Sabrina the Teenage Witch Reviewed: Episode 003 - The Adventures of Rudy Kazootie

Episode 003 - The Adventures of Rudy Kazootie Review

A science thing? A science thing? Really?

Episode Synopsis

Sabrina is forced to babysit a grown old man after a spell goes awry. Yep, that's the episode.

Review

So, this episode is probably one of my least favourites. Not just so far, in general. It's super creepy that they really got this old man to act like a baby for the entirety of this episode and I hope this wasn't some sort of secret fetish he had.

Harvey is pretty much relegated to yet again being fawned over by Sabrina, but we learn that he wants to be a dentist. For a lack of Libby, I would've expected Harvey to be better and more prominent but no.

The 90s references are still lost on me, Randy Travis was worth a google and Sabrina saying MTV News actually floored me because I was so surprised, I almost thought it was a joke.

Rollerblah's and Popsi? Sign me up. I want a Popsi! Rollerblah's I can do without. It was interesting that it was Hilda to suggest Sabrina getting a job.

Sabrina saying she "even was one", ugh we never knew she was a child. The way she called during lunch and the mother was overwhelmed? Funniest scene in the episode for me. Also I wish my school did these billboard of jobs things, it always seems so fantastical for me to look back on even though I know it was probably a reality.

"Mitosis is" is one of the most memorable quotes from the series. Sabrina casually invited Harvey to babysit with her and the people she was babysitting for were okay with that? I'm putting it down to the 90s because that is so weird to me.

I love the fact that witches can casually solve global warming in this universe. Also, Sabrina's fashion sense is improving. I think some of her outfits are beginning to hold up. 

Also, she says "gotta go" many, many times. This is a recurring thing which I never noticed initially and I just feel so stupid. I never realised how many times she says it. Every time she says it from now on, I'll be kicking myself!  

Ruby's 18 months and this was filmed in 1996, so he would've been born sometime in 1994. He would now be 25-26, which is weirdly not that big of an age difference compared to me.

This episode is about what?!

Harvey's fixation on mail boxes seems to be something that fades which is sad. I like these random quirks that they're giving him, also he said he wanted to be a dentist, he liked cooking...they give him all of these interesting things that fade which is kind of sad.

The way Harvey and Sabrina fail to study throughout the entire episode and Sabrina takes a break any time she isn't interrupted and the way she says "Science things" when she's late shows to me they haven't fleshed out her love for science yet.

I will stay forever on the hill that Sabrina should've done something with her love for science, rather than going into journalism.

Ah, the "be a big boy" passion spell. I'd just like to question whether this ever pops up again. "Mitosis is" more relevant than a passion spell in the grand scheme of the series. And what if Sabrina had said something like "please be quiet today so I can flirt with Harvey, I need this to go well" three times. There have to be passion spells that are a nightmare to reverse just because of how long whatever someone said was. 

In this episode, I've gotten more of a grasp on the mother of Rudy than Harvey's character. Clearly they haven't yet established the key traits (other than sports).

This isn't really that relevant but Sabrina did a lot of running in this episode and when Harvey said that she "runs funny"? He wasn't lying. Why did they make this a random character choice? It cracks me up as much as Zelda saying that she's not an "alternative" couple, that is so 90s. Nowadays, they'd say gay flat out.

Considering this episode is about Rudy, you'd think I would mention him more. Well, you'd also think that he wouldn't creep me out. Unfortunately, you're wrong.

Also, the "asking for your email" made this so funny to me. I was cracking up at that. Sabrina Spellman saying she changed her name as a lie? The way she lied on her real dad. Honestly, how does no one think Sabrina's family is so weird? Aunts aside, every time something magical and weird happens, it's one of her "relatives".

In the midst of spell casting...

Melissa's delivery in the classroom scene is so on point. The talent she possessed. She really brings up this entire show, I know some people rub on her acting but I think she's a really strong actress who can actually alter her vocal tone in her voice. Some people really need to learn to do that.

I really liked the quickly interrupted scene between Sabrina and Harvey, it was really nice and cute. A lot like the interaction they shared last episode but it's nice to see the slow burn beginning of their relationship and I'm feeling more connected towards Harvey the more Sabrina raves about him. 

Maybe he isn't so bad. Maybe.

