Now that Netflix’s Wednesday has been officially picked up for a Season 2, it’s time to look back on what we have already learned.
This show was stuck in my head for months after watching it, or rather she was.
Jenna Ortega, known for Disney’s Stuck in the Middle, Season 2 of Netflix’s You, Megan Park’s incredible work The Fallout and various awesome contributions to the horror genre, plays a teenage Wednesday Addams, who finds herself enrolled at Nevermore Academy, the boarding school for outcasts which once housed her parents in their own dark adolescence, after a prank on her brother’s bullies goes too far - all the way to the hospital in fact.
Throughout the episodes, we see that Wednesday is writing her own novel which comes to be largely inspired by the events of the series, much like Jughead’s novelisations in Riverdale. Now, I know what you are thinking and don’t worry that is where the shows resemblance to Riverdale ends. Due to the dark nature of storytelling already found in previous iterations of the Addams Family, the plot points tackled in the series are able to succeed where Riverdale famously failed.
In fact, the story deals with darkness, the occult and the paranormal in the same kind of impressive, palatable way to Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, both incorporating darker, if not the darkest, motifs into regular life, breaking up the shadows briefly with school functions, meeting places and growing relationships and featuring such characters as the mythical queen bee whose character arch gradually lets her become one of the most lovable characters.
Not only that, the adventures embarked upon in Wednesday give me definite Umbrella Academy vibes. Which has me wondering … Is Netflix welcoming a new era? Jenna Ortega herself has even shared in red carpet interviews her thoughts on how horror offers a kind of escapism that is unmatched in other genres and is currently drawing people in.
Wednesday is a show that largely redefines horror, yet uses it to its fullest capabilities. The characters and storyline portrayed have a certain reminiscence to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Which means two things: 1) Burton’s approach to misunderstood characters with extraordinary abilities will never get old, and 2) I must accept that my tendencies for obsessions of his lead actors is becoming a pattern.
Something else that is typical Tim Burton - the monster.
Here I will pause briefly to give myself a few firm pats on the back for figuring out the identity of the monster almost instantly.
Seven hours or so of unlikely partnerships, themes of ancestry and heritage, mysteries among mysteries and unexpected pockets of wholesomeness, topped with an amazing cast and expert direction and editing.
The way each shot is carefully framed with subtle symmetry and a brilliant use of colour and saturation heightens the overall performance, especially in depicting Wednesday walking in a different path to her family. The series even shows an explicit difference between herself and her mother where their visions work differently.
In my previous readings of Wednesday, particularly looking at earlier iterations where she was presented as a young girl, my assumption had been that her unsunny disposition came from close proximity to her parents and their darkness and that she didn't know any better. After watching this Netflix series, it appears I was wrong. Wednesday knows people. She is perfectly educated on how the other half lives, so much so she is able to use it to her advantage, but she all the same chooses to navigate the world her own way.
From episode one, Wednesday starts her time at Nevermore wanting to be her own person and not a repeat of her parents history, touring a social scene full of cliches that she does not fit into. She is completely her own person and that’s not strange, it's largely a trait to be envious of.
You can explicitly see all the work Ortega puts into her character. Not only is the evil stare game next level but what I find so interesting, fascinating even, what gives me the most serotonin amongst this dark storyline is the use of voice in the characterisation of Wednesday. An actors voice, or even a person’s I find, can have a rhythm and a tone that itches that certain spot of the brain. A voice with texture is the closest I can come to an explanation. A full voice. Jenna Ortega has that.
The dark nature of Wednesday Addams as a character means that any moment a slight smile can be detected across her face or she shows compassion or care for people in her subtle, discreet, adorably protective way, when she wishes she cared more or reveals her worst fear is to be part of something terrible, it is filled with a certain unspeakable magic.
Having just seen Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer in Netflix’s The Sandman, yet another example of the streaming service’s new favourite genre, we know the power this woman holds, especially in white. Larissa Weems is the headmistress of Nevermore Academy, a character with a perfect combination of power and femininity. Her subtle command of every scene she graces and her shining smile, which is enough to calm even the most stressful day, makes her talent and portrayal irreplaceable.
