WARNING: Spoilers for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season 3.
The third season of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina includes more connections to The CW’s Riverdale than ever before, seemingly confirming the two Archie Comics TV shows co-exist in the same universe. Ever since Warner Bros. TV brought the Archie Universe to life through The CW and Netflix, viewers of both properties have been waiting for a potential crossover.
Both Riverdale and Sabrina have made their fair share of nods and Easter eggs hinting at them possibly set in the same universe. With the obstacle of airing Riverdale on The CW and Sabrina on Netflix, it becomes a question about crossing paths between platforms. But given the involvement of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa as showrunner for both projects, it has allowed the series to do references, nods and even some cameos of minor characters.
As each show progresses episode after episode, the connections between Riverdale and Sabrina have increased to a degree. With season 3 of the Kiernan Shipka-led series out, Riverdale managed to get incorporated once again on an even bigger scale than previously. As the new season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina puts the teenage witch through one of her toughest challenges, elements of Riverdale emerge throughout Sabrina’s adventures. While Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa) or his gang never appears in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season 3, fans of Riverdale will recognize a handful of established elements from The CW series.
Penelope Blossom Has a Cameo (Sort Of)
In the season premiere titled “Chapter Twenty-One: The Hellbound Heart,” one of the main arcs involves Ambrose (Chance Perdomo) and Prudence (Tati Gabrielle) still trying to find Faustus Blackwood (Richard Coyle). During their latest attempt, thinking they had found him, Prudence uses a spell to disguise herself as a woman trying to lure Faustus. But while both of them weren’t who they thought they were, Prudence’s choice of disguise is played by a regular Riverdale actor. The person Prudence appears as is none other than Nathalie Boltt, who plays Penelope, mother of Riverdale’s Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch).
The villainous mother got a larger role during Riverdale season 3 thanks to the Gargoyle King saga. While it’s not the actual Penelope appearing in this episode, it does raise questions. Despite Prudence never explaining why she picked specifically this woman to borrow her likeness from, has the witch perhaps met the Riverdale villainess? There must certainly have been a point where Prudence at least saw Penelope somewhere to get an idea for her temporary disguise, but the connection suggests a meeting that could even be revealed in the future.
Sabrina and Ambrose Take a Trip to Riverdale
After having been referenced a number of times, some of the Greendale characters end up taking a trip to Riverdale in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season 3. In the third episode “Chapter Twenty-Three: Heavy is the Crown,” Sabrina and Ambrose leave Greendale temporarily to find the crown that is located in Riverdale. On their way to the small town, the Spellman cousins drive by a “Welcome to Riverdale” sign that includes a fun Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) Easter egg.
On the back of the sign, painted in graffiti, is the message “JJ Wuz Here”, a phrase the character has used before. With the iconic crown added on the sign that became a major shout to the iconic Archie Comics character. While Penelope had her cameo earlier on, it’s not the only Blossom touch that appears in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season 3. The tree where the Spellman cousins find the crown is actually one of the Blossom family’s maple trees.
Doctor Cerberus Gets Burgers From Pop’s Chock’ lit Shoppe
One of the most iconic Archie Comics locations in the mythology which also made it into Riverdale is Pop’s Chock’ lit Shoppe. The diner has been part of the show since the first season and becomes a bigger part of the main characters’ regular lives with Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) currently owning it. In the sixth episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season 3, titled “Chapter Twenty-Six: All of Them Witches”, one of the main characters shows their love for the beloved diner. As Hilda (Lucy Davis) has been spider-infected, changing her appearance drastically, she asks Doctor Cerberus (Alessandro Juliani) for a big favor.
Despite the state she is in, Hilda tells him about the famous diner and asks if he could get her some of Pop’s delicious food for her. However, the spider-turning Hilda is getting worse as she eats someone with ties to another familiar Riverdale element. A customer visits Cerberus Books only to, literally, getting trapped in Hilda’s web before being eaten up. While never named, the man was wearing a Southside Serpent leather jacket, revealing himself to be a member of the long-existing gang. It’s one of those “blink or you’ll miss it” Easter eggs where the jacket is briefly seen before Hilda eats him.
Whether or not Riverdale characters will mention a Southside Serpent member having gone to Greendale, but mysteriously never returned, remains to be seen in future season 4 episodes. But it wouldn’t be the first time that something weird has happened to someone on Riverdale while being in Greendale. With the connections between the two shows increasing every season, it does seem that they’re, more or less, part of a shared universe. Whether the tie-ins or cameos get bigger in scale or not, depends on what’s in store for Riverdale season 5 and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina part 4.
