netflix series review

Before I confuse you allow me to explain the basic plot. Sabrina Spellman is half mortal, half witch and absolutely loves her life being a mix. However, on Sabrina’s 16th birthday she must choose between her two lives. Her mortal life containing her sweetheart of a boyfriend, beloved friends, a school in which she has spent so many years in, everything normal and it could easily be taken away if she just signs the book of beasts. But it’s not like being a witch would be torture right? If she signs she could gain so much power, attend a school that allows her to fully explore and express her powers, be seen as more than just a ‘half-breed’ and prove herself to the coven. Attending her dark baptism is a hard choice that Sabrina must make. Sabrina has the constant pressure from her Aunt Zelda and her awaiting coven to sign her name. It even goes to the extent where Sabrina no longer feels as if she has a choice.

On forth with the review. This show outlines the consequences to any action you take, it’s clear that no matter what Sabrina does there is always a consequence. If she chooses the human world she loses the power of being immortal, so many juicy things that make being a witch so amazing and incredible, but, choosing to join will eliminate her connections to all the mortals that she so dearly loves. It doesn’t help that Sabrina is being pressured so much by her own aunty. I mean, come on, her aunt isn’t even helping her in this situation, she’s just worsening the predicament by forcing her, telling her that she has no choice. Along with Sabrina’s aunty, her cousin is also highly encouraging her to join except for three witches, the weird sisters, who curse and practically bully her.

Although the series is supernatural and out of this world, it includes problems that teenagers face on a day to day basis, it isn’t thickly evident but the relations are presented in different ways. One of the predicaments that are faced in the show is peer pressure, teenagers can be faced with this whether it is being pressured into an uncomfortable situation or into a dumb dare, teenagers face peer pressure no matter what. Sabrina teaches us, young adults, that we shouldn’t conform to these situations and that we should break free from whatever is pressuring us to rise and be ourselves, choosing the path that we deem morally correct.

Another issue is when Sabrina is bullied by the weird sisters or an even better example is when Susie is bullied by ‘jocks’. Susie is a character who breaks female stereotypes and due to her individuality she is teased, hurt and taunted but Susie doesn’t give up, no, she’s stronger than that. She learns that being as bad as the bullies doesn’t achieve anything and she only receives karma in return for her aggressive behaviour, however, she learnt from this decision that it is better to be passive aggressive than to mirror the bullies actions. Sabrina, Susie and Ros create a group that can protect vulnerable souls in school, thus presenting to the audience that violence doesn’t solve anything and there is always another path, all you have to do is search that bit farther.

In summary, I enjoyed the witchy gloomy aesthetic when watching this thrill seeking season that was filled with many captivating concepts as it also made specific scenarios relatable to teenagers today. There could’ve been some more adaptations regarding the character of Harvey since he hardly has a personality but other than that I really enjoyed this dark series. This show is recommended for SENIOR students only.

K Randall, Year 10