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Since The Addams Family first originated as a comic in 1938, Wednesday Addams has stolen the hearts of audiences, yet the most recent iteration of the character in Netflix’s Wednesday may be the most unique version of them all. First released in 2022, Wednesday stars Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, the dark and brooding teenage daughter of the iconic Addams Family. After getting suspended from yet another school, Wednesday is unwillingly enrolled at Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts where she quickly gets pulled into a murderous mystery that spans back generations.
Netflix’s Wednesday stands out because it is an intriguing mix of old and new. As previously mentioned, The Addams Family first started as a comic strip created by Charles Addams. It eventually transformed into a television series in 1964, and later, was adapted into popular movies in the 1990s. Wednesday successfully pulls from the Addams Family lore that audiences know and love, while also adding fresh new storylines and ideas. In particular, the character of Wednesday gets a makeover that makes her even more lovable. Without these changes, Wednesday might not have been nearly as successful.
Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Adams Is The First To Be The Star Of Her Own Project
How The Addams Family Appears In Wednesday
The most obvious difference between Wednesday’s Wednesday and that of other Addams Family projects is that Ortega’s Wednesday is the star of the show. While previous Addams Family shows and movies treated Wednesday as a supporting character in a larger ensemble, Netflix’s Wednesday is truly centered on the character and her story. This may seem like a somewhat arbitrary change, but it actually allows viewers to get a closer look at this character who has almost always been on the sidelines, used for funny bits, but never given too much depth.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the other Addams are absent from Wednesday. In fact, they take on the supporting roles that Wednesday usually takes on. In Wednesday season 1, Morticia and Gomez Addams appear somewhat frequently, escorting Wednesday to school and visiting her for parents’ weekend. Surprisingly, Wednesday resents her parents, and their relationship is quite different from what other Addams Family projects have shown. Pugsley and Uncle Fester also make appearances, acting as family members that Wednesday is particularly protective of. The other Addams help build up Wednesday’s world, and offer insight into her upbringing and personality.
Netflix’s Wednesday Was Meant To Be Different From Previous Addams Family Projects
Why Wednesday Needed To Be Different
With Wednesday in the spotlight, it is clear that Netflix wanted Wednesday to feel different from other Addams Family material. Rather than focusing on the family at large, the show follows Wednesday specifically. Instead of having Wednesday be a young child or preteen, she is a fully formed teenager. Even Wednesday’s setting at Nevermore is quite different from what is typical in prior Addams Family projects. Once again, this shows how Wednesday took advantage of the familiar bits of The Addams Family, while also creating an entirely new world with its own plot and distinct Tim Burton style.
When it comes to long-running franchises like The Addams Family, it can be easy for the stories to blend together and become so familiar as to be predictable.
Arguably, Wednesday needed to be different to be successful. When it comes to long-running franchises like The Addams Family, it can be easy for the stories to blend together and become so familiar as to be predictable. Because of this, Wednesday had to make sure it stood out from the rest of the franchise. If Wednesday felt like every other Addams Family movie, then audiences would likely become bored. However, from such a different angle, Wednesday persuades audiences to dive back into this familiar world and see a side of it that has never been explored before.
Wednesday Season 1 Wrote Wednesday Adams In Situations She Had Never Been In Before
Wednesday Is Fully Formed (And Flawed)
One of the biggest successes of Wednesday is the way in which the show gives Wednesday the opportunity to be in situations that she has never been in before. Because The Addams Family usually portrayed Wednesday as a child, she was often relegated to child-only spaces. However, in Wednesday, the character is given extra freedom to be a fully formed person with desires and opinions. The show shines a spotlight on her education, her friendships, her potential romances, and her yearning to be more than just a regular teenager. She gets into scrapes and her actions have consequences.
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Wednesday season 2 is setting out to right the wrongs of season 1 with Jenna Ortega stepping up to define the character behind the camera too.
In reality, it is Wednesday’s flaws that make her so interesting. As a child, Wednesday was quirky and strange, but there was never any reason to question her choices. On the other hand, Netflix’s Wednesday is far from perfect. Her odd personality is still endearing and entertaining to watch, but she often makes poor choices and pushes away those who only want what’s best for her. Though flaws may seem like a bad thing, they actually help to make Wednesday a more fully formed character that can grow and change over time.
Netflix’s Wednesday Tried To Deconstruct Wednesday Adams
Wednesday Season 2 Can Continue Exploring Wednesday
At its core, Wednesday is a character study. The show is not just about Wednesday getting into trouble; it explores the workings of her mind and the way that her upbringing has affected her over time. In just one season, Wednesday succeeded in showing how Wednesday’s personality can rub people the wrong way, and how she often uses her darkness as a shield against vulnerability. Additionally, Wednesday’s difficult relationship with her mother in particular offers hints as to how Wednesday views herself and her family. No Addams Family project has ever treated Wednesday with such depth.
Fortunately, Wednesday season 2 has the chance to continue building on Wednesday’s character. A new mystery is afoot in the form of a stalker and Wednesday will be determined to figure it out. However, her life will inevitably get in the way of that. The relationships Wednesday has built will force her to care for others and her burgeoning powers as a psychic may force her to confront her bond with Morticia. All in all, Wednesday has laid the foundation for a character that is not only interesting, but can grow into someone truly admirable.
How Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Will Be Different In Season 2
Why Wednesday Needs To Continue
Already, Wednesday season 2 is gearing up to be quite different from season 1. New characters are joining Wednesday’s cast, and Wednesday herself will definitely be changed after the defeat of Marilyn Thornhill and the betrayal of Tyler. More than that, Ortega herself has transitioned into the role of executive producer, which means her vision for Wednesday may become more clarified in the new season. The actress has mentioned in past interviews that Wednesday may become more horror-centric and less concerned with romantic ties.
Wednesday season 2 is set to premiere in 2025.
With several years between Wednesday season 1 and 2, there are concerns about the show’s future. Ortega has become more popular than ever, and this could mean that she abandons her Netflix show after season 2. Hopefully, this will not the case. Wednesday has the opportunity to tell a story that has not been told before, and it deserves plenty of time to do so. Wednesday Addams is such a dynamic character, and audiences deserve to get as much of her as possible in Wednesday.
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