Synopsis
A sinister guest visits Spellman Mortuary. Theo faces a cast of cruel critics, and Roz and Harvey pursue an extra-steamy school assignment.
Review
It’s time for the Dark Lord to make good on his promise to come to Sabrina when he needed her.
Back when Sabrina signed the Book of the Beast it felt like a moment of desperation for the character. With her world falling apart around her, albeit by the manipulations of Lillith (Michelle Gomez), she felt she had no choice. When the Dark Lord told her he would come to her when he needed her it seemed like there were consequences of her actions to come.
Now that moment is here in an episode which seeks to explore an even darker side of many of the series characters. Whilst Sabrina struggles to do the Dark Lord’s bidding she speaks with her nearest and dearest who all eventually relent and explain to her exactly what the Dark Lord had asked of them in the past.
Of course this is just another trial for our heroine who is clearly being setup for big things in the future. Though we don’t know exactly what all our characters are being manipulated towards you can see there is a puppet master at work somewhere in the background.
Whilst all of that is incredibly interesting to see, particularly Sabrina flirting with a less innocent side of her personality. It’s Lachlan Watson’s Susie/Theo who really tugs at the heartstrings in this episode. Watson has done an amazing job of toeing the line of gender identity throughout the show so far.
But not its time to tackle the issue head on as Susie tells her friends that she would now like to be known as Theo. It’s a watershed moment for the character and for TV in this genre. Though it has never shied away from difficult topics such as identity and sexuality this is perhaps one of the first examples of tackling this storyline head on with what is potentially a younger audience.
It’s sure to anger some who feel the storyline is unnecessary but given the shows nature for portraying very contemporary issues which teenagers face it feels perfectly placed if you ask me!
Verdict
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina continues its solid second batch of episodes by daring to tell stories that many series would balk at the idea of. The series writing continues to solidify itself and prove this show knows how to handle its subject matter confidently.
7/10
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina stars Kiernan Shipka as the titular witch. The series also stars Michelle Gomez as Mary Wardwell/Madam Satan, Jaz Sinclair as Rosalind Walker, Chance Perdomo as Ambrose Spellman, Lucy Davis as Hilda Spellman, Miranda Otto as Zelda Spellman, Ross Lynch as Harvey Kinkle and Richard Coyle as Father Blackwood.
“Part 2” is available on Netflix on now.
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