Welcome one and all to Multiversity’s very own ‘Witching Hour,’ in which we take a look at Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Join me this season every Monday for my recap the show’s final season. Last season ended with Sabrina tampering with time in order to free her past self from Caliban’s trap and defeat the pagans. The two Sabrinas decided to go their own ways with one taking the throne of Hell becoming Sabrina Morningstar, while Sabrina Spellman went back to her family to live in peace. But who actually thought that was going to happen, eh? Sit back and strap in because the Eldritch Terrors have finally arrived. Warning: Spoilers to follow.
1. Enter the Darkness
The Eldritch Terrors have been teased since season two. Harvey was shown a horrifying vision and since then, I’ve been foaming at the mouth for more. Despite H.P. Lovecraft’s very real problematic views, I do enjoy that kind of horror and it’s great to finally see that come to fruition. According to Father Blackwood, our favorite resident dark priest, there are eight Eldritch Terrors in total, the first being ‘Absolute Darkness.’ In Greendale, this manifests in the only way we should expect: through haunted Kinkle miners. Dozens of masked miners emerge from the Kinkle Mines and they go around Greendale absorbing as much light as possible causing havoc for our heroes.
2. ‘Sabrina the Manipulative Witch’
I have a confession. I don’t quite know when Sabrina became my least favorite character in her titular show. I think it had to be toward the end of last season when she continuously made terrible decisions and refused to follow anyone’s advice which only made her problems worse by trying to keep her dual-life under control. This season premiere truly solidifies that feeling. I’m just going to say it and I feel bad doing so, but Sabrina’s the worst…She’s the worst. In this episode, Sabrina manipulates her friends into a “Fright Club” mission all because she felt lonely and likely bored. I’ll play devil’s advocate here though (see what I did there?) and say that Harvey, Roz, Theo and Robin all were making out in the middle of Baxter High’s library, kind of rubbing it in Sabrina’s face. Where are the adults in this school?
Anyway, Sabrina concocts a monster with Salem’s help, good ol’ Bloody Mary. I found it really funny that all of the Fright Club were unfamiliar with this urban legend, based on their collective knowledge of horror. Roz, using her cunning abilities, sees right through this ruse and like the wonderful friend she is, tells Sabrina that she doesn’t need to make up monsters for the whole gang to hang out. Having watched most of the season I will spoil you and say this trend of Sabrina being manipulative continues, and I suppose it’s always been there. For her part, Kiernan Shipka puts in a tremendous performance showing off those acting chops she gained way back when she was on Mad Men.
3. Sabrina Morningstar
Not only is Sabrina manipulative as hell in this episode, one can argue that she’s a total narcissist. I mean the only person she seems to really get along with in is herself. Once again, she ignores Ambrose’s advice and meets with her double. She travels to Hell and the two decide to fight the Darkness together. If Sabrina Spellman’s life is unfulfilled, Sabrina Morningstar is truly living her best life. She’s reigning in Hell, a non-stop dance party supervised by the realm’s worst adults Lucifer and Lilith. And even though he tried to kill them, Morningstar’s current suitor is Caliban, prince of Hell. Morningstar gives in to her infernal side, and has apparently forgiven Caliban for his treachery last season. I’m glad Caliban is back, his arrogance matches Sabrina’s quite well, and it’s truly a match made in heav– er– hell. We’ll see more from him as the season progresses.
4. Light in The Dark
As if dealing with Bloody Mary wasn’t enough, the Fright Club assembles a second time in the same episode, this time to fight back the darkness. As the miners continue to drain the light from Greendale, some of the witches from the academy join the mortals to try and hold them back. Meanwhile, both Sabrinas and Ambrose enter the Kinkle Mine to bring some celestial light to contain the darkness. Despite her infernal powers, Morningstar going in alone wasn’t enough. Ambrose is really the only one who seems to understand the very real threat that the Eldritch Terrors are to the coven, to Greendale, and to the world. Eventually, the Sabrinas use their combined strength to contain the first Eldritch Terror. See LOST season six.
Continued below5. The Endgame
As I’ve previously said, these Eldritch Terrors have been foreshadowed for quite some time. Knowing that this is the final season really set my expectations quite high for this season. And Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has some heavy lifting to do if it plans on wrapping things up in a nice little bow. I’m somewhat disappointed so far. Even thought this season starts out swinging right out of the gates, I am so uninterested in the character of Sabrina. She’s been nothing but arrogant to the point of creating an alternate timeline version of herself and trying to cheat her way through her struggles. But I suppose that’s what the show’s depiction of witchcraft is. Sabrina’s will to change her reality. I have no issues with Kiernan Shipka. Again, her performances are wonderful. I’m just so bored with her stagnant behavior. So as the rest of the Eldritch Terrors descend upon Greendale, what is this show’s endgame? Unfortunately I don’t see a glimpse of one in this episode. Hopefully that changes.
In an otherwise action packed season opener, this episode ultimately suffers due to its main character’s skewed motivations. Join me next week for some uninvited horror.
