An outcast's been expelled, now her parents are compelled, enrol her in another school, hope she'll follow all the rules, but she's not fully compliant, more devoutly dark defiant, has a plan to make escape, won't be moulded into shape, but the school of Nevermore, has taught this loner type before, and the Principal's familiar, with the crooked and nonlinear, so she's watched, observed and viewed, while she plots, schemes and colludes, though she's started to get visions, that leave some less well provisioned, sets the scene for wanting more, if you like gothic folklore, the creatures conjured and created, may leave you feeling quite elated.
27 Reviews
I'm sure, it's gonna be an EPIC tv show
funnycommentor2 December 2022
First of all, I have to admit that I was really hyped about "Wednesday" because, I LOVE Jenna Ortega. Well, the plot of the 1st episode was really interesting and very enjoyable. The storyline was very well written, everything was well-explained and I'm sure it's gonna be really good. The filming location was AMAZING, I really like the dark vibe of the TV show. The characters are very interesting, well-developed and some of them are really likeable (Wednesday is ICONIC). Of course, the casting is AMAZING and their acting is really good (especially, Jenna's Ortega acting). Also, I really loved the jokes and the dark humor of Wednesday Adams. Moreover, it was unexpectedly bloody and creepy, I never expected it was gonna be like a murder mystery TV show. Gladly, the killcount was really good and I really enjoyed the kills (they were really bloody). Overall, the first episode was really good, very intense and promising!
Let's Not Be All Precious Here.
sheridaglover4 December 2022
Let go of your old preconceptions of Wednesday Addams and enjoy the ride. Jenna Ortega has made this teenager a completely unique character.
The set design, the costuming, and the casting make a great tribute to the original comics. If you look at the original comics, Gomez was not particularly handsome. In fact a lot of the humor was based on the fact that this unattractive, short, fat man was able to not only catch, but keep a gorgeous woman enthralled. Luis Guzman, a singularly amazing actor, is perfectly cast.
I am enjoying the mystery aspects of the plot and the macabre undertones are just delicious!
The set design, the costuming, and the casting make a great tribute to the original comics. If you look at the original comics, Gomez was not particularly handsome. In fact a lot of the humor was based on the fact that this unattractive, short, fat man was able to not only catch, but keep a gorgeous woman enthralled. Luis Guzman, a singularly amazing actor, is perfectly cast.
I am enjoying the mystery aspects of the plot and the macabre undertones are just delicious!
Great starter to the series
ethan-491544 December 2022
After watching this episode, I had no doubt that Wednesday would be a good series. They set up everyone's character perfectly and even got us started on mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and truly can not wait to watch the rest of this original Netflix series!
It's very fast paced and gothic. The way it's set up is all about Wednesday moving to Nevermore after she is expelled from her other schools. It's apparently a school for outcasts and her parents say she'll fit in. She doesn't, but she makes friends with some other members and is beginning to like it there. It's a real cliffhanger.
It's very fast paced and gothic. The way it's set up is all about Wednesday moving to Nevermore after she is expelled from her other schools. It's apparently a school for outcasts and her parents say she'll fit in. She doesn't, but she makes friends with some other members and is beginning to like it there. It's a real cliffhanger.
Lowkey fire
monkeysquad-191896 December 2022
Jenna Ortega a baddie ngl. It is a W episode and touches a lot on how she views the world and what her values are. It is expected that her values may change later on in the show like they do in a lot of movies and shows and this episode just touched on her and how she sees the world. The character introductions are very good and flowed smoothly and they had some good action scenes to touch on the problems she will have to face later in the show. The jokes some of the characters make are a little corny and cheesy but it's nothing you can't get through. It's a fire show and this episode is a very good pilot to introducing everything.
BRILLIANT. The Addams Family arrive to the 21st century. Prove that when cynicism and black comedy is done well it is gold.
quiqueperezsoler27 November 2022
I was always fascinated by the macabre version of the traditional 20th century family the Addams have always meant to be as invisioned by creator Charles Addams. Particularly Christina Ricci's excellent performance in the 1990s movies on the role of Wednesday. A personal favorite of mine. And the most interesting aspect of their shows and movies was of course their interaction with the rest of the world.
So it's no surprise that a show created by the duo that wrote Smallville and Spider-Man 2, directed by king of the macabre Tim Burton and featuring the most cynical, precocious and strong female teenager with a brilliant premise that is placing her in today's social-media-infested, internet-addictive society; in a school of outcasts like herself would be the best possible idea for today's era of entertainment.
