‘Wednesday’ creators explain Season 2’s finale, how Lady Gaga was cast and Thing’s origin story

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This article contains spoilers for the Season 2 finale of “Wednesday.”

In a society often criticizing teenagers for dwindling focus and insufficient drive, it was unexpected when Wednesday Addams woke up from a coma. She further intensified the apprehension of going back to school with an eerie twist, by apparently conjuring Lady Gaga instead.

In the flow of the week, I found myself diving once more into the gripping narrative of “Wednesday” as it unfurled its second half on Netflix. Picking up directly from where we were left hanging in Part 1, it unveiled my enigmatic protagonist miraculously escaping a brink-of-death encounter and showing readiness to re-immerse herself in the labyrinth of her mysterious family history, supernatural entanglements, and complex friendship tribulations.

In the heart of fresh perils and enduring enigmas, the stunning performances from pop sensation Lady Gaga (known affectionately as a mother figure to all misfits, including her dedicated followers known as Little Monsters) shine brightly. Under the stage name Lady Gaga, or Stefani Germanotta in real life, she briefly graced our screens as Rosaline Rotwood, a former professor at Nevermore, a school for outcasts where Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) studies. Her extraordinary abilities allow for a brief swap of identities with her estranged friend Enid (Emma Myers), reminiscent of the Freaky Friday story. Moreover, Lady Gaga contributes the song “The Dead Dance” to underscore what could be another viral dance challenge on social media, similar to Ortega’s popular Season 1 moves set to the Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck.

In this rephrased version, I aim to make the text more conversational and easier to understand:

During interviews, The Times chatted with producers Al Gough and Miles Millar about the latest season. What follows is a selection of their insights from the discussion.

This revised sentence preserves the original meaning but presents it in a more engaging and accessible manner, making it suitable for various contexts such as news articles or casual conversation.

Television

In the second season of Netflix’s popular young adult show, we’ll be seeing the return of our favorite actors. This time around, the spotlight is on Gomez and Morticia Addams, portrayed by Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

You know where we have to start: Lady Gaga. Tell me the origin story of this casting.

The concept originated from the popular dance in the first season, which was reimagined with Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary” music (mistakenly identified as “Goo Goo Muck”) and transformed into a completely new entity. As ardent admirers of Lady Gaga, we initiated discussions about her potential involvement in Season 2, considering her status as an ultimate outcast. Given her busy schedule with tours, we developed a character for a minor but significant role. This idea led to “The Dead Dance,” a song she had kept for us, which we had admired a year prior. When they agreed to hold it for the show, we were thrilled!

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Millar: When we listened to the lyrics of the song, it seemed as if she had composed it specifically for our show. In Episode 7, there was a particular scene that we had purposefully saved – we wanted to avoid repetition by having Jenna perform another dance – but music, the show, and dancing have become so intertwined now. I believe the audience would have been disappointed if we didn’t creatively satisfy this need in Season 2. So, we thought about how we could pay homage to the remarkable Rave’N dance from Season 1, while still offering something new and celebrating new characters. This is why we conceived the idea of the gala, where Agnes [Evie Templeton] and Enid would unite. They’ve had a rivalry up until now, but it felt like a wonderful display of female camaraderie and growth. The amazing Gaga song was just the cherry on top.

Anticipated that courting Lady Gaga would involve a lengthy, old-fashioned approach, such as exchanging handwritten letters.

Gough stated that the process might have been slow, but it was consistently enjoyable and appreciative. Everyone was eager for its success. He believed that this was our initial position, as everyone hoped for its success.

Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams and Lady Gaga as Rosaline Rotwood. (Helen Sloan / Netflix)

There’s a lot of talk currently about the breaks between seasons and the factors behind those gaps – primarily the strikes, as well as other projects. Given this situation, what are your thoughts, particularly since our audience tends to be younger? Could such a gap potentially damage the bond with the content?

Millar clarifies that initially, they didn’t intend for a three-year hiatus between seasons. The show, in some manner, seems to have the atmosphere of a blockbuster movie, which audiences seem to accept given their patience. However, he emphasizes that this delay isn’t ideal. They are grateful for the audience’s support and affection for the series but faced challenges in returning. No one is at fault; it was simply due to the writers’ strike and other complications. Now, they are working towards a quicker comeback, as production immediately transitioned from the writers’ room into actual production (starting October for Season 3). They aim to maintain this faster pace, and that is their future plan.

