To understand Cheryl in 2023, we need to acknowledge the absurdity that preceded her. Throughout Riverdale Seasons 4-6, Cheryl’s career path included: Maple Rum runner, would-be cult leader (The Farm), arsonist, and briefly, a resurrected witch harboring the soul of her dead brother, Jason. But by Season 6’s "Rivervale" event and the subsequent Season 7 time-jump, the show settled into a familiar rhythm for the character: .
, which saw significant streaming success on Prime Video shortly after her time on The CW ended. Social Media Mastery: Authenticity vs. Brand
What made 2023 pivotal for Cheryl Blossom was the acceptance of absurdity. In past years, Riverdale tried to take itself seriously, and Cheryl’s social presence followed suit. But in 2023, everyone—from the showrunners to Petsch to the fans—agreed: the best strategy was leaning into the beautiful chaos.
Parallel to the character's conclusion, Madelaine Petsch used 2023 to establish herself beyond the "Cheryl Blossom" persona:
