Gen Z Loves Wednesday. But Season 2 Is Secretly a Gift to (Weird) Adults

by

In the realm of contemporary youth culture, there’s nothing more widespread than the appeal of outsiders, a phenomenon not based on speculation but backed by facts. This is evident in the unprecedented success of the teen-centric series ‘Wednesday‘, which has dominated Netflix’s list of most-watched English shows ever since its release, amassing over 250 million views. Compared to the subsequent titles like ‘Adolescence’ and ‘Stranger Things 4’, it boasts a significant lead of over 100 million views each. Blending horror, mystery, and young adult drama, this series has catapulted its 22-year-old star, Jenna Ortega, into global stardom, with her strategic dance scene becoming an instant viral sensation on TikTok. The character of Wednesday Addams even landed in the top 10 children’s Halloween costumes the year following its debut, surpassed only by Barbie among popular female characters. These facts might lead adults to assume that ‘Wednesday’ is exclusively for Gen Z, but its influence transcends such boundaries.

The first season indeed reinforced that initial impression. Set at Nevermore Academy, a school for students with supernatural abilities who are often misunderstood, it shared similarities with Hogwarts from Harry Potter. The narrative offered a unique and less common twist on traditional growing-up themes, as Wednesday, portrayed by Ortega, dealt with roommate issues and a paranormal love triangle (similar to Buffy, Twilight, The Vampire Diaries). Although these aspects continue in Season 2, Wednesday seems to be making an extra effort to cater to mature viewers, especially those who fondly reminisce about the ’90s pop culture. And let me tell you, it has certainly caught this older millennial’s attention! So, while I wouldn’t recommend it to your tweens just yet, the new episodes of Wednesday are a hidden treat for adults with a penchant for the peculiar.

As I darted through my summer break on a Wednesday, taking down a chilling serial killer portrayed by the eerie Y2K sensation Haley Joel Osment in “The Addams Family” series (with the first four episodes of season 2 now streaming, and the remaining four set for release on September 3), I find myself back at Nevermore Academy. After dismantling the lethal alliance between my love interest Tyler (Hunter Doohan) and teacher Marilyn Thornhill (Christina Ricci), who had been scheming against the outcast students, I’ve earned a hero’s welcome – which only seems to make my usual grumpiness worse.

To add fuel to my foul mood, my brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) is now a clumsy freshman at school. To top it off, my family has become more involved with the academy: Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is now fundraising for the school, which means her loving husband Gomez (Luis Guzmán) won’t be far away. Oh, and there’s a spectacular grandmother joining the mix – stay tuned for more on her!

While Enid (Emma Myers) takes on the love triangle plot in our Wednesday’s residence, Pugsley and his roommate Eugene find themselves entangled in a silly storyline involving a pet zombie. It’s refreshing to see the family dynamics as a break from the social scene at Nevermore, which was often less engaging in the show. This change allows the fantastic Ortega, who shone with her dry yet heartfelt performance in season 1, to interact more with talented veteran actors. This isn’t entirely new for Wednesday, given that its executive producer and director Tim Burton has a history of discovering unique talents from Gen X. Season 1 already featured the likes of Zeta-Jones, Guzmán, Ricci (who played Wednesday Addams in two popular ’90s films), Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester, and Gwendoline Christie as Nevermore’s principal. However, this season sees the adult Addamses play a more significant role in the storyline.

With its status as one of television’s most prominent series, creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have the influence and financial resources to make bold casting decisions for Wednesday. For instance, the former disgraced administrator is replaced by Steve Buscemi, portraying Principal Barry Dort – an advocate for outcasts who seeks Wednesday’s approval. Notably, Buscemi is renowned for playing peculiar characters; in one of his most adored roles, he starred alongside Ricci as a solitary record collector in the 2001 film adaptation of Daniel Clowes’ biting coming-of-age comic Ghost World. Moreover, the multitalented Billie Piper, who has captivated audiences as both sci-fi enthusiasts on Doctor Whoand gothic aficionados in Penny Dreadful, provides an intriguing counterpart to Wednesday, the school’s new head of music. It appears that her limited screen time in the early episodes may signal a more prominent role in the show’s latter half.

Gough and Millar aim to break away from typical teen drama stereotypes by broadening the show’s scope, steering clear of the dating issues and dubious authority figures found in Nevermore. Instead, they introduce a captivating new subplot set at Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility, a chilling environment reminiscent of Batman’s Arkham Asylum, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and other fictional institutions of psychological torment. Here, Wednesday encounters Dr. Rachael Fairburn, an unconventional doctor overseeing Tyler’s treatment, portrayed by Thandiwe Newton from Westworld. Heather Matarazzo, known for her memorable role as Dawn Wiener in Welcome to the Dollhouse, takes on the part of Dr. Fairburn’s strict assistant, Judi, in this series.

For those who can truly appreciate the nostalgic casting and the slightly over-the-top performances by Buscemi, Matarazzo, and others, this show is a delight. Among the guest stars, Joanna Lumley fits perfectly, especially given her iconic role as Patsy Stone from the popular 90s British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. In the current series, Lumley plays Morticia’s mother, Hester Frump, with an exaggerated style that is reminiscent of her past roles. Interestingly, Lumley has worked with Tim Burton before, in his 1996 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach.

Although Lumley’s performance might seem light-hearted at first glance, it adds depth to the season’s central theme of strained mother-daughter relationships. Hester Frump’s estrangement from her daughter and her close bond with Wednesday create an intriguing layer of intergenerational conflict. Furthermore, for fans of Patsy Stone, it’s enjoyable to see Lumley return to the beehive hairstyle she sported in Absolutely Fabulous.

As a film critic, I found myself reminiscing about the charm of “Addams Family Values” in this week’s episode drop, titled “Call of the Woe.” This installment is an amusing homage to Wednesday and Pugsley’s unforgettable escapade at sleepaway camp from the 1993 film. The story unfolds when Principal Dort leads his students on a wilderness retreat, which he christens Camp Outcast. Notably, Gomez and Morticia are also in attendance, gracing us with a tent unlike any other we’ve ever seen.

The Nevermore kids quickly cross paths with their ultimate adversaries – a troop of Boy Scout-like normies who have reserved the camp for the same timeframe. With neither group willing to share space, it becomes evident that a resolution will unfold along familiar lines for anyone acquainted with summer-camp movies from the late 20th century: a traditional color war is imminent.

There’s little question that numerous young viewers of Wednesday have likely watched and enjoyed both “The Addams Family Values” and its original, as well as picked up on the callbacks. I’m confident they’ll also appreciate the new characters and settings, whether they’re familiar with them or not. However, I suspect the second season still struggles to clarify Gough and Millar’s intent for their series, which blends crime, horror, teen soap, family drama, and dark comedy, leaving it somewhat unfocused. The show, initially relying heavily on Ortega, now boasts a variety of new elements-one of the most appealing being its ability to attract fans across different age groups.

Read More

2025-08-07 00:06