Welcome one and all to Multiversity’s very own ‘Witching Hour,’ in which we take a look at Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Join me now, every Monday for your weekly recap. Today we begin our journey through the show’s sophomore outing which didn’t hold back any punches. Our Favorite witches and warlocks are back and hell is about to break loose. Although Sabrina is now a full fledged witch, her struggles with her dual life continue in the season premiere, and most likely through the rest of the season. Warning, spoilers ahead.
1. Fighting the Demonic Patriarchy
Sabrina‘s first season gave us a glimpse of the social justice warrior within our main character. She saw some injustices both at Baxter High and the Academy of Unseen Arts and she fought against both. Now that Sabrina’s has signed her name away in the Book of the Beast, she’s been endowed with immense power and decides to use it to stand up for real change, especially within her coven.
Although we saw glimpses of how witches are viewed compared to warlocks in the Church of Night last season, this first episode really shows us how deep that misogyny goes. Taking some influence from the Harry Potter series, the Academy of Unseen Arts has a “head boy.” Father Blackwood nominates Nick Scratch, cause why not? He’s Sabrina’s number one guy now that she’s left her mortal friends and Harvey behind. Nick, inspired by Sabrina’s declaration that all students, regardless of gender should have a voice, nominates Sabrina for head boy, because their school is in dire need of some modernization. What ensues are three challenges between the two, some magical history, potion making, and conjuring.
It’s revealed that there has never been a high priestess of the Church of Night and Sabrina vows to one day be that high priestess. She is basically laughed out of the room and with the help of Prudence (whose father won’t even bestow upon her the Blackwood name) and the weird sisters, Sabrina makes it through the first challenge, defeating Nick. The next two challenges prove a little more difficult.
2. Potions
Because she doesn’t have the weird sisters whispering history answers into her ear, Sabrina doesn’t do so well with her “boil and bubble” challenge. Luckily Hilda, is the experienced potion master in the family. We get a rather heart breaking scene with Hilda and Sabrina. They discuss Sabrina’s dark baptism, Hilda looks on as Sabrina tells her that The Dark Lord will one day call upon her for her services, horrified with tears in her eyes. We will see Hilda ever Sabrina’s biggest supporter continue to do what’s best for her niece.
Even with Hilda’s proficiency in potion making, Sabrina unfortunately manages to putrefy the potion and fails the challenge. As a consequence, Sabrina must chug the potion and immediately vomits it back up. I guess this shows some true grit, because even though she loses, she is cheered on.
3. Meanwhile, At Baxter High
So, this episode did something great. It minimized the time spent at Baxter High. With all the cool witchcraft happening, do we really need to know what’s going on with the mortals of Greendale? Apparently, yes. Baxter High’s new principal, Ms. Wardwell (hey remember when she ate Principal Hawthorne?) makes it clear that under her regime, the students will soon follow a new set of rules.
Susie tries out for the boys basketball team, and is maliciously teased by the rest of the team. Wardwell steps in and says that it’s okay for her to try out. Unfortunately, she’s hindered by her size. But that’s okay if one of your best friends is a witch.. sort of. Once again, after many many mistakes, Sabrina steps in to help Susie with her basketball skills. Yes, Sabrina once again magically manipulates one of her friends without their consent. When will she learn?
After Susie kicks some ass, she proclaims that she’ll go by the name of Theo from now on, which is a nice call back to their great Aunt Dorthea and a huge step for the character. We knew that Susie Putnam felt different from her peers from last season and we even see a demon call her a boy. Roz later explains to Harvey that Susie has always been Theo, but now they’re ready to live how they really see themself. Of all the mortal subplots, I’m glad that the Susie/Theo was handled gracefully. Harvey and Roz accept Theo without hesitation. It’s a sweet moment and one that shows that Roz and Harvey are some true friends. I guess you can lump Sabrina in there, but she’s still screwing with her friends’ lives with magic. Damnit, I thought she’d have known better.
Continued below4. Rats, Bats, And Flies
While all of the melodrama is happening, the deeper story arc rears its head in a big way. Those three demonic kings that we last saw in “A Midwinter’s Tale” are back and they come with great tidings. The first reveals itself before the beginning of Sabrina’s first trial. It’s the reason why she needed the weird sisters’ help. As Sabrina studies her history, the first king unleashes a box of rats on our heroine. Being in the library full of spells, Sabrina “accios” a book of banishment and sends the demon away. Believing she’s a target of Nick Scratch supporters, she unleashes some hellish aggression on Ambrose warning him to tell his buddies to leave her alone. She’s so worked up that she throws some sass towards Hilda in an amusing moment.
The second demon attacks Sabrina in the woods and opens a box of bats. Using a trusty witch whistle from Zelda, Sabrina manages to ward off the demon. The third and final demon captures Sabrina at Baxter High, He binds her hands so her spell casting is ineffectual. Is that how magic works? I don’t know about that one. Luckily, Sabrina’s Dues Ex Machina, Principal Wardwell always has Sabrina’s back (does she though?). Wardwell finds the two, names the demon Beelzebub, Lord of Flies, and banishes him before he reveals her own true identity.
Still under the impression that Nick Scratch and his cronies are sending these demons to sabotage Sabrina, she confronts the warlock only to find out he would never do that to her. Nick Scratch isn’t above cheating but he’s obviously infatuated with Sabrina and I don’t think he would do anything harmful to her. They come to recognize the demons as the King of the Plagues Asmodeus, the Lord of Vermin, Purson, the Lord of Shadow, and of course Beelzebub.
Sabrina and Nick decide that Blackwood is behind it, because ya know, he’s a sexist dick. The two conjure the three kings and it’s here that we get some meaty details. They have come to stop the “half-breed from ascending.” Naturally, Sabrina wants to know more, because what the hell does that mean? But before she can get all of her answers, Blackwood steps in and banishes them for good. He then appoints Ambrose as head boy. I mean good for Ambrose, but after all that, I feel a little cheated.
5. Just A Few Side Thoughts
Okay, so this episode was pretty good. It showcased some neat magic stuff and moved the plot forward while checking in on Sabrina’s mortal friends. I’m happy with Sabrina’s “woke” friends as they accept a pretty important change to one of our side characters. I think Theo will face some challenges in upcoming episodes so it’s important that they have a group of friends who accepts them for who they are.
Speaking of friends, seems like Roz and Harvey might be getting a little bit closer if Roz’s vision is to come to fruition. I’m sure there will be plenty of teen drama to sink our teeth into when the time comes.
This episode opened with a dream. We see Sabrina’s birth, her mother and father, her aunts and The Dark Lord. While I believe the dream’s purpose was to highlight the Plague Kings, I’m hopeful that we learn more about Edward Spellman, as well as his pact with the Dark Lord. We saw some of Diana in “A Midwinter’s Tale,” but we didn’t learn all too much.
Oh hey, where the heck is Salem?
That’s it for this week, next time we’ll see Sabrina dance with the devil.
