Season 2 of Netflix’s *Wednesday* filled me with immense joy, though Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) may not be thrilled to hear that. It’s been almost three years since *Wednesday* first emerged on our Netflix lists like a melancholic thundercloud. During this period, showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have improved the show’s approach, eliminating what didn’t resonate (goodbye to the much-maligned love triangle from Season 1) and amplifying the eerie aspects and the Addams family’s participation. These modifications, combined with the captivating boarding school environment, provide a setting for even more grotesque enjoyment.
In Season 2, Wednesday Addams embarks on a new mystery. Upon her return to Nevermore Academy after a summer of hunting a serial killer, she encounters shocking news: she’s now popular! The horror! The quintessential outcast has become the talk of Nevermore following her courageous deeds in Season 1. This newfound fanbase introduces an entertaining twist to the dynamic from Season 1, where she was more detached from her peers. Naturally, this is a disaster for Wednesday, who values infamy over popularity.
However, Wednesday faces an even more urgent nightmare. While refining her psychic abilities, she experiences a chilling vision: her roommate and closest friend Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) is destined to perish, and it will be Wednesday’s doing. Burdened by this revelation, she strives to save her friend, uncovering that Enid’s foretold demise may be connected to other murders in Jericho and the ominous ravens that hover over Nevermore. While the ravens contribute to the Edgar Allan Poe ambiance, it would be preferable if they ceased the fatal pecking.
*Wednesday* Season 2 continues to offer dark joys and high school escapades. The killer ravens are just one element that keeps the series aligned with its chilling origins. Wednesday’s visions intensify, featuring black tears that enhance her monochromatic look and indicate she’s testing her psychic boundaries. This season introduces its initial zombie: a reanimated Nevermore student named Slurp. His backstory is depicted in black-and-white stop-motion animation, reminiscent of Tim Burton’s “Vincent” and *Frankenweenie*. Burton directs four of the eight episodes in Season 2, as he did in Season 1. The zombie horror is wildly entertaining, while the show takes a darker turn with a narrative involving experiments at Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital.
Not everything is bleak, even if that is what Wednesday might prefer. Season 2 discovers excitement in high school customs, from a bonfire to a day of pranks. The spirit reaches its peak on a camping excursion that pits Outcasts against Normies, offering “capture the flag” in true *Wednesday* style. New faculty members enhance the enjoyment. Steve Buscemi, appearing in his finest Poe attire, relishes the role of new Principal Barry Dort. Billie Piper captivates as head of music, Isadora Capri, who may challenge Wednesday. Christopher Lloyd, who portrayed Uncle Fester in the Addams Family films, is a brilliant choice for a professor who is merely a head in a jar. Lady Gaga is set to join as a teacher in Part 2, but Part 1 lacks Gaga.
*Wednesday* Season 2 is a true Addams Family gathering. The new faculty shine, as do other members of the Addams Family. Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) enrolls at Nevermore, practicing light resurrection. Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) becomes part of the fundraising committee, moving with Gomez (Luis Guzmán) to Nevermore. Their chemistry, established in Season 1, begins to ignite, though not as intensely as in past portrayals. A tango scene paying homage to *Addams Family Values* assists in this. The most fulfilling bond is between Morticia and Wednesday, who have a conflict over the latter’s usage of psychic powers. Joanna Lumley joins as Grandmama Hester Frump, and Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester receives additional screen time. Cousin Itt’s role remains uncertain.
As *Wednesday*’s interpretation of the Addams Family expands, Wednesday continues to shine as the centerpiece. Ortega embodies the cold, dead essence of the series, a commendation in homage to Wednesday. With her lethal stare and dry narration, Ortega’s Wednesday is a formidable presence, particularly in the absence of a love triangle. Following her detective adventures is pure gothic enjoyment, deserving of applause.
*Wednesday* Season 2 Part 1 is currently available for streaming on Netflix. Part 2 debuts on Sept. 3.