If you like shows that are atmospheric with an emotionally driven plot and complex characters with great development, I’ve got good news for you – there’s a show on Netflix just waiting to be your next binge: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Not sure yet? Well then let me convince you, here’s five reasons why you should be watching the bewitching hit.
1. It’s Delightfully Weird & Dark
With a premise as dark as Chilling Adventures, it would have been easy for the writers to fall into the trap of writing a grimdark series (incredibly dark, gritty, and angsty), but instead they went a different way.
There’s no denying the world Sabrina and her friends inhabit is a dark one – ritualistic sacrifices, selling your soul to the devil, possessions are semi-normal occurrences in this world – but the show never loses its sense of fun. We see characters enjoying this blissfully bizarre world, we see the light in their eyes as they cast spells, or happily exclaim “Praise Satan!”
If you’re a fan of horror, this series handles it in spades. While it’s not like your average horror series, it has many fantastic horror elements – and plenty of references to horror movies that are fun to catch! It does tend to run a little gory here and there, but those scenes are easily enough to avoid (personally, I just covered my eyes).
The Chilling Adventures is an entity all of its own, and I can’t think of any show or story like it – it’s unique, haunting, fun, wonderfully bizarre, and I absolutely love it for that.
2. Complex and Realistic Characters
One thing Chilling Adventures does right is its characters – every character has an ongoing storyline, their own ambitions, fears and flaws; and majority of the cast is either likable or understandable. Characters – especially the female cast – are unapologetic in their actions and ambitions, but are also called out for their mistakes (unfortunately a rare trend in fiction).
And the cast is diverse – including Ambrose who is pansexual and begins to date a fellow warlock; the Weird Sisters and Nicholas Scratch are all open about former polyamorous relationships; and Susie, one of Sabrina’s best friends, is canonically genderqueer. A friend of mine also mentioned that the bond Sabrina and Salem share reminds her of an emotional support animal.
Each character – even with their magic – feels like someone you could meet on the street, and they may even remind you of someone you already know, or even yourself (I identify with Sabrina, personally). In a world as dark and wacky as the Chilling Adventures, the characters are truly what help ground the show, and are the heart of the story, fueled by fantastic writing, excellent direction, and incredible performances.
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3. The Relationships
A healthy romantic relationship? Believable family dynamic? Women supporting women? The Chilling Adventures has it all.
The show continuously features its female cast lifting each other up (barring a few exceptions), and the friendships on the show feel genuine – there’s love, affection, and fury at each other’s injustices. The friendship between Sabrina, Rosalind, and Susie mirrors a lot of my own personal friendships, to be honest.
Sabrina and Harvey’s relationship is refreshing in many ways – Harvey is the love interest, for instance, but moreover, they’re equals (even if Harvey is a mortal). They support each other, protect each other, worry for one another, and their love is so pure and genuine I dare you not to smile while watching their scenes together. And though their story is not without its drama, you always get the sense that, in the end, they will prevail.
In the family department, the Spellman’s provide a well-rounded household, with a realistic bond between cousins with Sabrina and Ambrose, and – of course – the bond each share with their aunts, Zelda and Hilda. There are several scenes towards the end of the first season that still haunt me because of how moving they were between the Spellmans. Despite the Spellmans’ many differences, this family will always have each other’s backs. And that is, of course, what makes family, isn’t it?
4. Themes
One of my favorite things about the Chilling Adventures is the themes they use in their storytelling. There’s an emphasis on family – by blood or not – being “outsiders,” power and freedom, and doing what’s right.
The back bone of the show is built on freedom and power; in order to have power, the members of the Church of Night must sign away their freedom to the Beast. Sabrina wants both – freedom to live with her friends, to love her boyfriend, to be a part of both worlds; but she also loves her magic, and wants more.
Every good story has a moral to tell, and I think Chilling Adventures has the best to share: find your own path in life, pave your own identity, and stand up and fight for what’s right, even if no one else will.
5. A Midwinter’s Tale Premieres December
Netflix announced that Sabrina would be returning sooner than expected with a holiday special that will be premiering December 14th, giving us an enchanting look at the Spellmans’ during the holidays – and a look at the gang after that epic season finale.
I mean, what better way to spend holidays than spend it with Sabrina the teenage witch? I definitely can’t think of one.
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