With layers over layers of social critique, eloquent rhetoric, interesting new characters, brilliant characterisation by everyone in the Addams family (particularly Caherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia) and new characters; it is bound to be one of my favorites yet. I only wish this show had come out during Halloween month as Tim Burton's set and visual design and filmmaking permiates throughout this first episode. Delightfully grotesque yet sophisticatedly goth, the show has very visually interesting designs, set, clothing and framing choices that bring a unique flair to what essentially feels like a high-school-teen coming of age story. Which I adore and am glad and very engaged with the several character plotpoints presented ever so slightly but cleverly strong in this first episode.
Every scene in this first episode is gold. Especially the excellent fencing scene, which is the better executed version of the James Bond's Die Another Day one. But every scene fulfills at least one, and at times even more, of the essential narrative elements like character building, backstory and setting development or presentation of all the story threads we will be following in the show. I felt engaged and intrigued by the many subplots we are to explore and laughed at the dark comedy and excellent writing and characterisation the show has. I hope it can keep it up.
So it's no surprise that a show created by the duo that wrote Smallville and Spider-Man 2, directed by king of the macabre Tim Burton and featuring the most cynical, precocious and strong female teenager with a brilliant premise that is placing her in today's social-media-infested, internet-addictive society; in a school of outcasts like herself would be the best possible idea for today's era of entertainment.
With layers over layers of social critique, eloquent rhetoric, interesting new characters, brilliant characterisation by everyone in the Addams family (particularly Caherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia) and new characters; it is bound to be one of my favorites yet. I only wish this show had come out during Halloween month as Tim Burton's set and visual design and filmmaking permiates throughout this first episode. Delightfully grotesque yet sophisticatedly goth, the show has very visually interesting designs, set, clothing and framing choices that bring a unique flair to what essentially feels like a high-school-teen coming of age story. Which I adore and am glad and very engaged with the several character plotpoints presented ever so slightly but cleverly strong in this first episode.
Every scene in this first episode is gold. Especially the excellent fencing scene, which is the better executed version of the James Bond's Die Another Day one. But every scene fulfills at least one, and at times even more, of the essential narrative elements like character building, backstory and setting development or presentation of all the story threads we will be following in the show. I felt engaged and intrigued by the many subplots we are to explore and laughed at the dark comedy and excellent writing and characterisation the show has. I hope it can keep it up.
NEVERMORE... you will crave more
Rajit_thebingewatcher3 December 2022
I am not a fan of vampire or werewolf fictions. So this story is an allien concept for me. I drew parallel from Harry potter, but soon when I got hooked I found very little parallels from the story I was drawing into. It is more like a thriller but with different sub-genre. Since I am a thriller binge watcher perfectly loved the concept.
Wednesday Addams is a girl with unique powers .Fortunately they have schools for the powerholder She is involved in digging her own past when she reaches "NEVERMORE" the outcast school.
The lead character is established , her powers are established and her secondary rivalries are established already. In my opinion we are just waiting for the VILLAIN with grand presence.
Loving it .
Wednesday Addams is a girl with unique powers .Fortunately they have schools for the powerholder She is involved in digging her own past when she reaches "NEVERMORE" the outcast school.
The lead character is established , her powers are established and her secondary rivalries are established already. In my opinion we are just waiting for the VILLAIN with grand presence.
Loving it .
More of a stereotypically angsty teen drama
Escapist-280227 November 2022
I have been looking forward to the launch of the series with bated breath ever since it was first announced. The plot doesn't appear to get off to a particularly good start here, coming off as more of a stereotypically angsty teen drama than a "Addams Family" adaptation, taking itself far too seriously most of the time, and failing to imbue the satirical, tongue-in-cheek humour I was obviously expecting from the franchise. As a result, I'm not overly enthusiastic to report that.
It's not the worst thing ever, but it's also not the best thing ever. However, in general, it does give the impression that it is creatively masquerading as something that it is not, being nowhere near as sharp or self-aware as it has to be in order to compete with previous incarnations that have ingrained themselves in the history of popular culture.
Even Tim Burton's direction doesn't add much because his unique style can't break through Netflix's visual framework, which makes all of their properties look the same.
Aside from that, the pilot was a clear rip-off of Sabrina, and the supporting teenage actors all appeared to be paid to be bored, so I won't be tuning in for episode two.
It's not a problem, as I've said... On the other hand, this degree of apathy is a great deal lower than I had hoped for.
It's not the worst thing ever, but it's also not the best thing ever. However, in general, it does give the impression that it is creatively masquerading as something that it is not, being nowhere near as sharp or self-aware as it has to be in order to compete with previous incarnations that have ingrained themselves in the history of popular culture.
Even Tim Burton's direction doesn't add much because his unique style can't break through Netflix's visual framework, which makes all of their properties look the same.
Aside from that, the pilot was a clear rip-off of Sabrina, and the supporting teenage actors all appeared to be paid to be bored, so I won't be tuning in for episode two.
