Wednesday’s second debuted back in August with just four episodes. The final four drop today on Netflix, providing a fun conclusion to the various storylines introduced in Part 1, and setting up what appears to be a totally new direction for Season 3.
Season 2 has been an excellent sophomore outing for Jenna Ortega’s Addams Family spinoff. The only complaint I have is Netflix’s decision to release the season in two parts. The first half of the season built up a lot of momentum and then came to a screeching halt. The second half ties up all the loose ends admirably, but making fans wait a month between the two was pointless, especially after the three year wait between seasons.
Fortunately, these last four episodes are excellent. Not only does Jenna Ortega shine as the stony-faced protagonist, her fellow cast-members get a chance to spread their wings. The MVP award goes to Emma Myers who plays Wednesday’s roommate and best friend, Enid Sinclair. Episode 6 has a fun “Freaky Friday” type setup that gives both Ortega and Myers the opportunity to try on a totally new persona. It’s the most fun I’ve had with the show up to this point, and clocks in at over an hour. Truly delightful television.
Season 2, Part 1 saw Wednesday return to Nevermore Academy along with her younger brother, Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez). Some familiar faces return, including the Siren, Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday) and the Gorgon, Ajax (Georgie Farmer). There are new students as well. Agnes (Evie Templeton) plays an even bigger role in Part 2, using her powers of invisibility in both helpful and obnoxious ways. Several of the characters from Part 1 snuffed it, of course, and more meet their maker in Part 2. I’m not sure what the body count is, but it continues to pile up throughout the season.
Of course, not everyone stays dead – or, rather, death doesn’t always prevent characters from showing back up in this macabre fantasy. Gwendoline Christie’s Principal Weems returns for the back half of Season 2, this time appearing as Wednesday’s “spirit guide” (or Fairy Godmother) in a bit of an ironic twist. And we learn a lot more about Steve Buscemi’s fiery Principle Dort, who has some deep, dark secrets that reveal a lot about his motivations. That one may smile and smile and be a villain.
Secrets abound, and the secrets of Wednesday’s parents, Gomez (Luis Guzman) and Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) come back to haunt them and their children. Without spoiling too much, it all ties back to the Hyde, Tyler (Hunter Doohan) and his family, and events that took place long before our hero was born. The zombie, Slurp (Owen Painter) takes on a more central role as well. Brains are very restorative, you see. Joanna Lumley’s Grandmama Hester Frump also plays an important role in the second half of Season 2, as Dort continues to court her for Nevermore donations and the three generations of Addams Family women exchange barbs. Behold, Frump Tower:
Lady Gaga’s cameo is brief but fun, though I’m sad to report that Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester only makes a very brief appearance. And the Willow Hill thread trails off in a bit of a weird way, making room for the true villains of Season 2. I wonder if one more episode might have been needed to truly do that storyline justice.
There are some big revelations, including one involving our favorite dismembered hand, Thing. And all the various mysteries come to a head in the final two episodes and are wrapped up nicely. It’s a really well-written, expertly crafted season that ought to have either been released all at once, or in weekly episodic format. If you waited for all 8 episodes to release, you have a very fun binge ahead.
Naturally, as the current season’s mysteries are solved, new conflicts arise and the season ends on a pair of cliffhangers that one might describe as “delicious” (because they promise such a fun third season) or “painful” – because I’m not sure audiences can take many more of these three-year gaps. It’s not how TV is supposed to work. I know I’m not alone when I say that new seasons of our favorite shows should release every year. If Game Of Thrones could do it, any TV show can. Hopefully the fact that we’re out of the pandemic now and there are no ongoing writer’s or actor’s strikes will help speed production along.
All told, a genuinely fun season and a worthy followup to Season 1. There’s even a fun dance routine, though it’s not quite as memorable as the last one. You can read my review of Season 2, Part 1 right here.
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