Chilling Adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Premiering in 1996, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” brought silly, light-hearted witchcraft to a time where more serious and scare movies like “The Crucible” and “The Craft” had made their debuts.
The recently released Netflix original series, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is nothing like the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” that we all remember.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is the creator of the 2016 hit show, Riverdale, as well as the 2018 original series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The revived Sabrina series had already gained attention prior to the release on October 26, 2018. Fans were waiting with anticipation for their favorite teen witch to return. Except this Sabrina is not the same witch.
If you’re expecting the series to start with Sabrina finding out that she is a witch on her 16th birthday… don’t.
While the 1996 series began with Sabrina levitating in her bed and her aunts explaining to her that she is a witch before her first day of school, 2018 Sabrina begins a few days before her 16th birthday, known as her Dark Baptism. With each series, something is being left out. In 1996, you do not know much about the world Sabrina currently lives in or about the magical world she has just joined overnight. In 2018, you do not know how Sabrina met her boyfriend Harvey or if her whole life has been affected by magic. As far as the first episode is concerned, I do prefer the new series. Although Sabrina’s life in Greendale is far less relatable, as relatable as a half witch, half mortal’s life can be, it positions the viewer into a new world and makes it known that his scenario could not be happening anywhere other than Greendale.
If you’re expecting glittery, cute magic spells… don’t.
In this new series, Sabrina is not using magic to change her clothes or to undo an embarrassing moment. She is trying to avoid signing her name over to The Dark Lord. Rather than a point of the finger and pink silky pixie dust, magic is the ancient and powerful connection between witches and their master. This new version of Sabrina is far more confident in her familial and personal connection to magic and will attend the Hogwarts-like Academy to broaden her magical skills. This magic is not to be taken lightly.
If you’re expecting a stuffed, talking cat, obsessed with world domination… don’t.
The “new” Salem does not actually speak but rather Sabrina interprets his gestures and meowing out loud. He is Sabrina’s “familiar,” or guard animal, that watches over her and the magic around her to keep her safe.
If you’re expecting a pair of loving aunts who mostly only differ in their sense of humor… don’t.
Sabrina’s aunts, Zelda and Hilda 2.0, are in a constant disagreement as Zelda is obsessed with the notion of being loved and admired by The Dark Lord and Hilda is rarely in good standing with their coven. There is also the dark humor associated with Zelda, in a gruesome fashion, killing her sister Hilda to teach her a lesson and to see how long it take her to reincarnate. While the humor is nothing like the older show, it is something to listen for on its own. Although it is much more of a dark and serious series, it plays off of typical religious sayings and switches the meaning to promote the hailing of Satan. For example, if Sabrina were to say that she agreed to fully join her aunt’s coven, Zelda may reply with “Oh thank The Dark Lord” rather than “Thank God.” The show also references the typical God and Bible as “The false God and his propaganda machine.” As the glory and dark nature of the show is not what immediately pulled me in, I greatly appreciate a good play on words.
If you’re expecting Sabrina to get her way and to learn a moral lesson at the end of each episode… don’t.
Many of the episodes are left with tension and a certain set-up for the next event taking place. This series is not something to play in the background as you are getting ready for school and I do not believe it will be the reruns that children turn on during Sunday morning breakfasts 10 years from now. However, the show does address many current topics that support and include a variety of issues in our society today. Without giving anything away to someone who has not yet watched a majority of the show, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” includes a many characters with diverse sexual preferences, sexual harassment, bullying, hazing, miscarriage and much more.
“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is anything but nonchalant. This show fits perfectly into a cold October night whereas “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” was a bubbly and relatable Sunday morning. If you’re looking to relive your childhood and see Sabrina’s story told as it has been told before, you will be disappointed. At first, I would say that I was disappointed with the new Sabrina as it did not feel nostalgic in the slightest. I would compare it to the let down I experienced watching the “Full House” revival series “Fuller House.” However, the main culprit of binge-watching is curiosity and to say that I was slightly curious in Greendale, Sabrina, and her aunts would be an understatement. I have found myself hooked on the setting, the trauma, the irony, and the characters. If you find yourself watching the hour-long episodes of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” late at night, make sure to have a 20-minute episode of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” queued up before you go to bed.