It's not a problem, as I've said... On the other hand, this degree of apathy is a great deal lower than I had hoped for.
Best Tim Burton tv show yet
moviesfilmsreviewsinc6 December 2022
Episode 1 of Wednesday starts with students arriving for classes at Nancy Reagan High School. Among those students is Wednesday who finds her little brother Pugsley is a victim of bullying. The bullies have tied him up in her locker and left an apple in his mouth. As she unties him from the ropes, she gets a vision of what the bullies did and she leaves to deal with them.
Wednesday finds them in the school swimming pool and releases two bags of red-bellied piranhas into the pool. She then watches with sheer fascination and delight as the piranhas attack the boys in the water. They soon arrive at Nevermore and the principal, Larissa, welcomes them. As it turns out she is Morticia's old roommate. She is impressed enough with Wednesday's perfect grades and the family's long history with the school to make an expectation and accept her in the middle of the term. Morticia is concerned about Wednesday's mental health and informs the principal that Wednesday is required by the court to attend therapy. Larissa says they have a certified therapist and she can meet Wednesday twice a week. At school, Enid and Wednesday get a bit close and she asks Enid for a favour to use her computer. She sends Thing to Tyler with a message to call her. She recruits Tyler to help her escape during the harvest festival. It is not easy to lose Principal Larissa who is keeping a close eye on her. Tyler shows up at the festival as planned and gives her the police report on her father. As she and Tyler try to leave, they are approached by the three boys she beat in the cafe. They are looking to settle scores and a rematch. Tyler thinks it is best to lose them in the crowd. They start running from them but she runs into Rowan and has another vision of him being in danger. It looks like we are in for an exciting mysterious journey as Wednesday remains in Nevermore to find answers to everything she has discovered there. The show channels a blend of Sabrina and Riverdale, with the usual vibe you'd expect from The Addam's Family, and it does so to great effect. From what we've seen so far, this looks like quite the intriguing watch. Are you excited for the spooky adventures that lay ahead?
Wednesday finds them in the school swimming pool and releases two bags of red-bellied piranhas into the pool. She then watches with sheer fascination and delight as the piranhas attack the boys in the water. They soon arrive at Nevermore and the principal, Larissa, welcomes them. As it turns out she is Morticia's old roommate. She is impressed enough with Wednesday's perfect grades and the family's long history with the school to make an expectation and accept her in the middle of the term. Morticia is concerned about Wednesday's mental health and informs the principal that Wednesday is required by the court to attend therapy. Larissa says they have a certified therapist and she can meet Wednesday twice a week. At school, Enid and Wednesday get a bit close and she asks Enid for a favour to use her computer. She sends Thing to Tyler with a message to call her. She recruits Tyler to help her escape during the harvest festival. It is not easy to lose Principal Larissa who is keeping a close eye on her. Tyler shows up at the festival as planned and gives her the police report on her father. As she and Tyler try to leave, they are approached by the three boys she beat in the cafe. They are looking to settle scores and a rematch. Tyler thinks it is best to lose them in the crowd. They start running from them but she runs into Rowan and has another vision of him being in danger. It looks like we are in for an exciting mysterious journey as Wednesday remains in Nevermore to find answers to everything she has discovered there. The show channels a blend of Sabrina and Riverdale, with the usual vibe you'd expect from The Addam's Family, and it does so to great effect. From what we've seen so far, this looks like quite the intriguing watch. Are you excited for the spooky adventures that lay ahead?
I find social media to be a soul-sucking void of meaningless affirmation.
bombersflyup24 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe is not bad. Morticia has always been the central and strongest character in the show's history and appears to be only secondary here, but it's in good hands with Jenna Ortega, who plays the role of Wednesday well. The ever-lovely Catherine Zeta-Jones does a fine job as Morticia and Isaac Ordonez likeable as Pugsley's, but Luis Guzman's far off having the charisma and suave of Gomez, not that I was even a big fan of Gomez. The fantastical "X-Men" academy type elements don't really look to hold much interest and that's likely where it'll be venturing, but we'll see.
Good Episode, Great Writting but i need more for the Writters.
IBlackI5 December 2022
I think it's a good episode, it's a good start for a series that can touch on different interesting topics and that in addition to that has free rein to explore various topics such as action, the feelings of the protagonists, but, let's talk about the secondary characters, I think the series makes a correct introduction to them, and I think it's perfect that Wednesday isn't a deus ex machina and that there are people above her.
People who can be a more than a high, are more a tool to develop themselves and Wednesday, it seems right to me that there is a change in personality, I think that in the final minutes it is a little rushed just to put in, the why of the plot that will follow this season, but outside of that, the protagonists are interesting, and I personally want to know about everyone, especially Wednesday, his family and the school and its members.
