'Sabrina' Christmas Special Is Better than Most of Season One

The 10-episode first season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was a mixed bag for me.  But I still thought its Christmas special was worth checking out.  After all, it’s not that often for genre TV shows not named Doctor Who to get a special episode during the Holiday season.  And I’ve just been really into Christmas specials since I was a kid.  They’re some of the things that really enhance the Christmastime atmosphere.

The special is titled “Chapter Eleven: A Midwinter’s Tale”, and by making it a “Chapter Eleven”, it comes off as a legitimate part – a continuation – of the main storyline rather than a standalone episode.  And it arguably is.  Some plot threads from season one are continued and/or resolved, and as an episode, it sets up stuff for season two.

“A Midwinter’s Tale” shows, through Sabrina’s household, how witches celebrate Christmas – or, in their case, the Winter Solstice.  The decorations and the merry-making aspects are virtually similar to mainstream Christmas, but its most critical ingredient is the lighting of the Yule log.  Because, in their case, the fire from the Yule log is what’s keeping the nefarious entities that pop out during the season from creeping into the house through the chimney.  But when Sabrina decides to perform a séance to conjure her mom from limbo, the Yule log fire is somehow extinguished, which leads to an unpleasant visit from Gryla (the “Christmas Witch” of Icelandic folklore) and her lethally mischievous “Yule Lads.”

Meanwhile, Sabrina’s human friend Susie is working as an elf for Mr. Bartell, a mall Santa.  As it turns out, this Bartell is a Yule demon who, for years, have been kidnapping children and encasing them in wax statues.  Susie is kidnapped by Bartell, and Sabrina, once she deals with Gryla and the Yule Lads, must also rescue her.

“A Midwinter’s Tale” is not perfect, as it touches on elements of the main storyline that I don’t particularly care for – like those involving Sabrina’s relationship with Harvey.  But, all in all, I was entertained.  It’s probably because of the additional appeal innate in all Christmas specials.  Regardless, I thought it was better than many of season one’s episodes.  I also enjoyed the flashback scene where McKenna Grace plays a perfectly adorable young Sabrina.

Nevertheless, I’m still upset that Salem is not talking.