Riverdale season 2

The second season of Riverdale premiered on The CW on October 11, 2017 and concluded on May 16, 2018 with a total of 22 episodes. The series is based on the characters from the Archie Comics, created by Maurice Coyne, Louis Silberkleit, and John L. Goldwater, and was created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

The principal cast sees KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Marisol Nichols, Madelaine Petsch, Ashleigh Murray, Mädchen Amick and Luke Perry returning from the previous season, and introduces Mark Consuelos, Casey Cott, and Skeet Ulrich in starring roles. The season centres around a shooter known as "The Black Hood" who terrorizes the citizens of Riverdale.

Main

 * KJ Apa as Archie Andrews
 * Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper
 * Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge
 * Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones
 * Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge
 * Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom
 * Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy
 * Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge
 * Casey Cott as Kevin Keller
 * Skeet Ulrich as FP Jones
 * Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper
 * Luke Perry as Fred Andrews

Recurring
• Lochlyn Munro as Hal Cooper

• Martin Cummins as Sheriff Tom Keller

• Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz

• Nathalie Boltt as Penelope Blossom

• Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle

• Jordan Connor as Sweet Pea

• Robin Givens as Sierra McCoy

• Alvin Sanders as Pop Tate

• Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs Fogarty

• Cody Kearsley as Moose Mason

• Peter James Bryant as Waldo Weatherbee

• Hart Denton as Chic

• Emilija Baranac as Midge Klump

• Scott Mcneil as Gerald Petite "Tall Boy"

• Brit Morgan as Penny Peabody

• Stephan Miers as Andre

• Tiera Skovbye as Polly Cooper

• Asha Bromfield as Melody Valentine

• Barclay Hope as Cliff and Claudius Blossom

• Barbara Wallace as Rose Blossom

• John Behlmann as Arthur Adams

• Hayley Law as Valerie Brown

• Shannon Purser as Ethel Muggs

• Beverley Breuer as Sister Woodhouse

• Moses Thiessen as Ben Button

• Graham Phillips as Nick St. Clair

Guest
• Jordan Calloway as Chuck Clayton

• Major Curda as Dilton Doiley

• Molly Ringwald as Mary Andrews

• Cameron McDonald as Joseph Svenson / Conway

• Robyn Ross as Mrs. Klump

• Henderson Wade as Sheriff Michael Minetta

• Tommy Martinez as Malachai

• Sarah Habel as Geraldine Grundy

• Tom McBeath as Smithers

• Rob Raco as Joaquin DeSantos

• Trevor Stines as Jason Blossom

• Colin Lawrence as Coach Floyd Clayton

• Kwesi Ameyaw as Dr. Masters

• Robert Baker as Robert Phillips

• Mark Brandon as Xander St. Clair

• Michelle Brezinski as Simone St. Clair

• Tony Todd as McGinty

• Graham Greene as Thomas Topaz

• Jerry Wasserman as Mr. Lazenby

• Azura Skye as Darla

• Beckham Skodje as Hal Cooper (kid)

• M.C. Gainey as Poppa Poutine

Development & Writing
The series was renewed for a second season on March 7, 2017. Principal photography for the season began on June 2017 in Vancouver. On January 24, 2018, The CW announced the production of a musical episode for the season based on the Stephen King's classic novel, Carrie (novel). The episode, titled "Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember" was first screened at the PaleyFest LA Spring Season in March 2018 and premiered on The CW on April 18, 2018, receiving positive reviews from critics.

Casting
On April 25, 2017, it was announced Mark Consuelos join the season to play Veronica's father, Hiram Lodge. Consuelos' casting, was in second position due to his co-starring role in the Fox’s baseball drama series Pitch (TV series), but that series was cancelled on May 1, 2017. On May 12, 2017, Charles Melton was cast as the role of Reggie Mantle, replacing Ross Butler who portrayed the role during the first season. Butler leave the show due to his commitment to the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. On that same date, it was announced the promotion of Casey Cott to the main cast as the role of Kevin Keller. Brit Morgan was cast on July 14, 2017 to portray the recurring character of Penny Peabody during the season. On August 11, 2017, it was announced that Graham Phillips had been chosen to play Nick St. Clair, Veronica's ex-boyfriend from New York.

Release
The first trailer for the season was screened at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con on July 22, 2017. The season premiered on The CW on October 11, 2017 and ended on May 16, 2018. The season debuted on Netflix in the United States on May 24, 2018, 8 days after the season ended its official broadcast on The CW; for Netflix in Latin America, the complete season became available on October 11, 2018, a year after it originally premiered in the U.S. The season was released on DVD & Blu-Ray by Warner Bros. on August 7, 2018.

Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds an approval rating of 88% based on 15 reviews, and an average rating of 7.61/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Riverdale enters its sophomore year with an off-kilter new murder mystery while continuing to up the hormonal teen melodrama."