The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina Chapter 3
The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina - Chapter 3 released on Netflix January 24th 2020 Starring Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, Lucy Davis, Michelle Gomez, Chance Perdomo, Ross Lynch Created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
The third chapter of The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina is deliciously hellish entertainment, embracing its gothic camp-ness with an impressive, immersive creative vision yet grounding itself with deeper topics and story lines.
Once again, CAOS continues to expands its mythology and world-building by exploring different spiritual realms and introducing Pagans, Voodoo and others to its ever-growing universe. It exudes style and substance whilst remaining loyal to its initial narrative: a modern day teenage girl navigating melodrama and destiny. Expect musical numbers, devilish charm and more. This review contains very minor spoilers.
WORLDBUILDING. INTRODUCING PAGANISM, VOODOO & HEDGE WITCHES
Once again CAOS continues its world-building episode after episode in an organic way, using the consequences resulting from the previous season to expand their mythology. There have been numerous references to history, traditions and witchcraft folklore (such as the Lupercalia episode in season 2) but Chapter 3 goes deeper than ever before.
Season 3 sees the arrival of Pagans in Greendale. Disguised as a travelling carnival, it’s revealed that they’re planning on claiming back their territory after the fall of The Church Of Night in season 2, which has left the remaining coven members weak and vulnerable. The Church Of Night asks Hedge Witches and Voodoo practitioners for aid, and it isn’t long before the Pagans and Witches clash in what promises to be the first of many religious confrontations as other deities are added to the mix as the season progresses.
It can be a little difficult to navigate the differences between Paganism, Witchcraft & Satanism - and although the writing does a pretty good job in explaining the different complexities of each, this article by Peg Aloi is super informative: What The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina Gets Right & Wrong About Modern-Day Witchcraft .
Pagans aren’t the only threat that Sabrina and co are faced with, but they are the main ones this season. A Prince Of Hell named Caliban joins Father Blackwood and Lucifer Morningstar in the ever-growing list of villains and antagonists. Each new addition is like a new seed of war being sown in the soil of Greendale, no doubt destined to be reaped in Sabrina’s looming adventures.
There are a lot of narratives happening at the same time this season. Although Sabrina’s takes the lead, each supporting character is given a satisfying and well-executed arc which, for the most part, contributes to the overarching narrative (the threat of Paganism). This prevents Chapter 3 from feeling too stuffed and busy, whilst also enabling each individual some personal growth. Ambrose and Prudence have teamed up to hunt Father Blackwood, Nick Scratch comes to terms with his traumatic time in Hell as Lucifer’s vessel and Lilith’s toy, and Sabrina navigates the politics of Hell following the aftermath of Lucifer’s defeat.
The world-building isn’t restricted to the introduction of new characters and Gods such as the Pagans or Caliban. Each episode is a different adventure in which Sabrina and co must navigate new dimensions. This allows the stakes to be raised, and the show is all the better for it.
The imprisonment of Lucifer created a cosmic imbalance which threatens their realms. Sabrina finds herself navigating a number of new locations in Hell, Earth and other little pockets of space. We see the Shores Of Sorrow and The Field of Witness, the woods of Riverdale (which even the residents of Greendale realise is a dangerous place to be, witch or not) and more.
Once more, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina impresses with its immersive creative vision. Season after season, it delivers a consistently stunning set design, an abundance of gothic inspired interiors and eerie outdoor locations.
The story-lines this season saw Hell brought to life, and it didn’t disappoint. CAOS continues to embrace it’s campness in the best way possible: from the Throne room itself to various other chambers in the infernal realm, every set was beautifully crafted with the most intricate details. CAOS also never passed an opportunity to use prosthetics to great effect with Demons, Pagan Gods and more.
WOMEN & WORSHIP
Despite the stakes being raised through the introduction of these new locations and characters, the show remains grounded thanks to the character’s inner conflicts. Deeper and more personal themes that prevent the show from going off the rails and into bonkers territory with little emotional depth. Among these themes are PTSD, addiction, consent, ambition and more.
The Church Of Night faced a crisis of faith in season 2, a crisis which continues this season. The Coven is struggling, their numbers dwindling, weakened after being cut off from their source of power. They no longer worship the Devil himself, and seek solace in Lilith for a short time - but ultimately, they do not know who to pray to. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has always focused on female empowerment in some form or another - but in season 3 we see, for the 1st time, the Witches of Greendale truly take control. No longer bound by Men, by Father Blackwood, The Council of Elders or Lucifer, the Coven pray to a new deity - the Goddess of Magic & Witchcraft herself. Hecate.
This shift to worshipping Hecate is incredibly significant, and the most poignant moment of CAOS yet. It’s the most powerful display of magic we’ve seen from the Coven so far, with a truly mighty performance by Miranda Otto. The remaining Coven members along with hedge witches and Aunt Zelda call upon Hecate in order to resurrect a member of their coven - a show of sisterhood, worship and power.
This act of worship and display of power promises a new and exciting future for the witches of Greendale, and with the finale setting up some interesting future conflicts Sabrina is sure to face. From time paradoxes to otherworldly power struggles, The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina isn’t slowing down any time soon. Praise Hecate!