Wednesday

“Wednesday” is an American television series blending coming-of-age elements with supernatural comedy horror, inspired by Charles Addams’ character Wednesday Addams. Crafted by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, it features Jenna Ortega in the lead role, supported by a cast including Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Georgie Farmer, Naomi J. Ogawa, Christina Ricci, and Moosa Mostafa. Notably, four episodes of the debut season were directed by Tim Burton, who also serves as executive producer. The storyline follows Wednesday Addams as she delves into a mysterious murder case within her new school environment.

Burton’s involvement traces back to his prior connection with the Addams Family franchise, having been considered for directing the 1991 film and previously engaged with a shelved stop-motion animated project. News emerged in October 2020 about his attachment to a television adaptation, which later received the green light from Netflix. Ortega’s casting was notable for her portrayal of the character’s Latina heritage. Furthermore, Ricci, who famously portrayed Wednesday Addams in the 1991 film and its sequel, was invited by Burton to join the series in a supporting capacity. Principal photography unfolded in Romania spanning from September 2021 to March 2022.

Debuting on November 16, 2022, “Wednesday” arrived on Netflix a week later, earning predominantly positive critiques with particular acclaim for Ortega’s performance. Within three weeks of its launch, it surged to become the second most-watched English-language series on Netflix. Garnering two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for Ortega, the show also clinched four Primetime Emmy Awards. It secured further nominations in categories such as Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The series’ success prompted its renewal for a second season in January 2023.

Premise

Wednesday Addams faces expulsion from her current school after unleashing live piranhas into the pool, a response to the bullying endured by her brother Pugsley from the boys’ water polo team. Consequently, her parents Gomez and Morticia decide to enroll her at their own alma mater, Nevermore Academy.

Nestled in the eerie town of Jericho, Vermont, this private institution caters to a unique student body of monstrous outcasts. Despite her cold demeanor and rebellious spirit, Wednesday struggles to find her place among her classmates, leading to clashes with the school’s principal, Larissa Weems. However, she stumbles upon a surprising inheritance: her mother’s psychic abilities. Empowered by this newfound gift, Wednesday embarks on unraveling a local murder mystery, setting her on a path of unexpected discovery.

Cast and characters

Episodes

Wednesday series is directed by Timothy Walter Burton and written by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar. It’s original release date is 23 November 2022. It has 8 episodes.

Episode 1

Title: “Wednesday’s Child Is Full of Woe”

High-schooler Wednesday Addams discovers her brother Pugsley bound in a locker, prompting her to confront his bullies. In a psychic-induced rage, she tries to harm them, leading to her expulsion. Parents Morticia and Gomez opt to enroll her in their alma mater, Nevermore Academy, a refuge for societal outcasts in Jericho, Vermont. Meanwhile, mysterious deaths occur near the school. Wednesday, under the watchful eye of Thing, encounters her polar opposite roommate Enid and faces off against popular girl Bianca over bullying incidents involving a boy named Rowan. A perilous encounter with a falling gargoyle is thwarted by Bianca’s ex, Xavier. Despite attempts to evade school authority with the help of barista Tyler, Wednesday is captured by Principal Weems. At a local carnival, Wednesday foresees Rowan’s demise, only for the prophecy to be fulfilled by a monstrous assailant.

Episode 2

Title: “Woe Is the Loneliest Number”

Wednesday convinces Sheriff Galpin that a monstrous being is behind the murders, but her sanity is shaken when the presumed victim, Rowan, reappears unharmed. Determined to unravel the truth, she investigates Rowan’s disappearance, only to discover he’s been expelled. Principal Weems closely monitors her activities as Wednesday delves deeper into the mystery. Chasing leads, she confronts a suspicious Rowan, only to realize he’s a shapeshifting Weems. Guided by her psychic visions, Wednesday uncovers a secret society’s cryptic book. In a bid to thwart Bianca’s cheating scheme in the student tournament, Wednesday teams up with Enid for a decisive victory. However, her exploration leads her to a hidden library, where she’s ensnared by unknown captors.

Episode 3

Title: “Friend or Woe”

Wednesday escapes captivity within the secret society, led by Bianca and Xavier, taking a mysterious book with her. Principal Weems assigns her to join the school band for an upcoming town event. Following clues from the book, Wednesday attends a fair where she spots a painting matching her visions. Delving deeper into her family’s history, she uncovers a chilling tale of ancestral survival amidst the town’s dark past. While exploring the forest, she confronts the human identity behind the monstrous attacks. Disrupting a town ceremony, Wednesday incites Weems’ ire by unveiling the town’s sinister founder’s true nature. Later, police discover evidence of the creature’s existence through forest crime scene photographs.

Episode 4

Title: “Woe What a Night”

Wednesday and Thing infiltrate the coroner’s office to gather data on the monster’s victims, discovering a pattern of surgical removal of body parts. Suspicious of Xavier, Wednesday investigates his art studio, uncovering drawings leading her to the monster’s hideout. She retrieves a claw for DNA analysis by Sheriff Galpin. Amidst a school dance with Tyler, Eugene, privy to Wednesday’s investigations, witnesses an explosion at the monster’s cave. The festivities are disrupted by Lucas, seeking revenge for Wednesday’s earlier actions. Sensing danger, Wednesday rushes to the forest, finding Eugene critically injured by the monster.

