SHE’S BACK! WEDNESDAY ADDAMS’ CHILLING COMEBACK

Chiara Dover

@chiaradoverr

This year has been promising for the book trope-romance lovers, the binge watchers and the critics since it has featured Marvel’s comeback, Jurassic World in a new age and the hilarious mannerisms of Bridget Jones. Amidst the lovestruck giggles and heartbreak we have come across on the well-known television show, The Summer I Turned Pretty each Wednesday, Netflix has now gifted us with the eerie and nerve wrecking  second season of Wednesday. 

One thing that has always stood out in this contrasting series between Wednesday’s antique-esque and society’s modernised lifestyle is classical music. Its  dramatic  flair and ominous feel composes so perfectly with Wednesday’s intensity and the town, Jericho’s, constant misfortune. Season 2 Part 1 did not disappoint with their scores. It is, yet again, iconic and builds the tension to the point where your fingernails are being digested. What makes this show’s soundtrack unique is the random inserts of rock ‘n roll or Sixpence None the Richer that excite and even comfort a listener through  the gruesome events that take place. 

There are a bunch of new characters in this season of Wednesday that need to be addressed as some, but not all, add so many nuances to this new storyline:

Steve Buscemi as Principal Dort: Of course if you’ve watched season 1, you’ll know that Principal  Weems is no longer in the picture at Nevermore Academy and thus Principal Dort has had to step up. For those that don’t know who this actor is, he’s the guy who breaks every bone in his body on the zipline at the waterpark in Grownups. Ah, the lights are on now. Despite this actor’s general portrayal of funny characters throughout  his career, in Wednesday he seems to be lighthearted and  enthusiastic although there is still a gleaming undertone of mischievousness. Nevertheless, Dort adds another twist to the very entangled plots in Wednesday. 

Evie Templeton as Agnes DeMille: Like all great minds and souls on this planet, it was inevitable that Wednesday would eventually attract a fanclub, and Agnes is exactly the outcast for the job. As an enemy to Enid and an irritation to Wednesday, Agnes and her invisibility drives the perfect wedge between the two best friends. Agnes is the Tim Burton representation of the Anabelle doll asking everyone to come and play. Her stalker-like and obsessive  tendencies –  and passionate enthusiasm for justice – place her in just another calculated position to be a red herring in this Netflix original series. 

Billie Piper as Isadora Capri and Christopher Lloyd as Professor Orloff: The two new teachers at Nevermore have very different roles in this story and in Wednesday’s development. Miss Capri, the new music teacher, questions and challenges Wednesday and Mr. Orloff acts as the only truly sane and logical person running around Nevermore. Although both have potential to initiate plot twists, I rather suspect them to be pawns in Wednesday’s master plans. 

Owen Painter as Slurp: Although not the most talkative character, Slurp, Wednesday’s brother, Pugley’s “pet”, has caused a myriad of problems for the town, Jericho.

The single thing that allows a watcher to relate to this show even on the smallest scale are the inserts of school traditions and pride that we all became accustomed  to in our school years. Last season we experienced Nevermore Academy’s cunning canoe race and saw Wednesday’s moves at the school dance. In the new  season’s part 1 we got to go along on the first ever Nevermore camp featuring a much bigger violation of human rights than real schools could allow during their version of “capture the flag”. We also had an insight into the chaos that is Nevermore’s “Prank Day” which even scared the unshakable Wednesday Addams. 

Iconic quotes to look out for in this season:

• “Well, you know what they say: if you can’t kill them with kindness, try lethal injection.”
• “It takes more than chemical warfare to bring tears to my eyes.”
• “I have FOBI. ‘Fear of Being Included.’”
• “Nothing like a good jolt to get the party started. Any chance I could get a second round?”

Overall, this season has a much more horrifying feel to it, but there are still some lighthearted moments that put a smile on your face. The first part has certainly left us on a cliffhanger, but without spoiling the storyline, I’ll conclude by saying that it is most exciting to watch Wednesday frollicking around in this fantastical, yet realistic world at Nevermore. 

The Netflix poster for Wednesday Season 2 (Source: Chiara Dover)

Edited by Mignon Walters