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“The Chilling Adventures of Sa-brina” puts a dark twist on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”. It’s a coming of age story that dips into both horror and the occult, a stark contrast from the original show. Instead of being a “good witch”, Sabrina Spellman, played by Kiernan Shipka, has her life practically picked out for her. On her 16th birth-day, she is supposed to sign her name in “The Book of The Beast” just as her aunts did.
In this remake, the story focuses on characters and other witches who are inherently “dark”. They choose a more occult side versus the “good” side. Spellman is both half witch and mortal, so of course that throws her into an entirely di erent category than anyone else she knows. And on top of all of that, Spellman, has to juggle her responsibilities to both her mortal life and her witch life.
At rst, the interpretation of the original show can be intense, but it actually makes it all the more appealing to watch. What happens in the original is not what happens in the remake, al-though the familiar cat that is known as Salem in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” is also present in this show as well.
One of the things that was enjoy-able was to see the way the writing and acting portrayed Sabrina. She has faults, and always wants to do well, but her push to do well also leads to her mistakes. The show doesn’t write out her choices as always helping others, and talks about the people she saves, or even resurrects have consequences. The show does well to show how Kier-nan plays a 16-year-old girl’s role while trying to gure out where she belongs and who she is.
The show is also rather funny at times with witty humor shared be-tween Sabrina’s Aunt Zelda, played by Miranda Otto, Aunt Hilda, played by Lucy Davis, and her cousin Ambrose Spellman, played by Chance Perdomo. The witty banter is also authentic as well as the ghts the family has and the troubles they face trying to live their lives while also dealing with internal family issues.
If you are looking for something chilling and di erent, this would be the show. It evokes mythology, history, and the willing suspension of disbelief. If one immerses themselves in the story line, they’ll enjoy the twists, turns, and intricacies of a new and dark portrayal of a beloved classic.
The series is back with a second season as of April 5.