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. Sabrina’s back and as usual is ready to dive head first into danger. This week, to make good on the promise of last season, Sabrina goes to Hell on a mission to rescue her imprisoned boyfriend, Nick Scratch.
1. The Fright Club
It seems a month has passed since the events of last season. Sabrina and her friends, dubbing themselves “The Fright Club,” have been busy with school. Ms. Wardwell (the real one) is back and is particularly interested in teaching the teens about Dante’s Inferno. Roz even asks Sabrina to join the cheerleading team. Though it’s not all school for the group. Every day, Sabrina goes to the Kinkle Mines and tries to open the gateway to hell with good ol’ Harvey watching her back. After that the three mortal members of the Fright Club jam out in a garage. Meanwhile, the students from The Academy of Unseen Arts have been crashing at the Spellman’s, causing some major inconveniences for Zelda.
2. Windows to Hell
Though Sabrina has been relentless in her attempt to reopen the gateway to hell, none of her spells can undo the seal that Madam Satan put on the doorway. Roz tells her that it can’t be all hell all the time, to which Sabrina responds “It’s all Nick.” Sabrina’s obsessed. To the point that she doesn’t seem to put much thought into what happens after the Fright Club rescue Nick. Harvey poises this question to her and she simply tells him that she’ll find another prison for her father. Um, okay, but from what I remember, Nick Scratch is a fairly powerful warlock and because of this, he’s able to keep Lucifer at bay. We even see the struggles personified as a shirtless wrestling match between the Devil and the warlock. She doesn’t seem that prepared.
And to make matters a little worse, she gets an idea from Ms. Wardwell (the real one) about opening windows into the “Hellscape.” So Sabrina visits our ageless friend Dorian Grey, who makes a deal with Sabrina to send her to Hell through his very own window. She just needs to pluck the one flower that grows in Hell so its nectar can rejuvenate his skin and get rid of a nasty pimple. I’m not making this up. Even after centuries of life, an immortal teen can be reduced to nothing thanks to some acne.
3. A case of mistaken Blackwoods
While all the teen drama is unfolding in Greendale, it’s in New Orleans that some interesting stuff happens in the episode. Prudence Blackwood and Ambrose Spellman were last seen in pursuit of the ever elusive Father Blackwood, the former high priest, who has taken his twin babies, and Prudence’s siblings, with him on the run. Prudence and Ambrose almost get Father Blackwood when it’s revealed to be one of his lackeys. Having chased him for the better part of a month with no luck, the pair decide that they’ll turn to other forms of magic, specifically some voodoo, cause it ain’t New Orleans without some voodoo. With Prudence’s blood and a voodoo doll, it’s revealed that Father Blackwood is in Loch Ness. Could we see a fabled monster in the show’s future?
In a rather funny sub-plot for the episode, Zelda and Hilda attempt to fool the Church of Night’s high council into believing that Father Blackwood is still very much a part of the Church and an ongoing influence in their coven. Many props to Richard Coyle who gets to have some fun this week playing other people disguised as his character, as once again someone (Hilda) put on the disguise. It’ll be interesting when we catch up to the real Father Blackwood. As Ambrose said, he’s one of the most gifted magical users, so I’m excited to see where his storyline goes.
4. The Yellow-Brick Red-Blood Road
Using Dorian’s window, Sabrina and the Fright Club manage to get to hell. They wash up on the “Shore of Sorrows.” There they meet a young man who we later discover is Caliban, Prince of Hell. He tries to usurp the throne of Hell from Sabrina and will no doubt be an antagonistic figure throughout the rest of the season. Caliban tells the gang that Madam Satan is in the city of Pandemonium and to follow the “Red-Blood Road.” In a very Wizard of Oz way the Fright Club journeys through the circles of Hell. They arrive next to the Field of Witness where they meet a crucified Jesse Putnam, a literal scarecrow. At the behest of Theo, Sabrina casts a protection spell upon him, and promises Theo that they’ll save her uncle’s soul. After this they travel to the Forsest of Torment where they find Dorian’s flower. They also find a mad Tin Woodsman. They turn The Wizard of Oz on its head when Sabrina casts a spell that rusts the Woodsman. The Woodsman is meant to look like Harvey’s brother, Tommy. Finally they come to a door labeled “Baxter High.” The Fright Club meet Principal Hawthorne, who has definitely looked better. He plans to torture the students and brings in Roz’s grandma to pluck out her eyes. Yes each member of the gang gets their own personal demon. Principal Hawthorne is stopped by one of Madam Satan’s lackeys and has The Fright Club escorted to her.
Continued below5. Simple Cosmology
Madam Satan, still wearing Wardwell’s face, greets the children as Queen of Hell. She tells them that the Kings of Hell contest her right to the throne. Sabrina, a Morning Star must publicly name Wardwell (Madam Satan) as the rightful queen in exchange for Nick. Simple right? Well turns out it’s not. The kings bring in Caliban and try to undermine her claim to the throne. Sabrina locks eyes with Nick, in a shirtless court jester costume no less, and is taken into his mind where The Dark Lord calls her out for not taking her rightful place. He tells her that the only way to save the mortal world is by taking her rightful place as queen. He speaks of “The Old Ones” who are rolling into Greendale as they talk. He tells Sabrina that there must be a balance among the realms. If one realm is thrown off, the rest are in upheaval as well. After making out with Nick in his mind (how does that work?), Sabrina names Wardwell (Madam Satan) as the Queen Regent of Hell, until she comes of age. Naturally we know this won’t last as does Wardwell.
With new enemies afoot in Greendale, this season seems promising after it’s first episode. Join me next week with an all new episode.
