A Haunting Return Worth the Wait? Wednesday Season 2

Photo Creds: IMDb

Ria Titus, Staff Writer for the Powderhorn

After 3 years of anticipation, “Wednesday” Season 2 finally arrived a few weeks ago. The series was divided into 2 parts, with 4 episodes releasing on August 6 and the other 4 releasing on September 3. Fans enjoyed seeing their favorite characters change and the plot twists at every moment. There was even a Lady Gaga feature, but was it enough to keep all fans happy? 

One of the main criticisms of the season was that the characters drifted away from the archetype developed for them in season one. Enid, who was one of the most beloved characters, became one of the most disappointing ones. She underwent a significant character transformation, and her eccentric, kind personality was replaced by a shallow, annoying one. Over the summer break following Season 2, she became a “whole new girl.” The writers intended for it to come across as an empowering change, but it felt unnecessary to many fans.

And ironically, while Enid had too much character development, Wednesday didn’t develop at all. In the first season, Wednesday was a closed off loner when she first arrived at Nevermore but eventually began to open up as she settled in and warmed up to Enid; however, all that progress was erased through these 8 episodes. Her bond with Enid, which was one of the most loved aspects of the previous season, began to grow tense. Enid’s change in character was a factor in this, but Wednesday was ultimately the main cause. She refused to include her in anything and pretty much ghosted her. Even after “making up” with Enid, their friendship never rekindled that original fire.

Even though there were many things wrong with the season, there were still a lot of good parts. Tyler, for example, seems to be the fan favorite of the series. While some fans may only be invested due to his look, this season, his great performances added a lot of emotional depth to his character and development. His moments of vulnerability and the heavy storyline gave many fans something that they could connect with.

The rest of the Addams family was given an increase in screen time, which developed a scene more like the original series. Most adaptations don’t showcase Pugsley Addams, Wednesday’s little brother and a key part in the Addams family, very much, but he was a main character and part of the plot in this one. His actions irked some fans. However, they found his annoying behavior to be true to his character's legacy and felt refreshed that he was a main part of the plot. 

Morticia's presence also became more prominent. The relationship between her and Wednesday worsened and became tense throughout the season. This added depth to both of the characters and moved the plot along. Morticia’s relevance also brought in new family members such as her own mother, who just added fuel to the fire.

In terms of the plot, or plots some would say, many fans found it hard to understand what was happening and felt there was a disconnection between the different events. Even though it added to the mystery aspect, the story just became diluted and muddy due to the overlapping storylines which had little to no connection. The new plot points, however, did give characters like Bianca, who is the favored character of many fans, more screen time, and also tied up some loose ends present in Season 1. 

Was the 3 year wait worth it? No, would be the answer for many fans. The many plot points made the show cluttered. Even though there were some positive aspects of the show, the negative ones outweigh them. The viewership was down 43% compared to the prior season. The way the season was split up and the struggle with character development was the reason for this according to many fans. The show has, however, been approved for a third season, perhaps that one will be improved following the negative feedback of Season 2.