The seventh and final season of Riverdale is currently airing Wednesday nights on The CW, and for the series’ last year, the characters in this story about a town have been transported back to the 1950s in a reset environment. This new setup evokes Archie Comics of the past while also incorporating aspects we have known for several years. Most of the characters are unaware of their previous lives, which adds a twist. It’s a little bit Happy Days or American Graffiti but absolutely also very Riverdale, because even in another decade, there are murders and debauchery, all with many actors that the audience has enjoyed since Season 1.
Tonight’s (April 12) episode “Sex Education” may be one of the steamiest yet, as it looks into a situation where many of the characters have pent-up sexual energy, as real teenagers often do, even in the 1950s. We spoke with the show’s lead actor, KJ Apa, about this episode as well as what it has been like to film Riverdale Season 7. KJ’s performance has specifically been praised by many for his new take on Archie Andrews. You can find our interview below.
KSITETV’S CRAIG BYRNE: What has it been like as an actor to develop a new version of Archie, after several years already doing the show, and having so much more experience than when you started?
KJ APA: It’s a lot of fun, I’d say. We really get to have a lot of fun, especially with the tone of the season, being in the 1950s. And yeah, I guess, too, with more experience as an actor, and with this character and on this production as a whole, there’s a little more freedom to be had. And I think it was really, really great for the writers, and I’m so grateful for them to make this season a little more lighter in tone. It just makes for a more of a fun season.
When you first auditioned for Riverdale, did you expect the series to have a 1950s vibe back then?
No. I mean, I was so young that I didn’t really put a lot of thought into anything, other than the fact that I was just stoked to be on a TV show, and to be playing Archie, this amazing character. It wasn’t until a few years in – and we’ve all been talking amongst ourselves – that it really does feel like we should have been in the 50s the entire time, in a way, because it just feels so right.
Episode 703 “Sex Education” has a very sexy, steamy dream sequence. Would you say that might be one of the most sexual moments in the show’s history?
It definitely is the most sexual moment in the show’s history. It’s pretty gnarly, to be honest, because we are already a very sexual show.
Will we see Archie doing any music in the 1950s?
Yes, we will, especially in the musical episode.
So we will have a musical episode this year?
Oh, yeah. You think we’re gonna do the Last season without a musical episode, dude? Come on.
What will you take home with you from the set when the show wraps?
I’d probably take my letterman jacket. That’s all I’ll need. I’ve been thinking about that. There’s nothing [else], really, that I that I feel like I want, other than my letterman jacket. That’s a must.
What does this new Julian character add to the mix? He seems to be a bit of a rival for Archie.
He is a rival. He’s incredible. Nicholas 
[Barasch] is a great actor. And he’s a Blossom, and there are no limits with the Blossoms. I love having scenes with them, just because they’re so intense all the time, and there’s this evilness to them that I really think is a great contrast to Archie’s character.
We play a lot of basketball this season, and there are a lot of storylines to be had in that kind of realm of the team sport between these boys who have a lot of pent up sexual energy. There are also a lot of discussions about racism with the introduction of new characters coming into the show in the basketball side of things. So yeah, he is a very strong antagonist, and [there are] a lot of really important conversations to be had on this show.
How is Archie reacting to this new version of Veronica?
I think, like everyone else, he’s a little bit turned on by her. He thinks it’s kind of hot. She’s this new girl from L.A.. He only knows what it’s like to be in Riverdale, and here is this girl who has come to the high school, and he’s all over her.
And there’s still chemistry with Archie and Betty, right?
Of course there is. There’s still chemistry there, and there always will be.
Do you think we will see Archie in the present day again, before everything is done?
I actually got told by another journalist today that apparently Roberto said that apparently we’re not going to be in the 50s for all of it. As much as I love it, I think it does make sense to send the show back off with our original characters that have runs through [the show]. Who knows what they’re gonna do, man. They say a lot of things, and then they end up doing different stuff. So we’ll see what they actually do.
Do you have any kind of dream role that you’d like to take once the show is finished?
I don’t have a dream role. I’m open to to anything. It just depends. I’ve definitely been really enjoying the humor of this season, so I think doing something more in that that vein would be would be really enjoyable for me at this point in my life. It’s been really refreshing to play with the comedy.
When you started with this season, did you speak to any of your like older relatives or older people you might know about what the 1950s were like?
No, I didn’t. There are a few movies and stuff that portray a pretty good vibe. I also just feel like it’s all in the writing. Everything was there. I could kind of imagine all it, too. I’ve seen I’ve seen all the episodes up to 10, and I’m really loving what I’m seeing.
Is there anything that you would like to tell your younger self when he was starting to film Riverdale seven years ago?
If I was to speak to myself back then, I would say, “this thing is eventually going to come to an end, and you’re going to be wishing that you were more present and more grateful at certain times.” Being on a show like this, it’s not easy at times, and ultimately, when you come to the end of such a huge thing like this, it’s really sad. Part of you is excited that it’s ending, and a part of you doesn’t want it to end. It’s all that you’ve known for the last seven years of your life. So yeah, man. I think it would just be to be grateful, and to be present. That would be it.
For us as an audience watching the show, it’s a lot of fun seeing how you all as different actors play the 1950, and you’ve done such an amazing job with it yourself. Is there somebody in the cast that has really surprised you with reinventing their character this year?
Who has surprised me the most? Someone who I think is really embracing it is actually Ryan Robbins who plays Uncle Frank. He comes in a little later. He’s killing it. He’s such a good actor, and he’s got the whole 50s thing really locked in, and he just kind of did it really seamlessly. We’ve done a lot of stuff together. I think he’s probably surprised me the most.
What would you like to say to the fans who’ve been watching for seven years, or maybe those who just started to tune in for this new season?
I would say thank you for following us for this long and supporting us. As well as all the negative stuff, there has been a lot of positive stuff, and none of this would have been possible without the fans. I know that’s kind of a cliche thing to say, and you hear that a lot, but that’s the reason why we we take the show in a certain direction. I’m sure it’s influenced hugely by the fans, and it just wouldn’t be possible without them. I’m just so grateful to be working, and to be playing such an incredible character that’s become such an important part of my life.
New episodes of Riverdale air Wednesdays at 9PM ET/PT on The CW. The episode “Sex Education” airs TONIGHT (April 12) and will be streaming on The CW app on Thursday.
