Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Review: The Missionaries and The Miracles
Yana Grebenyuk
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Events are slotting into place, and the story is just getting started. Suddenly it feels like the pieces of the season are forming a bigger picture about where the story will end up.
During Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 1 Episode 17 and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 1 Episode 18, Sabrina was pushed to the edge and returned with much more power than anyone could have expected.
Witch hunters first threatened all the witches at Greendale, leaving it up to Sabrina to save the day and discover the magic she didn't know she had. Then she continued to test that theory when Ambrose was on trial and about to
"Chapter Seventeen: The Missionaries," written by Donna Thorland and "Chapter Eighteen: The Miracles of Sabrina Spellman," written by Christianne Hedtke & Lindsay Calhoon Bring was magical in a way we have never seen before. Mirroring the trajectory of the first half of the season, there are signs of something brewing under the surface.
There are strings being pulled, and chaotic things like witch hunters and a trial serve as the best distraction from the real problem.
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Sabrina
There are no more rules created for Sabrina to follow when it comes to magic, which means boundaries have started to get crossed.
She was tested and pushed to her magical limit, which could be a coincidence or it could be a sign of something else.
The first part of the season had a conclusion that focused on the Dark Lord tricking Sabrina into signing his book. Everything that Ms. Wardwell did was one step closer to Sabrina thinking she was making that choice on her own.
I'm the Herald of Hell. I am evil.
What is to say this isn't a repeat of exactly that?
Sabrina worried about when the Dark Lord would come to deliver on her promise to do whatever he asked of her. Showing up so early and asking for something as small as some gum, only to push Sabrina to her limit and leave was a good move.
She is no longer focused on the Dark Lord, so he can push her without her realizing.
The audience would be left in the dark on this one though, specifically because Ms. Wardwell isn't involved anymore.
But the Dark Lord probably has enough time to work behind the scenes.
For example those witch hunters, did they just decide to visit Greendale out of the blue? Or was it possible that the Dark Lord set that up so that Sabrina would come back with this new found power?
The fact that Sabrina isn't questioning all of this, especially the new powers that come with no rules is a problem.
Everyone is concerned but her, and yet wouldn't the Dark Lord be aware of something like this happening?
If he isn't getting involved then maybe he is aware of what is going on. Sabrina resurrected people, she gave Roz her sight back and even summoned a version of the Dark Lord.
You know the story of Pandora, don't you, Father Blackwood? It's almost a parable. A cautionary tale. The gods gave Pandora a jar containing all the sorrows of the world. Toil, famine, pestilence, death. They armed her for vengeance, Father Blackwood. For destruction. So when you ask me to explain these "miracles," as you call them, I feel I must warn you. Do you really want to open that lid?
These are all examples of magic she shouldn't be allowed to perform, and yet the fact that she did might work against her.
Sabrina isn't evil, but she is performing acts that the Dark Lord could use as proof later. She won't accept that she is the Herald to Hell without a fight, and yet somehow she is perfect for that role now.
In a way, the Dark Lord was grooming and preparing Sabrina to be exactly what the prophecy made her out to be.
The only question would be whether the witch reveal at the party was something the Dark Lord planned as well.
Would he benefit from magic no longer being a secret? Or did they find the prophecy just in time for Sabrina not to go off on her own?
All of this could also be wrong, with the Dark Lord just being busy and Sabrina spiraling to a darker side of magic.
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Outside Forces
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina finds its strength in the mythology that it incorporates in each episode.
There is a clear cut ending that each story is working towards, and the details that get it there are always unique to the show.
This allows for each episode to work as an individual story, which means nothing gets dragged on for too long in terms of overarching arcs.
My father charged me with protecting this Academy, and that's what we're going to do.
Prudence
But is it possible that some of the characters get lost in the shuffle from story to story?
There were open-ended stories that the audience got a glimpse at with Theo, Roz, Harvey, and many others that aren't Sabrina. Yet somehow they get put on the shelf until they are needed again.
It is a fair judgment call when the episode doesn't have room for a character's individual arc, but at some point, it adds up.
Our bond is eternal. Our bond is unbreakable.
Dark Lord
There are several characters, mostly the mortals, who only matter when they contribute to the plot at hand and not as people within the show.
With the season coming to an end, looking forward could mean considering utilizing everyone in the show more. People like Prudence, Ambrose, Roz, and Theo could contribute to different arcs and could have stories of their own.
There might not be room every episode, but they deserve to have at least an arc that they are working through, similar to characters like Sabrina and Ms. Wardwell.
Stray Thoughts
- Nick has to have a secret because no one lurks in the shadows like that.
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Prudence is clearly on her way to a possible arc of her own, but is it too late? Yes. This character is such an asset to the show, so it makes no sense why she continues to be this underused.
She doesn't just have to be there in a villain capacity, Tati Gabrielle has the range for basically everything.
- Zelda looked amazing in that dress, but when can Father Blackwood disappear? No one was shocked that he tried to turn her into a wife who just did as she was told, and yet he somehow managed to surprise everyone anyway.
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It makes sense that Roz was struggling with her loss of eyesight, but accusing Sabrina felt out of character. It has been a hard adjustment for her friends, how did it get to this point though?
Roz and Sabrina were in a good place, so for her to think this was Sabrina getting revenge for Harvey felt off. It was a way to get Sabrina home, but it ruined Roz and Harvey as a couple because that assumption mentality fell very flat.
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Speaking of Roz though, magically curing a disability is not the best message to send. It is representation that is no longer there because it feels like Roz cam't actually be blind. It also calls into question the purpose of making her lose her sight in the first place.
Was it for her to learn about her dad more? To make her appreciate what she had more? To stir up a plot twist and then have Sabrina prove how powerful she is?
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Ms. Wardwell is having it rough. It is harder to buy how quickly she fell in love with Adam, but we can let it slide since he has a name from the Bible and was so nice to her.
Plus there is something about being fed your boyfriend that makes it harder not to be angry in the long run. If only she was able to have happiness for even a little while longer though.
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is definitely one town over from Riverdale, because as soon as a good looking guy is arrested for a crime, suddenly he gets all buff before he manages to escape. Ambrose delivered the classic Archie.
- Does the Dark Lord not realize what Sabrina is doing? Or does he not care? He has to keep some kind of tabs on her, at least enough to know if someone is pretending to be him. This could be exactly what he wants her to do though. This entire season has been about pushing Sabrina to the dark side, to have her embrace her powers instead of forcing it on her. Tricking her into taking advantage of this power is the perfect way to win this round.
- Who else is loving these Sabrina the Teenage Witch references?
- Salem running by Sabrina's side as she bikes away was the cutest thing. How does someone get a familiar like that for themselves?
Did you expect Sabrina to gain these powers? What does that shrine mean? Where does she go from here?
What did you think about Roz gaining her sight back and the idea that it sells? How much more are you hating Father Blackwood right now? How much did you love Zelda's dress though?
What do you think Ms. Wardwell is planning, and will it work against the Dark Lord?
Don't forget to watch Chilling Adventures of Sabrina online, right here at TV Fanatic.
Yana Grebenyuk was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in April 2021.
