In its first season, Wednesday brought us a fun new take on a beloved character by introducing the Addams Family in a new light. Now, almost three years Wednesday returns to Netflix with a complicated new season split in two parts. Unfortunately, this highly anticipated return lacks the suspense and character development as the first season — creating mixed feelings ahead of Part 2.
Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 consists of 4 one hour-long episodes. The series returns to Nevermore Academy for a new school year but trouble follows Wednesday (Jenna Ortega, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) wherever she goes, and she is yet again caught up in the middle of it all. As she continues to balance her friendships, manage her psychic abilities, and her struggling relationship with her mother, Wednesday puts herself in front of Jericho’s new threat, who seems to be targeting her.
The season, so far, introduces new characters and subplots, but slightly misses the mark. The main plot line feels rushed, as too many elements are pieced together while simultaneously being caught up in the never-ending, slightly unnecessary cycle of subplots. Within four episodes, the audience is given so much information and all the questions raised during this part (which never feel fully asked) are answered; leaving very little up for suspense or imagination for the future of the season.
Additionally, you could feel the actor’s drainage through the screen. No performance really sticks with you, as the cast all seem disinterested and monotone. Even a casting of Steve Buscemi (who plays Principal Dort), which many were excited about, was disappointing as his performance felt forced and very out of place. Even with the cinematography, there was nothing new or memorable. As a whole, it made for a dull and lackluster watch.
By the end of Episode 4, your brain is tangled in a web of confusion, as the Hyde is loose and the zombie Slurp adds another layer of danger within the town. We know the identity of Wednesday’s stalker, and the big questions are all answered. The only question left is: What now? (and of course, where Lady Gaga comes into play in all this).
That all being said, the show must be commended for the way it handled Xavier’s disappearance in Season 2. In the first episode, Principal Dort explains that after “being falsely accused of murder, his father decided to pull Xavier from Nevermore.” This not only gives a logistical explanation for his whereabouts within the series but also points out what happened to the actor off-set, as Percy Hynes White was met with numerous accusations after the release of Season 1, which led to him departing the show. His absence within the series leaves a hole within the plot and Wednesday’s character development, as Xavier became someone she began to trust and became her love interest. While they tried to fill that gap with a new love interest for Enid (Emma Meyers, A Minecraft Movie) and a new friend/sidekick for Wednesday, something still felt missing.
On a different note, the addition of more Spanish words and lingo paid a beautiful homage to the number of Latinos involved in this production. One being Gomez (Luis Guzman, Boogie Nights), who we get to see a lot more of this season alongside Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago) — both as a couple, but also as parents to Wednesday and Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez).
Overall, Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 is an average watch that lacks the same excitement and suspense as the first season. However, I am excited to see what the last 4 episodes hold, with hopefully some of that original Wednesday magic.
