Riverdale: The Teens, Ranked By Intelligence

Archie, Veronica, and the teens of Riverdale deserve credit for surviving their dangerous town. But some of these characters are smarter than others.

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With serial killers at every turn, some of whom are their own parents, the teens on Riverdale are forced to grow up fast. While they still enjoy a milkshake at Pop’s and the odd school dance, Archie and the gang are now seniors and must start planning for life after high school. Some are looking at how to make their hometown a safer place to live, while others are making their Ivy League dreams a reality.

Though every teen deserves some credit just for surviving until prom — which viewers will have to wait until next season to see — the graduating class of Riverdale High all show different types of intelligence. Some are book smart, some are street smart… and others aren’t smart at all.

10 Reggie Mantle

In Jughead’s story, when the teens ask each other who has experience disposing of a dead body, Reggie is the only one not to raise his hand. And this is just one example of his lack of knowledge. See, with the exception of football and perfecting the perfect cool guy smolder stare, Mr. Mantle doesn’t know much.

Growing up with an abusive father, Reggie has been through a lot and the fact that he has the mental fortitude to make the most of his high school years shouldn’t be discredited. But other than being a star on the football field and Veronica’s sometimes-lackey, there isn’t really much in the cards for Reggie. As likable as he’s become, it looks like he’ll be peaking in high school.

9 Fangs Fogarty

Fangs Fogarty is a sweet and caring soul who’s always there to help out his friends. While he’s remained alive thus far, he’s had some close calls thanks to his overly trusting nature. He was easy pickings for the likes of Edgar Evernever and the Farm, giving one the impression that any old cult could just swoop in off the streets and claim Fangs as their own, despite his past experiences.

Fangs’ ties to the baffling Southside Serpents also leads viewers to question his intelligence. When it’s convenient, the Serpents are a friendly neighborhood gang, ready to lend a hand to those who need it. Other times, their behavior is barbaric and draconian, like when they skinned Penny Peabody’s tattoo off her arm. Fangs just stood by and let it happen, knowing it was wrong but being too much of a follower to take action.

8 Archie Andrews

Archie Andrews is good at a lot of things. Boxing. Surviving bear attacks. Kissing Veronica while a heavily synthesized pop track plays on. The redheaded protagonist is also always there for his friends and anyone who needs saving. He truly doesn’t hesitate to help people.

Or, more accurately, doesn’t think. Archie’s hero complex has put him in hot water time and again because he blindly runs into situations without stopping to think of the consequences. He’s also more than a little naïve and has been known to trust the wrong people (i.e. Hiram Lodge). While students at Riverdale High might ask Archie to walk them home at night, nobody is picking this guy for a study buddy.

7 Kevin Keller

Kevin Keller has moxie to burn. It’s thanks to his initiative and creative vision that fans are treated to the highlight of every season — the musical episode. Whether lobbying for Heathers or defiantly performing numbers from Hedwig, it takes the right blend of nerve and forethought to pull off, and Kevin deserves some major credit.

But sweet Kevin can also be hopelessly naïve. Like his love interest Fangs, Kevin was easily seduced by the Farm, and even brainwashed into hurting Betty, one of his best friends. And while Kevin may be great with a cast list and a clipboard, his forays into Riverdale’s underworld often end in disaster. Remember the tickle video fiasco?

6 Cheryl Blossom

Never mind Riverdale; surviving a childhood in the Blossom household takes not only courage but smarts. As one of the only remaining members in her family, Cheryl has outwitted her relatives at every turn.

Alas, despite Cheryl’s keen survival instinct, she can be her own worst enemy. In the pilot episode, she says “I’m in the mood for chaos,” and that vice hasn’t let up across four seasons. She is the definition of a loose cannon, and can be a dangerous person to align with, as Veronica found out in their maple rum business. Clever as she may be, Cheryl is more impulsive than intelligent.

5 Josie McCoy

She escaped Riverdale with her life. That alone makes Josie McCoy a much smarter person than her friends and classmates.

While Josie may not be the most entertaining character on the show, this speaks directly to her intelligence. Rather than getting herself wrapped up with G&G or the latest serial killer du jour, Josie keeps herself squarely focused on her budding music career. When she sees the opportunity to go on tour with her musician father and leave her dangerous, one-nightclub town behind, she pounces on it. And it was the smartest move she could have made.

4 Toni Topaz

Toni Topaz is the much-needed voice of reason in Cheryl’s life. In fact, Toni is probably the most levelheaded person in the entire town of Riverdale. Unlike her girlfriend, Toni didn’t grow up with every conceivable luxury at her fingertips; she’s had to make her own way in the world.

Her unabashed loyalty has certainly paid off, as Toni has been living the good life at Thistlehouse with Cheryl for awhile. But while Toni’s selflessness is admirable, she’s on the cusp of graduating high school. At some point, she’s going to need to think about herself and her future. Is it possible that her devotion to others clouds her forethought?

3 Betty Cooper

Riverdale’s answer to Nancy Drew, Betty the detective has probably cracked more cases than the entire town’s police department. While she may needlessly put herself in harm’s way, unlike Archie or Cheryl, Betty always has a reason, and her efforts usually pay off.

Betty’s extracurriculars certainly speak to her intelligence. Throughout her high school career, she was editor-in-chief of the Blue & Gold and was even tapped for the Junior FBI program. Betty may make the odd mistake but don’t forget that this ponytailed powerhouse is still a teenager.

2 Jughead Jones

Academically, Jughead Jones is the smartest teen in Riverdale. The brilliant writer’s intellectual musings provide the thematic voiceover narrations that every episode is peppered with. Jughead may be a quiet soul, but his intelligence gets him noticed and even wins him a scholarship to the prestigious Stonewall Prep.

From a dysfunctional family life to contending with privileged sociopaths like Bret and Donna, Jughead hasn’t had an easy go of things. Yet the beanie-wearing lad has persevered at every turn, only using violence as a last resort. Archie may think with his fists; Jughead thinks with his brains.

1 Veronica Lodge

As implausible as it may be for a high school student to be at the top of her class and run multiple businesses, one still has to give Veronica credit for pulling it all off. While her privilege has afforded her certain opportunities not available to her peers, Veronica has also had to contend with backstabbing family members who want to quell her ambitions.

Regardless of the obstacles, Veronica can accomplish anything she puts her mind to, whether it’s packing La Bonne Nuit with teens eager for the latest overpriced mocktail or creating a maple rum empire. But Veronica doesn’t do just use her enterprising wit for selfish purposes; she’s always cooking up schemes to help out her friends. After all, she was the brains behind the Archie prison break operation. The moral of the story is don’t mess with Veronica Lodge; she’ll outsmart you at every turn.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/riverdale-every-teenage-main-character-ranked-smarts/