Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part Four Early Review

When it was announced that a darker adaptation of Sabrina the Teenage Witch was in development, no one batted an eye, but it has miraculously become a phenomenon that has attained both critical and commercial success, while surpassing its source material by quite a large margin. Originally planned as an expansion of the Riverdale universe, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina quickly outgrew any associations with the increasingly ridiculous teen soap opera and established itself as one of the most creative, progressive and wickedly entertaining series currently on the air. Despite its consistency throughout its entire run, all good things must come to an end and unfortunately that includes this series as season four (or part four) marks the end of our time with Sabrina Spellman and company as they battle their greatest threat to date, one that the entire series has been leading up to since its inception.

At the tail end of the last season, Sabrina was forced to make a life altering decision: to follow in her father’s footsteps and fulfill her duties as the Queen of Hell or to stay in Greendale and focus on being a teenager. The series up to this point has dealt with the theme of duality, as she had to balance her life as a witch and her responsibilities to her coven alongside her regular, mundane life as a teenage girl dealing with the trials and tribulations of growing up. By disrupting the space/time continuity, Sabrina figures out a way to cheat the system and live both lives without having to make a sacrifice. This latest season deals with the consequences of her actions, as her two lifestyles begin to coincide more than they ever have before.

Many fans were worried that this latest season of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina would be unable to wrap up the numerous storylines established prior to the series’ abrupt cancellation but this final part fortunately delivers a very satisfying conclusion that is sure to please fans. Part four combines the magical nature of part one, the dark edge of part two and the gigantic scope of part three in what might be the series most unpredictable and thrilling stretch to date. Meanwhile, part four also doubles down on the romance in a satisfying way that will inevitably lead to shipping wars across the series’ fandom. Similar to previous parts, it still hangs onto the campy roots of its source material. However, the series creators miraculously strike a perfect balance between darkness and boundary pushing and wholesome and whimsical.

While the series is impressive on its own merits, Kiernan Shipka’s immaculate performance as the titular Sabrina elevates the series to new heights and will inevitably go down as the greatest portrayal of the iconic teenage witch. Shipka certainly gives it her all here, as this final part allowed her the opportunity to truly prove her versatility as an actress. For a series that revels in chaos, its final episodes absolutely do not hold back.

In the end, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part Four is a completely unpredictable, thoroughly entertaining and bittersweet conclusion to one of the greatest genre pieces on television in recent memory.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Dylan Phillips