Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)

Kudos to Netflix for being adventurous like Sabrina and promoting the new season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which is due to release on 24th January 2020, with a chilling music video “Straight to Hell”. The music video, which literally drags the viewers down to hell, is both a recap and preview for the next season, with hints spread here and there. So with our anticipation tickling, it is only right that we refresh the memories of where we had left off before putting on our dancing shoes. For starters, as a recent convert of the COAS fandom, I would like to take a moment to thank Netflix for finally casting an actor who is actually believable as a 16-year old Sabrina. 

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Without further ado, in the last season of the show, Sabrina managed to defeat Lucifer Morningstar/Dark Lord or as she discovered, her father by trapping him. Unfortunately, just as everything, the trapping demanded the price or rather, a sacrifice of her boyfriend Nick’s human body. Lilith got her wish fulfilled by finally wearing the crown and carried Nick/Dark Lord into hell like the Queen that she is. Luckily for Sabrina, two gifts were bestowed upon her by Lilith, one of which brought her witch powers back. The show is supposed to pick up from here, with Sabrina beginning a new journey with her mortal friends, now called the ‘Fright Club’ to rescue Nick from Hell. Oh, and watching Prudence as the badass queen that we always knew her to be with swords on her back? That wish came true as well.

Now that we have refreshed our memories about the narrative, let’s dance our way to the music video. It features Sabrina(Kiernan Shipka) in the avatar of Red Riding Hood, walking through fog in a dark night with a lamp in her hand, and claiming that “when it comes to love, I’m going straight to Hell”. A preppy looking Harvey (Ross Lynch) in a crop top is introduced to us as well, which aims to teleport the viewers back to the 90s Johnny Depp from Nightmare on Elm Street. Nick (Gavin Leatherwood) however looks rather tormented and bare, with chains around his body to keep the Dark Lordbound inside him, subtly hinting at what must be going down in Hell. Prudence and Ambrose; a duo to be reckoned with, are shown engaged in a ritual with blood dripping on a map, which could only mean trouble for Father Blackwood. Lastly, a room full of warlocks and demons feature in the scene which supposedly means that the Plague Kings are about to make a comeback to fulfill their unfinished business in Greendale.

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So, it seems as if Season 3 is going to be all about full moon rituals, hunting of Father Blackwood, stopping the wrath of Plague Kings and possibly bring our beloved Nick back from the spawns of Satan, literally.

With Sabrina dancing around the colourful lights and flames of Hell, the video is considered as a “cool trailer” but just as everything has its pros and cons, so does the show. According to the speculations amongst the fans, there are currently prayers going on for show to be saved from turning into another Riverdale. Quite frankly, the plot would quickly lose its charm if it were to follow into those vibes.

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As a recent convert, I found that although the show is quite preppy but, if you have seen enough teenage shows, then you would find that this one is different. In an age of reformations, a show with a young strong female lead is exactly what we need. The half-witch, half-mortal existence of Sabrina represents our own hybrid and diverse existences in a world where division is at forefront. The show is all about ‘power and freedom’ like Sabrina demands it to be but it also represents a range of topics which require a hyped awareness and understanding right now. It focuses upon the value of friendship in a much realistic sense where unconditional acceptance of another, no matter how different they are is highlighted. Transgender representation through Theo’s character, is strong and empowered, especially when he raises his voice to affirm that he is “not broken”. The character development of the Weird Sisters is a sight to behold, who go from harrowing to saving their coven against the authority. Blackwood represents the old-world patriarch, who would stop at nothing to uplift men and “subjugate” women, as Zelda would put it. Here comes Prudence in particular, who transforms from a flawed woman to a fighter by rising against Blackwood, her father, an established barbaric misogynist. ThroughSabrina’s family, the show turns away from the traditional sense of family and instead embraces the important role which friends and relatives play in defining it. Apart from being thoroughly entertaining, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is one of the best shows available to the viewers right now, especially in its influential empowering narrative for the younger viewers. It manifests the true essence of popular media, i.e., informative and inspiring whilst sending chills down our spine, all in an adventurous spirit.

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