People who can be a more than a high, are more a tool to develop themselves and Wednesday, it seems right to me that there is a change in personality, I think that in the final minutes it is a little rushed just to put in, the why of the plot that will follow this season, but outside of that, the protagonists are interesting, and I personally want to know about everyone, especially Wednesday, his family and the school and its members.
This is NOT reflective of Charles Addams' creation!
shoretalk28 November 2022
First and foremost, Jenna Ortega is brilliant in her portrayal of Wednesday taking the child many of us grew up watching on the sitcom of the Sixties into the challenge of being a teenager.
Her interactions with other characters, her body language and her voice immediately provide a credible Wednesday to those watching this series about Gomez and Morticia's little girl as a teenager.
When you grow up in a house with parents like those two, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Thing, and an array of creepy and kooky realities then just imagine what kind of teenager you'd become. Ortega's performance "nails it" with direction and a script complementary to the star!
The first episode DOES NOT WORK primarily due to the incredibly bad performance by Luis Guzman as Gomez Addams!! If you can imagine Marlon Brando giving an exaggerated performance as Don Corleone! Not only does Guzman do a complete disservice to the beloved John Aston performance of Charles Addams' cartoon namesake but he fails to give even a sliver of a mirror reflection of the cartoon! Thankfully he does not appear in most of episode one but if he becomes a featured character in the series I will stop watching it.
Zeta-Jones gives a magnetic portrayal of Morticia and all the other primary characters with the exception of Fester complete the clan.
As for the script, even though Wednesday's character is well written, the rest of this first episode as noted by many other reviewers is primarily a classic teenage girl going through challenges drama. There were some kooky elements that made me smile but the storyline just has not taken me to a place where I feel like this is a series I'll want to watch. But I will watch episode 2 just to see.
It seems like the creators of the series wanted to give a little bit of everything from the last 20 years in the world of magical teenage movies/books. There's a character that looks almost exactly like Harry Potter and I could swear I've seen the set design in other movies I've watched.
Tim Burton's presence can be sensed and perhaps he could be held responsible for the portrayal of Gomez because he likes to dance along the extremes.
I would tell anyone curious about Wednesday that they should not expect the Addams Family and if they watch the Addams family growing up or the movies that have been made and think that this will fit in. They will be absolutely wrong. And anyone watching this film will wonder how in the world. Luis Guzman ever got a starring role in any movie because he is awful. Absolutely awful!
Her interactions with other characters, her body language and her voice immediately provide a credible Wednesday to those watching this series about Gomez and Morticia's little girl as a teenager.
When you grow up in a house with parents like those two, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Thing, and an array of creepy and kooky realities then just imagine what kind of teenager you'd become. Ortega's performance "nails it" with direction and a script complementary to the star!
The first episode DOES NOT WORK primarily due to the incredibly bad performance by Luis Guzman as Gomez Addams!! If you can imagine Marlon Brando giving an exaggerated performance as Don Corleone! Not only does Guzman do a complete disservice to the beloved John Aston performance of Charles Addams' cartoon namesake but he fails to give even a sliver of a mirror reflection of the cartoon! Thankfully he does not appear in most of episode one but if he becomes a featured character in the series I will stop watching it.
Zeta-Jones gives a magnetic portrayal of Morticia and all the other primary characters with the exception of Fester complete the clan.
As for the script, even though Wednesday's character is well written, the rest of this first episode as noted by many other reviewers is primarily a classic teenage girl going through challenges drama. There were some kooky elements that made me smile but the storyline just has not taken me to a place where I feel like this is a series I'll want to watch. But I will watch episode 2 just to see.
It seems like the creators of the series wanted to give a little bit of everything from the last 20 years in the world of magical teenage movies/books. There's a character that looks almost exactly like Harry Potter and I could swear I've seen the set design in other movies I've watched.
Tim Burton's presence can be sensed and perhaps he could be held responsible for the portrayal of Gomez because he likes to dance along the extremes.
I would tell anyone curious about Wednesday that they should not expect the Addams Family and if they watch the Addams family growing up or the movies that have been made and think that this will fit in. They will be absolutely wrong. And anyone watching this film will wonder how in the world. Luis Guzman ever got a starring role in any movie because he is awful. Absolutely awful!
The writers don't understand the Addams
evgeneiac24 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Addams family is kooky, spooky, and kooky. This show only partially gets the spooky part and misses everything else. Morticia and Gomez were always loving and playful not only with each other, but their children. What other father would blow up trains with their kids? This Morticia and Gomex are not especially different from other TV parents: controlling, serious, and not playful. Wednesday Addams was always the darkest of the family, but she never hurt anyone... except perhaps her seemingly immortal brother. In this series she nearly murders an entire pool full of kids in the first episode. She's mean, hateful, and violent. The playful love that undercut everything about Addams family before this has disappeared to be replaced by a goth teen angst drama. How disappointing especially with Burton involved.
