The Netflix drama, adapted from Archie comics, has focused a great deal on exploring the mental health issues of lead Betty Cooper (played by Lili Reinhart).
This was particularly shown in episode 11 following the introduction of Chic Cooper (Hart Denton), Betty’s long-lost brother, in the episode before.
Yet while an emotional scene showed the siblings beginning to bond over a shared “dark side”, including the peculiar fact that they both dig their fingernails into their palms as a means of escape, Cheryl’s (Madelaine Petsch) trauma has been continually ignored.
The latest development for the fiery red-head saw her bitter mother Penelope Blossom (Nathalie Boltt) reveal that her new job is acting as an escort and prostitute to the desperate men of Riverdale, which naturally deeply upset her daughter.
Trying to help her mother by raising the money via Archie’s promise to get a cheque from her would-be rapist Nick St. Claire, the character showed how incredibly sensitive she truly was deep down, when Penelope refused to stop the upsetting job.
Reddit users have been incredibly vocal about the show’s apparent one-dimensional depiction of Cheryl, and have begged for writers to turn things around.
In one thread, a fan wrote: “I’d also dare them [the writers] to address Cheryl’s mental state.
“She survived a suicide attempt and a sexual assault and no one batted an eye for more than half an episode.”
“Hell, even before that she had an abusive childhood, is fundamentally lonely and has to live with the fact her own father killed her brother.
“She’s also clearly got some illness of her own (I’ve heard speculation she suffers from Borderline Personality disorder). Addressing that would be good too,” another said.
A third added: “Not to mention her only living family (that we know of) is her negligent mother that is clearly unstable and basking in her new prostitute-lifestyle.”
“Yes Cheryl’s mental state is much more troubling to me. She literally burned down her house because she thought it was the only way for her and her mother to cleanse themselves. That is some next level s***,” a fourth fan agreed.
Riverdale continues Wednesdays on the CW in the US, and is available to watch on Netflix soon after in the UK.
