Wednesday was a smash hit upon its debut on November 23, 2022. Its first season centered on the titular Addams Family member enrolling at Nevermore Academy and becoming embroiled in a dark mystery involving several grisly murders on the school grounds. Wednesday’s first run secured an impressive 73% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and obtained an 85% approval rating from audiences on the same site’s Popcornmeter. Tim Burton’s gothic style meshed perfectly with the world of the Addams Family, delivering the definitive interpretation of the classic popular culture icons. This made it rather unsurprising when Wednesday was renewed for a second season.
Wednesday has recently returned for its latest installments. This time, the mystery concerns an enigmatic stalker who has been following Wednesday since she became famous for taking down Hyde, and Wednesday’s visions of Enid’s demise. Its second season boasts one of the greatest casts of all time. Alongside returning favorites, Wednesday Season 2 introduces a new roster of characters played by some of the world’s biggest film and television actors. It is easily one of the most star-studded casts of any Netflix drama series, and the actors’ rapport together is apparent. The stars of Wednesday make it must-see television.
Wednesday’s Friends And Family Have Incredible Chemistry
Wednesday’s friends and family, in particular, have incredible chemistry. The Addams Family is perfectly cast. Jenny Ortega is both hilarious and interesting as Wednesday Addams, with her dark humor and her expert sleuthing skills making her a fun protagonist. Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams bounces off Wednesday and the Nevermore students nicely, delivering some brilliantly dry sarcasm, like how she claims she makes Gomez believe he is “in charge of this family.” Morticia’s dynamic with Luis Guzman’s Gomez Addams is extremely convincing, capturing the feel of a husband and wife team who have been together for many years.
Wednesday Season 2 makes the smart decision to base all the Addams Family within the Nevermore Academy site, giving Wednesday deeper personal connections to her life at the school. Pugsley begins his studies at Nevermore, portrayed excellently by Isaac Ordonez. His wide-eyed enthusiasm for horrific creatures, such as his pet zombie Slurp, brings some great moments of levity to the series, making his socially awkward roommate, Eugene Ottinger, apprehensive about this new addition to the school.
The biggest standout of Wednesday is Emma Myers’ Enid Sinclair. Her friendship with Wednesday is odd, because of Wednesday and Enid’s contrasting personalities. While Wednesday can be a cold and distant figure, Enid is a bright and cheery individual. However, Jenny Ortega and Enid Sinclair’s strong rapport is evident throughout Wednesday’s episodes, and sells their complicated friendship.
Jenny Ortega fondly described her co-star as a “badass” during Wednesday’s second season, and discussed how Emma Myers makes her “job so much easier,” indicating that their off-screen camaraderie is as powerful as it is onscreen. Wednesday and Enid’s fierce loyalty towards one another has left fans convinced they will eventually become a couple, believing there may be some romantic subtext behind their pairing. This has been fueled further by Enid’s declaration that she cannot “imagine” her life without Wednesday in it. Jenny Ortega and Enid Sinclair have made Wednesday and Enid feel inseparable.
Wednesday Season 2 Has Some Major Names
Wednesday Season 2 has some major names among its cast. Among the most iconic is Joanna Lumley, who features as Grandmama Addams. The fractious relationship between Morticia and her mother, Grandmama, is one of the most fascinating aspects of Wednesday’s second season. Its early episodes hint at the mother and daughter not getting along, when Bianca tries to persuade Morticia to contact Grandmama to see if she would donate money to Nevermore Academy.
Morticia is so reluctant to get in touch with her mother that it takes Bianca to use her siren powers to force Morticia to call her. Joanna Lumley brings a fresh new dynamic to the Addams Family, with Grandmama’s sharp tongue and manipulative personality causing tension between her and Morticia. Wednesday and Grandmama’s relationship as granddaughter and grandmother is also enjoyable to watch, as Grandmama is the one person in their family who Wednesday feels the closest to. It generates some intense jealousy from Morticia toward Grandmama, which creates some great personal drama for the Netflix show.
Another excellent inclusion to the Wednesday cast is Billie Piper. She plays Nevermore Academy’s music teacher, Isadora Capri. Isadora’s deep passion for music is evident throughout Wednesday, attempting to secure Wednesday for the school orchestra. Billie Piper is exceptional in the part, bringing her own love for music to her take on Nevermore’s newest staff member, and imbuing the character with a brilliant writ. The character makes great use of Billie Piper’s past as a pop singer, bursting into occasional song numbers during Wednesday Season 2.
As a werewolf, she also holds a special bond with Enid, giving Enid someone to confide in outside of Wednesday. Isadora brings out the best in Nevermore’s quirky characters, like Wednesday and Enid, allowing them to shine brighter than in Wednesday’s first season. Billie Piper bounces off nicely with both Jenny Ortega and Emma Myers, integrating seamlessly with the Nevermore expanded cast. Watching Wednesday Season 2, it feels as though Billie Piper has always been a part of the TV Series, even though the show’s second run marks her first appearance. The Netflix series would be wise to keep Billie Piper for a potential third season.
Christopher Lloyd is the biggest name attached to Wednesday. The Back To The Future star features during the second season as Professor Orlov. He is Nevermore’s longest-serving teacher, delivering lessons in biology. Professor Orlov fits Christopher Lloyd’s acting style magnificently, playing a typically eccentric role as a head in a jar. His intense dislike of troublemakers results in him developing an entertaining rivalry with Pugsley.
Professor Orlov disapproves of Pugsley’s mischievous behavior, and his strong principles make him a superb antagonist for Pugsley during his stay at the Nevermore Academy. Christopher Lloyd’s casting as Professor Orlov also serves as a magnificent tribute to the Addams Family franchise’s history. He previously depicted Uncle Fester in the 1990s Addams Family movies. Wednesday’s second season shows the introduction of a new principal to Nevermore Academy. Reservoir Dogs actor Steve Buscemi takes on Nevermore’s new school head, Barry Dort.
He is fantastically over-the-top as the villainous school principal. Barry’s cruel manipulation of Bianca, threatening her scholarship and manipulating her into using her siren powers on Morticia, is unnerving. He maintains a happy-go-lucky demeanor while threatening his students, appearing unfazed by Wednesday burning down the portrait of herself and her friends in Season 2’s opener, while informing Bianca that he will remove her scholarship if she does not comply with securing the school’s extra funding.
Steve Buscemi’s exaggerated performance contrasts amusingly with Wednesday’s blunt demeanor, making Wednesday an excellent foil for the Nevermore Academy principal. His distrust of “normies” without supernatural abilities adds an interesting cynical angle to his character, believing that Nevermore’s outcasts can never properly integrate with those without these gifts, and that Nevermore must be separated from these people to keep the students safe. Barry believes he is acting in Nevermore’s best interests but, in reality, his actions serve only to alienate the school’s residents from the rest of society.