Not as clever as it could be

In the context of publicity cycles, creators and producers can be forgiven for reducing their shows or films down to buzzwords. It’s a common practice for an obvious reason, hoping one reference or key adjective will hook a specific section of the audience. So when the minds behind Riverdale began to sell their show as “Archie meets Twin Peaks”, I was mildly perturbed, but understood the impulse. Then the trailer arrived, and looked like something cooked up by College Humor, back when everything was receiving a “grim and gritty” parody online. Still, the comparison to David Lynch’s landmark drama was tossed about, and still I mildly complied. Then I began rewatching Twin Peaks, the original product, in anticipation of the upcoming new season. And suddenly I realized the issue with the “x meets y” in this case wasn’t that it was reductive. Instead, the problem was that “Archie meets Twin Peaks” was already the plot of Twin Peaks. http://www.cutprintfilm.com/tv/riverdale/