Summary
Chapter 16, “Blackwood”, continues a hot streak of consistent episodes, with the darkest chapter so far.
This recap of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 2, Chapter 16, “Blackwood”, contains spoilers. You can read the recap of the previous episode by clicking these words.
Chapter 16, “Blackwood” continued a strong Season 2 of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, revealing Blackwood’s (Richard Coyle) slow rise, but it is not without obstacles as Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) is determined to stop him. Chapter 16 darkens the series further and sets up the rest sensibly.
“Blackwood” sees the Weird Sisters warn Blackwood of a vision they dreamt, with the Spellman family causing his demise; he dismisses their claims, stating he has a plan in hand, prompting Prudence to encourage him to provide her with the family name – he routinely denies her request.
Chapter 16 shows a divide in the Spellman family; Sabrina disapproves of the wedding and Ambrose (Chance Perdomo) is mourning over the death of Luke. Zelda (Miranda Otto), on the other hand, is giddy, announcing her plans to her sister Hilda (Lucy Davis), who is the assumed Maid of Dishonor, subject to her ex-communication getting lifted.
In a turn of events, Sabrina sees the ghost of her father Edward Spellman, who claims she cannot trust Father Blackwood, accusing the man of killing him and her mother. There’s also mention of his manifesto. In reality, it was Mary Wardwell/Madam Satan (Michelle Gomez). Zelda also sees the ghost of Constance who harasses her, but Hilda confidently removes her.
Chapter 16 is pivotal for Ambrose, who finally shares his tarot reading with Sabrina. Recent events unsettle the character, you can see it in his posture and body language. Meanwhile, Zelda asks if Hilda can no longer be ex-communicated, which he accepts, but he denies providing Prudence with the Blackwood name.
With a new dawn emerging, Blackwood is eager to deliver his manifesto to the Anti-Pope, who has arrived at the wedding. He asks Ambrose to guard him, but Sabrina refuses to allow a misogynistic reformation to occur in the Church and interrupts the meeting delivering the mortal friendly manifesto, written by her father.
Zelda is consumed by meeting the Dark Lord, and its power and recognition she desires over her false love for Blackwood. Her wish is granted, with the Dark Lord visiting her room the night before the wedding, but unfortunately, there is a disturbance – the Anti-Pope is murdered, with Ambrose and a friend nearby with blood soaked all over them holding daggers. Ambrose, claiming his innocence, disappears.
Ambrose figures out that Blackwood controlled him; Sabrina and Nicholas (Gavin Leatherwood) crash the wedding, accusing Blackwood of the crimes against her parents, which he denies. Ambrose tries to kill Blackwood, but Prudence, who has finally been given the family name after earning Father’s respect, stops him.
Chapter 16, “Blackwood”, ends with Zelda still proceeding with the wedding, but soon realizing she will always be in the background as Blackwood demands that she walks behind him. Sabrina and Nicholas have been expelled from The Academy. Mary Wardwell/Madam Satan experiences the feeling of love, and despite the Dark Lord’s request to murder her fiance Adam, she places a ring on his finger, which will protect him.
You can read the recap of Part 2, Chapter 17 by clicking these words.
