9 / 10. A deliciously darker story than the 90s version, great casting and interesting plot lines

This updated version of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina follows Sabrina Spellman who, approaching her 16th birthday, experiences conflict between her half witch, half mortal nature. Chaos ensues in mysterious and entertaining episodes covering witchcraft, horror and occult topics with glee.

This show is darker than the 90s version of Sabrina with Melissa Joan Hart, it has a similar to feel to Netflix’s Riverdale, and exists in the same Archie Comics universe, set in Greendale. There is a good mixture of darkness, humour and spooky settings. A particularly dark episode was chapter 7: Feast of Feasts. It’s nicely paced with interesting macabre plot lines.

Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) is likeable as the young witch and all of the casting is spot on, especially Miranda Otto as Zelda and Lucy Davies as Hilda. Father Faustus Blackwood and Miss Wardwell are delightfully dark and mysterious (Richard Coyle and Michelle Gomez).

The show pays homage to ‘real’ witch history with character names matching people from the Salem witch trials; Putnam, Ha(w)thorne, Wardwell, and there are references to cult horror films, Zelda mentions the “delicious gifts” the Dark Lord “bestows on us” and the signing of the Dark Lord’s as part of the dark baptism ritual, references to The VVitch (2015). I like references like this to pick up on as it adds to the fun.

Harvey is the least interesting character but serves a purpose as Sabrina’s main tie to the mortal world, and she shares a nice chemistry with Susie and Roz, giving realism to Sabrina’s struggle with the daylight world of mortals and the night world of the witches.