anyways, my semi realistic s5 spec: the significant moment mads teased was coming is a proposal, but they agree to wait until they're done school to get married. betty and archie's kiss/feelings get outed around grad and the core four implodes completely. cue five year time jump.

everyone comes back to riverdale in the "premiere" for choni's wedding. there was a mysterious death recently, but everyone brushes it off; they're just there for the wedding and then they're leaving again. but the episode ends with someone (an established guest star) getting

murdered at the rehearsal dinner. "second" ep is all about how the wedding is being postponed and getting everyone to stay in riverdale by the end of it (they're all suspects, some want to investigate, might stay for the new wedding date, etc). it's also revealed that cheryl

wanted to surprise toni by finding some relatives (a parent or sibling) and inviting them to the wedding, so they're here now. toni has some shit to work out with them, but once she does, she's glad to have them back. but they end up causing conflict between her and cheryl (they

don't approve of her marrying a blossom, they think she sold out or is too young, maybe they only came because they think she has money and when cheryl expresses her concern about that, toni doesn't believe her, whatever), and we have that drama for 5a, until they work it out and

have the wedding in the midseason finale. meanwhile, jughead is single and veronica has a bland business man fiance she doesn't love, but is a good partner (their relationship mirrors her parents in that way). even though they're cool, betty and archie haven't talked since grad

due to guilt and betty leaving for school, so they never got to explore their feelings. that's what they do in 5a, while they're both reconnecting with jughead (investigating this murder) and veronica too. things come to a head in the midseason finale (veronica dumps the fiance)

just in time for all three ships to have ~moments at the wedding (dances, longing looks, fixing ties, etc) and we'll finally get to see a legit love square shake out between them in 5b until the inevitable happens in the s5 finale.