Sabrina, The Teenage Witch - The Complete First Season (1996)

The Magic Begins

Sabrina Spellman's (Melissa Joan Hart) life is changing. She's just moved in with her aunts Hilda (Caroline Rhea) and Zelda (Beth Broderick) and is starting a new school.

But that's not all. On her sixteenth birthday, Sabrina learns that she is a witch who is just starting to get her powers. So not only does she need to fit in at school, but she needs to hide her powers for fear of being labeled a freak. And there's the fact that their cat Salem talks (voiced by Nick Bakay).

On her first day of school, she quickly makes friends with idealistic Jenny (Michelle Beaudoin) and develops a crush on Harvey (Nate Richert). Unfortunately, she also draws the distain of head cheerleader Libby (Jenna Leigh Green). And she has to survive biology with Mr. Poole (Paul Feig).

This school year will be anything but easy as she turns Libby into a pineapple, learns that messing with her friends lives can cause terrible things to happen, makes a magician invisible, gets trapped in a mirror of her own bad mood, turns Harvey into a frog when they kiss, and faces her own worst fear when Libby accuses her of being a witch while on a field trip to Salem, Massachusetts. Who ever said being a witch was easy?

I actually started watching this show with season two, but have caught season one multiple times in reruns. Maybe it's because I started later, but I've never found this to be one of my favorite seasons. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of laughs. But it just seems a bit like the show is still finding its feet. Of course, that is pretty normal for many shows in their first year.

This show definitely falls into the fantasy category, and it creates its magical world well. I do laugh quite a bit at the situations Sabrina gets into over the course of the season. The acting is good. Most of the special effects work, although a few are a little obvious, especially the puppet version of Salem in the early episodes.

This set contains all 24 episodes from the season on four discs. There are no bonus features, although the full frame picture and stereo sound look and sound great.

There isn't anything serious about this show, but it isn't trying to be serious. Instead, you'll get a funny show set in a creative fantasy world. July 28, 2008

ah yes. brings me back to the good ole days

I regret to say that I didn't buy these DVDs sooner (still haven't but I'm planning on it!) I actually didn't even really think about it until today, when I was flipping through the channels on TV, and I came across an episode of Sabrina on ABC Family. My sister was the original fan of the series (although she no longer is; she now feels the show is stupid ) but I still can't help but love the series. Sure its not one of my favorites anymore, but it was back in the day when it was airing originally, and its one of those TV shows that brings me back to my childhood. I remember watching it every Friday night with my sister, on TGIF, along with Boy Meet World and whatever else had been on.

It'll be fun revisiting each of these episodes, seeing as how I haven't seen so many of them in so long.

The only thing I'm disappointed about is that, from what I read, the episodes on this season are edited or something? Hm. I guess its a good thing that I don't remember all the episodes and what they contain ;) June 8, 2008

Brings back great memories

I remember loving Sabrina when I was in school. I used to watch it all the time, so much that I saw some episodes too many times. (Especially the one where the little boy steals Salem, the amount of times I saw that episode was unbelievable.)

I got this TV show for an absolute bargain, so was really pleased, and started watching it straight away. Each episode is a little over 20 minutes, so it's easy to watch way too many in one sitting.

I don't really remember too many of these episodes, as I say, it's been a few years since I saw them originally, I remember the later ones more, but as soon as the theme tune started, I was back to being a teenager again.

I always wanted to be Sabrina. I always wanted to have a sarcastic talking cat - I had a talking cockateil, who could whistle the Laurel & Hardy tune, but never get the end bit right. It's not the same is it? My hatred for Libby came straight back, the want to braid Jennie's hair came flying back, and the want to get a cuter guy in than Harvey - it all came flooding straight back to me as soon as I saw the first episode. I've seen the made for TV movie more, which I hated, because it didn't have the same characters in it.

I didn't really have a favourite episode. I loved all of them, and was quite surprised to see the first season ended 'normally' - every TV show I watch these days always ends with a cliffhanger. I can't wait to watch another show, but they're not a very reasonable price at the moment, plus I got the first season of Buffy for my birthday.

Sabrina was my childhood idol, and I very much enjoyed revisiting the very first season all over again. It's a must have for anyone who remembers it, or who also watched Clarissa Explains It All (something which I also loved, but haven't been able to buy on DVD yet), or just simply loves anything similar to this (Charmed, Buffy, Hocus Pocus). It's amazing. April 21, 2008

Love the show, hate the edits!

Ok, I love Sabrina! One of my all time favourite shows! I was however particularly frustrated when I noticed that they have changed a lot the music in the episodes. They removed the original tracks and replaced them with really lame compositions that at times don't seem to work wih the moment. WHY DO THEY DO THIS TO US!!! WE WANT IT ORIGINAL!!!! THE WAY WE REMEMBER IT!!!! February 18, 2008

Great First Season

The first season of Sabrina the Teenage Witch is one of the best. Sabrina is just coming into her magical powers which means plenty of hilarious mishaps along the way. Fans will adore watching these first episodes over and over again. February 6, 2008

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