Welcome one and all to Multiversity’s very own ‘Witching Hour,’ in which we take a look at Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This season, join me every Tuesday for your weekly recap. This week as the coven reals in powerlessness, we get to know the carnival folk more intimately.
1. The Wonder of Purple Summer
“Chapter 24” sees the coven celebrate the titular Hare Moon. The celebration is portrayed as something akin to Easter in which the Church of Night prays for regeneration. As its youngest member, Sabrina must sing and dance and release a rabbit in the woods. Only she’s not alone.
After some teases, we finally meet the villains of the season: the pagans. It seems, like a pantheon of gods, there can be different sub sects of witches. Clearly the Church of Night and the Spellmans are deeply rooted in Satanic witch craft. We already knew something was up with the carnival folks. We know they worship the “Green Man,” a seed in which they plant. Their leader even suggests to Zelda that the land in Greendale is so great, they’d consider “planting roots.”
Personally, I think this is the best the show’s been at presenting a viable threat to the Spellmans. Sure, there have been some unique creatures in this show. I’m thinking about Batybat or Gryla’s children. Look, the big bad has always been Lucifer himself, but honestly, he’s grown tiresome. Seeing these new magic users and their ferocity towards the Church of Night is refreshing and shows me there’s still much more to explore in Sabrina’s world.
2. BUSTED
Speaking of the Devil, we learn that the coven has grown weak and is being punished because the Spellmans deposed Lucifer. And as far as revelations go, this episode showcased many of the characters getting caught in various acts and/or lies. Running through the quickly, Sabrina gets caught being the queen of Hell, something Zelda says “changes everything.” Harvey catches the pagan snake charmer met and seduced his father. Thus, The Fright Club goes to investigate the carnival and Robin rats them out. In doing so, Roz meets the snake charmer in her tent and shortly after is turned into stone with her abilities of no use. Hilda is drops a bomb on Zelda telling her that Dr. Cerberus proposed to her. But the biggest bombshell had to to be Sabrina catching Nick in the act of some wild BDSM sex demons.
3. Teen Angst
Which leads me to my next point: Nick’s got some issues. After a touch of jealousy last week, Sabrina’s boyfriend went from sacrificing himself for their love to getting whipped and flogged by some demons. As it turns out, Nick’s experience in Hell was so much more devastating than he ever admitted. We saw the wrestling match going on inside his head, but here, Nick describes the price of trapping Lucifer inside him. He was tortured for what seemed like decades inside, while he was humiliated and treated like garbage by Lilith. He tells Sabrina that in the end, she just wasn’t worth it.
Ouch. I cringed when I watched that. If last season solidified anything, it was that Sabrina really did love Nick. She went to Hell to try and bust him out for Heaven’s sake. And here, Nick just shits all over that. He sinks so low that when Lucifer gives him what’s essentially an overdose in two potions, he gladly accepts.
4.The Hare Moon
The pagans had a wonderfully menacing entrance. They all appeared to come out of the foliage as Sabrina prepares to set her rabbit free. They are also celebrating an Easter-like holiday. When it becomes clear that the Church of Night no longer has much power, the pagans grow hostile. One seemingly casts a spell on Hilda, while the snake charmer chastises the coven and Nick for killing a snake which bit Dorkus.
As a peace offering, Zelda sends Dorkus to them with some Hilda’s moon pies. Prudence sends Agatha after Dorkus but the pagans get to the witches, with Dorkus also in stone and Agatha mad, having gazed upon Pan in his true form. These pagans have no mercy for anyone, mortals and witch alike. It’s quite the game changer. And I’m all for it.
Continued below5. Knee Deep in $#!^
Sabrina is perpetually in over her head. In the season three premiere, Roz tells her as much which prompts her to join the cheerleading team. “It can’t be all Hell, all the time,” Roz tells her. Let’s just take a moment to appreciate the sheer amount of crap Sabrina’s been shoveling since her Unholy Baptism. She’s dealt with the minions of Hell, various witches and demons, the Devil, himself. Now she’s dealing with these pagans. It’s exhausting, but Sabrina takes it stride. But will her overconfidence be her undoing? She’s got so much on her plate.
Tune in next week to see if the Queen continues to live up to her title.
