Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina Stars Talk Theo And Robin's Relationship, Nick's Drug Use, And More

We all know by right now that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a unapologetic boundary-pusher. In its first two seasons, the show questioned divisive modern issues, like customary gender roles, sexuality, and organized religion, in ways that felt organic and revolutionary. Although not without ruffling a number of feathers. The Satanic Temple did sue and settle with the Netflix series soon following the show featured the temple's copyrighted Baphomet statue.)


certainly, this show is largely about Sabrina wanting to smash the patriarchy, and I'm happy to mention that we continue to do so," Sabrina actress Kiernan Shipka matter-of-factly told MTV News and other reporters while in a recent visit to the show's Vancouver set. "And in the process, a lot of stuff that the show tackles I think is really crucial, because we are, in a way, making it all piece of the world as a substitute opposed to putting some major emphasis on any group kind of particular thing. I think that's what the show does so well with representation, is that it sort of just is, which is why I love it so much. And I think that Part 3 does that especially."


Part 3, currently streaming on Netflix, seeks to push those conversations forward, completely making use of the characters you right now know well enough to genuinely care about. It’s something the actors appreciate — "fun" was a word that came up repeatedly on set — and, as a fan, it keeps the show feeling fresh three seasons deep.


The latest installment picks up not long soon following the final scenes of CAOS Part 2 — immediately after Lilith, the self-crowned Queen of Hell, ushered a despondent Nick (who was holding the devil hostage in his body) toward her throne; soon after Prudence and Ambrose set out to find and kill Father Blackwood for his treacherous behaviors; immediately after Zelda and Hilda took charge as their coven faced a theological breakdown; and right after Sabrina enthusiastically enlisted Theo, Harvey, and Roz for her next adventure. “Let’s go to Hell and get my boyfriend back,” she mentioned, ending one chapter and moving right into another.


In keeping pace with Parts 1 and 2, that task is breezily completed in the initial episode of Part 3. The foursome find their way into the gates of Hell, through a Wizard of Oz-inspired maze, and in front of the graces of Lilith, Nick chained and dressed as a court jester by her side. They make a deal to bring him back — and from there on, the implications trickle down, on top of brand new challenges and surprises that arise as soon as once a mysterious carnival comes to Greendale, operated by Pagans intent on reviving the reign of their ancient gods.


However although the balance between Heaven, Hell, and earth is at stake, life goes on for the citizens of Greendale.


Theo Finds Love Among the Chaos


Theo's journey coming into his body has played out in ways that felt really personal to actor Lachlan Watson within the past two seasons. "It felt for a while there that my entire character synopsis was just struggle and sadness and, 'Oh, what bruise do you have today?'" Watson mentioned. "It got to be a lot."


In Part 3, Theo's exploration of his body left the internal entirely. That's right: Theo joins every other character on the show in exploring life's carnal pleasures if he meets Robin (Jonathan Whitesell), a newcomer to Baxter High and also a Pagan. (Kind, gentle Robin, yet, isn't a villain.)


"To show the numerous facets of that, yes, you could struggle, yet then, yes, you could come out the other end — that's really powerful," Watson said.


Theo and Robin's love story plays out as sweetly as any high school romance. The only moment of tension occurs once Theo tells Robin that he hasn't routinely presented himself as he does right now. "It's ok," Robin says, as they sit atop a ferris wheel. "You're Theo right now. And in case it wasn't obvious, I really like you, Theo." They kiss then, marking the starting of their physical exploration.


"Five years prior, this kind of relationship never would have existed in a young adult drama," Whitesell mentioned. "And right now it's just like…"


"Here it is," Watson offered.


Although the complete power of this relationship isn't in its revelation — it's in its normalcy. "It habitually was there," Whitesell added. "Like, it never wasn't a thing."


Nick Struggles with Inner Demons


Sabrina saved Nick from Hell, nevertheless she couldn’t save him from the trauma he'd already experienced. "There've been plenty of jokes about having the devil indoors of me, although that's sort of what the seriousness of it is, is dealing with one's own demons," actor Gavin Leatherwood, who plays Nick, mentioned, honing in on the gut-wrenching realities of his storyline.


Housing Lucifer in his body meant that Nick was wrestling with the devil 24/7 — and he couldn’t let up for one second as the future of Hell was at stake. Upon Nick's release, paranoia takes over: while he senses sparks between Sabrina and the gorgeous, newly created Prince of Hell, Caliban (sparks which don’t result in any flame in Part 3), Nick viciously rejects the care she offers and copes with his post-Lucifer life by turning to self-destructive mannerisms, like narcotics and alcohol.


The metaphor here's lost on no one. Much like Satan, trauma can stay in the brain and body long right following the event itself has passed, and trauma can express itself in dangerous ways, as it did with Nick. Yet “coping mechanisms, going through certain vices like this isn't a healthy alternative,” Leatherwood mentioned. “It's numbing emotions and blocking communication and having a lack of vulnerability or honesty with the people around you. Plus it really just sort of leads you down a darker path.”


Prudence and Zelda Explore New Magic with Mambo Marie


In setting out to find Father Blackwood and make him pay for his Part 2 deception against the coven (and against her), Prudence and Ambrose turn to a different sort of magic — specifically, the Haitian voodoo of Mambo Marie (Skye P. Marshall). Under her guidance, the two find Father Blackwood and bring him back to the Church of Night, where his body replaces Nick's because the Dark Lord's prison.


Nevertheless upon their return, Prudence and Ambrose find their coven's powers are dwindling, and so they require reinforcement as they prepare to face the Pagans. So Prudence steps into her own power, taking it upon herself to call for Mambo Marie to help the coven in need.


Prudence is asking herself essential new questions: "How do heroic girls or heroic people go about their day-to-day lives, and where are the faults in even that? And what does that right now look like for Prudence herself?" Gabrielle mentioned. And with those answers, she’s learning to lose the "bitchy mean girl" she once was and "elevate [her leadership] to a whole coven of people and pave a new way."


What's more, Prudence's act of self-discovery extends to the coven's other (more rigid) alpha, Zelda, who initially feels threatened by Marie's arrival, although rapidly comes around. "It sort of opens her up to thinking about things more laterally, and thinking of other kinds of magics and actually broadening this church that she's in," actor Miranda Otto mentioned. Case in point, Zelda opens up so much that by the end of Part 3, she and Marie have grown quite close — ending the season with a surprising kiss.


"That story sort of grows in Part 4," Otto teased. Obviously, given the trajectory Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has followed for now, surely the same can be mentioned for each of the show’s storylines.


[Note: If Nick's storyline hit also close to house, no matter how big or small your struggles feel, it's possible to feel better. Head over to halfofus.Com to find resources, suggestions, or live chat with a professional who can support you out.]