- Release year: 2022 –
- Creators: Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.
- Producers: Carmen Pepelea, Nick Iannelli, and Jenna Ortega.
- Cinematography by: P.J. Dillon, David Lanzenberg, Stephan Pehrsson, and John Conroy.
- Music by: Chris Bacon and Danny Elfman.
Synopsis: A Gothic teen goes to a boarding school for freaks as the result of too many expulsions from regular high schools. She soon discovers it hides many juicy secrets.
Shotgun Commentary: Gothic, but make it glam and marketable.
Review
Wednesday is a Netflix show that focuses on Wednesday Addams, the daughter of an extravagant Gothic couple. The Addams family has been with us since August 6, 1938, when their first appearance took place in the form of cartoons drawn in The Yorker by Charles Samuel Addams. Now, almost a century later, the kooky family remains as present as ever in the minds of the mainstream audience.
It was a matter of time until Tim Burton decided to do his own version of the fam, and Netflix is here to pay for it. Overall, the first season is significantly better than the second, but let’s review both so you can decide if this show is worth your time or not.
Season 01
Let’s begin with the obvious: this show is PRETTY. Sure, it is dark and gothic, but make no mistake, it still has that saturated glossy look that your eyes cannot get enough of. Every scene is aesthetically perfect, chromatically engineered to be pleasing to watch, and with a design that makes any frame worthy of pause. As far as beauty goes, this show looks like it has the best stylist of the biz.
Having established that the form is on point, let’s turn now towards the substance. The story itself is a mystery (yaay!) prompted by a prophecy. Said prophecy places Wednesday in the middle of the school—which is shown burning—next to a pilgrim that essentially led the inquisition against freaks. This confusing prophecy piques Wednesday’s interest, making her abandon her plans to escape the boarding school altogether.
The mystery is full of twists and turns, keeping you engaged until the very last episode. The characters are fun, likeable, and do not overstay their welcome. Overall, it is a very well-balanced season that respects the long Addams tradition of creepy kookiness.
Season 2
The second part of Wednesday’s story is significantly slower. Despite the fascinating developments that end season 1 and set up season 2, the drama feels like more of the same with a couple more faces in the mix. As such, it does feel stale no matter how many cutesy outfits and quirky humour they add.
One of the main fillers that goes nowhere and is at no point interesting is Pugsley’s storyline. The events that transpire throughout the season could have taken place a lot smoother had the youngest of the Addams not been present. Sure, he is a key catalyst in the creation of the main mess that Wednesday will have to clean up at the end of the season, but surely there are more dynamic ways to get there. A great example is Thing’s storyline, a short and sweet aside that actually provides the most emotional moment in the whole show.
Last but not least, since Wednesday’s dance in season 1 was all the rage on socials, this season doubles down with an even better dance that has been mostly ignored. A great highlight in a show that still manages to entertain despite its browning edges.
Advice to take from this movie:
- It is okay to be painfully honest.
- Beware the nice boys.
- Family is always a challenge, but it is still family.
What’s your take? Have you watched Wednesday? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