A solid start
snoozejonc7 January 2023
Wednesday Addams is sent to the Nevermore Academy.
This is an enjoyable opening episode with decent humour and character moments.
The plot sets the scene, introduces characters and kicks off a central mystery pretty well inside one hour.
I am a fan of the Christina Ricci version of the title character and I'm happy to say that Jenna Ortega plays it in the same deadpan spirit. How much a single Addams character can carry an entire show will be interesting to see, but the writers definitely chose the right one.
The humour is typically Addams Family, by satirising social norms with Wednesday's reactions and one-liners towards various people. Plus it has all the macabre jokes that involve pain, suffering and death in some shape or form. How much of this will stay fresh for an entire series remains to be seen. I particularly like the opening sequence and a memorable line from Wednesday relating to social media.
Visually it's excellent, with strong cinematography and superb art design, that feels typically Burton, especially the scenes where various shades of colour contrasting with Wednesday gothic appearance.
There are some moments that feel a bit forced to try and add a degree of coolness to the character such as the martial arts. The related jock-bully type antagonists appearing again near the end to increase the stakes, after already proving inept as threats, feels contrived and a bit pointless to me.
For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
This is an enjoyable opening episode with decent humour and character moments.
The plot sets the scene, introduces characters and kicks off a central mystery pretty well inside one hour.
I am a fan of the Christina Ricci version of the title character and I'm happy to say that Jenna Ortega plays it in the same deadpan spirit. How much a single Addams character can carry an entire show will be interesting to see, but the writers definitely chose the right one.
The humour is typically Addams Family, by satirising social norms with Wednesday's reactions and one-liners towards various people. Plus it has all the macabre jokes that involve pain, suffering and death in some shape or form. How much of this will stay fresh for an entire series remains to be seen. I particularly like the opening sequence and a memorable line from Wednesday relating to social media.
Visually it's excellent, with strong cinematography and superb art design, that feels typically Burton, especially the scenes where various shades of colour contrasting with Wednesday gothic appearance.
There are some moments that feel a bit forced to try and add a degree of coolness to the character such as the martial arts. The related jock-bully type antagonists appearing again near the end to increase the stakes, after already proving inept as threats, feels contrived and a bit pointless to me.
For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
I like the visuals and I don't like the visuals
Chromatozies-Dzakwan26 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This series has an interesting and promising story. In this first episode, we are introduced to our main character, Wednesday, with his family members and the environment she is in. I don't think I need to comment on the story because it's just starting to be introduced, but the visuals in this film feel bad in several scenes.
The visually disturbing scene is when the Wednesday family is in the car to take Wednesday to Nevermore. There is also a visual that looks strange in the chat Wednesday's mother has with Wednesday in the school yard when she wants to go home and leaves Wednesday in her school dormitory. The background to their conversation looks weird and bothers me a bit, but the rest looks pretty good.
The visually disturbing scene is when the Wednesday family is in the car to take Wednesday to Nevermore. There is also a visual that looks strange in the chat Wednesday's mother has with Wednesday in the school yard when she wants to go home and leaves Wednesday in her school dormitory. The background to their conversation looks weird and bothers me a bit, but the rest looks pretty good.
A Tale of Two Halves
machina2211 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Overall, this first episode is a bit disappointing.
Let's start with the good: the first half of the episode is excellent. 9/10 stuff.
Wednesday is introduced well; Jenna Ortega almost instantly dispels any worries I had that she might not live up to the role with her excellent delivery of both the lines and Wednesday's social awkwardness and stiff but swift movements. It was great to see Ricci too (the perfect Wednesday in the Addams Family films).
The writing is sharp and witty. The focus is (rightly) firmly placed on characterising Wednesday and letting her sarcasm, dry wit, and deadpan delivery shine through. And it works, because Wednesday is one of the best fictional characters ever created.
The rest of the Addams family is decent enough here but unremarkable, not that it seems that'll matter much because I get the impression they won't get much screen time from here on out. Hopefully I'm proven wrong on that though.
Now the bad: the whole second half of the episode.
Somewhere around the midway point the focus shifts away from Wednesday and making her actual character the star of the show and slips into this cliched 'fantasy teen drama' show. It's 3/10 stuff.
We're introduced to bland character after bland character, most of which Wednesday (in a move completely out of character) rapidly forms emotional connections with by the end of the episode.
