After a woeful three-year wait, Wednesday finally returns to Netflix for Season 2, Part 1. While only consisting of four episodes, each installment clocks in at an hour or longer and are packed to the brim with all the darkness and mayhem that made fans develop a tragic love affair with the series.
Tim Burton returns to direct the first and fourth episodes, and the legendary filmmaker continues to do some of his best modern work on Wednesday. The mix of creepy creatures, gothic set designs and his more recent flare for colorful contrasts are the perfect fit for Nevermore Academy and this season only improves on the series’ style. There’s even more gore and violence than usual for Burton’s work, but all add to the fun of Part 1.
Jenna Ortega effortlessly steps back into the role that made her a superstar, speaking volumes with a murderous glare or a dry one-liner dripping with malice. In Season 2, Part 1 we find our dark heroine returning to Nevermore Academy with celebrity status after her exploits saving the school and classmates in Season 1. She unsurprisingly dislikes the attention, and that quickly escalates when a mysterious stalker wreaks havoc to gain the attention of their idol. The stalker reveal becomes a new standout character, but this is only the set dressing before dangerous maladies from Wednesday’s past descend upon her before Part 1’s end.
The aforementioned stalker character is one of many terrific cast additions, but the identity won’t be spoiled here. First off, Steve Buscemi is having a ball as the cornball new principal of Nevermore Academy, replacing Gwendoline Christie’s Principal Weems. Buscemi’s performance is peppy, always optimistic, and the character is possibly too passionate about keeping the outcasts of Nevermore excluded from the normies. Joanna Lumley joins as Grandmama Frump, Morticia’s (Catherine Zeta-Jones) wealthy and chic mother, with whom she shares a strained relationship much like Morticia has with Wednesday. Grandmama is a far cry from the frazzled, unhinged version from the TV series/Films and adds some multi-layered backstory to not only Morticia but the Addams clan as a whole. Lastly, we don’t learn much about Billie Piper’s new head of music Isadora Capri, but Piper is mesmerizing and hopefully plays a bigger part in Part 2.
All your old favorites return for Season 2 including a ramped up role for Catherine Zeta-Jones’ Morticia. Wednesday and Morticia’s relationship is an excellent embodiment of a mother and her daughter butting heads during teenage rebellion. A fencing battle in episode three showcases Zeta-Jones skills with a blade (see the Zorro films) and wonderfully mirrors both of their internal struggles. Luis Guzman’s Gomez Addams continues to be a warm-hearted buffoon, despite Gomez historically being a more capable man in previous incarnations. Guzman’s charm is enough, though, and the Addams patriarch is in a tough spot as he navigates the minefield of his wife and kid’s complicated relationships.
Also with a bulkier role in the latter two episodes of Season 2, Part 1 is Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester. The quirky comedic actor is still my favorite casting in a very well cast series, and he brings the goofball nature of Fester from the classic TV series with a mix of the danger of Christopher Lloyd’s portrayal in the films. Speaking of Lloyd, wait until you see how the series uses The Addams Family alum – it’s one of the best visual gags in the season.
The other breakout star of Season 1, Emma Myers as Enid the werewolf, returns with all her adorable plucky spirit. Unfortunately, Enid is reduced to a plot device when her life is threatened in one of Wednesday’s premonitions. Aside from the plot motivation for Wednesday, Enid is hampered by a clunky romance storyline that make the character come off a bit selfish and petulant. Isaac Ordonez is back as Pugsley Addams, the character (and actor) is hitting his awkward teen phase and joining Nevermore Academy. His recently developed electricity powers (like his Uncle Fester) helps him accidentally create a zombie (but don’t say the Z-word) in a twisted b-plot that starts as a silly good time and evolves into terrifying, bloody horror.
Wednesday Season 2, Part 1 pays off those sinisterly long years of waiting with an absolute jam-packed four episode opening salvo. Burton’s visual aesthetic and the series’ dark wit are at their killer best. Nothing feels rushed or short-changed in Part 1, but the even better news is that fans only have to wait a month for the torturous conclusion.
Score: 4 out 5