grundy.

Jealousy


Betty throws herself into the investigation of Jason's murder, with help from Kevin and Jughead, while Archie wholeheartedly throws himself into football, unable to find rest after what Grundy did to him. Betty warmly calls Archie on trying to give up music after what happened and encourages him to keep pursuing his dreams. Val suggests to Archie a contact to be his music tutor and when Archie hesitates, Betty jumps in saying he will definitely meet with the music professor. Betty's support seems to make Archie feel better as he smiles for the first time in a while. Later, they both attend the funeral for Jason Blossom at Thorn Hill, along with the rest of the town. Archie gives Jason's football jersey to Mrs. Blossom, and Betty tells him it was really nice of him to do. While talking about the Variety Show with his friends, Archie notices that Betty and Jughead are having a serious conversation and, concerned, asks if he can help. Betty looks at him like she wants to say something, but Jughead veers Archie off, saying it has to be just the two of them, but not letting Archie in on what it is. Betty goes through a lot trying to find Polly and dealing with her parents, but Archie doesn't know this. While they are looking for Sheriff Keller at the school during the Variety Show, Betty hears Archie's voice on the speakers as he performs.

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 they stare out each other's windows at each other, hinting that their old feelings for each other have returned. They 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


Betty and Archie don't spend a lot of time together the following weeks when events in town come to a head. When the riots break out, Archie runs around town to keep the impending Northside/Southside fight from erupting. He meets with Jughead and tells him where to go next. Jughead's about to leave, but Archie stops him, asking about Betty and if she's alright. 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.



When they all visit Jughead at the hospital, Archie mentions that he has to go to the station as they're talking about Minetta as the possible second Black Hood that targeted Fred Andrews. Betty softly asks why and Archie hesitantly has to tell her the truth: he has to identify her father as the Black Hood. 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.

Juvie
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's return
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. Archie tries to recover from his experiences and struggles with PTSD, which leads him to start drinking, as Betty continues looking into the Gargoyle King and The Farm. Archie stops drinking and takes up boxing to deal with his feelings, while Betty becomes increasingly concerned at the hold the Farm is taking of her friends and family. At the gym where Archie works out he happens upon a seemingly homeless kid. He and Josie take the kid to Pop's and feed him. Betty tells her friends that her Mom is trying to sell their house. When Kevin comes in and shuns her, Archie asks what's going on with him and Betty, exasperated at her situation, tells him that the Farm has taken hold of Kevin too, as well as her family. Veronica and Jughead tell Betty she can stay with them, and Archie echoes their offer, telling Betty she's welcome to stay at his house. He informs them that he has the homeless Ricky living in his garage and Betty tells him about the social worker she's been in contact with, and that maybe they can help him out, which Archie takes her up on. Archie goes to pick up Ricky at Pop's and finds that he's run away. Archie and Betty later meet with Ms. Weiss at Pop's to get advice on how to handle the situation. After Ricky stabs Archie and he finds out that Ricky was out to get him because of G&G, Archie is crestfallen, feeling trapped by the crazy in the town and decides to be proactive about ending it, after talking to Jughead. Betty offers her support as well, to help Archie finally be free of the game.

Dealing with the crazy
Archie, Betty and Jughead meet up at Pop's, where Jughead's obtained evidence via his Dad's office and reveals that Warden Norton was playing G&G as well. Archie seeks out Hiram Lodge who admits to have sicced gamers on Archie by distributing 12 'Red Paladin' quest cards. Lodge gives Archie the locations where he might find these cards. Betty, Archie and Jughead go to a comic book store, ask questions and find out more about when people could potentially attack Archie. Back in Dilton's bunker, Archie expresses his discomfort and Betty tries to console him about the game. Jughead comes up with an addition to the game, based on a game the three of them played as kids, which will allow Archie to get rid of the mark on him for good. Betty immediately insists for Archie's safety that there be ground rules, such as no weapons if Archie has to fight. Jughead gets the Serpents to put on Gargoyle masks and distribute the quest and they set up in a gym. When the challengers walk in, Betty looks at Archie and says his name, to which he nods, ready to get it over with. Archie takes on the challengers with Betty looking on, concerned, and sometimes yelling to distract the fighters to Archie's advantage. After facing a guard from juvie, Archie wins and Betty screams elatedly as she runs up to hug Archie who's finally free. After that, they don't really spend much time together on-screen, but both are in the school musical and attend prom. Just before the school year ends, Archie gets a strange invitation delivered to his doorstep with his name on it. It turns out to be at the Hunting Lodge on the Blossom Estate, where Penelope Blossom has also gathered Jughead, Veronica and Betty. Betty enters last, coming down the stairs in a beautiful gown and they sit around the table as the whole Gargoyle King mystery is revealed to them. Penelope puts them in a weird fight for their lives, where they each have to pass tests set up for them in the woods. Archie has to fight a man-bear type thing and Betty watches on in fear as he manages to defeat his opponent. Betty later drinks poison in a sadistic Russian Roulette variant with Veronica and they rush to finish the tests to obtain the cure. As Betty faces off with her father, Archie sneaks around to get the antidote, and suddenly Penelope kills Betty's father right in front of her as she crumbles in grief. Archie hurriedly grabs the antidote and they run from Penelope's minions and seek shelter as the Serpents and Poisons come to their aid. The girls take the antidote and after the Serpents and Poisons defeat the minions, they all hug, Betty and Archie next to each other. At Pop's, Archie proposes a pledge that they're done with all the horror they've been put through and everyone cheers in unison. Betty and Archie share a look as they dig into their milkshakes, making them laugh and smile at each other, happy for the first time in a while.