Eddie Cibrian was another name I had no idea who he was. Embarrassing really. This is going to happen so frequently throughout the show. In some ways I really like it, it kind of dates the show but it's like a time capsule into this world I was never born in. In other ways, it's like...hmm. I do like that this is constant from the beginning, clearly the network had a lot of faith in Sabrina from day 1 to get a number of celebrity guests. This was really way before it hit its peak and it's still nabbing celeb after celeb, go Sabrina.

Intro 

The intro line was just "I've got to better at this magic" and she's giving me Valerie in a later where Sabrina has the party and Valerie dresses up in a similar costume.

Special Effects

Sabrina making "rollerblah's" held up really well. It's not exactly a different thing to do. There weren't really many spells that required more than just a point and then some off screen thing happening to reinforce it did happen and I think that's a smart move to make the show look less dated.

Characters

• Sabrina - Undoubtedly, she carried this episode. I think we're getting a broader sense of the kind of girl Sabrina is. Yes, she's a "relatable teen girl" but they really made her feel real and someone to root for.
• Aunt Hilda - It was interesting that Hilda suggested the job rather than Zelda. Hilda has so far been the comic relief with not so much depth but I'm hoping that will change.
• Aunt Zelda - Liking Sabrina's teachers really starts early, huh? For once, I didn't really enjoy her. She was basically relegated to talking with Mr Pool and had nothing else of substance to do.
• The Kazootie's - The relationship between the father and mother was kind of weird, the dynamic was just never mentioned. The mother was presented as hysterical for comedy purposes but I just felt bad for her really. Rudy, well, I'm sure he's thriving now. I almost wish these guys had become recurring characters because there's not many people Sabrina has outside of her schooling life and her home life.
• Harvey - Literally watched sports on TV for the majority of the episode. Harvey's just pretty simple right now, there's not really been any spotlight on him whatsoever and that's to the detriment of his character, especially considering the quirks (baking, dentistry, mailboxes) all fade with time.

Freak Count - 07 (+1)

With the absence of Libby, is it any surprise there was no "freak" said towards Sabrina? I actually did miss Libby's presence in this episode and Jenny's as well, it felt a little more contained and it was nice not to see them in the same way because maybe Jenny and Libby were absent, who knows? In these shows, it's hard to think of times when the main character has to go at it alone because their friend is absent for a day or two.

Rating

This episode is a solid 3/10. I know that might seem harsh but this one I will definitely skip over. It does absolutely nothing for me and the only reason it's not lower is because I'm assuming there are much worse episodes later down the line.

Let's just not ask why this in a different font and the headings are spaced eventually when they look fine on Blogger until I preview the blog, truly a struggle.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Reviewed - Episode 02: Bundt Friday

Episode 002 - Bundt Friday Review

Beware some serious formatting issues in the first part of this that I attempted to sort out (I failed).

Sabrina Spellman's choice of weapon is deadly sprinkles, run!

Episode Synopsis

The disaster that is Sabrina's spells really causes chaos for the first time. Truth sprinkles! A staple of many, many magical shows. The truth always causes friction, eventually it is resolved and this is that typical subplot played out in an episode.

Review

Why did I love the cliche rabbit in the hat trick spell? Maybe I'm just biased because of this show but it made me smile, it's a total cliche and I know, unoriginal but I can't control how I feel.

This was a more school centric episode sprinkled in with some lessons of what the truth is. Let's talk about the truth of Melissa's talent to pretend to be talking to Salem (which they clearly got Nick to record in a studio and didn't even attempt to make it sound like they were in the same room).

I'm so glad that Hilda and Zelda's relationship was featured more in this episode as a side plot. Hilda's personality shines here and Zelda is a great but realistic contrast who weaves into Sabrina's subplot as a lesson giver.

Also, the home economics class? Is that what they learned in the 90s? When Jenny asked about why they have to learn this, I felt that. Sabrina casually uses her magic and the teacher who never appears again is right there and she just acts like nothing happened.

And she's never seen again...

The word "cool" has lost all meaning to me. Jenny also had way too much faith in Harvey and I hope she ended up finding someone who didn't disappoint her the way the unfleshed out character that Harvey currently is, would.

Also, the teacher's delivery on "Need help Sabrina?" was kind of weird, am I the only one who thought that?

