New Freeform Series 'Coven Academy' Blends Magic, Monsters, and Teen Drama
The show follows three teenage witches at a magic school in New Orleans tasked with protecting the city.
Freeform's new series, "Coven Academy," introduces viewers to Crescent Veil Academy, a school for witches and warlocks, where three teenage girls must harness their powers to defend New Orleans from supernatural threats. The show, available on Freeform and streaming on Disney+, features a plotline that echoes familiar teen supernatural dramas while introducing its own distinct narrative.
The series centers on Briar, a new student at Crescent Veil Academy, who discovers her latent magical abilities when confronted by a vampire. She soon meets Tegan and Sasha, fellow students who reveal the existence of the magic school and its purpose: to train witches and warlocks to control their powers. Tegan possesses the ability to rewind time, while Sasha can read emotions. The students are particularly concerned about several missing classmates, believed to have been targeted by vampires.
Briar carries the hidden burden of her mother's unsolved murder, a mystery that adds a personal stake to the unfolding events. Meanwhile, the relationships among the students begin to form, with hints of underlying agendas from characters like Ollie, who works for a powerful hybrid figure named Tamora.
"Coven Academy" draws comparisons to "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and "Wednesday," aiming to capture a similar audience with its blend of magic, mystery, and teenage angst. The series consists of 21 episodes, each running between 12 and 18 minutes, designed to deliver quick pacing and cliffhangers.
The chemistry between the lead actors Malina Weissman (Briar), Ora Duplass (Tegan), and Jordan Leftwich (Sasha) is noted as a strength, despite initial narrative challenges. Tiffani Thiessen, playing the headmistress Ms. Graves, reportedly struggles to find the right tone for her character in the early episodes, though her performance is expected to develop. The show's production also faces criticism for what appears to be a limited budget, with some visual effects appearing unfinished.
Despite these drawbacks, the rapid pace and the developing relationships among the young witches provide an engaging viewing experience, earning "Coven Academy" a recommendation to stream.