Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (TV series)
Bibliographic Information
Title: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Part 1)
Creator: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Production Companies: Warner Bros. Television, Berlanti Productions, Archie Comics
Streaming Service: Netflix
Release Date: 2018, 2019, 2020
Genre/Format
Action/Adventure/Drama/Fantasy - TV Series
Awards or Honors
8 Wins & 25 Nominations (IMBd, n.d.a)
2021 Winner, Directors Guild of Canada Craft Award, Outstanding Achievement in Production Design
2020 Winner, Directors Guild of Canada Craft Award, Outstanding Achievement in Production Design
2019 Winner Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Directorial Achievement, Family Series, Outstanding Achievement in Production Design
2019 Winner Golder Trailer Award, Best Title/Credit Sequence for a TV/Streaming Series, Best Title/Credit Sequence for a TV/Streaming Series
2021 Winner Reframe Stamp, IMDbPro Top 200 Most Popular TV Titles 2020-2021
2021 Winner, CAFTCAD, Excellence in Crafts - Textile Arts
Rating
TV-14 (Netflix) for gore, language, nudity, sex, smoking, violence
TV Series Length
The series ran for two seasons, 36 episodes total
Part 1 Summary
The series opens with 15-year-old Sabrina Spellman, who is half-witch and half-human, living a normal teenage girl life. Traditionally, witches undergo a dark baptism on their 16th birthday, and Sabrina’s is approaching. She doesn’t want to leave her human friends and boyfriend behind in service to the Dark Lord, though, which is a given in the Church of Night. She lives with two aunts and a cousin as her parents died when she was an infant. Sabrina has one aunt who it seems would do anything in service to their Dark Lord, and one aunt who quietly questions her own decision to join the Church of Night. Her cousin in under house arrest for reasons not fully known. After a failed dark baptism and a witch trial, Sabrina is allowed to keep her human friends if she agrees to attend the Church of Night sanctioned school for witches. She has an ultimate goal of taking Satan down, though, and so she is thrust into an adventure to strengthen her magical skills all while dealing with normal teenager drama and evil forces that are trying to take her and her friends down.
Creator Description
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is a producer and writer. Other well-known work includes Riverdale (2017), Carrie (2013), and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022). He received his BA from Georgetown and his MA from McGill. He also graduated from the Yale School of Drama (IMBd, n.d.b).
Critical Evaluation
This series was based on the Archie comic book series under the same name, which I haven’t read, but being in my 40’s, I watched and loved the 90’s sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which was also based on the comic. This series was darker and more sinister than the sitcom I remember, and possibly a little more graphic than my usual cup of tea (disclaimer - I don’t love scary movies, and often just avoid them). That being said, the series touches on modern issues for all teenagers all in the setting of Sabrina’s half human, half witch world, and I think many teenagers who like supernatural and horror shows or movies will love it. The graphics were well done in my opinion, and I thought the actress, Kiernan Shipka, who played Sabrina did such a fantastic job. I also loved the actor who played her cousin, Chance Perdomo.
One of my own favorite mantras.
Creative Use for a Library Program
The library can host a haunted house where teens volunteer to create props, scenery and be actors. The haunted house will be catered to the tweens and younger library community members.
Speed-Round Talk
Sabrina is half-witch and half human, and when she turns 16 she must decide if she will leave her human friends (and human boyfriend) behind forever to embrace and accept her place in the world where is a witch, and she worships Satan in the Church of Night. Will she be able to make the decision, and will her friends and family accept the decision she thinks is best?
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
This series is about a witch who lives in a world where her family worships Satan. The show has some dark moments (cannabalism is celebrated in the Church of Night). It’s likely there would be some religious objections. Additionally, the series is graphic. I haven’t watched the end of the series, so I don’t know the conclusion, but Sabrina is trying to change the aspects of her assumed religion that she doesn’t agree with, and define her own identity. This could be an important theme for other teens.
Reason for Inclusion
Many teens love thrillers and horror, and this series will fulfill that wish, while allowing viewers to think about the question of light and dark, right and wrong, and possibly themes in their own religion that they question. Additionally, the series includes characters who are diverse, including a gay character, a non-binary character, and a character with a physical disability. Lastly, the teenagers must problem solve to save themselves.
References
IMDb. (n.d.a). Chilling adventures of sabrina awards. Retrieved October 18, 2024 from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7569592/awards/?ref_=tt_awd
IMDb. (n.d.b). Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Retrieved October 18, 2024 from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2630745/?ref_=tt_ov_wr_1
Netflix [@Netflix]. (2021, January 2). Chilling adventures of sabrina | Teaser: Happy birthday | Netflix [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab_rXrgk5R4
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina [@SabrinaNetflix]. (2019, April 18). Netflix witch GIF by chilling adventures of sabrina [GIF]. Giphy. https://giphy.com/gifs/SabrinaNetflix-netflix-witch-sabrina-W6RuWuqL148eFwJ7dB
*Cover Image is property of Netflix; taken from Netflix