Tim Burton’s “Wednesday” is not just another teen drama wrapped in gothic fashion—it’s a bold, witty, and thrilling reimagination of one of the most iconic characters in pop culture history. Netflix struck gold with this 2022 series, offering a fresh yet faithful take on Wednesday Addams, a character who has always been a little too clever, a little too morbid, and now—finally—a lot more central.
The show follows Wednesday Addams (played brilliantly by Jenna Ortega) as she is sent to Nevermore Academy, a mysterious boarding school for outcasts and supernatural misfits. Think Hogwarts meets Tim Burton’s brain on caffeine. But this isn’t just about learning potions or making new quirky friends. It’s a full-on murder mystery with Wednesday as the deadpan detective, trying to solve a series of brutal attacks connected to her own family’s dark history.
What makes Wednesday stand out is not only its gothic aesthetic—although that’s certainly deliciously immersive—but its sharp writing, excellent pacing, and a cast that fully commits to the strangeness of the Addams world. Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday is pitch-perfect. She doesn’t play the role—she becomes Wednesday. Her dry wit, blank stares, and ice-cold confidence are delivered with a grace and power that’s both unnerving and magnetic. Ortega’s performance gives Wednesday emotional depth without sacrificing her iconic stoicism, adding nuance to a character who has traditionally been a background oddball.
Visually, the series is classic Tim Burton: eerie, whimsical, and darkly beautiful. Nevermore Academy is a feast for the eyes, from its gothic arches to its moonlit forests. Costume design also deserves high praise, especially Wednesday’s signature black-and-white ensembles that blend vintage charm with modern edge. Even her dance scene—now a viral phenomenon—captures the very essence of who she is: an unapologetically unique girl who doesn’t care what you think.
But what really elevates Wednesday is how it balances tone. It's funny without being goofy, dark without being depressing, and mysterious without becoming convoluted. The supporting cast also adds flavor: Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia is hauntingly elegant, while Luis Guzmán brings a fresh but faithful take on Gomez. Gwendoline Christie as Principal Weems is another standout, commanding every scene with her presence.
The plot, which revolves around an ancient prophecy, hidden secrets, and Wednesday’s own psychic abilities, keeps you guessing. While it leans into some familiar tropes—rivalries, secret societies, high school love triangles—it does so with a wink, never forgetting that this is Wednesday Addams’ world, and we're just lucky to live in it for a while.
What’s also refreshing is that the show doesn’t water down Wednesday to make her more “relatable” or likable. She’s still weird. She still talks about death at dinner. She still shows zero tolerance for stupidity. But through her evolution, we see flashes of vulnerability, moments of connection, and even hints of care. It’s a clever deconstruction of the “emotionless goth girl” trope, showing that even someone as stoic as Wednesday can grow—just not in the way anyone expects.Wednesday also deserves credit for reintroducing the Addams Family to a new generation. While the original comics and 90s films remain cult classics, this series gives the Addams universe a modern twist without betraying its spooky roots. There’s a delicate line between homage and reinvention, and this show walks it masterfully.In a landscape cluttered with formulaic teen dramas and superficial “dark academia” shows, Wednesday feels genuinely fresh. It's intelligent, darkly humorous, and visually captivating. Most importantly, it gives us a heroine who doesn’t have to conform to be powerful, who doesn’t soften herself for anyone, and who makes being strange look like the most interesting thing in the world.