As you can see on the screen, this is a massive production with over 3,500 visual effects shots. We’re finalizing the finale this week, and there are still some shots being added to the rooftop monster fight scene and the clock tower battle. The most challenging visual effects in the show involve Professor Olaf, who is played by Christopher Lloyd. It takes a lot of time and experimentation to get these effects just right, but we’re determined to release the show as quickly as possible. I know that Netflix also wants to get the show back on air as soon as possible, so we share the same goal.

Voices

Commentary: ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 doesn’t recapture the magic of the first season, but it’s still a spooky delight

While nothing can truly replicate the enchantment of the initial series, ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 on Netflix, featuring Jenna Ortega, exudes a chilling allure that is uniquely its own.

The goal is to produce the best show possible. As Miles pointed out, it requires a specific amount of time and effort. When you overthink things like that, you might not perform at your best. I can assure you that this is something the Netflix marketing team frequently ponders about. They strive to keep viewers interested online and in other ways. And the Netflix Houses with their immersive fan experiences are a testament to this. In essence, for us, we just need to focus on creating the show, while trying to filter out all external distractions.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I found myself reflecting quite deeply on the transition from Season 1 to Season 2. During this interim, Jenna, much like any dedicated viewer, was vocal about her disconnect with certain character choices in the first season. So, I cannot help but wonder, what were my personal feelings during this creative process?

Moreover, the captivating portrayal of “Wednesday” has not only enthralled audiences worldwide but also imparted valuable lessons in collaborative artistry. Specifically, it has taught me the importance of valuing an actor’s perspective and incorporating their insights into the material. By doing so, I believe we can collectively foster a more genuine and engaging narrative that resonates with our audience on a deeper level.

Gough mentioned that certain topics won’t be revisited as they’ve already been discussed in previous interviews. However, he emphasized a consistent approach in their work, from “Smallville” to “Into the Badlands”, which revolves around collaboration and open dialogue with actors. He likened working on movies to attending a party, while television shows are like family where everyone needs to feel a sense of ownership. In Season 1, Jenna was deeply involved, reading scripts, offering suggestions, and this has continued in Season 2. She’s taken on a more active role, including attending production meetings and considering the marketing aspect. Jenna is a multi-talented individual with a promising long-term career that extends beyond acting. Actors are crucial for shaping the world of the show as they must fully understand their characters. The team welcomes good ideas from anyone and encourages engagement and creative thinking about their roles. This philosophy was inspired by John Wells, who offered guidance before the start of “Smallville”. As creators, it’s essential to have a clear vision for the show but also to remain open to new ideas and channel them effectively.

Is it accurate to assume that you factored in some aspects due to the reduced focus on a love triangle (particularly involving Wednesday)? What stands out more is the development of the bond between Enid and Wednesday.

The original dialogue suggests that if one’s first boyfriend turns out to be a monster, there would not be an immediate eagerness to jump back into romance. The show’s creators, when discussing the evolution of Wednesday Addams’ character, described Season 2 as “once bitten, twice shy,” or in other words, cautious after a negative experience. This approach felt natural for the character who, despite portrayals to the contrary, was not particularly interested in boys even in Season 1. The creators also mentioned that this resonates with their personal experiences, as they have noticed that their daughters tend to be more sought after by boys rather than the other way around. In Season 1, Xavier and Tyler showed more interest in Wednesday, while she remained indifferent until she believed they were suspects in a case. Wednesday’s actions are driven by necessity or advantage rather than romantic inclination. Even in a love triangle, the creators ensured that Wednesday was never portrayed as starry-eyed for either boy.

Millar indicates that the love triangle in the show has functioned exceptionally well, serving as the primary source of drama throughout the season. He explains that Wednesday, the main character, is frequently misguided due to her strong-willed nature, which he believes adds to her appeal and intrigue because she’s complex and imperfect. This portrayal of a complex teenage female protagonist is not common in media, making it interesting. Millar also mentions that the partnership between him and Jenna has been successful in shaping Wednesday’s character development, actions, and dialogue throughout the series, with plans to alter her journey in Season 2.

What aspects of the relationship between Enid and Wednesday in Season 2 sparked your curiosity, and can you explain how you came up with the concept of their body swap?