Seniors
During the summer, the town tries to put the last two years behind them and Archie and Betty spend a lot of time hanging out with Veronica and Jughead. As the town is celebrating July 4 for the first time since Jason Blossom died, the group is making a float for the Independence Day parade. They work on it outside Pop's on July 3, and while taking a food break inside, Archie gets a call that his father's been killed and falls to his knees, Betty and the others rushing to his side. Along with their other friends, they sit with Archie in his backyard and tell stories about Fred Andrews and what he meant to their lives to honour his memory. Betty sits next to Archie, telling the story of her father being absent for a father-daughter contest she was entering and how Fred stepped in to be her father for the day. She gently asks Archie if he has a memory he wants to share, and Archie starts sharing, but cuts himself off and leaves to be alone.

Later that night, Archie wakes from a nightmare and decides to bring his Dad back himself, from the county where he was killed. Archie enlists the help of Betty, Veronica and Jughead and they drive to Cherry Creek. After getting permission to take him home, Archie, grieving and in denial, decides he wants to see if it's really his father. As he walks towards the room where the casket is, Archie stops. He can't proceed and asks Betty and Veronica to check for him. They go into the room and see Fred. When they come out, Veronica says it's him and Archie, still wishing it's not true, asks if they're sure. Heartbroken, Betty confirms in a quiet voice that it really is Fred Andrews. After Archie's confrontation with the man Archie thought killed his father, he drives the hearse home while Betty and Jughead drive his truck. Back in Riverdale, everyone attends the funeral. Archie gives a speech honouring his father's legacy and Betty sits next to Archie's mother, Mary, watching and mourning. In the evening, they celebrate Fred with fireworks in the Andrews back yard.

Identity
A few months later, the night before senior year starts, Betty and Archie join Jughead and Veronica at her parentless apartment to celebrate the monumental occasion. They stay over and oversleep, rushing to get to their first day back on time. They're met with the new Principal, Mr. Honey, who's dismissive of them. Betty dives back into the Blue & Gold, while Archie starts back up playing football. They both attend a back to school party at Thistlehouse in the evening. Archie starts focusing on the Community Centre, while Betty gets her mother and sister back. The whole town gets sent VHS tapes with hours of footage of their respective houses. Betty hangs out in the student lounge with Archie, Kevin and Veronica, talking about how she's a bit on edge because of the people dressing up as Riverdale's serial killers and the tapes. Archie nods in agreement and looks concerned at Betty's discomfort. Archie's still having trouble keeping the kids safe from the streets and asks Betty and Veronica for help. Betty offers to write about the Community Centre in the Blue & Gold.

On Thanksgiving, after an overheated deep-fryer thwarts Dodger's associates attempts to hurt the kids attending Thanksgiving, Archie holds a ceremony dedicates the Centre to his late father. Betty looks on with pride as Archie talks about his father and hangs a memorial plaque in honour of Fred Andrews. Both Archie and Betty, respectively, have a session with the guidance counsellor, who talks to Betty about her family troubles and Archie about how he's dealing, or not dealing, with his grief. Archie decides, as he's now turned 18, that he wants to move to the Community Centre to better help out. Archie finds it more and more difficult to handle the Community Centre while still heartbroken over his father's death, while Betty still feels the fears of what her true nature is, while dealing with the impact of The Farm on her life. Both of them agree to attend the funeral pyre for Jason Blossom at the river's edge. When the last football game of the season is on the horizon, Betty interviews the Bulldogs for an article on their upcoming game and asks Archie how he feels about it being his last ever high school football game. Betty attends the game and watches from the stands.

Curveball
Betty invites Archie and Veronica to a party thrown by Stonewall Prep in the woods. Archie's hesitant because its students are horrible, but agrees to go. When they arrive at the party, Betty goes off on her own, but not before Archie hands her a drink. When Archie and Veronica go looking for Betty outside the party clearing, Archie approaches Betty, who's standing over Jughead's body with a rock in her hand. Archie runs over and checks Jughead's pulse, saying he can't find it. He turns to Betty, who is looking mortified and asks her what happened. They all burn their clothes including Jughead's beanie and drive home, the three of them, in their underwear, not saying a word. When they each return home they make up a story as to why they're in their underwear following the party and coming home in the middle of the night. Betty goes upstairs, freaks out and throws up. She meets up with Archie and Veronica at Pop's, where they discuss their next move and Betty wants to go after the Stonewall quartet, while Archie seems unsure about the path they're taking. Betty bugs Brett and Jughead's room, which Charles surveils. She comes over to Archie and asks him to go to Stonewall and threaten Brett cause it'll look 'normal', to which Archie agrees. It has the opposite effect as Donna and Brett discover the bug. Mary worries about Archie and before he can say anything, Betty calls him and stares him down cold from across the way, harshly telling him to get off the phone and not say anything 'stupid'. Archie seems irked by Betty's uncharacteristically offensive behaviour, but follows her lead. Betty's next step is to have Jughead's body found by FP and afterwards, Archie's mother tearfully tells him it's unfair that first his father died tragically, and now his best friend. Archie seems unnerved by the mention of his father's very real passing and unable to be putting his mother through this, deciding to tell her what's actually going on. Alice decides to start filming a documentary about Jughead's murder. FP gets a warrant to search Donna's room, who positions herself and Brett as witnesses to Archie, Betty and Veronica murdering Jughead. FP arrests them in biology class and interrogates them individually, until forensics on the rock reveal it's theatre blood and they're all released. Betty's next move is to hold a funeral, where Archie stops Brett from trying to open the casket before they throw the Stonewall students out. Archie meets Betty at Pop's in the evening. She's upset and Archie comforts her, taking her hands. She puts hers on his and strokes them gently and they catch each others eyes, looking intensely at one another. Cheryl witnesses this and looks suspicious, leading to her surveying a memorial for Jughead at his locker the following day. Archie and Betty approach, and Betty runs out, with Archie following her. In the music room, Betty hugs Archie and he says he's always there for her: she leans in and kisses him, which he reciprocates. Cheryl followed them, takes photos and sends them out to the school. Cheryl gently breaks it to Veronica, who storms into the student lounge and confronts Archie, calling him a player. She doesn't direct any malice towards Betty, until Betty stands up in front of Archie and admits that she initiated the kiss. Veronica tells them to rot in hell and storms out, Betty and Archie left looking uncomfortable. In the evening, Betty gets takeout from Pop's and goes to Dilton's bunker, followed by Donna who suspects this is where Jug is hiding. Donna follows Betty into the bunker and is shocked to find Archie and Betty making out. Betty yells at Donna to leave and she scrambles. Archie and Betty respectively talk to Veronica and Jughead afterwards, revealing that it was all a ploy to get Donna and the Stonewall students off of the scent. Despite all of them being in on the plan, Veronica asks Archie if he felt something kissing Betty. Archie smiles and vehemently claims Veronica is the only one for him. Jughead poses the same question to Betty, who also smilingly reassures Jughead that she only has eyes for him. Later in the evening, at home, Betty texts Archie saying thank you for his part in it and that she hopes she wasn't a bad kisser, with a winking emoji. Archie smiles at this and types his response: ”lol. you were great. happy to do that any time”, but hesitates. Betty sits looking at the dots on her phone, awaiting Archie's response and looking anticipatory. He deletes the last sentence and sends the text. Betty looks at his response and a flicker of resignation steals over her features as if she'd expected something else, before giving a brief half-cocked, albeit sweet smile. She's about to shut off her phone, but halts, reconsidering swiftly and writes him back: “😘 Night.” Archie smiles as he receives this and quickly replies the same. He shifts the phone is his hands and looks away in thought. Archie and Betty continue to fake date until the Stonewall culprits are arrested and Jughead returns to Riverdale High. Cheryl seeks out Betty, sitting outside Mr. Honey's office on a bench in the hallway. They talk for a bit and Cheryl asks Betty about her and Archie. Betty, defensively, says she and Archie were just pretending to be together and Cheryl counters that it looked real. Betty denies it and Cheryl tells her cousin that she'll keep the secret, before sauntering off. When Jughead comes out of Mr. Honey's office and asks Betty what Cheryl wanted, she quickly replies it was nothing and moves off the topic.

