COVEN ACADEMY: Episode 1.1
Yet another magic high school show normalizing dark pagan & occult themes.
Should You Watch It?
Skip this one. Overall, this Disney teen show is well done in style and story. The mysteries hold tension. The characters invite engagement, featuring fresh young actors with promise.
The backstory begs revelation. However, at least in these initial episodes, not much new exists in these magical-school stories, even with the addition of vampires.
Despite the school’s purpose to use their powers for “good” against evil, the truth reveals strong worldviews on occult and pagan elements – witchcraft, time bending, vampires who drink blood. An emphasis on good and friendship creates a world where adults are untrustworthy and harbor secret agendas.
Consequences serve as mere obstacles for teenagers doing the right thing, while adults seem to fall short. Overall, these themes may make this one a tough sell for parents of teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBriar Roberts, a rebellious young girl from Brooklyn, New York, arrives in New Orleans to study at a mysterious school for magic. She finds herself drawn in and in a coven trio with three other witches-in-training and an attraction to a young warlock as rebellious as she. As she uncovers new connections from her past, she attempts to solve the mystery surrounding her mother’s death. Three young witches from the academy go missing, revealing a conflict between witches and vampires with Briar somehow in the middle.
Is It Any Good?
The two stars come from a well-styled, detailed world that fits Disney’s teen style, but overall, the formulaic YA supernatural tropes feel played out.
The effects feel low-budget, the pacing feels a bit choppy, and the episode cliffhangers hit abruptly. The soundtrack adds immense personality with modern energy.
However, a few unique characters shine, especially Malina Pauli Weissman’s strong performance as Briar. Her chemistry with the other leads brings a charming coming-of-age energy. Still, all that magic can’t hide a story with little moral backbone.
The Worldview
This show rests on a strong occult and pagan worldview. Its heroes use magic to fight evil, and the story treats those powers as good. That’s a misleading contradiction. Demons prowl the night and kill to survive, and young witches train to stop them. But one evil can’t cancel out another. Only God can defeat evil for good.
The young witches are reckless with their powers, and sometimes they cause real harm. At one point, they even put a teacher under a spell to get away with something. Magic aside, these teens still act like teens. They rebel against authority and assume they know better, with little reason beyond their own pride. The adults have their own agendas too. The first three episodes hint at deeper secrets still to come.
Beneath all the magic, the show explores grief. At its heart is a young girl who yearns to understand herself and finds a place where she belongs, a kind of family. She wants to do the right thing and make up for her past mistakes.
That’s admirable, but no amount of effort can erase the past. Verses 18 and 19 of Isaiah 43 offer something better. They tell us not to dwell on the past and promise renewal and deliverance from God.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong pagan worldview with very strong occult elements including witchcraft and vampires, plus some moral elements and family values
Foul Language
No foul language
Violence
Moderate violence including vampire attacks with fangs and blood shown, magic use causing explosions or putting people in harm or manipulated
Sex
No sex. Couple flirts. Discussions of teenage girls discussing boys they like
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug abuse. Discussion of magic potions;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Teenage rebellion and rebellious characters are main themes, where adults have the own agenda sewing some distrust among the students. Implied family dysfunction but not further discussed in these episodes.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The characters use magic, spells, and time-shifting to control their environment and protect themselves. How does this worldly idea of seeking power and control contrast with the Christian call to rely entirely on God’s power and sovereignty? Ephesians 6:10-11
The academy’s explicit purpose is training students to fight against dark forces and vampires. While the show uses a fantasy lens, the Bible states that Christians are in a very real spiritual battle. What are the “spiritual weapons” God gives us to fight darkness in our daily lives?Ephesians 6:13-18.
Why do you think stories about magic and supernatural academies are so popular among young people today? What deep human desires (i.e. belonging, feeling powerful, wanting answers, etc.) are these shows tapping into, and how does Jesus uniquely fulfill each of these? Ephesians 2:19
The Final Word
A fresh, young cast brings real energy to COVEN ACADEMY, but the story leans on a tired formula of magic and vampires. Its idea of “good” falls apart when its heroes wield occult power and rebel against every adult in sight. Darkness can’t defeat darkness. COVEN ACADEMY makes rebellion and the occult look cool, so teens should think twice before they press play.
