Zelda Spellman (TV Series 1996)

In the first season, we learn that Zelda has a passion for science, specifically physics. She is often the more responsible of the two aunts and displays level-headed, logical sense. Zelda also spends much of her time helping Sabrina learn about her magic and how to control her powers.

In the beginning of the season, Zelda and Hilda inherit a substantial amount of money from an investment they made back in 1660 and argue over what they should do with it. Hilda wants to spend it while Zelda would prefer to invest it. They flip a magic coin and Zelda wins, and with the money she buys a "Labtop" (a portable potion-brewing set), wanting to expand from physics into chemistry. She, Hilda, Sabrina and Salem use her labtop frequently throughout the series to make potions. Zelda is often frustrated when she finds that the other three have used her equipment without her permission.

Hilda and Zelda reveal to Sabrina that in order to use her Witch's License, she must first solve the family secret. Zelda goes on to help Sabrina as best she can to solve the family secret without actually revealing it to her, welcoming help and clues from Sabrina's magical relatives. After seeing his failed attempts to woo Hilda, Zelda starts dating Sabrina's vice principle Willard Kraft, which makes Hilda slightly jealous (though she initially approved, she often accuses Zelda of "stealing" Willard). As a result, Zelda often suffers over Hilda's and Sabrina's constant attempts to make her break up with Mr. Kraft. She herself gets frustrated with Willard, especially when she is under the impression that he is going to propose and he merely asks her to do his taxes.

As well as helping Sabrina with her magic along with mortal problems, Zelda also has to contend with helping Hilda after she buys a clock shop, containing a magical "Lost in Time" clock. Occasionally, people who have become lost in time will emerge and as the owners of the clock it is Zelda's and Hilda's responsibility to help them return to their own time or risk being turned into clocks themselves. Zelda continues to date Mr. Kraft and gets a little jealous when Mr. Kraft's brother begins spoiling Hilda; however, that relationship doesn't work out. When Sabrina is accepted to the University of the Other Realm, Zelda is ecstatic and encourages Sabrina to attend her alma mater. However, she is supportive as usual of Sabrina's decision to attend Adams College in Boston.

Zelda must learn to cope with the fact that Sabrina has moved out of the house and into student housing closer to campus. She dives into her work and eventually she gains a position at Adams as an associate professor of quantum physics, which annoys Sabrina initially. After the end of her relationship with Willard Kraft, she meets Sabrina's literature professor, Arthur Carlin. The two date briefly but Zelda realizes he is too controlling and stifles creativity with his pompous attitude. Zelda learns to hang loose a little more after spending a few days with Sabrina and her roommates. After completely unraveling, she realizes that she cannot do anything that is untrue to herself but can still loosen up and have fun occasionally.

Zelda breaks up with Professor Carlin permanently and is distraught over her failed love life. When Zelda mentions her past love, Gabriel, Sabrina goes back in time to make sure Zelda doesn't walk away from him. Sabrina returns to the altered present and finds that Zelda is miserable living with Gabriel, however she won't admit it. Sabrina goes back in time again and puts things back to how they were before. Back in the present, Zelda tells Sabrina that she knew deep down that Gabriel wasn't the one, but she thinks of him after every break up wondering how things could have been. Near the end of the season, Zelda and Sabrina attempt to make Hilda realize she is making a huge mistake in marrying Will, a man she had only just met. When Zelda seduces Will to put him in a compromising position, Hilda finds the two and sends Will away. Hilda then turns to stone and falls apart, which indicates to Zelda that Will had been Hilda's soulmate.

When Sabrina gives up her true love to bring Hilda back to life, she then turns to stone and falls to pieces after losing her true love. Zelda gives up her adult years to save Sabrina and reverts to her childhood state. After Hilda moves to the Other Realm to live with her new husband Will, Zelda moves back to the Other Realm as well. She is not heard of or seen until the day of Sabrina's wedding. She and Hilda plead to The Witches Council to allow Sabrina's mortal mother to attend her wedding without being turned into a ball of wax and Hilda volunteers Zelda to be turned into a candle as a sacrifice, until after Sabrina's wedding. She and Hilda watch as Sabrina rides off with Harvey after cancelling the ceremony and indicates her contentment and pride by igniting her own wick.

• In the original Sabrina comics by Archie, the 1960's cartoon, and the pilot movie, Zelda was the wacky, eccentric aunt instead of the serious one. In the latter, she was also portrayed be Charlene Fernetz, who went on to play Gail Kippling in the show's first season.
• Because in Sabrina the Teenage Witch the Movie (1996), Sabrina's family was Sawyer, so Zelda's family name was Sawyer too.
• It is possible that Zelda was given her adult form back, seeing as how Sabrina's true love did return to her.
• Zelda is nicknamed "Zellie" by her sister Hilda and "Zoo-Zoo" by Willard Kraft.
• Unlike her sister, we never learn her middle name.
• Her screen name is "ChemKitten."

• Beth Broderick chose to leave the show after the sixth season, feeling that her character was going nowhere.
• In the series finale, "Soul Mates," the producers could only afford to bring back one of the Aunts. Because Aunt Hilda was more popular than Zelda, they chose to bring Caroline Rhea back for a guest appearance, which is why Zelda only appears as a candle.