David Pierdomenico
When it comes to reboots of TV series, the newer version usually tries to emulate something from the original. They’ll aim for a similar tone, or just try capture the spirit of the older show that was so beloved. When Warner Brothers and Netflix produced The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina however, their goal was to be as different as possible from the antiquated 90’s sitcom. And in a strange way, it actually works out perfectly. The new series set out to make its mark, and while it does have a few issues here and there, it succeeds at telling a compelling and incredibly dark story.
A Much Darker Tone (Spoiler Free)
Right off the bat, this series doesn’t shy away from its origins in witchcraft and the demonic. The characters regularly say things like “Praise Satan”, and the visuals are simply astonishing. Clearly, the creators took notes from classic horror films like Night of the Living Dead and Pet Sematary (watch the series to understand both of those references). When we do see glimpses of hell and demons, the makeup and visuals are done to a disturbingly creepy level, but they’re never quite shown in the foreground.
The series understands that true horror is about dread, and that showing too much can ruin it. There are some genuinely creepy and frightening visuals and scenes throughout. This is something that other series like American Horror Story struggled with, as its tone was all over the place without an ounce of subtley (more on that here). Sabrina also avoids the trap of the “teen drama” overshadowing the horror/mystery elements like Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. Clearly, given the teenage characters, this series is partly aimed at that demographic. But there’s enough in it for horror fans in general that older fans won’t feel alienated by it.
The Characters (Spoiler Free)
The first episode introduces us to a soon to be 16 year old Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka), a half witch/mortal, who is having reservations about signing The Book of the Beast and fully joining the coven of witches. She wants to learn and improve on her magic, but also yearns to keep her connections with her mortal friends and boyfriend, Harvey. She’s very much a modern teenager with her tendency to question and challenge authority, something that her aunts claim she inherited from her father.
The show itself tries very hard to be progressive, not just with Sabrina but with her friends as well. And while this agenda can often be shoved down audiences’ throats in a not subtle way, Sabrina handles it very well. It never feels preachy, rather these characters simply feel like well developed, real teenage girls. We also get to see new takes on Aunts Zelda and Hilda. While in the past they were played for comic relief, this version still portrays Zelda as the more level headed serious sister, and Hilda as the more lighthearted and sometimes dimwitted sister. But they both love and care for Sabrina unconditionally and help add to the series’ family dynamic.
The Storyline (Minor Spoilers)
As previously mentioned, we see Sabrina face a difficult choice of whether or not to sign the Book of the Beast. Ultimately her decision leads to a court trial and her eventual attendance to the Academy of Unseen Arts to learn magic. The first three episodes dealing with her decision and trial are some of the most interesting and really help the audience get hooked on the series. Once she does get to the Academy however, everything starts to get a little too Harry Potter.
Fortunately this only really lasts for episode 4, which is the only one that could be considered the weak link of the whole season. The second half the of the season deals with exorcisms, voodoo rituals, and the Angel of Death himself. It all flows very well from a storytelling standpoint. One event directly causes the next, leading up to the epic climax in episode 10. Initially it seemed like the entire season would just deal with Sabrina’s choice, however, in a welcome surprise, this is wrapped up by the end of the second episode to make room for more storylines.
A Very Confident Netflix
As the streaming giant goes full slasher by canceling Orange is the New Black, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage, they’ve already started filming the next season for Sabrina. Given the buzz surrounding it, this is no surprise. And after fans binged the entire season over the weekend, they made it clear that they wanted more. It’s dark and creepy, but also doesn’t forget to be witty and fun at times. So for anyone looking for something new to stream this Halloween, look no further!
