Netflix’s hit TV show,Wednesday, may be a spinoff of theAddams Familyfranchise, but the actual family only makes minor appearances, leaving many to wonder what makes this series so different. Released in 2022,Wednesdayis a notably star-studded affair,directed by Tim Burtonand featuring beloved actors like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie, and Jenna Ortega. While this cast and crew almost certainly piqued the interest of viewers, the show also lured in audiences with its premise:a teenage Wednesday Addams is forced to attend a boarding school for outcasts where a deadly mystery is afoot.
It is immediately clear thatWednesdayis quite different frompastAddams Familyprojects. For the first time ever,Wednesdayfocuses solely on the Addams' teenage daughter. More than that, the show introduces a whole new world of kookiness via the town of Jericho and Nevermore Academy. Yet, regardless of all this, audiences may have been surprised when they realized how little the Addams actually feature inWednesday.Apart from Wednesday herself,the other Addams are minor characters in a more school-centric plot. Of course, this isn’t meant to disappoint fans, but instead, has a more purposeful design.
Wednesday Is About The Titular Character, Not The Addams Family
Wednesday Uses The Other Addams Perfectly
The most obvious explanation for the Addams' decreased roles is thatWednesdayis truly about Wednesday - not the Addams. As the title implies, the series is centered on Wednesday as she attends Nevermore and attempts to solvethe mystery of the Hyde. Since Wednesday now lives at Nevermore, it doesn’t really make sense for her family to appear often, and in fact, this is the point.Wednesdaygives viewers a chance to see Wednesday as an independent characterwho has agency, desires, and development apart from her family. As a result, Wednesday becomes a much stronger and more interesting character.
Furthermore, it is not as thoughWednesdaycompletely overlooks the other Addams. Arguably, the show uses them in a very smart and meaningful way. For example, Wednesday’s burgeoning psychic abilities are inherited from Morticia, with whom she has a somewhat difficult relationship, like any teenager and mother. Similarly, Wednesday only attends Nevermore after being expelled from her old school for retaliating against Pugsley’s bullies. In this way,Wednesdaybuilds up Wednesday’s relationships with her family in a brief yet purposeful wayso that audiences can understand why she feels certain things and why she acts in the way she does.
Wednesday Feels Different From Other Addams Family Movies & Shows On Purpose
Wednesday Caters To A New Kind Of Audience
Beyond just centering on Wednesday herself,Wednesdayalso sets itself apart in terms of tone and genre. In the past, movies like 1991’sThe Addams Familywere geared towards comedy and silliness. On top of that, the main plot had more to do with the adults as opposed to the children.Wednesdaycompletely flips this trend on its head by closing in on Wednesday and having a much darker horror tone. Of course,Wednesdaydefinitely has moments of humor that hark back to the original franchise, but for the most part, the show is a mystery thriller.
Why Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Adams Is So Different From Previous Versions
Wednesday Addams has been a beloved character since her origins in the late 1930s, yet her most recent iteration may be the most interesting yet.
Because ofWednesday’schange in genre, the show caters to a slightly different audience. While the show’s main audience is likely stillAddams Familylovers, and it is definitely suitable for families,Wednesdaywill be best received by young adults and those who love mysteries. More specifically,Wednesdayis not looking to provide a family-friendly adventure of comical errors, but instead, intends to portray deadly history, prejudice, and teenage character development. Wednesday is a unique character, but at the end of the day, she is still just a teen who has her own ambitions and beliefs.
Why Wednesday Addams Was The Right Character For An Addams Family Spinoff
What Wednesday Has Set Up For Its Protagonist
SinceWednesdayfocuses on justone member of the Addams Family, some may be wondering why Wednesday was the best pick. The easy answer is that she has always been a compelling character. Morticia and Gomez are undoubtedly intriguing due to their intense love for each other, and Uncle Fester brings a whole new dimension of strangeness, butWednesday is oneAddams Familycharacter who has always had the potential for expansion but has rarely gotten it.Always portrayed as a child, Wednesday has been presented as strange, but never really got a meaningful, adult storyline - until now.
Still in those pivotal years of adolescence, Wednesday’s time at Nevermore may see her become a fully formed person, which has never really happened throughout the franchise.
Even after one season,Wednesdayhas already set up a captivating storyline for its protagonist. At the start of the series, audiences see how unique Wednesday is, but also how her personality can be a detriment. Her determination and her pessimistic outlook on life prevents her from forming positive connections with people. However, afterWednesdayseason 1’s ending, it is easy to see how Wednesday may change for the better. Still in those pivotal years of adolescence, Wednesday’s time at Nevermore may see her become a fully formed person, which has never really happened throughout the franchise.
Will The Addams Family Return In Wednesday Season 2?
What We Know About Wednesday Season 2
The rest of the Addams Family are sure to returninWednesdayseason 2. At this point, it has been confirmed that Zeta-Jones will reprise her role as Morticia, alongside Luis Guzmán as Gomez and Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley. Furthermore, Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester is set to make yet another guest-star appearance. Aside from the main family,it is unclear whether more members of the Addams will come out of the woodwork, though a number of new actors are joining the cast in undisclosed roles, such as Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Christopher Lloyd, Thandiwe Newton, and more.
Cast aside, Netflix has revealed thatWednesdayseason 2 will be released some time in 2025. The first season premiered in November, so it may repeat this pattern once again. Equally vague is the premise ofWednesdayseason 2. Thus far, audiences know very little about the plot of the new installment, besides the fact that Wednesday’s adventures are Nevermore will continue, perhaps in an even darker and scarier way. Regardless, ifWednesdaycontinues on the same track as its first season, it is sure to be a hit.