We also go from one scene you've seen a million times before (ridiculous 'gang' bumps into our diminutive anti-hero, wonder how this is going to end!) to another (gang shows up a second time - now with weapons!).
Wednesday's character isn't just an after-thought, it seems to actively change. She's gone from being refreshingly honest, emotionally stilted, macabre bordering on depressing, restrained and exacting, piercing with her wit and completely socially uncompromising to.... being a typical protagonist with the odd snappy remark in yet another teen TV show.
I'll certainly watch the next episode, but I unfortunately expect it to be more like the second half than the first half of this episode. What a missed opportunity this will have been...
Average of the two halves - 6/10.
Let's start with the good: the first half of the episode is excellent. 9/10 stuff.
Wednesday is introduced well; Jenna Ortega almost instantly dispels any worries I had that she might not live up to the role with her excellent delivery of both the lines and Wednesday's social awkwardness and stiff but swift movements. It was great to see Ricci too (the perfect Wednesday in the Addams Family films).
The writing is sharp and witty. The focus is (rightly) firmly placed on characterising Wednesday and letting her sarcasm, dry wit, and deadpan delivery shine through. And it works, because Wednesday is one of the best fictional characters ever created.
The rest of the Addams family is decent enough here but unremarkable, not that it seems that'll matter much because I get the impression they won't get much screen time from here on out. Hopefully I'm proven wrong on that though.
Now the bad: the whole second half of the episode.
Somewhere around the midway point the focus shifts away from Wednesday and making her actual character the star of the show and slips into this cliched 'fantasy teen drama' show. It's 3/10 stuff.
We're introduced to bland character after bland character, most of which Wednesday (in a move completely out of character) rapidly forms emotional connections with by the end of the episode.
We also go from one scene you've seen a million times before (ridiculous 'gang' bumps into our diminutive anti-hero, wonder how this is going to end!) to another (gang shows up a second time - now with weapons!).
Wednesday's character isn't just an after-thought, it seems to actively change. She's gone from being refreshingly honest, emotionally stilted, macabre bordering on depressing, restrained and exacting, piercing with her wit and completely socially uncompromising to.... being a typical protagonist with the odd snappy remark in yet another teen TV show.
I'll certainly watch the next episode, but I unfortunately expect it to be more like the second half than the first half of this episode. What a missed opportunity this will have been...
Average of the two halves - 6/10.
Wednesday's Wednesday review:
W011y4m523 November 2022
It's fair to say "Wednesday" was one of my most hotly anticipated series of the year & I've been tentatively awaiting its arrival, ever since the show was first announced over 12 months ago... So I'm not entirely enthralled to say the story doesn't seem to get off to a very good start here, as it feels more like a stereotypically angsty teen drama than an "Addams Family" adaptation, taking itself far too seriously most of the time whilst failing to imbue the satirical, tongue-in-cheek humour I was obviously expecting from the franchise.
Hence, it's not entirely bad but neither is it exactly good either, feeling more like an episode of the cancelled "Sabrina" series than anything - with occasional moments of comedy added throughout... But mostly, it does give the impression as though it's aesthetically masquerading as something it isn't, being nowhere near as sharp or self aware as it needs to be in order to compete with prior versions which have solidified themselves in pop culture history.
Not even Tim Burton's direction adds anything especially interesting - because barely any of his signature style manages to break through the Netflix visual format that unfortunately makes every property they own look like the other.
As I've said, it's fine... Yet such a tepid response is admittedly less than I'd anticipated.
Hence, it's not entirely bad but neither is it exactly good either, feeling more like an episode of the cancelled "Sabrina" series than anything - with occasional moments of comedy added throughout... But mostly, it does give the impression as though it's aesthetically masquerading as something it isn't, being nowhere near as sharp or self aware as it needs to be in order to compete with prior versions which have solidified themselves in pop culture history.
Not even Tim Burton's direction adds anything especially interesting - because barely any of his signature style manages to break through the Netflix visual format that unfortunately makes every property they own look like the other.
As I've said, it's fine... Yet such a tepid response is admittedly less than I'd anticipated.
Ok, but....
lynpalmer113 December 2022
The Black Dahlia flower was NOT named after the infamous, unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short. Rather, Elizabeth Short inherited the nickname after her gruesome murder since she was known to wear a Black Dahlia in her hair. I realize this is a fantasy/fiction but if you're going to use real life murders, get the facts right. Anyway, first episode isn't bad, but missing the love and joy the original Addams family had for each other. The absurdity and humour was in not realizing that they were any different than their neighbours and the rest of the community. Here they are thrown into a situation full of beings just as strange, if not stranger, than themselves. Also, please stop with the woke crap that they feel compelled to put in every new show. Comparing pilgrims to perpetrators of mass genocide without any historical context or explanation of events is ridiculous.
