After season one of the Netflix TV show “Wednesday” met success after its initial launch on Nov. 23, 2022, its fans anticipated Season 2’s release. At the time, the show gained a large following due to its homage to the Addams family franchise, containing beloved characters from previous films and shows reimagined to appeal to a modern audience. While characters such as Morticia and Gomez Addams were pushed to the sidelines, the series spotlighted their daughter, Wednesday Addams, causing the show to appeal to both fans of the character from previous renditions and people being introduced to the franchise. Also, new characters were added to create more depth and intrigue, and provide characterization to Wednesday’s eccentric personality.
Despite a lack of publicity surrounding the release of the first half of “Wednesday” season two on Aug. 6, it has received notably positive reviews, with an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a 73% audience score, as of date. The second half is set to be released on Sept. 3.
Picking up from the end of Season 1, the second season continues to be set in Nevermore Academy, a school for people deemed outcasts. Each student attending Nevermore has a special power, such as the ability to turn to hypnotize others or turn people into stone. The plot revolves around the titular character as she attempts to solve another mystery — except this time, the life of Enid Sinclair, her best friend, depends on her ability to decipher it. Having previously used her psychic powers to crack an earlier case, she’s unable to use her ability this season, forcing her to rely on her skills of deduction. Through many strange events — such as mysterious attacks by birds and anonymous messages — she’s compelled to analyze clues left behind by the perpetrator who may be the one responsible for Enid’s foreseen death.
Unlike Season 1, season two puts more significance on other members of the Addams family: Wednesday’s younger brother, Pugsley, begins to attend Nevermore, and Morticia and Gomez Addams are present on campus as leaders of the fundraiser committee. In addition, secondary members of the Addams family, including Uncle Fester, are placed on the center stage, adding more depth to the cast. Each of these characters contributes to the overall quality of the show with effective performances and individual plot relevance.
The incorporation of Morticia into the main cast helps shed light on the growing tension between her and Wednesday. Despite her worries that Wednesday would meet the same doomed fate as her sister — who also possessed psychic abilities — her daughter unyieldingly persists in solving the mystery, causing a source of conflict throughout season two. This particular aspect of the show is proven to be invaluable, since it provides further insight into Wednesday’s stubborn personality and fuels her motivation to solve the mystery. It also demonstrates room for character development, similarly to the first season, which highlighted Wednesday’s manipulative tendencies towards the people around her to get what she wanted.
Meanwhile, Pugsley and Gomez Addams both play a lesser role throughout the season, though Pugsley’s actions eventually contribute to the climax of the series. Though his particular storyline fails to be as compelling as the main plot, it maintains its position as a cliché but entertaining part of the series with a satisfying payoff. In contrast, Gomez serves as nothing more than comedic relief, only serving as a supporting character to more prominent cast members.
Unfortunately, a handful of characters remain half-baked and undeveloped compared to the others, only being written to serve the plot without any substance. For instance, Eugene Ottinger continues to be forgettable, merely acting as a one-note character whose only personality trait is obsessing over bees. Similarly, Tyler Galpin’s character arc in season two loses its emotional impact due to Hunter Doohan’s wooden performance in the previous season. Though season two continues to emphasize Wednesday and Tyler’s former romantic tension, the lack of chemistry between the two actors makes their dramatic interactions almost laughable. In addition, many new additions to the cast, including obsessed fan Agnes DeMille and music teacher Isadora Capri, suffer from a lack of depth, having only been tacked on to drive the narrative forward.
The most infuriating example of character assassination in Season 2, however, lies in Enid’s failed characterization throughout each of the four episodes. In the previous season, she served as a foil to Wednesday’s sardonic and cold nature, her kind nature eventually helping the unlikely pair form a close friendship. Sadly, this is poorly translated into season two, the only evidence remaining of their formerly close bond being Wednesday’s fear for Enid’s safety. Instead of acting as a bubbly and energetic companion, Enid often dismisses Wednesday’s personality and interests. Her tendency to disrespect her friend’s boundaries makes her appear hypocritical whenever she criticizes her for her introverted nature and strange hobbies. As a result, this causes badly written tension that adds nothing to the series.
However, a strong point in the series that remains prevalent throughout the new season is Jenna Ortega’s strong performance as the titular character. Unlike most of the cast members of “Wednesday,” she’s one of the only actors who’s completely immersed in her character, flawlessly replicating Wednesday’s stoic and antisocial personality, while also remaining endearing to the audience. Honorable mentions include Fred Armismen, whose quirky interpretation of Fester is one of the greatest performances in the entire show, and Luis Guzman as Gomez, who perfectly captures his character’s devotion to his wife, as well as his goofy nature.
The visuals and set design remain a high point throughout the series, since it maintains a look distinctive from other Netflix shows. For instance, the gothic architectural style of Nevermore complements the supernatural elements in the series, a perfect setting to highlight each of the outcasts’ strange abilities. In addition, the pervasive sense of threat present throughout the dark forest surrounding the campus creates an eerie sensation reminiscent of campy horror films.
In contrast, the special effects in the series continue to be a mixed bag, ranging from high-quality elements that enhance the show’s quality to poorly done CGI that takes the viewer out of the experience. Thing — a disembodied hand who acts as Wednesday’s assistant throughout her time at Nevermore — continues to be visually flawless, perfectly blending into the environment and mood of the series. Though his lack of a body prevents him from speaking, his animated gestures using his fingers make up for it, giving him a distinct personality that makes him fun to watch. The effects used for the outcasts’ special powers, including Agnes’s power of invisibility and Pugsley’s electrocution abilities, are well done and contribute to “Wednesday’s” paranormal tone.
Unfortunately, several graphics used in the show suffer from bad quality and design, especially the special effects used for Tyler’s transformation into the Hyde — a grotesque monster fueled by induced trauma, often being forced into servitude by those who unleash them. Though the Hyde is meant to be a threat throughout the series, the bulging eyes and gaping mouth make it almost too grotesque in comparison to other monsters in the series. Alongside badly done CGI, his Hyde form appears almost comedic, even when placed in scenes meant to be dramatic and tense.
As a casual fan of the first season, I was disappointed by the drop in quality in the second season, notably seen through examples of character assassination, as well as lost potential seen in others. In contrast, most of the visuals — with exceptions — and strong cast performances help it remain a decent, but imperfect, watch.
Overall, the positive and negative elements in “Wednesday” create a mishmash of a series, though it still remains an enjoyable watch for those interested in how the titular character’s story progresses. Despite how the poor elements detract from the show’s quality, “Wednesday” continues to be a suspenseful series with potential to be a classic in the catalogue of Addams Family media.
