Coven Academy Brings Teen Witches to Freeform and Disney+
Briar finds her birth mother in the headmistress's office.
That reveal closes Season 1 of "Coven Academy", the teen witch drama that premiered Oct. 1 on Freeform at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT. The full season arrived the next day on Disney+, Hulu and Freeform, according to a Disney+ announcement. Disney+
The show follows three teenage witches and their warlock classmates at an elite magic school in New Orleans. It is a single-camera show, meaning it is shot without a studio audience, and described as a supernatural dramedy. Deadline
The path to screen took a turn. Creator Tim Federle developed "Coven Academy" as a young adult drama originally intended for Disney Channel. Disney decided it would be more at home on Freeform. Federle is known as the creator behind "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series". Variety
Disney Branded Television handed the project a series order, meaning it went straight to a full season. It now streams on Disney+ alongside its Freeform run. Deadline
Malina Weissman stars as Briar. Her mother Mary is played by Cecilia Grace Deacon, and her fellow young witches Sasha and Tegan are played by Jordan Leftwich and Ora Duplass. Tiffani Thiessen plays headmaster Miss Graves, with Devon Sawa as teacher Mr. Cole. Variety
Malachi Barton plays Jake, whose father William is a shapeshifting warlock. Keegan Connor Tracy plays Tamora, coven sister to both Mary and Graves. Their powers all trace back to ley lines, the mystical source of magic for witches and warlocks in the show's lore.
The family tree is the engine of the finale. Graves is revealed as Briar's birth mother, who gave her up. Federle discussed the twist and what it opens up for dark magic in a second season in an interview with Variety published Oct. 3. Variety
The ending leaves Briar caught between Jake and Ollie, with a death in the mix. Entertainment Weekly published an ending explainer addressing whether Briar picked Jake or Ollie and who died. Entertainment Weekly
Federle also spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the show's witches and Barton's casting. The Hollywood Reporter Episodes run shorter than is usual for an hour-long drama, a choice built for streaming and catch-up viewing.
For fans, this means the whole first year is ready to watch in one go. The central question is no longer who Briar's mother is. It is what that answer costs her coven.
