On October 26, Netflix dropped its new series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Those looking for the fun of ABC’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch will be disappointed with the dark show. The series is based on the Archie Horror comics of the same name and is directed by the creator of Riverdale.
Kiernan Shipka plays Sabrina Spellman, a 16 year-old half-witch, half-mortal girl who, at the beginning of the show, is stuck between the biggest choice of her life: devoting herself to the Church of Night and becoming a full witch or turning her back on witchcraft to stay with her mortal friends.
What makes the Sabrina reboot so great? To start, it is d-a-r-k. Dark magic, Satan, gore, and death all find their way into this 10-episode season. The gothic house and the literal dark lighting are just the right touches for this perfectly creepy show. Lovers of the supernatural will find themselves binge-watching in no time.
Image Credit to Gizmodo
Netflix categorizes this show not only as ‘supernatural,’ but also as a ‘show with a strong female lead.’ The feminism in this show is strong and so are the characters. We see powerful women in many different ways, from conniving to vulnerable to cheerful. Seeing so many diverse depictions of strong and powerful women is refreshing. We see this portrayal in Sabrina. She is in a constant struggle between her two worlds all while dark forces are at work. Even while emotional or vulnerable, she puts herself first, refusing to bend to anyone’s will but her own. Sabrina questions tradition and fights for her voice, her choice, and to be heard in every matter she is subjected to. This stubbornness is what guides many of her choices – from going against her aunts’ wishes to creating a safe space for all women at her school. Kiernan Shipka’s portrayal is incredible. Despite the absolutely bizarre scenarios and questionable choices Sabrina makes at every turn, Shipka somehow makes Sabrina relatable.
All of the characters on this show are great. There isn’t one primary character that doesn’t have some kind of arc during the season. Susie (Lachlan Watson), Sabrina’s friend who we see bullied at the beginning of the show, is trying to come to terms with her sexuality and gender expression while trying to find her strength in an surprising role model. Sabrina’s other friend Roz (Jaz Sinclair) goes through some hard times that connects her to her family and friends in unexpected ways. Ross Lynch’s character, Harvey Kinkle, the boyfriend of Sabrina Spellman, develops his own arc over the season and grows beyond what I expected in the first episodes.
Image Credit to SCMP
On top of that, Sabrina’s family is quirky and amazing. Her aunts Hilda and Zelda are polar opposites but they become so much more than that as the season develops. Hilda is more than her cheery and bright personality, trying to maintain her values in this very dark religion. On the other hand, Zelda starts as a strict and devout worshipper of the Dark Lord but shows a softer side throughout the show. Even Ambrose, the charming and relatable cousin of Sabrina who, at first look, seemed to be just the giver of advice, goes through his own struggles as he tries to live life to the fullest while on house arrest. All in all, the characters on this show are played by amazing actors and they get some serious development. It’s a win-win!
Overall, this show does an amazing job at being dark, empowering, meaningful, and utterly unique! If you want to know more about Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, I highly recommend watching it! 10 episodes only takes 10 hours to watch, and they will be 10 g-r-e-a-t hours.