Wednesday

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## **Wednesday (2022) Review: From Promising Start to Perfect Pitch in a Glorious Season 2** Rarely does a television series not only meet its immense potential but dramatically surpass it, evolving from a hit into a flat-out masterpiece. Such is the arc of *Wednesday*. While its first season was a clever, enjoyable 8/10 introduction to the Addams Family heiress, **Season 2 has elevated the show to a flawless 10/10**, solidifying its place as a modern gothic classic by fully embracing the macabre, whimsical, and deeply personal vision of its creative guides. ### Season 1: A Solid Foundation The debut season was a success for good reason. It established a compelling version of Wednesday Addams, masterfully portrayed by Jenna Ortega with a delicious blend of deadpan wit and subtle vulnerability. The setting of Nevermore Academy was fresh, the mystery was engaging, and the balance between the supernatural and the sardonic was well-maintained. It was a great show, setting the stage for something extraordinary. ### Season 2: The Ascent to Greatness Season 2 is that extraordinary something. It is clear that the creative team, with Tim Burton's influence feeling more deeply woven into the show's very DNA than ever before, took every strength of the first season and amplified it. * **A Strong Tim Burton Feel:** This season doesn't just feel *inspired* by Burton; it feels *of* him. The visuals are stunning, trading some of the first season's brighter palette for a more pronounced, German Expressionist influence. The shadows are deeper, the angles are more dramatic, and the production design is a character in itself — more twisted, more artful, and utterly breathtaking. Every frame feels like a living Edward Gorey illustration or a lost scene from *Beetlejuice* or *Sleepy Hollow*. * **A Story So Well Woven:** The narrative of Season 2 is impeccably crafted. The central mystery is more complex, personal, and emotionally resonant, tying directly into the deepest, darkest secrets of the Addams Family legacy. The plot twists are earned and shocking, the pacing is relentless, and the stakes feel genuinely dire. Subplots involving other characters, from Enid's burgeoning leadership to Uncle Fester's chaotic return, are seamlessly integrated, enriching the world without ever feeling like distractions. It is a masterclass in serialised storytelling where every thread matters and pays off. * **Character Evolution:** Jenna Ortega's Wednesday continues to be the show's dark, beating heart. Her journey of confronting her psychic abilities, navigating complex friendships, and grappling with her own heritage is portrayed with incredible depth. The supporting cast, from Catherine Zeta-Jones's electrifying Morticia to the delightful new additions, is given more room to shine, creating a tapestry of relationships that is both hilarious and heartfelt. ### The Verdict **10/10 - A Macabre Masterpiece Realised** *Wednesday* Season 2 is a triumph. It is the perfect synthesis of Tim Burton's iconic aesthetic, a razor-sharp script, and a star-making, career-defining performance from Jenna Ortega. It takes the solid foundation of its first season and builds a magnificent, gothic cathedral upon it, darker, funnier, more visually inventive, and narratively airtight. This is no longer just a great teen show; it is a landmark achievement in gothic fantasy television. It’s a rare example of a series understanding its own identity so completely that it ascends to a whole new level of artistry. An absolute, unmissable delight from its first ominous note to its last.

Wednesday's plot focuses on it's surface between the balance of power between normal everyday people (Like you and I), and (I don't know a better way to put it) cryptid kids; Wednesday (played by Jenna Ortega) is part of the latter (obviously). As the plot thickens, we find out that power struggle between the groups has been ingrained in everyone for generations. You may even say it's been institutionalized since the community's inception. People can read into this however they want; what really matters is if it works or not. Given that the kids are literally werewolves, sirens, medusas and other cryptid creatures of lore, it is my opinion if you feel this dynamic is only in place to make you feel fragile, than you need to (in the words of my grandfather) 'get a tougher skin'. Honestly, it's a TV show, are you that wounded? As these kids are in fact literally and physically outcasts to our society, their struggles being so and trying to fit in work in this story. I believe because Wednesday isn't physically a cryptid people expected something else. She's always been, along with her whole family obviously not normal and thus outcasts like the rest. What I really enjoyed about this is the dynamic between Jenna and the un-talking member of the Adams' family, Thing (physically played by **Victor Dorobantu**). The actor wears a green suite except for his hand and contorts his way through every scene. The result is a way more realistic human hand running around than any CGI could have ever done. I also love the duplicity between Wednesday and her trying-to-be / would-be warewolf roommate, Endid (joyfully played by **Emma Myers**). There are honestly quite a few very likeable supporting characters that make the gloom and doom (that I love) from the main character and balance it into something even more plateable. If your nostalgic for the kooky family, the show has plenty of fan service that isn't too blatant (at least not for everything all the time). You get the finger snaps, you get Christina Ricci (for those 90's kids fans), and you get a pretty accurate Adams Family as compared to the original source material. I believe the plots mystery will keep people engaged enough (it's no Knives Out or Glass Onion), but combine that with the strength of the characters and you get a really great TV show worth re-watching; which is personally one of the highest praise I can put on a TV series. Highly recommended!

The show takes viewers on a journey into the mind of Wednesday Addams, exploring her eerie and supernatural world as she grows into her own. The writing is sharp and witty, with a cast of endearing and frightening characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The special effects and production design are top-notch, fully immersing viewers into Wednesday's spooky and fantastical world. Overall, I highly recommend Wednesday for fans of the macabre and those looking for a fresh and exciting take on the Addams Family franchise. Don't miss out on this standout series stunning Gleaming Aura!"

Watchable with some good messages and some good lines although the grumpy teenager became a bit tiresome. I felt it was rather a missed opportunity given the large source material available. Or maybe there wasn't enough to Wednesday's character to extend beyond being gloomy for 8 episodes. A good level of humanity given most characters aren't human.

One of those hard to endure type fantasy shows. Unnecessary and often predictably silly dialogues, bizarre character relations and motivations, shallow plot. On the bright side the show does get bearable with time plus some great cello music selection.