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

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In a unique blend, teenage comedy gets an edge when it juxtaposes the agony of high school with other intense fears – like plane crashes, supernatural enigmas, or vampires. The 2022 premiere of “Wednesday,” Netflix’s Addams Family series, excelled in this approach by infusing dark humor, skillful casting, and murderous plots within a chilling gothic atmosphere under the influence of producer and director Tim Burton. Jenna Ortega shines as the brooding daughter of the Addams family, with her dry wit, her performance at the zombie prom earning “Wednesday” a place among the year’s top and most entertaining funeral comedies.

In the first half of the second season titled “Wednesday,” premiering on Wednesday and followed by Part 2 on Sept. 3, our protagonist, Wednesday, is back at Nevermore Academy. Here she encounters challenges similar to last season, juggling the foolishness of her schoolmates while unraveling a mysterious murder that transcends the physical realm.

However, an unexpected development arises that could challenge the calm demeanor of our main character, and it’s every teenager’s dread – a fear that haunts even a girl who thrives on nightmares. On this chilling Wednesday, the peculiar Addams family, including Brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) as a freshman at Nevermore, and parents Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez (Luis Guzmán), who are involved in school fundraising activities, prepare for another day. Oh, the terror!

Season 2 continues with similar patterns, featuring numerous biting remarks from the character known as Daddy’s Little Viper. In response to her new high school principal, Barry Dort (played by Steve Buscemi), offering a Nevermore Academy spirit sticker, she quips, “I’d take it only if it has one that says ‘Keep Away from Defibrillators.'” And when referring to her underachieving brother, she comments, “He possesses the intelligence of a dung beetle and the aspirations of a French civil servant.

While the initial season’s enchantment can’t be replicated, Season 2 of “Wednesday” falls short in terms of its edge and novelty. In the first four episodes that have been previewed, Wednesday’s quips aren’t as bitingly clever as they used to be. Furthermore, since it’s clear she’ll be irritated by her peers like the cheerful werewolf roommate Enid (Emma Myers), the relationship lacks its previous dark allure.

The connection among the Addams family members is delved into more profoundly, revealing an extra dimension of caustic humor from their peculiar interactions. The bond between Wednesday and Morticia, in particular, is tense, going beyond the typical teenage disdain for mothers. When Morticia inquires about reading her daughter’s work-in-progress titled “Viper de la Muerte,” Wednesday responds, “When the sun implodes and the world is swallowed by a fiery catastrophe.” However, she replies politely to her mother, “Soon, Mother. Soon.

Television

In the second season of the popular YA show on Netflix, originally created by them, we’ll once again see the main cast reappear. This time, the spotlight will shine brightly on Gomez and Morticia Addams, portrayed by Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones respectively.

Morticia expresses concern over Wednesday’s escalating employment of her psychic abilities, as they had driven another family member to insanity in the past. Disturbing symptoms such as tears flowing from Wednesday’s eyes, black as coal, have surfaced during her psychic episodes, though these could prove quite fitting for those brainstorming a unique Halloween costume idea.

In the new episodes, we’re delighted to notice Uncle Fester (previously portrayed by Fred Armisen) playing a larger role as he assists Wednesday with her current investigation. Occasionally, his telekinetic abilities prove useful. Notably, Christina Ricci reprises her role from the 1991 film as Wednesday. The antagonist from Season 1 has been transferred to an asylum instead.

New characters introduced are Grandmama Hester Frump (portrayed by Joanna Lumley from “Absolutely Fabulous”), Morticia’s meticulously styled mother and affluent owner of Frump Mortuaries. She is calculating, manipulative, and finds joy in widening the chasm between her granddaughter and daughter. Notably, Christopher Lloyd, known for his role as Fester in the movie, joins the cast as a head in a jar that serves as a teacher at the academy.

In a recent conversation with The Cut, the actor from “Death of a Unicorn” revealed that it wasn’t about salary or timetable issues.

In a unique scene, the solitary prop hand played by magician Victor Dorobantu might be the one with the longest on-screen appearances. The second season starts with this sewn-together limb engaging in a brutal fight against a serial killer. This scene is both satisfyingly thrilling and absurdly amusing.

Regarding the storyline, it’s quite similar to last season. This time, there’s another enigma to unravel, and it revolves around murderous surveillance crows, a masked pursuer, and at least one trip to a mental institution. Additionally, you can anticipate an increased amount of grisly scenes featuring slime, brains, and insects, as a character from the walking dead has been introduced into the cast.

The enchanting elements, acting, characters, and artistic touches are what make “Wednesday” an enjoyable ghostly tale. In the style of “Frankenweenie,” this short story is presented through Burton’s claymation, in black-and-white, and it’s both beautiful, heartwarming, and filled with melancholy. Despite some differences from its original form, “Wednesday” remains an amusing supernatural comedy focusing on a girl and her disembodied hand.

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2025-08-06 10:31