'Wednesday' Review: The Life Story of the Eccentric Girl

If you have watched "The Addams Family," then you are likely familiar with Wednesday Addams, the daughter of Morticia Addams and Gomez Addams. This intriguing character serves as the central theme for the television drama series entitled "Wednesday."

The series, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, features a talented ensemble cast including Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, and numerous others. The storyline revolves around Wednesday as she endeavors to unravel the mysteries surrounding the monsters present in her school. The premise is undoubtedly thrilling, offering an enticing viewing experience.

Synopsis

Episode 1 - Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe

Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) is a high school student hailing from a family steeped in mysticism. She has a younger brother named Pugsley Addams (Isaac Ordonez) who is physically weak and frequently subjected to bullying. Rather than accepting this situation, Wednesday exacts sadistic revenge by orchestrating his expulsion from school.

Undeterred by their daughter's actions, Wednesday's parents, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez (Guzmán), make the decision to enroll her in Nevermore Academy—a school known for accommodating individuals considered social outcasts. Although Wednesday feels out of place and yearns to escape, her attempts are consistently thwarted.

Episode 2 - Woe is The Loneliest Number

Rowan (Calum Ross) used to be one of Wednesday's school friends. On one fateful night during the festival, he fell victim to a monster and Wednesday was a witness to this horrifying event.

The police chief, Galpin (Jamie McShane), takes it upon himself to uncover the truth behind Rowan's demise. However, to everyone's astonishment, Rowan returns unharmed, leaving Wednesday bewildered and uncertain.

As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the person Wednesday saw alive was not the real Rowan, but rather the headmaster, Weems (Gwendoline Christie), assuming Rowan's appearance. Wednesday, still unaware of this revelation, embarks on her own quest for answers.

After emerging victorious in a canoe match against Bianca (Joy Sunday), she perseveres in her relentless pursuit of the truth.

Episode 3 - Friend or Woe

The search reaches a sudden end when she is apprehended while attempting to break into the prestigious club's library, which is rumored to contain crucial information about Rowan.

Bianca and Xavier (played by Percy Hynes White) make an effort to halt Wednesday, but the unconventional young girl is determined to acquire a specific book and nothing more, resulting in her eventual release.

Headmaster Weems summons all the students from Nevermore Academy to gather in town for the grand unveiling of a statue honoring Joseph Crackstone, the landlord of Jericho town where Nevermore is situated.

Despite the invitation, Wednesday chooses to divert her attention back to her ongoing investigation, which unravels the story of her ancestors' quest for vengeance.

Episode 4 - Woe What A Night

Wednesday and Thing, her hand-shaped pet, ventured into the morgue to duplicate the data pertaining to the victims who had fallen prey to the monsters. In her investigation, she stumbled upon a recurring pattern - each cadaver was missing a distinct body part.

The following day, Wednesday grew suspicious of Xavier due to a peculiar painting of the monster displayed in his art studio.

As the school dance party commenced, Wednesday, for reasons unknown, accompanied Tyler (Hunter Doohan) and spent time together, despite her prior commitment to Eugene (Moosa Mustafa) to explore the cave inhabited by the monster.

Eugene, disregarding Wednesday's advice, decided to venture into the cave alone and consequently suffered an injury.

Episode 5 - You Reap What You Woe

Wednesday's father, Gomez, was once arrested on suspicion of murdering a man named Garrett Gates in Nevermore. When Gomez and Morticia came back to Nevermore for a parental visit, Sheriff Galpin then arrested Gomez again after 32 years he was declared innocent due to his own conclusions.

This is because the coroner committed suicide with a will saying that he regretted manipulating Garrett's forensic results. Not accepting her father's imprisonment, Wednesday & her mother immediately revealed the truth. Gomez also managed to get out of prison. Wednesday must now complete another mission.

