Witches worth watching: Casting spell on viewers

MAURA CHANEY, Reporter

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is an American supernatural series on Netflix based on the Archie comic book series under the same name. The series revolves around teenager Sabrina Spellman, a half mortal, half witch, portrayed by Kiernan Shipka, who attempts to live her normal teenage life while protecting her boyfriend, played by Ross Lynch, and the rest of her friends.

This supernatural show is based on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” from the ‘90s. However, this series involves much more gore, romance, and female empowerment than the original. Sabrina, a sixteen-year-old half witch, is introduced in the first episode alongside her mortal boyfriend, Harvey Kinkle, who is unaware of her abilities. The series goes on to show how Sabrina will protect her mortal friends while navigating within her family’s legacy of witches. If you still are not convinced, Sabrina also has a cat that she is able to communicate with. Cool right?

Throughout the series, positive themes and messages are shared, including female empowerment, friendship, and hope for change in patriarchal societies. Sabrina is a courageous character who will stand up to anything of evil nature to protect her friends. Although the violence in the first season is considered “gothic”, the violence intensifies and becomes gory through later seasons, which could be hard to watch for some viewers.

 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina can be confusing at times, featuring a strong “witch” vocabulary that can be hard to follow if you are not giving the show your undivided attention. Also, in each episode there is at least one new character, which could also be difficult to follow and keep track of. However, the constant sudden deaths that take place only give these characters a sliver of time before they leave the show. The characters that stay throughout the series are easily likeable and create attachment between the viewers and characters.

Ross Lynch in particular has gained his audience from Disney Channel and his music career. After Disney, he can be seen in My Friend Dahmer and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. As the show continues, the witchery portrayed in the show becomes addicting, and creates an interesting plot that makes characters fall for his innocent character that is very different from his earlier acting career. The relationships that grow and fall throughout the series also makes you want to keep watching.

This show aired on Netflix in October of 2018, and currently has three seasons, roughly ten episodes per season, and episodes lasting an hour. Season four is expected to hit Netflix in July of 2020, giving you plenty of time to view all 28 episodes before the release this summer. Be sure to add this series to your binge list! You will not regret it.