The bullying in the hallway followed by two counts of freak with Jill and Cece cackling was just not funny. At least, here we get a sense of Sabrina's insecurity, she actually starts to care about what Libby is saying about her (and then pretends to her aunt that it's upsetting Jenny, shady).

The way the weaving of getting Sabrina to use magic, Sabrina at school and Hilda's subplot really is brought together so well by Zelda's presence in the episode and the initial scene where Sabrina is struggling to learn anything. There's little details like the ice cream sprinkles mentioned earlier coming back later in the episode after not being hinted at, I like that the audience didn't need to be spoon fed. 

Hilda's suggestion of lady bald spot, why did we never see that again? Libby really demonises plastic surgery here and that's such a 90s thing. Just like mentioning Richard Nixon, very odd to mention a president. Maybe it was a big thing for 90s shows to do at the time but it really dated it a bit more.

Also, Libby is kind of nice to Sabrina briefly by just referring to by name when they could've easily added in a disgusted look and a "freak". Libby's a pretty real character and small moments like this really made her less of a caricature. But those lies...father in jail and cheating on tests? Do better.

I think Jill 'nose' this will come up again.

And just who is Pete Sampson? These 90s references drive me crazy (the MTV reference made me laugh though). It's not a piece of cake to understand them. It was nice to see Cece and Jill get more screentime even though it basically amounted to nothing.

While we learned that Harvey liked football and liked to cook, Sabrina is kind of shady for giving Jenny the sprinkle cake. When Jenny says she and Harvey are "soulmates" in the context of the series, this is funny.

Also, after another freak is uttered in the air. This whole bit where Sabrina realises the amount of destruction she has caused is just sad. The virgin conversation with Sabrina being the only one to overhear it made it so awkward.

Honestly, I don't understand Sabrina's position of being mad that Jenny and Harvey are going out together on a date as friends. She even later says that it should be "her or Jenny" or "her and Harvey", kind of self centered much? People can hang out without you and that's perfectly fine. Unlike Hilda, this did bring me down a bit on Sabrina.

I really like how Zelda mediates between Hilda and Sabrina in this episode and her role is great. To me, she's the star of this episode as a character. I'm so glad we never saw Drel in this episode and it was nice to see Hilda give him a taste of his own medicine.

Sabrina walks in and states that her and Jenny need to talk and I completely ignored the exchange because it was so cute and soppy that Sabrina said she would "try and build a life off of it". This was obviously without the truth sprinkles (a nice little twist which seems obvious in hindsight) and the fact that she actually did this is so nice.

A cute scene because of what happens later in the series with them, not because of what it is.

The linen closet remains the elite thing on this show. Would I watch an entire episode inside of the linen closet? Yes, I would.

I'm still not feeling Harvey and Sabrina's relationship that is literally based off Sabrina's love for sideburns which do eventually fade with time. The scene in the pizza place is kind of lost on me because I really don't care that much about Harvey when, as a character, there's very little there. Maybe he's meant to be the "All American boy" so he's relatable to many and that's profitable but still.

The status quo is reset and Cece and Jill "forgive" Libby but the way they are planning her demise? I support them. They deserved better on the show, they really didn't get much to do outside of Libby (which is kind of sad). Libby wasn't in the show in S4 so I would've been interested in at least keeping those two and fleshing them out some more but the WB didn't feel the same way all those decades ago and that's a shame.

The one thing I haven't yet talked about is the effects and, considering this is going to be a show with a huge amount of them, I feel like it warrants it's own section. I know, it's only been two blogs and I'm already messing around with the format. Whoops.

Intro

I feel like I need to do a section on her outfits in the intro because I do pay attention to them. I like this one but the way she delivered the "As if!" was so overdramatic that it almost didn't feel like Sabrina (but apparently this could be a clueless reference?).

Call me completely clueless. Imagine how many references will go over my head. 

Special Effects

• The rabbit in the hat trick was good but what was the reason to make it talk, zoom in on it's mouth and show that there was no way he was moving his mouth to the words being said?
• The red arrow looked super fake but it was only there for a moment, so whatever. 
• The napkin into rose was a good trick, not very difficult to pull off but it looked good.

