Lili Reinhart's Best 9 Moments as Betty Cooper on Riverdale

Happy birthday, Lili Reinhart! To honor the star of Riverdale on her birthday, we're taking a moment to revisit Betty Cooper’s best moments on the beloved CW series. Because who would Betty Cooper be without Lili bringing her to life on our televisions and computer screens week after week? (And also because we can hardly wait for Riverdale to come back on October 10. So let's jump into those Betty moments that made us love the character even more.

When She Broke Into Ms. Grundy's Car

This was our (and Veronica’s) first glimpse at the wonderful and useful sleuthing skills of Miss Betty Cooper and we'll never forget the day. The look of satisfaction she gives V when they hit pay dirt in the car? The world, meet Riverdale’s Nancy Drew. It was also a great reference to a classic Betty character trait from the original comics.

When She Kicked Cheryl Out of Her House

Look, we're definitely in the camp of preferring when Betty and Cheryl team up (see below) to when they’re in frenemy territory. But this was our first taste of Betty’s wrath, and it was pretty deserved at the time TBH (Cheryl was baiting her about Polly), so it has made the list. Don’t mess with Betty, and most importantly, don’t mess with Betty’s family.

When She, Cheryl, Veronica, and Ethel Took Down the Sexist Football Team

Chuck Clayton is on a road to redemption in the world of Riverdale, but before his therapeutic art classes and apology tour, Betty (and the gang) took to task his and the football team’s sexist treatment of the girls at their school — and won. It was definitely a Betty Cooper best. Though she may have gone a little too far doing it (cough, cough hot tub).

When Nana Rose Thought She Was Polly

That was a mildly terrifying — or at least jarring — moment for Betty, to be sure, but she handled it like a champ and quickly turned Nana Rose’s mistake into an opportunity to find out more about her missing sister, Polly. Those acting skills would later come in handy many times, whether B was investigating something or playing Sue in Carrie: The Musical. Also, props to Lili for acting as a character who’s often acting, herself. That’s meta.

When She Asked Archie and Veronica to the Homecoming Dance

When Betty asked Archiekins to the homecoming dance, then immediately chickened out and made it a three-way date with Veronica, she not only set herself up for an upsetting evening, but also fulfilled the Archie-Betty-Veronica love triangle reality that’s been a cornerstone of the Archie comics. It was also pretty adorable seeing Betty all flustered like that.

When She Tracked Down Her Missing Sister — and Fake Half-Brother

Again, the sleuthing skills on display! Betty spent a few episodes in Season 1 fretting over her sister’s whereabouts, and though the answer to that question wasn’t exactly uplifting, she stopped at nothing until she found Polly. And the reunion was super sweet (for a minute or two). In Season 2, Betty deployed the same determination to find her half-brother, Chic... who turned out to be a total fake, but still. Impressive, B.

When She Threw Jughead That Surprise Party

Betty’s (accidental) wild surprise birthday party for Jughead will live in infamy in the world of Riverdale. She had the best intentions — she even wore a sweater with a Jughead-like crown on it — but, partly because Jug hates his birthday and fun, partly because of Cheryl and Chuck, it all came crashing down around her. Betty, don’t choose event planning as a career, OK? (P.S. This failed party gave us the total meme-able “I’m a weirdo” speech, so it wasn't all bad.)

When She Reopened the Blue & Gold

Betty Cooper convinced the principal to let her revive the defunct student newspaper, recruited Jughead (who’d been pretty on the fringe until this point in the show), and immediately set out to solve the case of Jason Blossom’s murder. Betty and her investigative skills are not to be trifled with — and the reopening of the Blue & Gold gave her perfect reason for her snooping around.

When She Rejected the Black Hood, AKA Her Dad

Betty’s Season 2 journey largely revolved around her quest to find the serial killer terrorizing the town of Riverdale, AKA the Black Hood, who taunted her all season with phone calls, messages claiming they were similar souls, and twisted missions. She finally discovered that the Black Hood was her own dad, but she didn’t let that deter her from seeking justice. One of the most striking moments of the season saw Betty visiting her father in jail and firmly rejecting him, his choices, and any part of her that was like him as he tried to sway her to the dark side. You go, Betty!

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