“Drip [coffee] is for people who hate themselves and know their lives have no purpose or meaning,” says the titular character Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) in Tim Burton’s Netflix series of the same name. While the dialogue aptly portrays a sarcastic, angry, and ‘don’t really care’ attitude of Wednesday, the show seems to have missed its footing during the early stages. Let me show you.
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Wednesday Addams visits Nevermore after she has changed eight schools. However, her first visit to Nevermore shows her that it is very similar to other institutions. There is also a huge class divide between bullies queen bees and geeks. It adds to her misery at beingfriended by hormone-ravaging teenagers. Wednesday is shocked to see a serial killer monster, which she believes was CGI. She then stumbles upon an unsolved murder case that captivates her attention. Wednesday, despite her aversions, puts on her Nancy Drew hat in order to solve the mysteries. While doing so, she makes new friends and is naturally drawn into a relationship triangle.
She ate it regretfully #wednesdaynetflix pic.twitter.com/WFAWT1iyV4
— project starfire ♤ (@dansensolsens) November 23, 2022
Because Wednesday’s plot is designed for Gen Z, our little protagonist will solve crimes and sprinkle in some social and political messages throughout the episodes. Although Wednesday is portrayed as a politically-correct and consciously right character, it sometimes doesn’t impact you as much. Ortega’s performance is quite spectacular as she nails Wednesday’s deadpan expression and evilness. The show is still not saved by Ortega’s performance.
The main problem is the storytelling and how it flows. For example, I saw Morticia (Catherine Zeta Jones) and Gomez(Luiz Guzman), twice in the first episode. The unique characteristics of the entire Addams clan together is what works in the original story. It does make the show feel incomplete, however, if Wednesday is not there. Thing is there to support her on her adventures but it’s not as entertaining as Morticia’s coldness, Gomez’s love for her and Wednesday’s hatred for their PDA.
Another shot that I absolutely love 🥺 the half-half giant window was such a brilliant idea whoever thought of it needs a raise #wednesdaynetflix #wenclair pic.twitter.com/yp9zivBQtc
— rin || wednesday spoilers (@moona_pi) November 23, 2022
Although I loved Ortega’s performance, I barely remember the other characters. That’s another flaw of the show — the character development doesn’t fit well — making the possibly important characters rather forgettable. Moreover, in the first three episodes, I did not care about the killings because they seemed less ‘exciting’ than Wednesday hatching her next plan for vengeance. Even though we have central characters such as Larrisa Weems, played by Game of Thrones’ and The Sandman’s Gwendoline Christie, even her best attempting salving the character arc falls flat. I, particularly, had an issue with Tyler (Hunter Doohan), a ‘normie’ barista who is also the sheriff’s son. He seems so out of character most of the time, and one can’t feel sympathy for him or his back story.
Another thing you notice is the Harry Potter element of wizards and muggles, which is watered down to ‘normies’ and ‘outcasts’ in the show, making it seem rather childish. There are some riddles, too, with Edger Allen Poe’s puzzles being thrown around (which Wednesday solves easily), but there are nowhere close to the excitement you’d get when watching Nancy Drew. Enid is why kids in Nevermore are reading Enid’s blog. Are we still in 2005? Is she not tweeting or using TikTok to do these things? Miles Millar and Alfred Gough did not understand how teenagers communicate these days, it seems.
catherine Zeta-jones, morticia Addams. that’s it. that’s the tweet. #wednesdaynetflix pic.twitter.com/o2WD9PPzKp
— ً (@HAHNlSM) November 24, 2022
Let’s get to the good stuff. It’s commendable how Tim Burton approaches the show. He has taken Wednesday as a character and mixed the old and new ideas and themes to make it more relevant for today’s generation. For instance, we have Wednesday’s friend, Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) speaking about PTSD in an exaggerated way (something one expects from a teenager), which is a great addition considering the times we live in. As a result, there are times when Wednesday appears soft and almost good, which we don’t expect from her. Perhaps being politically correct is not always the best thing.
The dialogues are okay-ish, but I like the flair they have given to Ortega’s character. She is intelligent, ruthless, and clear in her speech. The dialogue is not great for the entire show. For instance, the bullies say things such as “Check out this greedy little freak” and “What are you? Alto, soprano, or just loco?” which falls flat. Does anyone remember Regina George’s flair?
I’m obsessed and I hope we get a Thing symbol #wednesdaynetflix pic.twitter.com/xLokZhAJFu
— des / little moon💜🖤 (@superfrumpkin) November 24, 2022
A very adorable and reactive inclusion is the word ‘woe’ for every title of the episode, which pays homage to the nursery rhyme line that inspired the protagonist’s name, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe”. The cinematography is quite interesting, where you feel drawn into Edward Scissorhands and Sweeny Todd’s worlds. Similar eerieness is felt in the air with grey tones encapsulating your imagination.
All the above points aside, it could have been better if the show wasn’t rushed or generalized. There are too many intermingling narratives which can’t do justice to the development of the characters. These stories will slip by you, and it is up to you to make an effort to stay through them.
I’m seriously loving Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán as Morticia and Gomez, and they’re as wonderfully cringe as they should be! Truly, one of the most iconic couples on-screen. #wednesdaynetflix pic.twitter.com/eTnX6kxuAV
— Lucy Buglass (@lucyjadebuglass) November 23, 2022
The creators used the well-known formula of taking a popular franchise and creating a new cover to market it on a streaming service. Wednesday doesn’t offer anything different than the other teenage-based shows, and that, perhaps, is the saddest thing. Wednesday had a lot of potential that has been wasted.
gomez addams’ nicknames for wednesday so far #wednesdaynetflix #wednesdayaddams pic.twitter.com/g0ZL7kfaUR
— avatrice brainrot (@butterbarrr) November 23, 2022
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It was disappointing that Tim Burton was not able to direct the project. (The director is known for his meticulous arcs and attention-to-detail). As of now, the show falls short of one’s expectations, and that’s a hint that Netflix must take: every TV series shouldn’t be confirming to please the algorithms or massy audience.
