Opinion: Wednesday (Season 1)

Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), a much-loved character from The Addams Family franchise, is the protagonist of the show. Jenna Ortega makes Wednesday’s unwavering, unblinking stare look like the most natural and effortless expression but the challenge in being able to maintain Wednesday’s disposition should not be overlooked.

As Wednesday, Ortega’s eyes are emotive and a key part of her performance. For the most part her eyes are consistently unwavering which is why even the most subtle change is noticed by the audience. For example, when she began to see Tyler (Hunter Doohan) in a certain light or her eyes softening at the sight of her friend Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers).

Director Tim Burton preferred takes where Wednesday did not blink and suggested that the character stare out at others through her eyebrows. In some ways this is a similar, but voluntary, challenge to the challenge Thing experiences with isolating features.

The plot itself was fairly straightforward, there were plot twists which were done well but nothing particularly unimaginable. Wednesday’s ancestor Goody was a new addition to The Addams Family franchise and was a key part of the plot.

It would have been great to see more of the interesting family dynamic between Wednesday and her parents Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez Addams (Luis Guzmán). There is clearly a complex relationship between Morticia and Wednesday which will likely be explored further in the next season.

It will also be interesting to see how Wednesday’s friendship with Enid will be depicted in the next season as the pair overcame any challenges together, within their friendship and external challenges. Despite being complete oppositions in outward terms, Wednesday and Enid’s friendship became something that the audience would adore.

Before watching the show, a lot of people might assume that due to the young cast this would not be something an older audience would not take an interest in but the show deals with darker plot elements (the witch trials being the first that comes to mind). I think the show is one which people of all ages can enjoy, as with previous Addams Family stories.