Everything changes
When Kevin is banned from performing a Hedwig and the Angry Inch song for the Variety Show, his friends rally around him and agree to all sing Hedwig songs in protest. Archie decides to sign up for the Variety Show with a band — The Archies, comprising Betty, Veronica, Kevin and Jughead. Archie and Betty both get into squabbles with Veronica and Jughead, when they were supposed to rehearse their songs. In the aftermath, Archie forgets to cancel rehearsal and only Betty shows up. Archie mentions his fight, Betty hers and they commiserate over their tough senior year. Betty mentions them having fun as kids and they instantly cheer up for a moment, sharing a laugh. Archie confides in Betty his reason for signing up their band; that he remembered his Dad's steady support guiding him in their sophomore year as he performed at the Variety Show. Betty comforts him, telling him that Fred was proud of Archie and loved seeing him perform.

To cheer Archie up, she suggests they rehearse just the two of them and Archie smiles. He picks up his guitar, starts playing "The Origin of Love" and sings while Betty listens. She starts singing and gets up to duet with Archie. They get into the performance and are all smiles, looking into each others eyes during the crescendo. They both remember their moments together over the last almost 3 years as the song intensifies. They lock eyes intensely; Betty pushes the microphone out of the way while Archie swings his guitar around his back and they passionately embrace in a kiss, completely swept away in it. Afterwards, they're in their separate rooms, both looking at a picture of their significant others and pictures of Archie and Betty together, clearly pained. Jughead surprises Betty with an apology and she feigns contentment, breaking down in tears the moment he leaves. Veronica likewise surprises Archie with an apology and as he watches her go, he punches his punching bag in frustration. As he turns to the window he sees Betty in hers, looking at him. Archie steps to the window, looking back at Betty.

He starts singing and puts his hand on the glass, as if trying to reach her. Betty puts her hand up to her window exactly the same and sings to Archie. Suddenly, she imagines Archie's hand on hers as he sweeps her away across her room into his arms; they are wearing the clothes they wore to the sophomore dance when Betty confessed her feelings to Archie. They dance in the manner they did then, as they sing to each other. They move closer until their foreheads rest against one another and close their eyes. They interlock one hand and Betty slowly walks away to her window, placing her hand once more on the glass as reality returns. She stands, looking at Archie who's still gazing back at her. The next day, at La Bonne Nuit, The Archies are introduced and start their performance, beginning with only Archie's vocals and him playing guitar. Betty steals a pained and longing glance at him as he sings. Throughout the performance, they both continuously steal intense looks at one another, mostly staying away from looking at their actual girlfriend and boyfriend.

