Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina Mid Winter's Tale Review: Happy Solstice Everyone!

"Sabrina" is back with a Christmas special. But of course the witches dont celebrate Christmas because they worship S-A-T-A-N. Let's call it a Solstice Special instead. The Spellmans gather together. Ambrose reads "A Christmas Carol". Zelda says its her favorite because, ya know, ghosts. They burn the Yule log. It must stay lit the entire night of December 21st. Otherwise evil spirits may enter the house.

Sabrina misses her parents. She has a seance to try to contact her mother Diana (whom she previously saw in limbo). She asks her besties Roz and Susie to join in but they are not completely comfortable with magic. Besides, Susie is working at the mall as Jingles the Christmas Elf. I gotta say, she is pretty cute. Instead Sabrina gets the Weird Sisters to join her. Could Sabrina pick any worse time to hold a seance? I think not.

The log is extinguished and children's spirits (called Yule Lads) start running around the house. The aunties have to call in Gryla. She is from Icelandic folklore. In that tradition, Gryla is an ogress who lives in a cave in the mountains. She can detect misbehaving children whom she makes into a stew. Eeek! She has 13 sons called the Yule Lads. She may or may not have a husband (because she ate at least one). See more about her here Gryla The Christmas Witch

Back in the Spellman house, Gryla hears baby Leticia (remember shes the baby Zelda kidnapped from Father Blackwood before he could do away with her). Diana appears and says Gryla and Zelda must each pull the baby's arm until someone wins. This is the typical Solomon setup (from the Bible). Zelda of concedes so as not to hurt the child. Gryla leaves with the baby. Zelda is heartbroken until she learns Letitcia is safe. Gryla has a stuffed bear that was conjured to look like the baby.

Meanwhile across town Mr Bartel (who is playing Santa) is actually a yule demon. He picks the most perfect child each year and covers them in wax so they can become a permanent part of Christmas display. This year he has his eye on Susie. The ladies send over Gryla who makes short order of him. In a fitting ending, Bartel becomes a candelabra and his wax children join Gryla.

Harvey returns Sabrina's gift of enchanted coloring pencils. He doesnt want her to use magic around him again. While obviously hurt, Sabrina agrees. Especially since Diana told her she wouldnt lead anyone else down this path. In a strange turn of events, Zelda decides to give up baby Leticia. I didnt see that coming.

Meanwhile Ms Wardwell (Madam Satan/Lilith/etc) is eating gingerbread cookies that are meant to represent the Spellmans. Wardwell doesnt understand why Satan has not called her home to "The Pit" because her mission (getting Sabrina to sign the Book Otf The Beast) has been accomplished. And in the end, Ambrose continues reading the story. Switch to a scene of three demons who resemble the Magi heading out of the Greendale mines and into the night. And with that, we're off to season 2. Happy Solstice Everyone!

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). A cute holiday special. Just dont expect too much in the way of plot development. I think this episode was meant to be a bottleneck to hold us over till season 2. Bonus Trivia: A young Sabrina is played by McKenna Grace who also played young Theo on "The Haunting Of Hill House".

I surprisingly continue to love this fun little show. I say "surprisingly" because I thought it would not be hardcore enough to hold my attention. "CAOS" is spooky and the characters are compelling. The aesthetic is retro and the settings are gorgeous. I can't wait to see what else the witches have in store for us on April 5, 2019.