Wednesday Season 2 Review
Did you watch the first season of Wednesday on Netflix and wish there was more mystery and less comedy? Maybe you wanted to see more of the Addams family members instead of just Jenna Ortega’s amazing performance. If so, you might enjoy the new season. But if you loved Season 1 mainly because of Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton’s unique style, then Season 2 may disappoint you.
Season 1 came out almost three years ago, and while it was well-received, you don’t need to remember too many details to watch Season 2. The new season includes enough reminders of what happened before. However, it feels very similar to other teen supernatural shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Percy Jackson, and even Harry Potter.
If you were hoping for more of Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday and less of everything else, you might feel let down. The first four episodes of Season 2 are filled with too many characters and plotlines, which makes the show feel crowded and confusing. Jenna Ortega is still great in her role, but the focus has shifted away from her.
The season begins by showing us what Wednesday did during her summer break — she ignored her writing, improved her psychic powers, and hunted a serial killer. Then she returns to Nevermore Academy, where she’s now famous. Her roommate and best friend Enid (Emma Myers) also returns, bringing a new love interest with her.
At school, Wednesday doesn’t enjoy being a celebrity. She’s also annoyed by the new principal, Barry Dort (played by Steve Buscemi), who treats her like a school mascot. Things get interesting when dead bodies start appearing in the nearby town, with their eyes removed by crows. These events seem to be connected to Wednesday in some way.
The show adds even more chaos by bringing in the entire Addams family. Pugsley, Wednesday’s brother, is now a student at Nevermore and can shoot electricity from his hands. Morticia and Gomez move onto campus, and Morticia is asked to lead a fundraising campaign. Their presence makes the show feel more like The Addams Family rather than Wednesday.
Other returning characters from Season 1 are barely seen or reduced to short guest appearances. Instead, there are many new characters, including Billie Piper as a music teacher, Thandiwe Newton as a doctor, and Christopher Lloyd as a head-in-a-jar. A new fan-favorite is Evie Templeton, Wednesday’s biggest admirer.
The biggest problem? After watching the first four episodes, it’s hard to remember what Wednesday is even trying to do this season. In Season 1, there were memorable moments like the viral dance scene. Season 2 has nothing like that. There’s one fun stunt in episode three, but overall, the show seems to be running out of ideas.
Wednesday now acts more like a detective who gets nosebleeds and cries black tears when she uses her powers. Ortega’s acting is still strong, but she feels like just one part of a large cast now, not the main character.
Even Morticia and Gomez don’t add much this time. While they were fun in their short appearances in Season 1, giving them more screen time hasn’t made them more interesting. By placing all the Addams family members in a world where being weird is normal, the show loses what made them funny in the first place. The Addams are best when they’re strange people in an ordinary world. Without that contrast, they just blend in.
Visually, the show still looks great. Tim Burton directed two episodes, and there are some cool visuals and dark humor. But overall, Season 2 of Wednesday feels less special and more crowded. The charm, focus, and surprise of Season 1 are mostly missing this time.