One day in the afternoon, Archie sits in his room, playing guitar. He stops as he flashes back to the kiss and sits, lost in thought. He gets up and walks over to his desk, picking up his application for the Naval Academy. He looks up with a searching expression, and peeks out of his curtains at Betty's room. She sits on her bed, reading her old diaries. She reads an entry about the day that she fell in love with Archie when they were kids. She describes him in the diary as she flashes back to him waving to her from his window, her hiding playfully and then peeking out of her window, waving back to him. Betty's interrupted by Alice, who talks about how grown she is and her imminent future at college. Betty tells her not to cry as she'll make Betty cry too, and Alice poignantly asks what sorrow Betty could have, which has Betty flash back to the kiss and steal a glance in the direction of Archie's window. Seemingly that evening, they meet up in Dilton Doiley's old bunker. They're lying on the bed together with candles lit all around them and Betty asks Archie why they're there, to which he responds he's unsure but says it's nice and asks, with a bit of urgency in his voice if she thinks so too. Betty affirms that it is, but says they can't "do anything more" than what they are doing. Archie attempts to elude the obvious, asking what she means as they're "just hanging out". Betty says in a small voice that she loves Jughead; Archie responds that he loves Veronica. He repeats “But this is nice, right?”, turns his head to look at her and Betty does the same, moves her hand closer to him and smiles at him. He gently touches her hand with his, she opens hers and they hold hands. On another day, perhaps the following day, Archie is visiting his father's grave before school. He's asking for Fred's advice, mentioning that Fred would probably tell him to follow his heart, but Archie doesn't know what he wants, although he then says he doesn't want to hurt anyone, indicating that he wants Betty but can't face hurting Jughead or Veronica. Betty sits in the student lounge reading one of her diaries again. The entry is about the happiest day of her life, where Archie proposed to Betty after walking her home from school. She flashes back to Archie getting on one knee in front of Betty's house and the entry goes on to say that she of course wanted to say yes, but because they were too young she told him to ask her again when they were both 18 and in high school. She's interrupted again, this time by Kevin, who's asking if she's thinking about simpler times, which she echoes. Archie's in the music room at school, revealed to be working on a song and he smiles as he writes it. Betty reads again, this time in the Blue & Gold offices while having to work on the yearbook. Her entry is about a time when Archie invited her over to listen to records and she flashes back to them, lying on the floor and dancing, with Archie making mock-serious dance moves and Betty laughing. They hold hands and present-day Betty's surprised as a knock announces the boy himself, Archie Andrews. Archie says he wants to help her with the yearbook, but she calls his bluff and he admits he can't get her out of his head, even though he's tried. She responds emotionally that she can't stop thinking about him and they make a plan to meet the following night at the bunker, Betty wanting to give them time to think beforehand. The next day, Betty's reading at the Blue & Gold again. Her reverie is interrupted once more, this time by Cheryl wanting a commemorative spot for her brother in the yearbook. Betty's distracted which Cheryl picks up on, snatching the diary and reading the page Betty was just reading. Cheryl reasserts her theory that there's something going on between Archie and Betty, but Betty denies it again. Cheryl tries to ask if they've either kissed or slept together, but Betty interrupts her just saying they haven't before Cheryl can specify. Betty, resigned, confesses she thinks she's been in love with Archie for 10 years. Cheryl shoots her down, saying Betty's only been in love with the idea of Archie, that it's not real and that she and Jughead is real. Betty frowns at Cheryl's words, looking at a photo of herself with Jughead and Cheryl gently says matter-of-factly that people cheat, but she should end or prevent it before someone gets hurt. The guilt seems to get to Betty, who nods, heart-wrenched, seemingly deciding to do so.

When they meet that night, Archie takes out his guitar and tells Betty he wrote a song for her. He starts playing and singing, and Betty listens, tears forming in her eyes as she flashes back to watching Archie play in sophomore year the day after he rejected her. She stops him and he tentatively asks what's wrong, if she doesn't like the song. She cries and tries to get the words out, but stumbles, saying it's them. She again says that she loves Jughead and doesn't want to hurt him, which Archie echoes about Veronica. He asks what's been going on between them and Betty tries to say it's because they're safe for each other, which Archie doesn't buy. Betty has to say the words: that whatever they were doing is over and Archie, heartbroken, backs away from her and sits down on the cot dejectedly. In his room, presumably the next day, Archie is still playing their song and Mary comes in, telling him that she loves it and assumes it's about Veronica, which Archie quickly deflects with a lie. Archie tells her he needs a fresh start, that he's ready to join the navy, seeming dejected by guilt and heartbreak. Betty burns her diaries in her living room, seemingly in an effort to try and erase her own guilt, or maybe to physically try and destroy what she's feeling for Archie. Alice catches her and persuades her to keep one diary, for the memories.

Following this, Betty acts like everything is the same and nothing's changed. Archie has a hard time with everything, but attempts to keep going with Veronica. Veronica finds the song Archie wrote for Betty and asks Archie to play it for her. Archie tells her the song stinks, crumbles it up and throws it in the bin, but Veronica swipes it and decides to serenade Archie with it at La Bonne Nuit, the night before prom. Archie's horrified and pained, remembering playing it for Betty. Betty, who is in the audience as well, is shocked, the only glimpse into her feelings that she betrays, and her eyes start welling up with tears as she stares, horrified, at Veronica singing, remembering how she felt when Archie played the song for her. Betty then slowly turns her piercing stare towards Archie. Archie sits with a dejected expression on his face, then turns as though feeling Betty's eyes on him and briefly looks at her, but turns away without communicating anything. After this, Archie goes through the motions with Veronica, visibly sad. At prom, Veronica reveals that she plans to defer college for a year in an attempt to keep her and Archie together and this is the last drop for Archie. He confesses to Veronica that the song was for Betty and that they kissed. Veronica is stunned and hurt and later in the music room, she asks if Jughead knows and Archie reveals that he and Betty agreed not to say anything to anyone. Veronica wants them not to tell Jughead and Archie listlessly acquiesces.

When everyone has to try on their graduation gowns, Archie's shocked that Veronica kisses him and she quietly reminds him that they're supposed to act like everything's the same, as Betty and Jughead are in the room. Jughead makes some comment about Archie 'finally' showing up even though he and Betty were dealing with a mystery and it's all too much. Betty notices Archie is hurting and, with an empathetic look softly asks Archie if something's the matter. Archie, fed up with everything, dismissively throws Betty's question back at her and Betty makes a face. Veronica pulls Archie outside and he asks her what she's doing, to which she reiterates that they're pretending lest they have to tell Jughead what Archie and Betty did; that it's their only option, which Archie dismissively throws back at her and then leaves. All of Archie's feelings finally spill out in a culmination of everything he's been through; the traumas, his father's death, what happened with Betty, the latter of which had him seek to leave Riverdale via the naval academy which fell through. His uncle Frank helps him finally let all of those emotions out so Archie doesn't hurt himself by having them build up inside him any longer.