So they made an Addams Family reboot without watching the original
HeathenGeek25 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not sure what that was, but it wasn't the Addams Family. The original tv show and movies are characterized by kind, accepting parents who are madly in love with each other, love and support their kids no matter what, value and support their extended family, and are exceedingly generous with the paths of anyone they cross. They are unapologetically themselves. And yes, they're weird.
This show had none of that.
My teen described the relationship between Morticia and Gomez as "two middle school students in the school play and they don't even like each other." It lacked the spark, the chemistry of either original tv or movie Addams, and their kissing scenes were awkward and forced.
The relationship between Wednesday and Morticia is strained to the point of cruel barbs and contempt.
Pretty much the only moment that felt authentic was Wednesday's assertion that "no one tortures my brother but me."
It's a perfectly fine 'supernatural mystery at a boarding school' and worthy of watching as its own unique thing. It has a good cast. But as a reboot of the Addams Family specifically, it falls far below expectations. I'm disappointed. My teen feels flat out betrayed.
This show had none of that.
My teen described the relationship between Morticia and Gomez as "two middle school students in the school play and they don't even like each other." It lacked the spark, the chemistry of either original tv or movie Addams, and their kissing scenes were awkward and forced.
The relationship between Wednesday and Morticia is strained to the point of cruel barbs and contempt.
Pretty much the only moment that felt authentic was Wednesday's assertion that "no one tortures my brother but me."
It's a perfectly fine 'supernatural mystery at a boarding school' and worthy of watching as its own unique thing. It has a good cast. But as a reboot of the Addams Family specifically, it falls far below expectations. I'm disappointed. My teen feels flat out betrayed.
I wanted more from this.
kittythelitter2 December 2022
Wednesday has the same vibe as Tower Prep and Unnatural History which were made as part of Cartoon Networks brief attempts to make spooky and mysterious live action shows for young teens on an itty bitty budget in 2010. Which isn't to say it's bad. I loved those shows when I was 12.
The thing is this isn't an experimental foray into a new format with no budget in 2010. It's a Netflix and Tim Burton project based on a beloved franchise so I was expecting way more. If it were made with a tiny budget by someone I'd never heard of as an original property that was marketed as for tweens and teens I'd love it.
But. Like. Tim Burton and the Addams family. I want more than the love triangle from every ya novel published in twilight's shadow and CGI that looks like it was made in 2004. I also want better and more consistent characterization of the Addams family characters.
The thing is this isn't an experimental foray into a new format with no budget in 2010. It's a Netflix and Tim Burton project based on a beloved franchise so I was expecting way more. If it were made with a tiny budget by someone I'd never heard of as an original property that was marketed as for tweens and teens I'd love it.
But. Like. Tim Burton and the Addams family. I want more than the love triangle from every ya novel published in twilight's shadow and CGI that looks like it was made in 2004. I also want better and more consistent characterization of the Addams family characters.
Lukewarm Start
tyggfqxcm7 December 2022
Most series premiere are off to a rough start, especially when they're trying to rush you on a tour of characters, setting, and premise. It's an interesting idea with an entertaining enough story, however the themes fall flat when the characters and script just keep saying out loud what they represent. Wednesday's non-sequiturs are a bit charming in the beginning, but tire fast as the characters have the same reaction we do (roll eyes, say, "o...kay. Anyway...). Maybe I'm missing the point that this is the point. The actors, much like the writing, are flat. Unfortunately, deadpan only goes so far without any interesting dialogue. Still, the set pieces, music, and competent technical skill make for a tight experience and I think provide for entertaining fodder in the background. Hopefully the second episode stands stronger.
Who wrote this?
SureCommaNot16 April 2023
It's hard to get into a story where the main character will decry dependence on technology *while* repairing an espresso machine (technology) because she needs the caffeine. There are several hypocritical one-liners like this.
What makes the Addams family so morbidly comedic, to me, has been the twisted one-liners that show their fondness for torture, death, playful cruelty, and the like, making them outcasts from society but on the same page with each other. This show allows the schisms to divide the family too, and the darker one-liners always feel out of place, like they were written by another team and then later inserted into the script.
I've watched 3-4 episodes now and will probably finish the series, but what can I say? I miss what the Addams family used to be.
What makes the Addams family so morbidly comedic, to me, has been the twisted one-liners that show their fondness for torture, death, playful cruelty, and the like, making them outcasts from society but on the same page with each other. This show allows the schisms to divide the family too, and the darker one-liners always feel out of place, like they were written by another team and then later inserted into the script.
I've watched 3-4 episodes now and will probably finish the series, but what can I say? I miss what the Addams family used to be.