Characters

• Sabrina - Sabrina kind of took a backseat in this episode because I focused more on Jenny than Sabrina's actual (and kind of weird) feelings. Her hate of onions is a nice character trait that I will remember and make sure they remain consistent towards.
• Jenny - I always feel bad for Jenny. This reinforces that she really is the third wheel. Harvey only hangs with her because of Sabrina and that's just kind of sad. They fixed this issue with Valerie but it just makes Jenny seem sadder to me. There's also occasional glimpses of sadness and they never expand on them. Missed opportunity. 
• Harvey - Harvey really didn't do much other than admit that he likes cooking and be the butt of a couple "he's not the smartest jokes".
• Libby - We saw Libby getting done dirty by Sabrina yet again with one of her spells. Constantly the one who usually gets the worst things happening to her due to Sabrina's spells. I'd almost feel bad but her "you're still breathing" to Sabrina in the hallway? Yikes.
• Hilda - Hilarious, yet again. It was nice to see her motivation for Drel and not going on the date with him. She deserves better.
• Zelda - She was the star of this episode. Weaving herself between being a mentor for Sabrina and being the sister to Hilda was nice to see, it gave her character purposes and showed how versatile she is as a character.
• Salem - I'm using this section to ask whether we see Luisa again. I like that dynamic of competition between Salem and someone else, they always toy with it and never really go full throttle with it.

Freak Count - 06 (+3)

• Libby calls Sabrina one and then says to Jenny that she is a "double freak" which counts as two.
• The word is said to someone other than Sabrina for once but I'm still counting it.

Rating

6.5/10. This is a real typical subplot for a sitcom that had been done before Sabrina and well after Sabrina. The characters are still pretty much in their half formed stages (as weird as that sounds) and I just felt like it was nice because it gave me a sense of early Sabrina...and that's because it was early Sabrina, aside from that, it was just kind of meh.

I did really like the focus on Hilda and Zelda's relationship a little more, so that's something.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Reviewed: Episode 01 - Pilot

Episode 01 - Pilot Review 

Am I going to miss all of the 90s references because I was born in 2001? Definitely.

Episode Synopsis

The series chronicles our loveable protagonist, Sabrina Spellman, attending Westbridge High School. This first episode introduces the main cast for the first season and delves into the dynamic of what it's like to be the dreaded new kid at school. 

Review

Coming into this episode, I had very little idea of what to expect about the beginnings of a long running 90s show. Has it held up well? Has it not? Is it funny?

Talking of laughs, I guess my mind has been prepared to hate laugh tracks by Disney sitcoms over the years but here they were used really sparingly and I really liked that. There was never a reliance on the laugh track at all and Sabrina (the show as a whole) does have so funny laugh out loud moments.

The star of this episode is undoubtedly Melissa Joan Hart, it's crazy how young she looks as she was only 20 here. I say as I'm younger than 20. Her facial expressions and vocal delivery were honestly great.

I think that viewing this in the 2020s and being from England really did make some things harder to understand like the GAP references which I think I have some idea about but then there was the Brad Pitt reference. Obviously, I know who that is but it really stood out as quite dated.

There's also something that needs to be said about Sabrina's fashion choices in this episode because either 90s fashion is a complete enigma or people really dressed like that when going to school? 

Moving on from her fashion, there's also something to be said about the dynamics between Libby and Sabrina. My personal opinion is that Libby is initially threatened by Sabrina and seeks to intimidate her through any means necessary. Not exactly groundbreaking but Jenna Leigh Green elevates Libby's character to another level.

I love her bitchy delivery and her "How'd you know that?" coupled with her facial expressions is gold. I felt like I was really in the room with them. 

I would definitely watch just a Libby centric spin off. How much did they pay poor Jenna to have to do that scene where she smeared lipstick over her face?

Sabrina's reaction to her doing her first spell is super understated. I guess it's because she'd already been talking to her father in a book but it's interesting.

While watching the episode the "you're not like other kids" thing really means something else nowadays that got a huge eyeroll from me. Also, I hate hate the ball of wax rule. It's stupid and doesn't make any sense and I will never understand it.

Drel is such a weird character because we never see him again after this season (just like Jenny) and to hear him yelling at Sabrina to establish him being aggressive and unlikable was a weird choice that still unsettles me throughout the first season.

