10 TV Shows That Completely Wasted Great Characters

Poor, poor Polly Cooper.

Sure, almost everyone in the titular town has had a time of it on Riverdale, given that the soapy structure of the show relies on even minor character facing more than their fair share of serial killers, organ harvesters, fake siblings, secret half siblings, and assorted other challenges we’re all familiar with. However none of the denizens of the eponymous suburb in this campy CW megahit have been quite as mistreated as Polly, and we’re not sure why the writers decided to give her the short shrift.

For one thing, Polly should have been central to the first season as the love interest of Jason Blossom, the boy whose murder the series revolved around. But already she was relegated to the background before being shuffled offscreen into a convent, as the show decided to take Hamlet’s advice “get thee to a nunnery” too literally.

Since then, the character has been side-lined out of the adventures enjoyed by her occasionally mad teen detective sister and scene-stealing former biker mum, played by Twin Peaks starlet Madchen Amick. With a serial killer dad to contend with as well, along with her recent decision to join a cult/ organ-harvesting ring, one would really think Polly was interesting enough to qualify for more than a few minutes screen time per season.

But alas it’s not to be, and fans of the show will have to wait if they want to more from thus underrated gem.