Sunday, January 26, 2020

REVIEW: 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' - Sabrina Hopes to Save Nick From His Addictions in 'Chapter Twenty-Five: The Devil Within'

Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - Episode 2.05 "Chapter Twenty-Five: The Devil Within"

Ambrose treats Nick's affliction while Harvey and Theo tend to Roz. Meanwhile, Sabrina and Caliban continue in their unholy regalia challenge.




In 2019, the television industry aired 532 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

"Chapter Twenty-Five: The Devil Within" was written by Matthew Barry and directed by Roxanne Benjamin

Sabrina believes that if she can cure Nick from his addiction and PTSD then everything can be perfect between them once more. She is very aspirational and naive in that way. She understands that he has gone through this trauma. She is doing her best to empathize. However, she is constantly failing. She doesn't understand at all. It would have rang false if he was completely willing to go back to how things used to be as well. He is no longer that person. Moreover, his problems can't be fixed through 30 days of magical solutions. It takes a lot of strong character work to analyze what Nick wants in life and how he can move forward after everything that has happened. That may very well bring him back to Sabrina at some point. At this moment though, he has the clarity to cut things off. Sabrina may not even be allowed to have the time to react to that news either because she has so much going on in her life. She is the Queen of Hell while facing off with Prince Caliban in an unholy regalia challenge. The pagans in Greendale are targeting the coven with the intention of using their blood as a sacrifice. And the episode ends with the coven hailing hedge witches to help in this fight only for them to be angry for being summoned. It's a lot. That's the way this show tells its stories. Things are important in the moment. When Sabrina is with Nick after helping sever his connection with the Dark Lord for good, she is genuinely focused solely on the life she can have with him. He may talk a great deal about her pursuit of power and how that is intoxicating for her even though she says she doesn't want it. However, it's a conversation that showcases how the two of them are no longer on the same page. That can be absolutely devastating for a couple. But that also highlights how clear communication needs to be present in order for any relationship to work. Otherwise, the Dark Lord can come along and manipulate the young people of Greendale into being sacrifices for the pagans. He is truly trying to understand the threat that has come to this area. He knew that it was coming when he was unseated from his throne. He understood that unbalance of power would see others pop up trying to replace him. He is very narcissistic in that way because he believes he is this great savior who keeps the balance in the world. He isn't. He is a monster who is more than willing to be vengeful and spiteful instead of being loyal to those who once worshipped him. The summoning ceremony goes awry because the Dark Lord makes his influence known. He causes chaos. That may be all that he is truly good for. The Spellman family is trying their best to find a new sense of direction and purpose. They do so for the coven and Hell as a whole. It's a bit expected that Sabrina will emerge victorious in the quest for the second unholy relic. It ensures that there are two instances of time magic that take place here. That runs the risk of the show not putting in the work to show how the characters evolve and grow over time. It means that Nick's arc this season is reduced a little bit. But the narrative may still have grand plans for him that would only be beneficial if he had more control over himself once more. With Sabrina, it's mostly proof of how she talks a big game about having honor and morals but is still more than willing to make the best choice for herself first. She wins but it may not be a victory worth celebrating. Caliban is still a threat. And yet, there are so many threats that she has to juggle right now. She will risk her life to save Nick. However, her human friends run into danger not knowing just how ill-prepared they actually are. They are reckless too. And yet, that corner of the story mostly centers on Robin completely changing and becoming loyal to Theo instead of his family. That's awkward. It's rushed as a plot development. But it also gives the narrative hope that this romance can remain sweet and endearing even though there are monstrous threats everywhere that can corrupt even the healthiest among them - like Hilda and Dr. C.