Wednesday

On Wednesday of last week I found myself finally watching the Netflix show Wednesday. I had been not watching it on purpose, ironically because I knew I would enjoy it. The lead actress is great, the production values looked awesome, and the basic story of the Addams family lends itself to great creative leaps. The problem is that Netflix makes its millions by making a great show, getting a LOT of people totally hooked on it and then cancelling after a year or two years. They do not finish what they start, and as an old woman I can tell you I am sick of unfinished projects.

Being of a certain age, I grew up watching the original Addams family television show, which was ooky but not spooky, and one of my first forays into satirical deadpan farce. It’s a heavy hitting show, not actually that similar to a contemporary series with outlandish, cartoonish characters doing silly things with sly digs at “normal” society. The Munsters, which was colorful and goofy, though also not spooky, was based on a different sort of family. The Addams Family was darker and hinted at dark deeds done by family members who lived by their own code and had no overwhelming interest in being part of the larger culture. That might be why I preferred it.

There have been several attempts at placing original creator Charles Addams’ black humor cartoons in a modern age and on screen, with varying levels of success. Unlike most attempt at that transfer, the Addams family has not had at least one dismal showing. Who knows if that’s because the basic story is so strong or because the film creators all had a great love of the original. For whatever reason, the Netflix version has darker than all darkness but insanely smart and talented daughter Wednesday (Jenna Ortega, Scream 6) going to school outside the home for the first time. She knows she’s smarter and more able than anyone around her, and hates the idea of leaving her brother Pugsley with no one to torture him. Literally. She also hates being a legacy in the school her parents attended. She’s at that parent hating age, and I do have sympathy for her. Who wants to see twenty four seven smooching and googly eyes between their parents? Plus, teenager.

Wednesday loves a mystery, though, because it gives her brilliant mind something to do. There are lots of mysteries to work on at Nevermore and she perseveres despite pushback from just about everyone, like head mistress Weems (Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones). Besides a wild and probably supernatural entity ripping people to pieces in the woods, there is the issue of her father still being wanted for a murder at the school years before. There is also the mystery of dealing with an effusive and color loving werewolf roommate, and the mystery of making friends and why people like her despite her every effort to withstand it?

The multiple plots tend to work well together, and there aren’t a lot of nods to other creations. I suspect that’s because the Addams family world is plenty deep on its own. I did wonder if Ortega hummed the music in her head before doing the double snap. Time to test my google-fu. There is also the issue of a previous Wednesday actress being in the cast, and I totally didn’t realize it was her until after watching the entire season. It’s a testament to the strength of the acting all around, just as every other production value is first-rate. Because this is a Tim Burton show, there is a good balance of light/color and dark/threatening, as well as musical choices and art work. There’s a good reason he has been the go to guy for Addams family works.

My biggest beef with the show is that after seven fun and increasingly speedier episodes leading to the requisite frenetic climax (sm queer h) the action is too over the top at the end and doesn’t fit with the aesthetic of the rest of the show.

I’m leaving my readers with the same problem I had with watching a show I knew I would enjoy. Season one can be watched as a stand alone, but who wouldn’t want more? Supposedly, there is another season coming, possibly to be released in 2025. Read that again. Two thousand and twenty FIVE. Maybe. If you don’t mind the indecision and uncertainty, then by all means watch this show. It’s fun.

LINKS:

• Wednesday – Official Website Netflix
• Wednesday – Official Website MGM
• Wednesday – IMDB
• Wednesday – Wikipedia
• Wednesday Series on Netflix
• Nevermore Academy

CFR: In Addition

Oh. Yes. So love this show.

It opens with Wednesday delivering one of my favorite lines in the first five minutes: “The only one who gets to torture my brother is me.” Then she releases the piranhas. Oh. So. Good. And even though my bonus brothers could so take care of themselves, I utterly agree.

Hubby and I looked forward to this show for a while. As media consumers we saw the previews for Wednesday and agreed to watch. Worth it. We probably watched it all the way through ten plus times.

Jenna Ortega is perfect as Wednesday and her roommate exact opposite in attitude and color palette werewolf Enid Sinclair, played by Emma Myers is delightful. I could watch those two for hours. I especially loved seeing Gwendoline Christie as Larissa Weems because it was fun to see her all glammed up and smiling while still exuding her awesome power and physical badassery.  

I for one am soooooo looking forward to season two. I’m old but I will wait and be happy about it. Maybe Cranky will join me at my house for some chips and ranch dip – our preferred media viewing snacks – and enjoy herself as well.

So go watch Wednesday. It is a delightful trip.