I really like the groundwork that is laid in this episode. Sabrina's feelings of insecurity about being normal (only made worse by being a witch). Libby just being Libby but also just the dynamic between Harvey and Sabrina is established so quickly and yet it feels so natural.

The first lesson Sabrina is seen in is science and I always thought that Sabrina should've gone into a science related career rather than journalism. Women in stem representation!

Although, "mine too!" why did Sabrina say that so enthusiastically? No one is going to question that? Also, she seems so unhinged because she's so much louder than Libby and then she grabs pineapple Libby and runs off and of course she's going to look weird.

"It's over...my life is over!" 

Even I rolled my eyes at that but it's so real, I love how Melissa really taps into that teenage petulance where your problems can feel so monumental even if you can look back and see they were minor.

I've never realised why Libby was popular. It just doesn't make any sense. I know, it's stereotypical and the character development in Libby is forever lacking and it's the 90s but still.

I think it took a more serious tone than I had originally anticipated. I mean, there were some really sombre moments among the sitcom ones. The scene where Salem is saying how the sound of tuna can opening is one that keeps him alive was actually really sad and there was a nice little, subtle pause which showed to me that it wasn't played for laughs.

So, Sabrina gets the chance to redo the day all over and she does it over perfectly and her aunt Hilda's reaction of "Teens" was just so nice and for me, the episode had a good beginning, middle and end. It was honestly such a subdued and perfect start. You can really see why it took off as such a phenomenon even decades later.

The ending makes you feel the same things for Sabrina and you're happy that she got what she wanted. The audience positioning in this to make us like and feel for Sabrina really works and makes the happy ending nice and impactful.  

Characters

Sabrina - Sabrina is introduced as a really likeable teen with a weird penchant for fashion that seems older than she is, considering she's meant to be 16 here. Sabrina carries the pilot on her back (as she should). She's not a pushover which is something I really like, any other show would've probably had Sabrina cower away from Libby but she can give it back just as good.

• Salem - Salem, I felt, was used less well here. I get it, he was a supporting character for this pilot but we really didn't get a huge sense of who Salem was. Yes, the sarcasm was prevalent but the Salem we know and love is reserved here.
  
  Aunt Hilda - "Toughen up or toughen up." Probably the funniest character in this pilot and that's a testament to Beth Broderick's acting chops.
  
  Aunt Zelda - The perfect foil and her purpose here is kind of unnecessary because at this point in time, the whole show feels very grounded. Whereas, later on she becomes pivotal in keeping the show grounded but as the show is so much more subdued she kind of blends in a little.
  
  Harvey - Harvey has zero personality in this pilot. He's charismatic but Sabrina's kind of shallow, clearly. There's really not much to say about him, he could've been replaced with anyone else. There's nothing to Harvey at the moment (obviously that changes pretty quickly).
  
  Libby - Libby's personality is probably the most defined and is typical to how she continues to act. It's not exactly hard to craft a mean girl but there's something undeniably special about just how easy it is to hate Libby and she brings so much to the series and I still think it's a crime that she wasn't in season 4.
  
  Jenny - Poor Jenny. I remember reading an interview where the writer who came up with her character left and then so did she, there's also another possibility that they just wanted to replace her with someone to be more diverse (but then they replaced her with Valerie, so not sure I believe this one) and I'm not sure the 90s cared too much about diversity, glad we're a lot more encompassing nowadays but there's still progress to be made.
  
  I feel like Jenny always gets the short end of the stick and I do wish she would've stuck around because her dynamic with Sabrina is one of an equal and it's a really nice friendship (whereas with Valerie, she obviously sees Sabrina as better in every way). In this first episode, Jenny talks about she never wants to fit in and I wish we got more of a look into her psyche and how being the odd one out feels.

Freak Count - 03 

• She tells Sabrina to use the freak's bathroom from now on.
• She directly says that Sabrina is an "even bigger freak" than she originally thought after she's turned back from a pineapple.
• After Sabrina gets hit by the football (when Libby is walking off) she calls Sabrina a freak to herself.

Technically, two of these ended up being erased because Sabrina went back in time but I'm still counting them.

Rating

I'm going to give this a 7/10. This was a very strong pilot episode but is it the best that Sabrina can offer? Obviously not. There's not a lot of nostalgia associated with this specific episode because this is kind of like a time machine lookback for me, so at least there's none of that clouding the rating.