Emma Myers is delightful. Playing the instantly loveable Enid Sinclair, Myers demonstrates unmatched presence. Given that she is portraying a werewolf, the history of teen media content would have you believe that she would be depicted with mad, crazy hair, but this performance goes nowhere never that stereotype. Myers radiates a soft, endearing beauty, covered in pristine pastel colours, with beautiful subtle curls framing her face. Her smile and eyes shone bright amongst an adorable, sweet, friendly warmth.
At the shere mention of Enid I feel I have to shout out the costume and hair and makeup in the series. Not only with her either. Wednesday starts in her iconic black and white look of tight shirt collar, long sleeves and flowing skirt and gets more and more modern throughout. It’s a joy to watch them play around with her style whilst staying within the characters classic colour palette.
Iconic traditions from the Addams Family remain in loveable, commendable ways, including the classic *snap, snap* and Wednesday’s tortured (literally) relationship with her brother. At least at surface level, the series navigates storlines not completely unheard of for the character. Watching Wednesday enrolled in Nevermore, the mind is brought back to such cinematic moments as ‘Addams Family Values’ where Wednesday is sent to Camp Chippewa with her brother after attempting to kill her new baby brother and sharing suspicions of a con being played by, serial killer nanny, Debbie. There she meets Gary and Becky Granger, carrying a cheerful and lively aura much like that surrounding Enid in this version, and let’s not forget about Joel Glicker, the nerdy bookworm and fellow outcast who develops feelings for Wednesday - remind you of anyone?
Aside from that, there’s The Addams Family Musical, where a now adult Wednesday, performs the number ‘Pulled’, sharing her conflicted feelings at falling for an ordinary guy, very much walking the path of light, and later attempting to blend their families. However, it is when you start to dig deeper, the extension of the known Addams world, that makes the show, and I suspect we have only just dipped our toes in.
The soundtrack to the series is made up of some amazing musical choices. Throughout the 8 episodes we have a beautiful blend between popular music and classical to match the blend between classic teen drama and mystery and between Wednesday and the community she joins at the Academy. One of the highlights for me is a beautiful classical cover of Painted Black played by Wednesday on the cello.
Of course, I can’t talk about the show without at least mentioning the iconic dance scene during the Rave’N episode, a definitive highlight emphasised by excellent camera work, lighting and an incredible cast. As someone with dance experience the hints of fosse amongst the choreography put a smile on my face, giving me a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. The elements of inspiration taken from the gothic and emo genres are also obvious and an excellent choice by Ortega. However, what I found possibly most enjoyable is how this extract of pure physical acting showcases such prowess and performing talent from her. What at first may seem awkward or cringey for the viewer quickly fades as the dynamic routine progresses and there is a kind of soft sweetness as it settles that we are just watching a young girl feeling comfortable enough to let go.
The characters that look on are largely impressed and happy to see Wednesday so free. Where in other scenes of this kind the cliches looking on with a smile on their faces may have meant mocking and a sign of impending public embarrassment, this is different. In fact, what I sensed from them was amazement. The impact of the surrounding cast members does not end there. Hunter Doohan, portraying Wednesday’s date Tyler, makes the scene in my opinion with little mirrorings of Wednesday’s movements, my favourite being the twist. In these subtle moves and parallelled rhythm Doohan manages to not only further illustrate a connection between the two but also solidify that Wednesday’s influences at Nevermore do not find her strange or weird, but wish to be in this moment with her. So cute!
Now, I would love this to be an entirely raving (or should I say Raven) review but alas. A small flaw in an otherwise flawless work: I did not expect Christina Ricci to play such a pivotal role in the show. To be candid, I expected a passing cameo gag maybe in a few episodes. I certainly did not expect a recurring character later revealed to be the antagonist of the entire story. It just goes too far in my opinion. All I see is an overcompensation for hiring the actress that last made Wednesday famous. I mean it’s not a coincidence that she is there is it? In what world would that be an audition room situation? My own detective skills lead me to believe that this was a plan. It feels like some weird comment or joke. It’s like they’ve used her to ironically surprise us and it hasn't worked for me. It takes a certain amount of effect out of the twist ending, unfortunate because I love a twist ending. Nonetheless, the ending is satisfactory, despite this giant misstep, and leaves viewers very excited for season 2.
Frankly, if this really is Netflix developing a type, I have absolutely no problem with that.
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