Summary

  • The season 2 of Wednesday will feature dramatic story and tonal changes from its successful first season, taking a risk with the show's established formula.
  • Star Jenna Ortega will take on producing duties for season 2, allowing for more creative input and a lean into the horror side of the series while still maintaining a lighthearted tone.
  • The decision to ditch the romantic love interest for Wednesday in season 2 is a subversive choice that fits the character and sets the show apart, though it may disappoint some viewers.

Ahead of its debut, Wednesday season 2 has teased dramatic story and tonal changes from its first outing — a move that's a massive risk considering the remarkable success of Netflix's 2022 streaming hit. Starring Jenna Ortega as the eponymous character, Wednesday takes the dour daughter of the Addams Family and transplants her to a new school. While dealing with typical (and not-so-typical) teenage dilemmas, Wednesday is also tasked with solving a murder mystery. A huge part of Wednesday season 1's streaming success was the way the show blended supernatural comedy-horror tropes with the hallmarks of a coming-of-age story, which makes any tonal shift risky.

In the Wednesday season 1 ending, the titular character saves Nevermore Academy, but, in true murder-mystery fashion, a new threat emerges in the episode's final moments. After receiving a brand-new phone from Xavier (Percy Hynes White), Wednesday gets a string of strange texts: two photos that were taken of her from afar, without her knowledge, and a threatening GIF. By setting up Wednesday's new stalker, the season 1 finale seems to hint at a sophomore outing that will carry on the spirit of the Tim Burton-produced first season. However, that doesn't mean all of Wednesday season 1's elements will make it into the second installment.

Wednesday Season 2 Is Set To Be A Lot Different From Season 1

Jenna Ortega looks angry with blood dripping down the side of her face in Wednesday.

So far, not much is known about the plot of Wednesday season 2, but it has been made clear that changes are in the works. For starters, the show's star, Jenna Ortega, will take on producing duties, allowing her to have more creative input in the series' second season. In an interview, Ortega mentioned that the next installment of the series will lean more heavily into its horror side, all while not taking itself too seriously. Ortega has made it clear that she wasn't a fan of Wednesday's love triangle, which saw her character pulled between Xavier and Tyler (Hunter Doohan). Now, season 2 is learning from that misstep.

"We’re ditching any romantic love interest for Wednesday, which is really great," Ortega announced when discussing season 2 (via Variety). This kind of shift would make for a very different second outing. Cold, defiant, and a psychic, Wednesday isn't a typical teenager. While these traits might get her labeled as an outcast in the series, they're crucial aspects of why Wednesday Addams remains such a beloved character in viewers' eyes. Although a massive risk, ditching the typical teen drama and romance feels right for the character of Wednesday as well as a fittingly subversive choice for the coming-of-age series.

Why Wednesday Season 2’s Changes Are So Risky

Wednesday and Enid from Wednesday TV Series stare at each other from the opposite sides of their room

An inventive spin on the Addams Family, Wednesday season 1 boasts a memorable cast of characters and a fun, genre-blending premise. While the delightfully macabre Addams Family has endured for over eight decades, Netflix's Wednesday was an even bigger hit than the streamer could've imagined. After garnering the second-most pre-release followers of any Netflix original series, Wednesday went on to contribute to the second-biggest streaming week ever recorded by Nielsen Media Research (via Variety), boasting a combined watch time of 6 billion minutes within its first week on the platform. That said, any changes to the show's season-one formula risk successfully replicating Wednesday's unprecedented debut.

Wednesday Season 2 Needs To Be Different (Despite Season 1’s Success)

Wednesday dancing with her hands in Wednesday

Bolstered by Jenna Ortega's Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated lead performance, Wednesday season 1 manages to capture the essence of its dead-pan and gloomy title character, all while maintaining the dark humor that put the Addams Family on the map. Still, the series drew some valid criticisms. For one, the love triangle with Wednesday at its center is a clear example of showrunners mining an IP for its beloved characters and grafting familiar teen tropes onto them without really considering how those things clash. Ortega's rejection of the love-triangle plot might disappoint some season-one viewers, but it's also in the best interest of her character.

Notably, Wednesday will feature a missing Addams Family detail in its sophomore outing: the clan's iconic mansion. While season 1's exclusion of the Addams' abode frustrated long-time fans, the choice helped to establish Wednesday as its own spin-off. Clearly, the horror and comedy elements are what's working for the show. Luckily, they're also the hallmarks that have come to define the Addams Family franchise for years. Since Wednesday already laid a solid foundation in season 1, setting itself apart from the larger franchise, its second season has the opportunity to not just improve the series, but, in general, make a better Addams Family adaptation.

Sources: Variety