Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is busy. He is not only the showrunner of The CW's Riverdale. Aguirre-Sacasa is also behind Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. While both series focus on high school teens based on Archie Comic characters, there are some variances. So, how are the two shows different? Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa weighed in, saying:
In some ways, Sabrina the show is more innocent than Riverdale. And the center of the show is more on the Spellman family and less on the high school kids. I think that took a little bit of getting used to. Riverdale is also a real ensemble and in Sabrina, you're really following one girl's journey. That is a slightly different realignment that had to happen. [And] Riverdale is pretty gonzo storytelling --- it moves, it's like an out of control train. Sabrina's a little bit slower paced and a little more methodical and thoughtful.
Talk about a hint of what is to come! Based on what Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa revealed during an interview with Variety, fans should be curious as to how these differences play out. While Archie is central to the storyline in Riverdale, his fellow denizens are also crucial to the show. It is nice to hear that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will not spread itself thin with its storytelling.
Focusing on an intimate cast of characters should help the series remain centered. Different things work for different shows though. Riverdale offers an ensemble of characters, whereas Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will focus on its eponymous protagonist, as its title suggests. That is not where the differences end either. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa referred to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina as "more innocent" than The CW series.
He added that Riverdale's teens act more like "grownups" than the teen characters in the Netflix series. So, despite the supernatural elements, the show will draw closer to the coming-of-age aspect of its story. As in, not of-age yet.
What is interesting is that you would instinctively think the dynamic of the teen characters would be reversed. The principal reason for that being that Riverdale airs on network TV. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is on a streaming platform.
Whatever the differences between the shows, the Netflix drama's brooding spirit should appeal to fans of Riverdale. It may be more innocent but teen angst is destined to abound at some point. Even as Riverdale has experienced some surreal plotlines, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's supernatural leanings should put it in a slightly more magical reality.
As of today, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is finally available to stream. The much darker adaptation of Sabrina the Teenage Witch will plunge horror fans headlong into the journey of its protagonist. In a far cry from the ABC sitcom's approach to the character's tale, Chilling Adventures will go heavy on the haunting atmosphere.
The crimson-accented cinematography underlines the visuals of Sabrina Spellman's story. According to Netflix, Sabrina will be wrestling with her dual natures in Chilling Adventures -- that of a witch and a mortal. As she works on balancing her life as a teen, Sabrina also has to deal with standing against the forces of evil. Something tells me she has a fighting chance.
The entire first season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is now on Netflix. The supernatural drama is among countless series making their debut this fall on the streaming giant.
