The relationship between Betty Cooper and Archie Andrews, also known as “Barchie,” was dropped about mid-way through the series’ second season when the two kissed… but Riverdale season 4 is finally exploring what could have been.

Though my fellow Hypable writer, Kendra Cleary, has very different thoughts about whatever is developing between Betty and Archie in her Riverdale season 4, episode 17 review, I’m excited to see these two best friends finally get a chance to explore their potential romance, even if I’m a bit upset about the timing of it all.

Before I begin, let me just say this: Yes, I’m excited to see whatever is in store for Barchie, but I’m not proclaiming they should be endgame or anything of the sort. I’m along for the ride, and while this is something I’ve been waiting for and hope to see thoroughly explored like we’ve seen with the other relationships on the show, I still enjoy the characters’ other romances.

It’s beyond time for Barchie

I mean, exploring the romantic dynamic between Betty and Archie has been long overdue. We never truly got a chance to see this on Riverdale season 1 because Archie didn’t share Betty’s romantic feelings, which was perfectly understandable at the time. But after their season 2 kiss, which was almost immediately shrugged off, it’s been clear that this Barchie romance was, well, inevitable.

It’s been rather unrealistic — amongst the other incredibly unrealistic aspects of Riverdale — that these kids have been in such serious, committed relationships for years. Archie and Veronica had their moments with other characters last season, at least, but they reunited like it was nothing. Meanwhile, Betty and Jughead have been fairly solid throughout the course of the series.

That said, it’s not “unrealistic” for Betty and Archie to have feelings for one another after being in solid relationships. First of all, they’re in high school. This time of their lives should be used to act on their feelings — stupid or not, whatever your opinion of this is — and to explore their feelings so they go into adulthood with a better grasp of who they are and what they want.

All of these kids have gotten incredibly lucky, aside from Kevin, by having amazing first relationships. Those set the bar for their future, whether they end up with one another or not. That bar is not destroyed by Betty and Archie’s feelings for one another.

There’s always been something brewing between Barchie, and it’s time to finally see that come to light. I mean, Riverdale season 2 was the time, but at least it’s finally happening.

Betty and Archie have been best friends since they were kids, and had Veronica not come to town, it’s likely these feelings would have been reciprocated by Archie much sooner than their senior year. And these feelings now being shared and explored has nothing to do with their current relationships with Veronica and Jughead; it’s just a matter of history and self-exploration.

It’s unexpected and caught Betty and Archie completely by surprise because they do love their significant others so much. I may not be a fan of this cheating storyline, but I think it’s also important for the context of this romance, as Betty and Archie never thought they would feel this way about one another (again, in Betty’s case). It “came out of nowhere” because they kissed and realized that maybe there was something between them that they had always missed out on. If they hadn’t kissed after Jughead’s “death,” this likely wouldn’t have happened.

Give it a chance

In short, it isn’t hurting anyone to see what there is between Betty and Archie. This is a romance that has been culminating throughout their lives, since being best friends as kids. One way or another, these two were going to have mixed feelings for each other, and while we saw it a little with Betty in Riverdale season 1, it’s not like she was ever really able to express those feelings because they weren’t reciprocated.

It’s wrong to cheat, but it’s not wrong for Betty and Archie to explore these feelings for one another. They shouldn’t be in relationships while they do so, but if you think about it, that also makes sense. They’re still trying to figure out what they feel, and they don’t want to ruin their respective relationships (that have been so wonderful for both of them) over something that might not be real. Cheating is wrong, I’m not condoning it, but I think Betty and Archie deserve this chance.

I’m hopeful they’ll at least call their respective relationships quits after the next episode, if they realize there’s truly something between them worth exploring (and I believe that’s likely the case). Sometimes feelings hit you out of nowhere, and that’s okay. There’s a lot to be explored with Betty and Archie, but not while they’re with other people.

I’m excited to see more of this pair, as I’ve been rooting for them since the series premiere, even though I do enjoy their current relationships, too. And, truly, I don’t think this is going to break the core four apart (at least not for long). Their lives are incredibly intertwined and connected, and no one in the world can understand what they’ve been through like each other.

(My theory is that Betty and Archie’s romance could be used to cause a rift in the core four to separate them before the flash-forward that everyone thinks is so likely to happen to begin Riverdale season 5, leaving them a bit alienated from one another for the years they’re away from Riverdale. Then, years later, these four can reconnect and we’ll see what happens.)

Who knows, if Barchie doesn’t work out, maybe their relationships with Jughead and Veronica will be stronger (in the future) because they won’t subconsciously be thinking about what ifs.

Riverdale returns April 29 at 8 p.m. on The CW!