As graduation nears, Archie learns that he has to repeat senior year to graduate. He doesn't tell anyone, but is allowed to walk with his friends; before the ceremony, Archie's solemnly sombre as he sees his friends with their Dads. He faintly smiles as his eyes linger upon Betty talking with her mother. Betty gives the valedictorian speech saying they didn't deserve to get those horrifying years, and that she wants Riverdale to become what she remembers of it growing up. Hanging out that evening, Archie wants to make a vow that the four of them should meet up a year from graduation, at Pop's. He then reveals that he's signed up for the army and leaves in the morning. Betty is surprised, but supports Archie's decision. That same evening, Jughead mentions having noticed Archie and Veronica being distant with each other and that he can't figure out why. Betty finally decides to tell him that she and Archie kissed and before she even says anything, Jughead utters a pained 'oh no'. The next morning, Jughead goes to take Archie to the bus stop and see him off to the army. The two of them alone, Archie wants to be honest with his best friend before leaving for war and Jughead says that he knows and that the two of them, Archie and he, will always be okay. Betty drives Archie's jalopy to stop the bus so Veronica can say goodbye to Archie. He hugs each of them, before getting to Betty where he hesitates. Betty moves in to hug him and he holds her as she gently nests her head on his shoulder, while Jughead looks away and an uncomfortable Veronica looks on from a distance. They release the hug and Betty says she'll see him in a year, which Archie quietly says in return. He looks at her for a moment, then his eyes dart to Jughead and he turns around and gets on the bus. As the bus drives away, Archie runs to the back and looks out the back window at them as they grow smaller. Betty stares sadly ahead of herself, seemingly lost in thought as she takes in the gravity of Archie leaving Riverdale.

7 years later
Archie spends all these years in the army until he is honourably discharged, becoming a sergeant. Betty attends Yale for 4 years and goes into FBI training. She has a traumatic experience, held captive and tortured by a serial killer for 2 weeks, but refuses to deal with it, focused instead on having 'made a rookie mistake' and wanting to catch the murderer to 'rectify' that. As Archie returns to an unrecognisable and desolate Riverdale, he decides to enlist the help of his erstwhile friends, whom he has not seen in 7 years, to help him with this task. The first person he calls is Betty. Betty's annoyed when her phone rings, but excited and surprised to see Archie's name on her screen. As everyone arrives in Riverdale, Archie and Betty see each other for the first time as he walks up to the booth where they're sitting in Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe. They both smile wide as they lay eyes on each other.

Archie drops by Betty's house as the Ghoulies have overtaken his and turned it into a drug den, and he's trying to find a way to get rid of them. Betty reveals to Archie that she used to peak at him through the window to see if he was shirtless and Archie laughs appreciatively. Archie talks to Betty about wanting to take his house back and she offers her help, which he thanks her for. Archie tricks Reggie into helping him get a sense of the layout of the Ghoulie den, but is sad to see a worn-looking Polly there. Archie immediately tells Betty and expresses his empathy as Betty surmises her sister is doing drugs. She tells Archie trhat she's angry and wants to fight the Ghoulies. Archie looks impressed and attracted by Betty's fire. Along with Sheriff Keller, Fangs, Kevin and Sweet Pea, Archie and Betty prepare to take back his house. They move in on Betty's count and beat up the Ghoulies, Archie and Betty fighting alongside each other. They bump into each other while alert and Archie asks Betty if she's alright, gently stroking her shoulder. The next day, Betty is at Archie's house helping him clean up the mess after the Ghoulies. Betty mentions her family being a mess and Archie tells her he's sorry to hear it, but Betty doesn't go deeper into it. There's a bit of nervous tension between them, as Archie tentatively suggests they should hang out at Pop's, which Betty agrees to. He looks at her, pauses for a beat and then offers pizza, which Betty happily accepts. Archie says he needs a shower first, which Betty concurs for herself and the tension bubbles over as they look at each other flirtatiously. Archie and Betty jump each other in his shower and passionately have sex for the first time.



Afterwards, Archie starts the conversation about them and Betty says it's been a long time coming, which Archie concurs. He asks for a definition and Betty says that they're friends and are allowed to have fun. Archie then asks if it's cool they keep it between them and Betty says she thinks so, stating they don't owe anything to their high school relationships. She then smiles brightly at him. They attend Pop Tate's retirement party at Pop's and Archie holds a meeting a Riverdale High where he asks his friends to be teachers. Betty is the first to say that she will help, and they attend the town meeting where Mayor Lodge unincorporates Riverdale with a majority vote. In the evening, Archie sits in his house and texts Betty asking about Polly, who hasn't come home. Betty replies but before he can answer, there's a knock on his door.

Friends with benefits
Archie and Betty start work as the football coach and shop teacher, respectively, and Betty's students bother her with questions about her late serial killer father. Archie seeks her out in the student lounge and asks about her day. She tells him that the students are scared of her and Archie sympathises. Betty goes on to say she can't stop worrying about Polly and Archie tries to ease her mind by reminding her that Alice said Polly sometimes disappears for a few days without word. Betty responds that's why she's trying not to panic. Archie surreptitiously flirts with her, offering up a distraction. Betty thinks it's too risky for them too hook up at Archie's house, indicating she doesn't want to be found out by anyone, and Archie jokingly laments it being harder for them to find a place to have sex as adults when it should be easier. Betty says she might have a crazy solution and they meet up at night at the high school shop class. They make out and start having sex when they're interrupted by the fire alarm and run out to see a trash can on fire in the hallway, which they put out.