Episode 5

Title: “You Reap What You Woe”

32 years prior, Gomez Addams was arrested at Nevermore under suspicion of killing Garrett Gates, a descendant of Joseph Crackstone. In the present, the Addams family visits Wednesday on Parents’ Weekend at Nevermore. During a family therapy session, Wednesday confronts her parents about the murder accusation. Meanwhile, Sheriff Galpin discovers the coroner’s suicide after admitting to falsifying Gates’s autopsy. Galpin arrests Gomez, believing him guilty. In jail, Gomez confesses to Wednesday that Morticia is the true culprit. Wednesday and Morticia unearth Gates’s grave, revealing lethal poisoning prior to his death, leading to their arrest. Confronting Mayor Walker, they uncover Gates’s plot to poison the school, prompting Walker to admit to covering up the motive. Gomez is released, and Principal Weems confesses to concealing Rowan’s death by shapeshifting to avoid scandal at Nevermore.

Episode 6

Title: “Quid Pro Woe”

Wednesday seeks to summon Goody, a psychic ancestor who vanquished Crackstone. During her birthday celebration, Wednesday receives a vision from Goody, guiding her to the Gates mansion. There, she witnesses Mayor Walker leaving and secretly follows him. Upon Mayor Walker’s return to town, he’s struck by a car, prompting Principal Weems to lock down the school. With Tyler and Enid’s assistance, Wednesday escapes and revisits the Gates mansion, uncovering possible evidence of Laurel Gates’ survival and the monster’s gruesome deeds. They are ambushed, forcing them to flee. Leading Sheriff Galpin to the scene, they find it mysteriously cleared. Back at Nevermore, Wednesday persuades Weems not to expel her to continue her inquiry. At the hospital, Mayor Walker meets an untimely demise at the hands of an unknown assailant.

Episode 7

Title: “If You Don’t Woe Me by Now”

At Mayor Walker’s funeral, Wednesday spots a lurking figure, leading her into the forest where she discovers it’s Uncle Fester. He reveals the monster she’s been investigating is a Hyde. Together, they retrieve a revealing diary from a hidden library, unveiling that a Hyde requires a master. Tracking Xavier, they witness him meeting with Dr. Kinbott, Wednesday’s therapist. Returning from a date with Tyler, Wednesday finds her room vandalized and the diary missing, with Thing injured. Investigation reveals Laurel Gates as the Hyde’s master. Suspicions initially fall on Dr. Kinbott, but he’s killed by the Hyde. Police arrest Xavier, whom Wednesday believes to be the Hyde. A kiss with Tyler triggers a vision, causing her to flee, suspecting him to be the Hyde.

Episode 8

Title: “A Murder of Woes”

Wednesday and her peers capture Tyler, leading to her resorting to extreme measures to extract a confession. Horrified by her actions, classmates report her to Principal Weems, resulting in Wednesday’s arrest. At the police station, Tyler privately admits to Wednesday that he’s the monster. Weary of her conduct, Weems expels her. Visiting Eugene in the hospital, his description of a figure matches Ms. Thornhill, a teacher. Unveiling herself as Laurel Gates, Thornhill reveals her plan to resurrect Crackstone. Despite Weems’ intervention, Gates eliminates her and overpowers Wednesday. Using Wednesday’s blood, Gates resurrects Crackstone, leaving her for dead. However, Goody intervenes, saving her. Enid, in her werewolf form, defeats Tyler, while Crackstone attacks Nevermore. With Bianca’s aid, Wednesday vanquishes Crackstone, and Eugene helps defeat Gates. Xavier is freed, Tyler is detained, and Wednesday bids farewell to Nevermore, which closes for the semester.

Production

• Casting: The production team aimed to cast a Latina actress for the role of Wednesday Addams to align with the character’s heritage as depicted in the series’ script. In May 2021, Jenna Ortega, of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, was chosen for the role. Millar expressed that upon their initial Zoom call, they knew Ortega was the perfect fit for the character. Despite initial hesitations due to her prior work in Disney Channel shows and a preference for film roles, Ortega was swayed after meeting Burton via Zoom. In early August of the same year, Luis Guzmán was selected for a guest appearance as Gomez Addams, and Catherine Zeta-Jones was cast in an undisclosed role as Morticia Addams. Following this, Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emma Myers, Naomi J. Ogawa, Joy Sunday, and Percy Hynes White were announced as series regulars. Myers initially auditioned for the role of Wednesday but was ultimately cast as her roommate Enid.
• Filming: Principal photography for the first season occurred from September 2021 to March 2022 in Bușteni, Romania, located in the Southern Carpathian region. Filming sites included Cantacuzino Castle, representing Nevermore Academy, as well as various locations like Politehnica University of Bucharest, Sinaia railway station, Bucharest Botanical Garden, Monteoru House, and Olga Greceanu Mansion in Dâmbovița County, standing in for the Gates mansion. Computer-generated imagery supplemented exterior shots of Cantacuzino Castle. Jericho’s entire town, among other settings, was constructed at Buftea Studios. Mark Scruton, the production designer, drew heavily from Charles Addams’s original cartoons and Burton’s films like Beetlejuice (1988) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) for set inspiration. Ortega described her experience on the series as “very stressful and confusing,” citing the fast-paced shooting schedule as the most overwhelming aspect of the job.

Release

The first teaser trailer for Wednesday debuted on August 17, 2022, followed by a full trailer on October 9 and the reveal of the series’ opening sequence on November 8. The premiere took place on November 16, 2022, at Hollywood Legion Theater in Los Angeles, with all eight episodes released on Netflix on November 23, 2022. In December 2022, Netflix shared a promotional video on its Twitter account featuring Thing, a notable character from the series, wandering the streets of New York City and capturing the reactions of pedestrians.