The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (CAOS), part three, dropped on Netflix on Friday and having binged the whole 8 episode series, here’s why it’s well better than the 90’s original. Oh, no spoilers.
Sabrina and Harvey, Zelda and Hilda, Salem, Jenny, Mr Pool – ahh all the 90’s nostalgia as this teenage witch, played by Melissa Joan Hart, was thrust onto our TV screens. And we loved her.
If you missed it – the American kids show premiered in 1996. The former Archie Comics story focuses on the teen witch as she gets to grips with her new found powers. She’s also crushing real hard on hearthrob Harvey Kinkle, while her crazy black cat, Salem is hell bent on taking over the world – mainly with clever puns and funny one liners.
It was a class, post school show that you could stick on and watch mindlessly. She wore wacky clothes and her spells constantly went wrong – thankfully her two aunties were on it. And Hilda baked.
The Sabrina reboot which launched on Netflix in 2018 turned this, relatively innocent post-school hang out show, into a supernatural horror that has audiences chomping at the bit for a follow up instalment.
Kiernan Shipka plays Sabrina, a half witch half mortal who, in pretty much every single episode, fights some kind of evil force that theatens her family and friends. Seriously, this teen is worldly, sub worldy and other worldly wise – like never before.
Gone is the ditzy, happy-go-lucky, cheesey all American girl we knew and loved. In her place, Sabrina of the 2010’s is a bad ass. Her wardrobe is to die for, Harvey got seriously hot, and then there’s Nick, Ambrose and well, Lucifer himself! If you’re at a lose end this weekend, make a start on parts one and two and get to grips with the new Spellman layout.
There’s a whole host of amazing actors involved including; Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Michelle Gomez, Richard Coyle, Miranda Otto, Lachlan Watson and more. The storylines are dark AF and pretty jumpy at times, but part three brought a sense of urgency as the Spellmans come to realise they’re not as fearsome as they first thought.
There’s a whole load of teenage lust and angst woven through this 8 episode series. The mad happenings of Greendale make it difficult to date stamp. References to cult music, culture, films etc make you assume modern day, yet styling, vehicles and 1950’s ice cream men, mess with your head.
Talking of styling, the costume department of this show deserve an Oscar. From scores of cheerleaders to Aunt Hilda’s mismatched tights and shoes combo’s, Nick and his brooding black shirt, jeans and leather jacket look and Harvey with his all American boy check shirts and chukka boots.
By far the stand out fashion icon of CAOS part three is Prudence. Played by Tatti Gabrielle, Prudence absolutely knocks her character development out of the park this series. The Hare Moon outfit she wares would make headlines at Coachella, her Highlands get-up is surely straight off the runway at Westwood and channelling her inner Mummy heroine ‘Evie’ with twin blades, leather pants and silk shirt – comes second only to her New Orleans lingerie look, that I couldn’t get enough of. Hats off.
Part three is different. It takes Sabrina’s story to new heights. Everyone grows up a little. There’s moments of emotion that really sets Salem amongst the pigeons. If you know your Greek Mythology, your friendy neighbourhood ice cream van driver and you’re a lover of fairground rides, you’ll love this most recent instalment.
Hell needs a make-over fellas, and I’m 100% sure Sabrina’s going to be at the forefront of it.
Kate Reilly James 