There is a lot to be said about Netflix's "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina", but ultimately it is a very much binge-worthy show. My main concern when starting the series, which I devoured in one (1) weekend, was that it would be too similar to "Riverdale" since they are both inspired by the same universe. I have nothing against "Riverdale" (I binged the first season happily), but the vibe for "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" felt different, and I was afraid they would turn it into too much of a teenage drama. Even though it does have its moments, I am happy to say the show mainly reminded of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", aka the perfect mix of teenage drama and supernatural world.
The series stars off with Sabrina Spellman and her approaching 16th birthday. I won't give away too much, but the main deal is that, because she is half-human/half-witch, she has to sign a book pledging loyalty to Satan (yes, that Satan), renouncing her mortal life and fully embracing her witch life. The theme of Sabrina's duality is one of the main themes carried out in the series, as she tries to balance her mortal life, her witch life, and the moments her two worlds collide. This made for a very interesting protagonist and a not so average heroine. Sabrina's morals are one big grey area ranging between good and evil, which made her a different type of protagonist for this type of show.
However, I can't deny that other characters were not as complex as Sabrina. Sabrina's mortal friends (and boyfriend) all had very intriguing story lines, but they were never really developed seeing as the series focused more on the titular character. The other people in Sabrina's life, especially her family and classmates from the witch world, suffered from a similar condition. A really good example is Ambrose, Sabrina's cousin, and a new character, who is in house arrest for a crime he committed in his youth. The subject of his imprisonment is dealt with, but never expanded on. All in all, secondary characters were fun, yet their personalities in the first season seemed to be just the tip of the iceberg.
The theme and mood of the series itself is much like the main character, there is a lot to it. Some people mentioned that the first season never really settles on just one genre or theme for the show, and I can see that. Like I said, some moments are very Riverdale-ish, which is not necessarily bad, but it definitely takes away from the darkness and Buffy-ness of the show. There is a lot darkness for sure. Those teen drama moments are there, but they are nothing compared to the darker, more intense moments in the show. I would say that the scenes concerning witches, the Church of Night, and Sabrina's role and morals make up for the other variating themes. These moments were dark, classic, and over all very intriguing.
All in all, I would say the series has some flaws, but they are easily over looked and could be used to the show's advantage in the second season, which has already begun filming. The first season of "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" sets up a good ground for the second season, but in the end it will al come down to what direction they chose to take with the show. Regardless of that, I can without a doubt say: BINGE IT.
