Warning: Spoilers for “Wednesday” seasons one and two.
As someone who grew up watching Tim Burton’s (“Beetlejuice”) films, I was more inclined than others toward enjoying Netflix’s “Wednesday.” The gothic aesthetic and Danny Elfman soundtrack were reminiscent of my childhood filled with “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Corpse Bride,” so “Wednesday” seemed bound to please me. And after the first season, I was excited to watch season two and return to the world of Outcasts when it was released this summer.
The show opens with an unnerving remix of “My Favorite Things” and Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega, “You”) tied up in a room full of creepy dolls — a flat-out terrifying situation to find yourself in. Unless, of course, you’re Wednesday Addams. In which case, this might be your most exciting summer yet.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for this season.
Season one ended on a triumphant note: Wednesday and her friends defeated Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan, “Daredevil: Born Again”), Wednesday’s former love interest and a Hyde responsible for the mysterious murders in the town of Jericho. With Tyler locked away and a rather-productive summer catching a doll-obsessed serial killer behind her, Wednesday returns to Nevermore Academy for a second year.
There are quite a few changes to the cast. After being dropped from Netflix following sexual assault allegations, Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White, “Pretty Hard Cases”) — Wednesday’s other former love interest — has suddenly departed from Nevermore. Following the death of Principal Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie, “The Sandman”), the amiable pyrokinetic Principal Barry Dort (Steve Buscemi, “Fantasmas”) takes the helm. Wednesday’s younger brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez, “A Wrinkle in Time”) joins Wednesday at school, and Wednesday’s colorful, cheerful, werewolf roommate Enid (Emma Myers, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”) … has bangs?
If the additions to the cast aren’t enough to disorient you, the show also adds an equally large number of new plotlines. Not only does the viewer have to juggle the aftermath of the events of season one, there’s another round of mysterious murders (this time involving birds), a zombie that Pugsley accidentally resurrects and names “Slurp” (Owen Painter, “Tiny Beautiful Things”), Tyler’s former master Marilyn Thornhill (Christina Ricci, “Yellowjackets”) scheming once again, Dort’s coercion of siren Bianca (Joy Sunday, “Dear White People”) into using her abilities for fundraising … the list is dizzying, and not in a good way. Mind you, I haven’t even mentioned all of the plotlines.
Having multiple storylines can be effective in pushing the plot forward and developing characters. It offers an opportunity for writers and actors to shine as they head into the finale, making the journey ever more exciting for those watching. However, “Wednesday” was too ambitious in its execution. By releasing the second season in two parts, it felt almost like the show was trying to cram two seasons’ worth of content into one. New characters like Dr. Rachael Fairburn (Thandiwe Newton, “Westworld”) don’t have enough screentime to settle into the show’s rhythm, losing their relevance by the second half of the season. As a result, some stories that began in the first four episodes felt unnecessary in the greater plot the writers planned. And amid the chaos, the show ultimately loses sight of its titular heroine: Wednesday Addams.
Ortega’s performance is excellent, nailing most of Wednesday’s characteristic mannerisms. But against everything she faces, she becomes too entrenched in this darker characterization. In other adaptations, the Addams family stands out because they are objectively unusual in a world of suburban nuclear families. That’s what makes them so fun and endearing — yeah, they’re a band of misfits who your average family would definitely avoid at all costs, but their love and devotion to each other is truly admirable and beautiful to see. But in this world of Outcasts, Wednesday’s character is unmemorable beyond her allergy to color and disturbing penchant for violence and mystery.
Perhaps it’s for this reason that the sixth episode, “Woe Thyself,” was such a breath of fresh air. Wednesday and Enid literally get to be in each other’s shoes when they switch bodies. We finally get to see Wednesday smile nervously and Enid look unusually grim and emotionless as they navigate their drastically different realities and personalities. Ortega and Myers are both incredible throughout this episode as they perform an entirely opposite character. It was honestly refreshing to watch Wednesday dance to BLACKPINK in the most obnoxiously colorful sweater. Independent of the fans shipping Wednesday and Enid together romantically (#wenclair), their canon platonic relationship is one of the more solid aspects of season one. So, having an episode dedicated to further developing their relationship was a welcome addition to this season, which also helped the show recenter Wednesday as its main focus.
Although there are way too many plot lines happening at once, some credit is due for how the writers explore some of the newer faces in the cast. I have to give a nod to Agnes (Evie Templeton, “Lord of Misrule”), one of Wednesday’s fangirls, who goes through the classic journey of discovering her identity. It’s a cliché trope, but it works nicely within the realm of “Wednesday” as a coming-of-age teen drama. What is being a teenager if not having an identity crisis? By the end of the season, I found myself cheering for Agnes as she developed into someone more authentic to herself.
This season took chances to dig deeper into the show’s supporting characters and their relationships with those around them. I appreciate the world-building and understand the allure of diving into other stories within a universe, allowing writers to explore mother-child relationships with characters like Bianca and Tyler and providing insight into the woes that trouble the other students of Nevermore Academy. However, “Wednesday” season two is ultimately less than successful in its execution, making it easy to forget what made “The Addams Family” so iconic in the first place. In season three, I hope the show focuses more on the girl and the family who inspired it.
Daily Arts Writer Eilene Koo can be reached at ekoo@umich.edu.
