Netflix Cancels 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'

In heartbreaking news, Netflix has canceled the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ahead of its debut for season 4.

The streaming giant announced that they would no longer be renewing the dark teenage witch show, leaving fans confused since the show seems to be doing well.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a darker twist of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and based on his Archie comic book series by the same name.

It first premiered on Netflix in 2018, and its last episode received a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, the numbers didn't seem enough to please Netflix and secure a renewal.

In a statement via TV Line, author and showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said:

Working on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has been an incredible honor from day one. The cast, beginning with Kiernan as everyone’s favorite teen witch, has been an absolute joy. I am beyond thankful to the crew, writers, editors, assistants, and everyone for pouring so much love into this dark dream of a show.

Roberto didn't mention the reason behind the streaming platform's decision to ax the show. Albeit, he remained thankful to Netflix, Warner Bros., Berlanti Television, and Archie Comics.

People are also questioning Netflix's decision of axing Chilling Adventures of Sabrina instead of Riverdale when it is evident that it's doing better than the latter based on the comparative ratings of the shows' last seasons.

Riverdale season 4 only received 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes while Chilling Adventures of Sabrina part 3 garnered 90% rating.

Riverdale has been subjected to numerous criticisms following absurd moments like Jughead's "death." The show's also seen a downward trend in terms of ratings since its launch.

Both Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Riverdale are set in the Archie-verse.

Digital Spy tried to provide an answer as to why Netflix choose to cancel Chilling Adventures of Sabrina instead of Riverdale.

According to the movie and TV website, Netflix didn't cancel Riverdale simply because they can't. Riverdale is produced by The CW (the American network that produces superhero movies like Batwoman). Therefore the fate of Riverdale lies in their hands and not on Netflix. 

Moving forward, there have been rumors in the past regarding a possible Riverdale crossover. However, it remains unclear whether the characters from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will appear on Riverdale season 5 following the cancellation.

While Netflix also didn't provide a reason behind the cancellation, this is no longer surprising considering how easily Netflix cancels popular shows in the past. The cancellation trend often happens after a show passes the 30 episode mark, around season 2 or 3.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will end with 36 episodes in total. The final eight episodes are set to air later this year.

Whether Netflix's decision can still be reversed or not, it's up to Sabrina's fans now to try their best and save the show through online petitions and relentless social media campaigns. If the buzz is loud enough, maybe Netflix will listen.