'Coven Academy' Review: The Charmed Era is Back – With More Fangs for a Darker Generation
By Shauna Bushe - October 4, 2026
A supernatural secret school, teen drama, dark magic, what is not love?
What is Coven Academy about?
Briar (Malina Weissman) is a guarded, rebellious teen still reeling from her mother’s tragic unsolved murder when she’s thrust into a new school – all while trying to adjust to newly awakened powers. As a dark force closes in, she must embrace her new-found sisterhood, master her dangerous power and unravel the secrets around her mother’s death before she loses what’s left of her world.
At its core, Coven Academy thrives on the dynamic energy of its three strong female leads. Briar (Malina Weissman) fuels the narrative as the sarcastic outsider who routinely questions authority and is the engine that drives the story. Sasha (Jordan Leftwich) is the trio’s moral compass, an empathetic mind reader whose distrust in Briar at first eventually evolves into a deep bond. Rounding out the trio is Tegan (Ora Duplass) a time bending witch with a chaotic, unfiltered comedic relief that balances the team. Together, they form a delicate balance of rebellion, heart and chaos. Briar pushes them into action; Sasha keeps them grounded in their humanity and Tegan keeps the mood light when the stakes get dark. Their shifting dynamic from initial friction to secretiveness to genuine loyalty gives the series its emotional core, driving both the character arcs and the overarching supernatural plot.
Visually, and atmospherically Coven Academy wears its influences on its sleeve. Its magical component mirrors the rich, spellbinding vibe of charmed: centred around intimate coven traditions and tragic romances. As the story shifts towards darker, supernatural threats, the tone sharpens into something edgier and grittier. Bright wardrobes, creative world building and warm candlelight burst through the moody backdrop balancing the narrative intensity with a spectacular retro flair. However, in its pacing Coven Academy hits a few speedbumps, opting for an erratic episode format with runtimes varying from short 12-minute chapters to 25-minute chapters. While this flexibility allows for a lot more shock value in its endings, it also disrupts the momentum and feels somewhat uneven.
Anchoring the adult side of the academy's power dynamic are Devon Sawa as the laid-back, effortlessly cool teacher Mr. Cole and Tiffani Thiessen as the formidable headmistress Emma Graves. Sawa injects every scene with an undeniable magnetism, but it’s the distracting, electric chemistry with Emma Graves that provides a warm counterweight to the narrative’s darker tones, their playful moments together hinting at a tender history.
But wait, no supernatural teen drama is complete with out a central romantic tug of war, and the love triangle between Briar, Jake and Oli serves its purpose. Briar finds herself torn between Jake (Malachi Barton) the warlock or Oli (Louis Thresher) the dangerous vampire. Her internal war about embracing her potential or playing it safe ties into her emotional growth, transforming a classic genre trope into a meaningful reflection of choice, self-acceptance and indemnity.
Despite some structural issues and pacing hiccups, Coven Academy is the perfect October binge. A thrilling, nostalgic throwback to peak supernatural television with a modern emotional pulse. It may be flawed, but it’s also intelligently entertaining, carries thematic weight and comfortably carves out its own dark seat in the genre of spells and witchcraft.
'Coven Academy' is streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu, following its release on October 1, 2026.
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Shauna Bushe
Writer
Shauna is always down to talk about movie lore, collector of all things physical media and driven by a life long love for horror cinema.
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