The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a dark and intriguing retelling of the story of Sabrina Spellman, who we grew to love in the ’90s sitcom. This reboot is much closer to its comic book roots and as such Sabrina’s life is often in turmoil, her identity questioned, and her love life unstable. However, throughout it all, she has one solid rock – her family who love her unconditionally.
Two important members of that family are her aunts, Zelda and Hilda. Both aunts helped raise Sabrina, and she adores them. Although they have some of the same values, they are very different from each other, at times seeming to be opposites. There has been a history of tension in their sibling relationship, but in the end, they really have each other’s backs. However, if that were to change, and there was a battle of the Spellmans, which aunt would win and why?
Zelda: Often Outsmarts Hilda
Zelda is seen as the brains of the operation, the calculating and clever sister. Not only does she make many of the plans, she often outsmarts Hilda. When Hilda would do something that Zelda disapproved of, Zelda would kill her and place her in the resurrecting dirt. Even though Zelda has done this many times, it seems like Hilda never sees it coming.
Based on years of outsmarting Hilda, Zelda has the archived practice and knowledge. She could easily do it again.
Hilda: Breaks With Old Traditions and Learns New Ways
Zelda eventually comes to challenge the Dark Lord when Sabrina and other witches are threatened, but it takes her a while to get there. Meanwhile, Hilda acknowledges that she questions her dark baptism now, wishing that she had more of a choice when she was younger. She also more readily supports Sabrina when she wants to break with tradition and attend both schools: supernatural and human. For Zelda, tradition runs deep. Hilda is more open-minded.
Since she’s more open-minded, she is open to learning new ways of magic or thought. While Zelda struggles to get off the path built for her, Hilda would be making her own paths.
Zelda: Has More Authority and Confidence
Zelda has more authority in her household and with the students of the Academy of Unseen Arts. When she takes charge of the school after Father Blackwood is ousted, no one really questions it. She easily takes charge, and the students follow. When she tells them where to sleep and what ceremonies to do, they simply trust her to act in their best interests.
Zelda understands power, and claims it easily. She’s confident. That confidence would help her in any battle with Hilda. On top of that, others respect her authority so she would be able to recruit those to help her defeat any foe.
Hilda: Could Recruit the Underdogs and Familiars
Since Hilda was an underdog for much of her life, she understands the underdog’s plight. Due to this, she would be able to connect with those who have been forgotten. A kind heart, she’d make them feel at home and realize their potential. These new allies could help her if she were ever to battle against her sister.
Additionally, she loves other marginalized groups like the familiars. Zelda treats them like a tool, but Hilda treats them like friends who she cares about and learns from.
Zelda: Understands Politics and Diplomacy
Zelda understands how to work with those that have power and whose values may not exactly align with hers. When the power of the coven wanes and they’re threatened in Part 3, Zelda reaches out to the Hedge Witches, the lone witches who are alone for good reason. She understands their backgrounds and desires. Even when they are upset at her for calling/demanding them to come and threaten her, Zelda calms them down.
She tells them that they face a common enemy, that no witches are safe alone. Looking at one of the witches who she knows better, she says, “You know me. You know what I stand for. Now, please, will you listen to what I have to say?” Once they are willing to listen, she treats them kindly and respectfully as guests, instructing Sabrina to bring chairs and gin. This diplomacy and the fact that Zelda is well-respected in the witch community would help in any battle she would have to do.
Hilda: Has Pent-Up Rage Over Years of Mistreatment
As much as we may like Zelda, it’s easy to see that Zelda has been mean to Hilda for decades. Not only does she habitually kill Hilda, but she also thinks less of her sister. In Zelda’s mind, Edward (her brother and Sabrina’s father) is her equal, and Hilda is not. Zelda acts like Hilda is there to serve her and the family. She has a hard time with Hilda’s autonomy. We also find out that Zelda bullied Hilda when they were in school.
While Zelda does realize the error of her ways, Hilda definitely has many years of pent-up rage. She has fantasized about getting rid of Zelda in the past. Perhaps, in a battle, all that rage would find an outlet and result in a final outcome of her winning against her more poised and practiced sister.
Zelda: Taps into a New Magic Through Hecate
In her death-dream state, Zelda learns how to fix the waning magic of the coven. Edward shows her what she must do, and she is given an image from her potential future. In the image, she’s dying as an old witch, and on her wall are the faces of Hecate, the maiden, maid, and crone. She realizes that the coven’s power can come from more than the Dark Lord and the patriarchy he represents.
Zelda shares this with all of her coven, including her sister, but she was the one who first was given the message. It was almost as if Hecate chose Zelda to lead the others. Due to her new magic and her confidence in it, she may be more powerful than even her sister.
Hilda: Is a Master at Potions
Hilda has a dark art skill that is stronger than Zelda’s; she knows how to make convincing and amazing potions. This knowledge is often called on by her family, including her sister. We don’t usually see Zelda making potions, which makes us wonder if she doesn’t have this skill. Hilda is amazing at potions, and that skill has helped the Spellman household in many a dark and trying time.
In addition, Hilda knows healing recipes. So not only could Hilda deliver the final blow to Zelda through a delicious-looking potion (a spell in a cake), but she could heal her sister and do it all over again.
Zelda: Is More Comfortable Using Her Power
Zelda can be seen as more powerful than her sister since she is more comfortable using her power. She trusts her instincts and plans. Zelda also is comfortable in claiming her power. Knowing what she’s capable of, she takes challenges and learns from them. Hilda may be everyone’s friend, but Zelda is the one that they look to for guidance. Zelda is at ease with power, even willing to make the hard decision, if it’s needed.
Her very ease and comfort with using her power would help in any battle because she would do what needed to be done. Then she would calmly deal with the consequences.
Hilda: Has Untapped Potential
Hilda is stronger than she’s often given credit for. She could very well be one of the strongest witches, except she doesn’t believe it. Because she doesn’t believe it, others around her don’t either. If she had more of Zelda’s self-confidence, Hilda could rise in her station in the coven, if she wanted to.
Because people often underestimate Hilda, she is like a hidden power. Hilda could use this against Zelda in a battle and win.