The next day at school, Veronica's husband comes to visit and is introduced to everyone in the teacher's lounge. When Archie joins and meets him, Betty shoots a knowing look at the situation, conveying her insecurities about Archie's high school past with Veronica, despite her own insistence that she and Archie are just friends having fun. She joins everyone for karaoke night at the Whyte Wyrm, where Veronica gets up to perform. As she sings, Betty glances over at Archie, then watches the performance with a sombre look on her face. As they applaud, Archie turns around and smiles at Betty, who smiles back at him. Archie later stops by Betty's shop class as he's trying to resurrect the Bulldogs and recruits a redheaded girl from Betty's class to the team. Betty continues to search for clues on Polly's whereabouts and, with Alice, finds Polly's phone along the lonely highway. In the evening, Betty drops by Archie to get some relief from her troubles, but only tells Archie in a light way that Polly's driving her crazy, not letting on how worried she is. Archie tells her he's feeling frustrated about his prospects in the battle to save the town. They look at each other and Archie playfully grabs her jacket and pulls her into a kiss. Betty asks if they can go upstairs and they do. After having sex, they're cuddling when Betty's phone buzzes. It's someone from her school with a possible lead on Polly. She tells Archie she had a nice time and gives him a kiss before leaving. Archie reaches his arm after her as though he wants her to stay, then drops it resignedly on the bed, looking sad.



One evening in Betty's room, lit by the light of many candles, she lies on her bed in just a t-shirt as Archie asks if she's ready for him to enter and she says yes. He comes in dressed in his fireman uniform, as he is now also part of the town's fire department and Betty's jaw drops, conceding she was not ready for this. She tells him he's come a long way since they were 8 and he wanted to be a firefighter. Archie starts to undress and Betty reaches her arms out to him as they fall onto the bed kissing. After Toni, Fangs and Kevin announce that they're raising Toni's baby as a family, Betty and Kevin talk about their announcement and when Kevin mentions Betty's past relationship, she divulges that she has something to tell him. Kevin worries that she's getting back with Jughead, but Betty rolls her eyes and tells him no. She proceeds to confide in Kevin about her and Archie's friends-with-benefits arrangement. She says it's an escape and that she doesn't want to get in too deep with Archie, at which Kevin is flabbergasted. Betty explains that Archie's the only positive constant in her life and she doesn't want to risk ever losing him.

Meanwhile, despite being married, Veronica has been sending a lot of overt signals to Archie that she's into him, like buying a firetruck for the station he started, financially supporting the bulldogs, asking him to renovate her apartment so that he's around her, and generally flirting with him. Archie's friend Eric inquires about Betty, and also Veronica's behaviour, and Archie, lightly irritatedly, states that he and Betty are just casual, and tells Eric that Veronica's married. Betty later has a nightmare about the serial killer who kept her hostage and she calls Archie. When he comes in he's in a good mood, but becomes serious as he sees Betty's upset. She tells him she doesn't want to talk but just be distracted if he's okay with it. Archie says yes and they have sex. The next morning at home, Eric teases Archie about spending the night at Betty's, but Archie is unhappy. He says he was expecting a booty call, but that it felt different and didn't feel great. He doesn't elaborate but says that Eric was right that there's something familiar between Archie and Veronica. It seems he may have regretted agreeing to have sex when Betty was upset, and maybe feels used because she didn't want to open up to him.



Veronica then makes a direct play for Archie, who tells her he's not sure what he's feeling these days. At Cheryl's key party, Veronica picks Archie's keys, possibly deliberately, and Archie gets mad at Chad when he's mean to Veronica. She leaves with her husband and Betty ends up picking Archie's keys. They go to Betty's house and Betty rhetorically asks why they aren't having sex given the key party game and all. Archie tells her that he thinks they're 'right on the edge' and Betty agrees. Archie then tentatively tells Betty that, before they take a step, she should know that he's feeling something for Veronica, as if to for the first time try and suss out if Betty has any feelings for him, since she hasn't let him in at all emotionally since they started having sex. Betty rolls her eyes and proceeds to tell Archie that Betty and Archie should work on paper, but are just so different. She also says she doesn't want her 'darkness' to 'overtake' Archie, as if she believes there's something wrong with her and that she wouldn't be good for Archie. Archie looks very upset and interjects with her name, but nothing else as Betty goes on to say that she's about to face a horrible time with Polly's disappearance and that what she wants and needs is a friend. She then calls Archie a window of light in the dark and he wipes a tear from her cheek and briefly caresses her face. He tells her sombrely that he will do what she wants.

Traumatised
Archie and Veronica try to start a relationship, but it goes almost immediately as Veronica isn't done with her husband, whom she goes to get divorce papers from in New York and ends up in bed with. Meanwhile, Betty continues looking for her sister with help from her friends, while still dealing with the trauma from her abduction. Archie puts a pause on his relationship with Veronica until she's divorced and starts having to face his demons. Betty becomes more and more unhinged, but Tabitha is keeping an eye on her and refusing to let Betty push her away, like Betty tries to do with everyone. Archie's traumas from his time in the army become increasingly pronounced and his PTSD becomes so bad it manifests as hallucinations, but, like Betty, he refuses to deal with it. In the midst of all the pain there is a brief respite, as Josie returns to town and Josie and the Pussycats reunite. Archie and Betty both attend the Pussycats' reunion concert at the Whyte Wyrm, where Toni goes into labour.

Archie and Betty wait together in Pop's while Toni gives birth in the kitchen and they receive the news of Toni's baby boy together and later meet him when Josie and the Pussycats say goodbye to everyone in front of Pop's as they leave to go on tour. Archie eventually agrees to therapy and slowly starts to get better, while Betty eventually solves the Lonely Highway abduction case and finds out that Polly was murdered. Archie supports her in her grief and asks her over for dinner, but Betty doesn't really see her friends and is trying to reach her mother, who's losing her grip on reality. Betty eventually manages to reach Alice and they bury Polly. Archie attends the funeral. After a brief reunion with Veronica after her divorce, where they move in together at her suggestion, Archie stays away from home and Veronica feels invisible, like she did with her abusive ex whom she ends up killing in self-defence. Archie asks if they can't just date casually like they did in high school, but Veronica refuses as she wanted something real and she ends things.

