On DVD: Sabrina The Teenage Witch The Third Season

Featuring Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline Rhea, Lindsay Sloane, Martin Mull

There are probably some readers out there that have fond memories of this show when it was on the air. Paramount Home Video recently released Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Third Season on DVD and I gave it a try.

The Series

For those of you unfamiliar with this show, let me give you a quick synopsis. Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart) and yes fanboys, she is based upon the Archie Comics character of the same name, is your typical high school student. Except for one thing: she is a witch. So not only does Sabrina have to contend with the average teenage angst any other girl her age deals with, she also has to learn how to control and utilize her witchcraft skills.

Sabrina is not alone in her journey. She has two kooky aunts, Hilda and Zelda, with whom she lives and they guide her along the way. She also has a warlock named Salem that has fallen victim to a spell that has turned him into a cat that irritates her on a daily basis.

Sabrina has a cute boyfriend named Harvey, who is sweet but a bit dim and a best friend named Valerie, who has charm but doesn’t seem to be much of an achiever. Before you start thinking that Sabrina’s life is perfect, remember she does have to deal with an evil cheerleader named Libby (Jenna Leigh Green) and a nerdy principal named Willard Kraft (Martin Mull).

While it seemed in the second season of the show that the writers wanted to turn Sabrina, The Teenage Witch into a nighttime teenage soap opera, that direction has been abandoned in this season.

It is back to business as usual with episodes dealing with her funny relationship with the dimwitted Harvey and her friends and continually honing her fumbling skills as a witch. Fans of the show will be happy to find out that the Spellman family secret is revealed in the third season.

Romance is not only on the agenda for Sabrina. Even the dorky Willard Kraft gets to have a love interest this season and plenty of laughs are provided by Beth Broderick and Caroline Rhea who have the supporting parts of the aunts down pat perfectly.

I think other than Melissa Joan Hart and Caroline Rhea, the character that provides the most laughs is Nick Bakay’s voice as Salem the Cat. I found myself laughing more at his one liners throughout the show than with any other character. His character would be the main reason I would suggest this series to someone.

Included in this release are all 25 episodes from the series and there is a disclaimer from Paramount at the beginning of the season that episodes may be edited for content and music so die hard Sabrina fans take note. I am not on that list so I wouldn’t be able to detail what exactly is missing from the original broadcasts.

So, if you were a fan of Bewitched or are looking for a less gothy The Craft, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Third Season is worth checking out. Although, I would recommend starting from the beginning of the series, but you can jump in at this point and still enjoy it for what it is. Just remember, this was geared a bit toward a younger crowd, so don’t think this is like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you will be fine.

7/10

The Video

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Third Season is presented in full screen. The color is vibrant and I did not notice any instances of grain or artifacts.

7/10

The Audio

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Third Season is presented in Dolby Digital Surround sound The dialogue is crystal clear throughout.

6.5/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Third Season is presented 4 slim amaray cases enclosed in a cardboard slipcover with artwork that captures the spirit of the show well.

There are no bonus features included in this release so the score is going to be low in this category.

1/10

Overall (Not an Average) 5/10

The Review

The Series 7/10

The Video 6/10

The Audio 6.5/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 1/10

Overall (Not an Average) 7/10

Suzie Lackey