REVIEW: Wednesday Season 2 Continues the Destruction of Charles Addams’ Legacy

This Wednesday Season 2 review contains spoilers for Wednesday Season 2.

In simpler terms, the initial part of “Wednesday” Season 2 doesn’t merely stumble. Instead, it appears to be a deliberate erosion of what made “The Addams Family” an iconic cultural reference point.

This show strays significantly from its original essence, shifting character identities, story arcs, and overall atmosphere. Instead of maintaining the subtle depth, it embraces familiar tropes, leading to a disjointed and confusing narrative.

The Characters, Dismantled and Frankenstein-ed

One significant challenge with this series lies in its portrayal of its timeless characters. Thus, let’s delve into the characters of the second season of “Wednesday” and examine how the show missteps in its representation.

Wednesday: From Compelling to Convenient

On Wednesdays, the essence of eerie wisdom and witty sarcasm was embodied by little Miss Addams – a girl whose distinctive charm stemmed from her keen intellect and bold individuality that captivated everyone around her without a hint of regret for being herself.

Currently, she seems to have transformed into a mere echo of teen angst stereotypes and predictable psychic tropes. The vibrant, intelligent young woman with a distinctive voice and intricate moral compass has unfortunately been simplified into a character resembling emo angst and a convenient narrative tool. The nuances, the subtle humor, and the intellectual wit are conspicuously absent. In their place, we encounter Wednesday who is disappointingly apathetic, frequently inconsistent, and devoid of the independent spirit that initially captivated us.

Her character’s intriguing abilities, which could have added depth, are not fully explored or utilized effectively.

Instead of being a complex symbol reflecting her inner conflicts, they turn into story elements filled with perplexity and inconsistency, such as dark tears representing emotional drain or sudden spikes hinting at impending disaster.

Her draft significantly fuels the season’s turmoil, since she rigidly insists on not revising it or creating a backup, eventually leading to its unfortunate loss. The series portrays Wednesday as secluded and distant, yet instead of accentuating her isolation, it frequently portrays her as disengaged or unfeeling, even during situations that necessitate immediacy or sincere emotional engagement.

Worst of all is her relationship with other characters, especially Enid.

In the realm of storytelling, I found myself drawn to the second season of “Wednesday,” yet I couldn’t help but feel that the emotional progression surrounding Wednesday’s growing concern for her roommate seemed contrived. The plotline persistently hints at Wednesday’s affection, but the instances where she reveals vulnerability or establishes a genuine connection are scarce and often overshadowed by awkward dialogue and missed chances for heartfelt development.

Pugsley: Inconsistency Personified

In this season, Pugsley’s character transformation is strikingly messy and inconsistent, indicating poor storytelling. Initially, in the first season, we saw him as a timid, awkward child, struggling to navigate his environment and his relationship with his sister. However, without any clear explanation or growth process, he now possesses electric powers that he wields impulsively.

His skills can be unpredictable, often fluctuating to suit the story’s needs alone. A case in point is the subplot involving Pugsley’s undead pet, which exemplifies the show’s and Pugsley’s inconsistency in tone and lack of careful plot development.

Following an unintentional resurrection of a young boy, who had been buried with a mechanical heart under a creepy tree, Pugsley playfully christens the revived cadaver “Slurp” and treats him as if he’s a harmless, even lovable pet. However, the series struggles to establish whether Slurp is simply mindless or slowly becoming a potential threat.

The character is depicted as becoming more intelligent and rejuvenated by feeding on human brains, making him a menacing figure. However, the story unexpectedly incorporates him into humorous situations and emotional scenes with Pugsley, which transforms what could have been a thrilling plot into a comical parody. This inconsistent approach not only removes tension but also diminishes the spooky atmosphere that was built up in the series, adding to the show’s confusion in maintaining a consistent tone.

Furthermore, Pugsley’s character exhibits an inconsistent personality switch, oscillating between timidity and being withdrawn on one hand, and being arrogant and confrontational towards peers and sometimes family members on the other. This unpredictable behavior diminishes the emotional connection that the audience could form with him, reducing him to nothing more than a stereotype. The show’s neglect to address this abrupt change in tone or even reference his previous role as a fearful younger sibling seems disrespectful to the character’s authenticity and development.

Christopher Lloyd’s “Professor Olaf”: A Disrespectful Use of Legacy

One of the most painful creative decisions this season is the handling of Christopher Lloyd.

Instead of upholding Uncle Fester’s legendary status from the ’90s movies as a central character, Season 2 of Wednesday relegates him to a mere prop – a talking head in a jar, serving mainly for comic relief. This treatment is disrespectful and indicative of creative exhaustion. The opportunity to leverage Christopher Lloyd’s presence for depth and nostalgia was missed, as he has been reduced to an almost unintelligible character, often the target of jokes and pranks rather than a significant figure in the series.

It’s disappointing that the show didn’t seize the chance to authentically portray “Grandpa Addams” with John Astin or Christopher Lloyd, given their availability. Doing so would have stayed true to the Addams family’s storied past. Instead, they opted for a less respectful approach, which feels disheartening to long-time fans and the actors who contributed significantly to the Addams legacy.