Relationship


Archie gets the town re-incorporated and establishes a new town council consisting of Toni, Tabitha, Alice, and his uncle, Frank. Betty and Archie see each other at the Wyrm where Archie relays that he's through with Veronica for good. Betty tells him that she graduated and is officially an agent, but that she missed the ceremony. Archie offers to buy her a drink to celebrate, which Betty coyly accepts. Secretly, Archie plans a surprise party for Betty to celebrate her graduation and brings her to the local FBI office where everyone is waiting to surprise her. Despite what she's gone through recently, with losing her sister, Betty is happy that her friends are there for her and turns around to look at Archie with love. Archie asks if she wants to hang out and they start spending time together. She later attends the official dedication of the new town sign, where Alice tells Archie it's thanks to him that the town was saved. Archie and Betty hang out and have beer and pizza at his house and have a good time, laughing and joking. Archie then tentatively asks Betty if they can be together. He firmly establishes that he wants a real relationship with her and tells her that he is all in. Betty says that she wants to be with him and they joyously kiss, finally together. They go up to Archie's bedroom and are about to hook up when they hear a ticking sound. Archie follows the sound under his bed, horrified to find a bomb. He ducks up from underneath the bed and grabs Betty's hand. This timeline is later altered where, after they hear the sounds, Betty gets a phone call with a bad connection telling her to get out as there's a bomb under the bed. She tells Archie and that they have to get out.

Vale
After the bomb Hiram plants under Archie's bed blows up, a confluence of elements creates a shadow timeline, Rivervale, where everything is off, as it and Riverdale are on a collision course, with elements from the real world - Riverdale - starting to merge with its shadow realm. In Vale, in the beginning, Archie and Betty have been together for years, live together in the Andrews home, and are happy. Archie wakes up from a disturbing nightmare that a bomb was under their bed and that the two of them lived in a town called Riverdale. At first, they think it’s just a nightmare, but the impending collision soon warps the townspeople, who start committing acts of violence against one another. Betty learns that she can’t carry a child and becomes obsessed with getting pregnant, to the point that she, along with the town, help Cheryl sacrifice Archie in exchange for ‘fertility’ so she can carry his child. Betty thinks she’s pregnant, then loses the child, then Archie is suddenly alive again. All of this appears as a faint dream to them and is reset once the realms start colliding. Afterwards there appears a momentary calm as Archie and Betty are engaged to be married. Then, as the realms start colliding, Archie starts believing that his father can come back from the dead because Archie himself did. He remembers being killed by the townspeople. As the warping of people takes hold, Archie stands Betty up at the altar and she realises something is off because he wouldn’t do that. She goes to his house and, upon finding him choking Jughead, her suspicion is confirmed that Archie is not himself and, as she too is under the influence of the warp she reacts violently by shooting Archie. Before both realms are destroyed, two Jugheads and Ethel Muggs - all Rivervaleans - find a way to separate them so Vale doesn't have to cease to exist, and the shadow realm is changed to no longer be consumed by darkness. Vale Archie and Betty are normal again, as are their friends, and the two of them are happily engaged.

Moments

 * STRANGE BEDFELLOWS (511)
 * Betty mentions having talked to Archie and she goes into his garage.


 * THE HOMECOMING (505)
 * Betty walks with Jughead and tells him that Archie is still the same guy, trying to save everyone.


 * BIG FUN (316)
 * When Sweet Pea reveals Archie and Josie are together, Betty sweetly asks Archie if they're dating, and seems happy for him.


 * THE MAN IN BLACK (307)
 * While the boys are on the run together, Jughead can't reach Betty, and Archie is very worried about her.

Quotes

 * Barchie/Quotes

Songs

 * touch | KEHLANI
 * archie and betty romance


 * don’t bring me down | TWO FEET
 * archie and betty kiss and have sex


 * i should go (with kenny beats) | JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW
 * betty and archie talk on her couch


 * U&ME (baauer remix) | ALT-J
 * rivervale: trying for a baby


 * cross my heart | AG • CECE AND THE DARK HEARTS
 * archie and betty want to be together


 * the one that you love | LP
 * archie takes betty to the surprise party he threw her


 * dreamland | GLASS ANIMALS
 * firefighter + candles


 * mine | BAZZI
 * archie and betty hook up in the auto shop car


 * honey | LUNA AURA
 * shower sex


 * carry the torch | ARCHIE ANDREWS
 * archie's song about him and betty


 * the girl next door | BOBBY PAGE & THE RIFF-RAFFS
 * listening to music together as kids


 * wicked little town (reprise) [cover] | KJ APA & LILI REINHART
 * betty imagines dancing with archie as they looked at the sophomore dance


 * the origin of love [cover] | KJ APA & LILI REINHART
 * archie and betty rehearse and kiss!


