A major point of contention is the "soulmate" rule. Critics on IMDb and fan forums point out that Sabrina had broken up with Harvey (her eventual soulmate) multiple times without ever turning to stone.
“It's definitely one of the most magic episodes of the later seasons. Also just the emotional aspect of it all really tugged at my heartstrings.” Reddit · r/sabrinateenagewitch · 11 months ago Sabrina The Teenage Witch - Season 6Eps22
Many viewers appreciate the episode for recapturing the magical whimsey of earlier seasons. The heartfelt goodbye between Sabrina and her aunts, referencing their various adventures, is frequently cited as a series highlight. A major point of contention is the "soulmate" rule
“I don't care for Josh but it was cool to see the whole gang playing poker... The thing I hate most about the finale though is the ending when the equivalent exchange spell kicks in.” Reddit · r/sabrinateenagewitch · 3 years ago Also just the emotional aspect of it all
While Hilda returns for the series finale, Zelda’s departure is permanent (save for a brief "candle" appearance in Season 7). Many reviewers feel this did a disservice to one of the show's most developed characters. Viewer Feedback Preamble text