This Riverdale Take Will Make You Reconsider Jughead’s Running Gag

Summary:

• Riverdale was the The CW sci-fi teenage drama show, based on Archie Comics comic books.
• Jughead, portrayed by Cole Sprouse, is one of the main characters the show is focused on.
• The show highlights Jughead’s relationship with food as a running gag, yet some fans argue it has a deeper meaning.

There are many good and bad things that can be said about Riverdale, but you cannot deny the show's ability to surprise even the most die-hard fans. The finale of the series, which premiered earlier this year, is still a shocker that the fanbase is still trying to wrap their minds around.

But that's not the only thing Riverdale has done well over the years.

One of the show's strengths has always been its ability to tackle tough issues and make them part of the story. Throughout the seasons, the characters face many horrible things, from poverty to kidnapping to cults and conversion therapy. Sometimes the approach was subtle. Other times, the writers were very direct with the ideas they wanted to convey.

Given all of this, it's not surprising that even after the show is over, some fans continue to look for deeper meanings in scenes they might have skipped before.

Jughead’s Relationship With Food Is More Than a Joke

In the comic books, Jughead is constantly seen eating, and these scenes often serve as comic relief. The same has been adapted for the show. However, the analysis of one member of the r/Riverdale subreddit suggests that the character's relationship with food should have been treated with more respect.

Redditor rythmicjea shared their thoughts on the matter in a post that quickly gained a lot of traction. Many fans have never thought of this theory, but once you see it, it makes a lot of sense. The theory is as follows:

“The dude has food insecurity! He eats all the time because he is afraid he doesn't know where his next meal is going to come from. <...> Him eating is played for a joke but it's a cover up to show how badly off Jughead was and to show the disparity between how much privilege his friends have compared to him.”

From the heartwarming dialogue upon Pop's retirement, when Jughead tells him that he doesn't know what he'd do without him, to constantly snacking on vending machine chips instead of getting a meal, the more you look at what and how Jughead eats, the more sense it makes.

The topic of complicated relationships with food is one that is often explored in teen TV shows, but in a show like Riverdale, it must have been very subtle, if it was at all. Whether the theory is true or not, we may never know. But it certainly makes Jughead's character more complex and adds another layer to him.

If you want to re-watch Riverdale with this information in mind to see if you notice more details about Jughead's interaction with food, you can stream it on Netflix.

Source: Reddit