 * verso | OK BUTTON
 * archie and betty text about their kiss


 * little girl | DEVINY JAMES
 * arch meets betty at pop's


 * bruises | LEWIS CAPALDI
 * The look


 * all through the night [cover] | JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS
 * Betty tells Archie how she feels as they dance


 * number one | TOVE STYRKE
 * betty dance around her room celebrating going to the dance w/archie


 * SCORE
 * this is nice | BLAKE NEELY & SHERRI CHUNG
 * on the cot


 * so many questions | BLAKE NEELY
 * “best friends”/“no...and no”/“a little part of me always thought”


 * if you love me | BLAKE NEELY
 * betty asks archie /archie and betty kiss in his doorway /“all in”

Shippers
Kevin encourages Betty to confess her feelings for Archie, which she's talked about with Kevin for years. He's also instrumental in curbing Veronica lusting for Archie when she first comes to town by pointing out Betty's interest in Archie. When Archie and Betty fake date in their senior year, Kevin says that “It was always supposed to be Betty and Archie. It was like it was their destiny”. When Betty and Kevin reconnect in their mid-20s, she confides in him that she has been hooking up with Archie. Before she can say what it is, Kevin bemusedly worries that she's reunited with Jughead. When Betty tells Kevin she doesn't want to get in 'too deep' with Archie, Kevin is almost in disbelief.
 * Kevin Keller

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 the issues with establishing the character of Archie. It did, however, always have a consistent, loyal following and there were people interested throughout the series as a result of the comic book history. Fans campaign for screen time for the two on social media and over the course of Season 2 the fanbase grew steadily vocal, especially after Archie and Betty finally shared a kiss.

It has become one of the biggest ships in the fandom and fans are hoping they will get together soon and be endgame for the series, based both on canon and Archie and Betty's childhood promise. Rumours in 2019 that Season 4 would finally see Archie and Betty find their way back to each other had shippers' hopes high and #BarchieSeason4 was frequently used. The week of Barchie's big kiss, the ship was the 5th most blogged about ship on Tumblr and the following episode 2 weeks later sent them to #11, with no other ships from the show making the Top 20

One of the biggest issues viewers have is that the ship is barely afforded screen time. This is a problem with the show overall, as it doesn't spend time developing its characters nor their relationships. Only romantic relationships get screen time, but barely story and mostly no development.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION
 * Archie/Betty on FanFiction.Net
 * Archie/Betty on FanFiction.Net


 * FORUMS
 * Endgame {ArchieღBetty} #1: Because KJ & Lili have amazing chemistry together
 * Endgame {ArchieღBetty} #4: A kiss is never just a kiss; a line was crossed that can't ever be uncrossed again.


 * IG


 * TIKTOK


 * TUMBLR


 * TWITTER


 * WIKIS
 * at
 * at


 * YT
 * Barchie Riverdale

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.
 * Archie wrote a song for Betty called "Carry The Torch"

Photos

 * Barchie/Gallery

Backstage

 * KJ Apa (Archie Andrews) ships Barchie. He considers Barchie's first kiss to be the most romantic moment of the series.


 * Some fans go as far as to use Archie being groomed by a sexual predator, as though it has anything to do with his romantic relationships, to try and condemn the character, to such a degree that a writer for the show explicitly stated that Archie was abused.

Media

 * 'Riverdale': Why That Archie and Betty Moment Came at the Right Time (COLLIDER • JUNE 2022)


 * Betty And Archie From "Riverdale" Are A Power Couple (Quite Literally Now) — Here Are 31 Moments Proving Why They Should Be Endgame (BUZZFEED • JUNE 2022)


 * Betty tells Archie she might be pregnant in exclusive Riverdale sneak peek (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY • APRIL 2022)


 * 2021
 * Riverdale EP Hints at 'Barchie' Reunion: 'They More Than Just Glance at Each Other' in Season 5's Final Episodes (TVLINE • SEPTEMBER 2021)


 * Here Are 23 "Riverdale" Moments That Prove Why Betty And Archie Are Meant To Be (BUZZFEED • AUGUST 2021)


 * Riverdale fans are convinced Betty will get pregnant this season (ELITEDAILY • AUGUST 2021)


 * Riverdale Showrunner Says Betty and Archie's Story "Isn't Over" (COMICBOOK • AUGUST 2021)


 * Is there still hope for Barchie in Riverdale season 5? (NETFLIX LIFE • MARCH 2021)


 * We’re Not Gonna Lie, We’re Only Here for Barchie (FANGIRLISH • FEBRUARY 2021)


 * All Aboard the ‘Barchie’ Train …Again? (FANGIRLISH • FEBRUARY 2021)


 * Riverdale stuck their Barchie landing. What’s next for the maybe couple? (NETFLIX LIFE • FEBRUARY 2021)


 * Chemistry and History: Why Barchie deserve to rise on Riverdale (NETFLIX LIFE • FEBRUARY 2021)


 * "Riverdale" Fans Are Freaking Out Over The Shower Scene In The Latest Episode (BUZZFEED • FEBRUARY 2021)


 * 2020
 * Riverdale Review: Lynchian (Season 4 Episode 18) (TELL-TALE TV • APRIL 2020)


 * "Riverdale" Just Gave Us One Of The Best TV Kisses Ever And I'm Crying (BUZZFEED • APRIL 2020)


 * Y'all, KJ Apa From "Riverdale" Revealed That He Wants Betty To End Up With Archie And I Am Gobsmacked (BUZZFEED • FEBRUARY 2020)


 * Riverdale just teased Archie and Betty romance (POP BUZZ • JANUARY 2020)


 * Betty And Archie Might Finally Date On "Riverdale," And I Am Freaking Out (BUZZFEED • JANUARY 2020)


 * Betty And Archie From "Riverdale" Are Endgame And I Have Proof (BUZZFEED • SEPTEMBER 2019)

Acknowledgements

 * Made the TV Line "Best TV Couples Of 2021" list
 * On the TV Fanatic list of "The Best TV Couples of 2021"
 * Featured as part of the Fansided "2021 Biggest Fandoms In The Wold" list
 * Made the Tell-Tale TV "Best TV Couples of 2021" list
 * Their first time made the TV Line "Sexiest TV Scenes of 2021" list
 * 2020
 * Their kiss while singing "Origin Of Love" made the Buzzfeed "2020 Best TV Couple Moments"
 * On the Entertainment Weekly list of most memorable ship moments of 2020
 * The ship made the Buzzfeed Best Weekly TV Moments list twice.

Variations

 * Barchead refers to the ship between Betty, Archie and Jughead Jones