At the end of Season 1, Wednesday found herself with a new friend, but then she was left wondering, “How do I act as a friend?” This is something she’s still grappling with and she continues to hold onto her initial prejudices towards Enid, viewing her as someone who can’t be trusted with secrets and must be protected at all costs. Wednesday believes that Enid won’t be able to handle the truth, so she doesn’t truly see her as a friend. This is true not only for Enid but also for Ajax and Bruno; Ajax saw Wednesday in a certain light, but she’s not that girl anymore.

The “body-swap” episode served as a unique opportunity to delve into different perspectives, allowing them to experience life from another’s shoes, or more precisely, bodies. It was an intriguing concept, especially given their stark differences and exceptional acting skills. They had crafted characters with distinct idiosyncrasies, from physical mannerisms to speech patterns. Swapping these characters seemed like a natural progression in the storytelling process.

This season has had some tough times, but we want an episode where everyone enjoys themselves immensely and it’s an exciting journey. I recall being on set when Enid first wakes up in Wednesday’s body and starts shouting. Jenna has an incredible ability to scream continuously, and she did just that the whole day. It was a remarkable experience because you couldn’t tell who was making the noise. It was like watching a complete transformation. It was indeed a tough task. The fact that it came halfway through the season, when everyone was tired, shows their determination, resilience, and professionalism at its best.

Gough stated that they would take turns recording themselves while reciting the line, allowing them to review and improve their delivery. He also mentioned that they approached their studies with the dedication typically shown by model students. They gave their all in this endeavor.

This season, you significantly expanded the involvement of the Addams Family, with a particular focus on the complex relationship between Morticia and Wednesday. Their shared traits as well as the underlying tension between them were given more emphasis.

In simpler terms, Gough explains that the show is a blend of comedy and satire, but at its core, it’s a family drama. The first season delved into Wednesday’s ancestors, Goody vs. Crackstone, and later focused on Gomez and Morticia against the Gates family. Essentially, the series revolves around the Addams Family’s secrets. They aimed to explore these secrets further as the audience has always been fascinated by this mysterious family due to their lack of established mythology before the 60’s TV show and the 90’s movies. Interestingly, this gives them a unique opportunity to create the Addams Family’s history, starting from scratch, which is the opposite of shows like “Smallville.” They are doing this with the approval of Kevin Miserocchi, who manages the Addams Foundation.

In Season 1, you were introduced to Morticia and Wednesday, and later saw it in the Parents’ Weekend episode. But what does the concept of Morticia mean now, and how does it impact the story? And the relationship between mother and daughter, which is often tense during teenage years, is a common experience for many. However, in this unique take on the Addams Family, not only are they strikingly similar, but their disagreements are resolved through sword fights, and there are more life-threatening situations at play. This approach adds an exciting twist to the series and gives us a fresh perspective on the show.

In our desire to provide some respite for Jenna, who appeared in all episodes of Season 1, we saw this as an excellent chance for us to delve into new characters and further enrich the universe of the series.

I loved getting an origin story for Thing.

Millar: Upon first encounter with Slurp, you witness a hand emerging from the ground, clad in a glove. Initially, we presumed everyone would figure it out right away; it seemed destined to be the most obvious secret in Tinseltown. However, it’s been quite rewarding as that twist is truly clever – it’s there before your eyes throughout the entire storyline.

In our discussion, we pondered over the question of attaching Thing to such an evil character as Isaac Night [Owen Painer]. It’s clear that he has his flaws. He tends to act on twisted reasons, yet he carries a noble genius within him. This was a contentious topic. We considered other possibilities, but we eventually decided that the concept of transformation – from zombie to human, with Pugsley [Isaac Ordonez] adopting him like a pet dog, only for him to start consuming brains – sounds utterly absurd, yet it fits remarkably well in the context of our show.

Now I want to know the path you didn’t take with him.

Millar’s Explanation: Originally, the character had an entirely different background – he used to be part of a circus and fell in love with a fellow performer. This tale was much more heartwarming compared to the current version, which draws inspiration from stories like Frankenstein and zombie films, making it far darker and more ominous.

What hints are available regarding Season 3? Is Lady Gaga going to appear again? The story concludes with Enid appearing stuck in her wolf form, and there’s a psychic vision of Ophelia, Morticia’s sister, that Wednesday experiences.

Millar: Currently, we’re engrossed in drafting Season 3. Unfortunately, we can’t reveal any details at the moment. However, it’s clear that the finale of Season 2 establishes Ophelia as a character who will play a significant role in Season 3. We’ll confirm that much for now.

By this time next year, will we have a Season 3?

Gough: I can’t say anything to that.

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2025-09-04 16:31