Instead of grounding the series in its rich history, the show excessively focuses on a minor aspect, one of its most beloved characters, turning them into a mere gimmick. This only intensifies the feeling of disrespect and wasted opportunity. The franchise calls for more admiration than this; it’s yet another sign of the show’s underlying issue – an apparent lack of respect for the original content.

Family Dynamics: Gomez, Morticia and More

Gomez is disappointingly relegated to a marginal role, losing the captivating charm and fiery enthusiasm that once defined his central position within the Addams family.

Instead, he is depicted as being under the influence of an exaggerated portrayal of Morticia, who represents a worn-out stereotype of a strong independent woman. In this portrayal, Mortica uses manipulation to assert control over Gomez, contrasting with the traditional depiction of their relationship based on mutual respect and deep affection.

In Episode One, she tells Wednesday something unexpected: “Control can be deceptive, just like how I let your father believe he’s the head of our family.” However, this dialogue deviates from her usual character, and it seems to signal a significant shift in their relationship. This change eliminates the romantic equilibrium they once had, introducing an imbalanced power dynamic that feels contrived and emotionally vacant.

In a new twist, the series introduces “Mama” as Morticia’s mother, who takes over the matriarchal role in the Addams Family’s funeral business, previously held by Grandmama (originally Gomez’s mother). This change disrupts the established family hierarchy and reduces the warmth, quirky appeal, and depth that Grandmama provided to the story. Consequently, this role shift creates a confusing mix-up for long-time fans, challenging their familiarity and emotional connection with the family.

A fresh take on Aunt Ophelia is another obvious mistake. Originally designed as Morticia’s cheerful, vivacious older sister, who balanced Morticia’s dark, eerie demeanor, Ophelia is transformed into a psychic driven to madness by overusing her abilities. This transformation removes her unique character traits and role as a balance within the family dynamic. Instead of offering a light-hearted contrast, she becomes a warning about excessive use of psychic powers, which seems out of tune and unnecessarily darkens the narrative. These alterations result in a fragmented and unrecognizable depiction of the Addams family, contradicting the core elements that made them relatable for generations.

Normies vs. Outcasts: Simplistic Conflict and Confusing Climax

The “normies” verses “outcasts” theme is even more blatant in Wednesday Season 2 than in Season 1.

In Episode Three, I found myself rooting for the Nevermore students, who were up against some Boy Scouts in a rather childish, haphazardly arranged scuffle over a campsite that was double-booked. The black-and-white “us versus them” scenario seemed to lack depth and fell short of the complex social commentary that the Addams family’s outsider status used to embody.

Furthermore, one of the season’s most intriguing yet confusing developments centers around Dr. Judy Fairburn, who is revealed to be the daughter of Dr. Stonehurst – a former teacher at Nevermore School who secretly operated a clandestine program to bestow “outcast” powers upon “normies”. The series suggests that he wished to become an “outcast” himself. Stonehurst’s hidden experiments had dire repercussions, granting Fairburn the ability to control birds and positioning her as the show’s primary antagonist.

Rather than skillfully exploring this captivating premise, the show seems to handle the asylum backdrop and Long-Term Outcast Integration Study in a somewhat disjointed manner, lacking the depth and consistency needed to make the narrative truly compelling. The sudden appearance of Fester and Wednesday feels contrived, and the confrontation with Fairburn lacks the substance and logical flow required to transcend typical horror stereotypes. It’s particularly disappointing how she meets her end at the hands of the tormented inmates, whom Uncle Fester liberates.

Tonal Chaos: A Season Caught Between Farce and Gothic Horror

In the “Prank Day” episode, the balance between the show’s attempt to create a haunting, gothic ambiance and its misguided use of comedic pranks falls apart quite dramatically, resulting in a particularly spectacle-filled failure.

Rather than creating tension or fleshing out personalities, it slides into oversimplified stereotypes and unoriginal comedy. The portrayal of the new sheriff, who is sadly reduced to a one-dimensional “larger African American woman” character for easy, worn-out chuckles, symbolizes the show’s lack of regard for its own characters and viewers. This isn’t merely poor storytelling, but a blatant disrespect disguised as humor.

A drastic change in tone, which strips authentic emotional connection, leaves viewers bewildered and detached. Those looking for a consistent plot are disoriented as the show swings erratically between emotions, undermining the story’s drama and character development. Ultimately, this leads to a chaotic jumble that fails to live up to its promised gothic heritage and instead appears as a pathetic failed attempt at comedy.

To sum it up, much like Season 1, Wednesday Season 2 is not merely unsatisfying; it’s an act of betrayal to the core values that The Addams Family embodies. It deconstructs cherished characters, confuses the narrative, and plunges into a cacophony of conflicting tones. Instead of crafting a captivating gothic mystery, what we get is a fragmented storyline filled with caricatures and untapped potential.

If you’re an admirer seeking the clever humor, profound emotions, and delightfully eerie appeal that are hallmarks of the Addams family, then this series might leave you feeling let down and deceived.

Did you watch this show? Give you Wednesday Season 2 review in the comments!

2025-08-12 17:04