Full of continuity errors and strange script choices
florianrussie10 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Maybe I don't really get what this series is about. People are saying only good things about it while in this first episode, there is a lot a wrong things, things that won't pass on other series, why this one? I don't know either.
There are a lot of continuity errors, objects that are there and disappear on the next cut, like the phone at the Thing scene, the thing pushes the phone quite far away, Tyler takes it, we see his hands moving towards it and the sound of the phone moving out of the table. But in the next cut, the phone is there, close to the thing, it moves of few centimeters only, while it was either out of view or in Tyler's hands.
Even more, there are a lot of strange script choices. In the introduction, she gets piranhas we don't know where, they just pop in her hands like by magic. Same thing with a screwdriver when she repair that thing in the coffee shop. No one gives her (because no one has a specific screwdriver on him, it's always somewhere in a back room) but she have it without any ellipsis.
I still have a lot of things to say about camera angle and actor distance between each other during the coffee shop's fight scene but it would take years to write.
I just wanted to express how imperfect that episode is, I've heard so much that this series was near perfection that I had to do it. Otherwise, it was pleasant, quite cringe sometime, but fun to watch.
Oh yeah and sorry for my english, it's not my birth language.
There are a lot of continuity errors, objects that are there and disappear on the next cut, like the phone at the Thing scene, the thing pushes the phone quite far away, Tyler takes it, we see his hands moving towards it and the sound of the phone moving out of the table. But in the next cut, the phone is there, close to the thing, it moves of few centimeters only, while it was either out of view or in Tyler's hands.
Even more, there are a lot of strange script choices. In the introduction, she gets piranhas we don't know where, they just pop in her hands like by magic. Same thing with a screwdriver when she repair that thing in the coffee shop. No one gives her (because no one has a specific screwdriver on him, it's always somewhere in a back room) but she have it without any ellipsis.
I still have a lot of things to say about camera angle and actor distance between each other during the coffee shop's fight scene but it would take years to write.
I just wanted to express how imperfect that episode is, I've heard so much that this series was near perfection that I had to do it. Otherwise, it was pleasant, quite cringe sometime, but fun to watch.
Oh yeah and sorry for my english, it's not my birth language.
Bleh
alexandrakovacic28 November 2022
First episode already completely misses the original family dynamic. Casting of the parents turns out to be sadly not even similar to the other newer movies of the adams family. Pugsley was made into a complete tool and behaves like a normal troubled kid, which is really stupid considering the whole concept of the adams family being the opposite of normal people. The comedy is basicly not there and wednesday behaves legit like a teen that wants to break out of her parents expectations. So a teenage rebellios phase? How creative for a show about a teenager *add sarcasm*.
So yeah till now I'm not much of a fan but I hope it gets better.
(Also where is her damn baby brother?!?)
So yeah till now I'm not much of a fan but I hope it gets better.
(Also where is her damn baby brother?!?)
Not the Wednesday I grew up with.
boleyn189524 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is based on episode 1 only, I have not seen the rest of the season yet but this is not the Wednesday I grew up with.
I have seen every episode from the 60's show and own the DVD's, I also have all the films and DvD/Blu-Rays and read most of the comic strips and never has Wednesday been mean, Spooky, Kooky, Mysterious, Morbid yes but never mean and this Wednesday is just horribly mean - to her parents, to class mates, to teachers - she even threatens to break Thing's fingers??? I'm at an absolute loss to understand the thought process here.
Lisa Loring was the perfect 5-6 year old Wednesday, a loving daughter in a strange but ultimately wholesome family.
Christina Ricci was perfection as the 10-12 year old Wednesday, she continued the embodiment of the character that Lisa Loring portrayed but added an element of mischievousness to the character but she was never mean - especially to her family.
Everything else I enjoyed and hope the character becomes more "Wednesday" over the following episodes but after 1 episode, be it the writing or the actress, this is not Wednesday Addams.
I have seen every episode from the 60's show and own the DVD's, I also have all the films and DvD/Blu-Rays and read most of the comic strips and never has Wednesday been mean, Spooky, Kooky, Mysterious, Morbid yes but never mean and this Wednesday is just horribly mean - to her parents, to class mates, to teachers - she even threatens to break Thing's fingers??? I'm at an absolute loss to understand the thought process here.
Lisa Loring was the perfect 5-6 year old Wednesday, a loving daughter in a strange but ultimately wholesome family.
Christina Ricci was perfection as the 10-12 year old Wednesday, she continued the embodiment of the character that Lisa Loring portrayed but added an element of mischievousness to the character but she was never mean - especially to her family.
Everything else I enjoyed and hope the character becomes more "Wednesday" over the following episodes but after 1 episode, be it the writing or the actress, this is not Wednesday Addams.
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