Review of Netflix's "Wednesday"

Wednesday is Netflix's newest series on offer. It follows the story of a 16-year old Wednesday Addams (Addams Family) while she is studying in Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts (e.g. otherworldly beings). Think Xavier School (X-Men) but filled with vampires, werewolves, and the like. It was directed by Tim Burton, whose works include Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Corpse Bride to name a few. The series is 8 episodes long, with each episode having a running time of at least 45 minutes. 

I was drawn to the series due the the fact that Wednesday Addams was one of my favorite characters growing up. The series itself was very enjoyable. In fact, I, who rarely binge-watches any series, found myself watching all the episodes without getting bored. The series has captured the essence of Wednesday Addams that it felt natural to see a more grown-up version of the Addams family daughter. Her interaction with her peers was very natural in a Wednesday-like sense. The lines given to her character, even her thoughts when narrated, were very on-point, delivered with the sarcasm and condescending fashion that is associated with Wednesday. 

The cast ensemble was also a delight. The awkwardness of being in high-school in addition to the raging hormones of being a teenager and also being outcasts certainly made each of Wednesday's peers enjoyable to watch as they navigate that stage of their lives. I personally applaud the idea of outcasts who revel in their uniqueness rather than bending to the society that would not accept them. 

If there was one thing that I would complain about the series, it would be the depiction of Wednesday's parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams. I could not connect the personalities of both the younger and older versions to how I remember them in previous iterations. A younger Gomez having trouble in sword-fighting and Morticia trying to stop a fight-to-the-death while shouting is certainly not how they have been portrayed. Even their older versions getting teary-eyed, even having tears down one-side of the face, cannot be associated to how Gomez or Morticia was interpreted. They have little screen-time which makes me thankful as they were so far from the debonair Gomez and aloof Morticia in my memories.

In all, the series was a rollicking-good roller coaster ride. There was enough mysteries, twists and turns in the story that keeps you entertained and hooked up to the last episode. I just hope that Netflix has plans to do another season of Wednesday as I am eager to continue to watch more of her story.