Episode 6 - Quid Pro Woe

Wednesday's visionary powers were excessively potent, thereby posing a risk to her safety. Concerned about her daughter's well-being, Morticia, Wednesday's mother, implored her daughter to engage in practice sessions, enlisting the assistance of Goody, their wise old ancestor.

The subsequent evening witnessed a joyous gathering of all of Wednesday's closest friends, assembled to celebrate her birthday. However, amidst the festivities, Wednesday was plagued by vivid visions of Goody leading her to Garrett's residence.

Intrigued by this inexplicable phenomenon, she devised a plan to involve Tyler and Enid (Emma Myers), enticing them to accompany her on an investigative journey to Garrett's abode. It was there that they would encounter the very monster Wednesday had tirelessly sought.

Episode 7 - If You Don’t Woe Me by Now

Mayor Walker (Tommie Earl Jenkins) who is trying to reinvestigate the case of the death of a Garrett family was killed by a mysterious perpetrator. This eventually leads Wednesday to investigate the case as she believes it all has to do with the existence of a monstrous monster.

On the same day, Wednesday is visited by her Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) and tries to help Wednesday in finding clues to resurrect Thing who was stabbed and almost died. At the same time, Dr. Kinbott (Riki Lindhome) is killed by a monster that turns out to be… Tyler.

Episode 8 - A Murder of Woes

After being investigated, the culprit of all the bad things that happened in Nevermore was finally revealed. Tyler is a Hyde who obeys the orders of his master, Mrs. Thornhill (Christina Ricci), who has been close to Wednesday. Thornhill then uses Wednesday to wake up her ancestor.

The ancestor is Joseph Crackstone (William Houston) who is ready to eliminate the outcasts or special people from the face of the earth, but Wednesday can defeat him according to Mrs. Rowan's prophecy. In the fight, Wednesday is helped by all her friends and Enid even turns into a werewolf.

Once Crackstone died at the hands of Wednesday, everyone in Nevermore could breathe a sigh of relief. Many children spent their time returning home. As Wednesday left the school, Tyler, who was injured after being slaughtered by Enid, began to regain consciousness and turned back into Hyde. Endangering Nevermore once again.

The Stage Stealer

Playing the character of Wednesday is a challenging task, as it requires consistently portraying cynicism and fearfulness in every episode. Constantly pouting and maintaining this demeanor is undoubtedly more exhausting than playing an ordinary character. However, Jenna Ortega skillfully executes this role and deserves commendation.

Jenna's portrayal of Wednesday is exceptionally impressive. Her performance captivates us, as we remain engrossed in the absurdity of her character without growing weary of witnessing her in a perpetually moody state.

Rather than repelling us, Wednesday's terror becomes strangely captivating, leaving us yearning for more of this gripping drama.

Annoyed

There are several plots that succeed in bringing the audience to focus on the warnings that Wednesday's psychic powers could lead the eccentric girl into danger. This makes the audience a little hesitant in believing what Wednesday sees in her visions, because many of them miss.

The scriptwriter manages to make us a bit annoyed with Wednesday's rushing to conclude who the monster & his master are. Starting from Xavier who was mistakenly caught, the accusation of Dr. Kinbott as the master of Hyde. But finally we are satisfied, Wednesday can turn everything around well.

Is Nevermore Academy A Real School?

If you're aware, the class most frequently shown at Nevermore Academy since Wednesday's arrival is Mrs. Thornhill's plant class. It would have been beneficial to showcase other classes as well in order to create a more comprehensive school atmosphere rather than just a mere setting.

This raises the question of where Wednesday actually learns, as her entire day seems to revolve around tracking monster cases, writing novels, visiting cafes, and going to the psychiatrist, among other activities. This repetitive cycle is somewhat mitigated by the engaging plot, allowing us to overlook it to some extent.

The conclusion of Wednesday's drama leaves us with a significant cliffhanger, hinting at the possibility of a second season. In the final scene of the movie, Wednesday completes her novel manuscript, but it concludes with a question mark, suggesting the looming uncertainty of whether new cases will arise in Nevermore.