ABOVE: Kiernan Shipka in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Warner Brothers Television
Directed by Lee Toland Krieger
Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Network: Netflix
Premiere Date: October 26th, 2018
Season One, Episode One: 60 minutes
Cast: Kiernan Shipka (Sabrina Spellman), Ross Lynch (Harvey Kinkle), Lucy Davis (Hilda Spellman), Chance Perdomo (Ambrose Spellman), Michelle Gomez (Mary Wardell), Jaz Sinclair (Rosalind Walker), Tati Gabrielle (Prudence), Miranda Otto (Zelda Spellman), Bronson Pinchot (George Hawthorns), Lachian Watson (Susie Putnam), Richard Coyle (Father Blackwood), Adeline Rudolph (Agatha), Abigale F. Cowan (Dorcas), Bronson Pinhot (George Hawthorne), Sarah-Jane Redmond (Mrs. Kemper), Kurt Max Runte (Mr. Kemper).
The first episode of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina wastes no time in pulling the viewer to the center of Sabrina’s world. Kiernan Shipka’s Sabrina is a girl trying to navigate the life of a teen and the burden of being a half-witch while juggling a boyfriend, social reform, and her upcoming not so Sweet Sixteen party (read Pagan Ritual overseen by the Dark Lord) with the family. She has a strict mother, an understanding aunt, and sympathetic cousin, but all of them expect her to adhere to the plan of going all wicca when she hits the big 16. Besides the ceremonial party, this includes a private school for witches and warlocks, shades of Hogwarts! She even receives a visitation from three current students of the school a la The Craft (see Halloween Video Review 2) because they don’t want a half blood at their pristine dark arts academy.
It also entails leaving her friends, and even her boyfriend behind. What is a girl to do? That is the dilemma that starts off a colorful and sometimes dark series that promises to be entertaining and original with some homages to what has come before and a good deal of originality in this graceful blend of horror and comedy.
The cast is in full control as this first episode hits the boards running. Kiernan Shipka is splendid as Sabrina bringing both wisdom and innocence in a tempered execution of the part. Special kudos to Lucy Davis and Michelle Gomez for bringing very off beat characters to life. Season One premiered on Netflix on October 26th. Happy Halloween–binge witching all around!
