Berlanti Productions, Archie Comics, Warner Bros. Television, Netflix
This season, while Riverdale is off the damn rails, I think I’ll spend a little time in Greendale with Sabrina (played by Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka), her aunts, her spellbound cousin, and her own Buffy-like Scooby gang: Roz, Susie, and boyfriend, Harvey. Riverdale exec producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Greg Berlanti (Love Simon, Brothers and Sisters, Everwood, and Dawsons Creek) along with Netflix have gifted us with a spooky treat this Halloween with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
The series opens on the eve of Sabrina’s 16th birthday when she must decide whether to remain a half witch surrounded by her mortal friends and high school classmates, or fully embrace her witch half through a dark baptism, where she will pledge loyalty to the Dark Lord, Satan. Torn, Sabrina must choose between her friends and her family.
If a Scooby gang battling the dark forces isn’t your cup of tea, for satan’s sake, check it out for the production design by Lisa Soper. Moody! Magical! I love it so much! She’s created the Spellman house and mortuary rich with storytelling and history. The lighting and color is stunning! I want to stroll and dance through the halls of the Spellmans, just not when the sleep demon is around.
Let’s hope it doesn’t get too dystopian too quickly like iZombie. Why does everything have to go so dystopian - even Harry Potter!
Be sure to tune in for the Christmas episode on December 14, and Season 2 on April 5.