I watched Wednesday season 2, part 1 and the family drama makes it even better than its predecessor

The Addams Family take center stage this season

Reviews
By published
The cast of Wednesday posing in front of a gothic backdrop
(Image: © Netflix)

TechRadar Verdict

Wednesday season 2 has made an excellent comeback, and the decision to focus more on the family dynamics was a smart one.

Pros

  • +

    There are some fantastic new additions to the cast

  • +

    This season focuses more on the Addams Family

  • +

    Thing steals the show

  • +

    Plenty of mysteries to keep us engaged

  • +

    Great Danny Elfman score as ever

Cons

  • -

    There are a lot of subplots, and I don't care about all of them

  • -

    One episode felt like a bit of a slog

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Wednesday season 2 is back with a bang, and even though we have to wait until September for part 2, we're off to an excellent start.

Part one of season 2 is made up of four episodes, so it was crucial to keep audiences engaged and make sure they'd come back for the final installment. Considering Wednesday has been renewed for season 3, the pressure is on, but I personally can't wait for this show to keep going.

When we catch up with Wednesday after a two-year break, the gloomy teenager is returning to Nevermore as summer has come to an end. But while her peers were all partying and having fun, Wednesday spent her summer break pursuing a serial killer, very on brand for her.

Upon returning to Nevermore, a lot has changed. Following Gwendoline Christie's departure as Principal Weems, we've got a new head of school in the form of Steve Buscemi's Principal Dort, a dorky yet suspicious character who is keen to secure funding for the school.

He's not the only new addition to the cast, either. Joanna Lumley joins to play Morticia's estranged mother, Hester, expanding the beloved Addams Family and providing more family drama, something season one was seriously lacking.

I was thrilled that the family takes center stage this time, with Wednesday's brother, Pugsley, joining Nevermore, and her parents, Morticia and Gomez, sticking around to help with a gala. Having them around is a delight and you can expect laughs, macabre delights, and some cringeworthy moments because yes, Morticia and Gomez are sickeningly loved up this season.

The Nevermore students are back, too, of course, and we're reunited with familiar faces like Enid Sinclair, Bianca Barclay, Ajax Petropolus, and Eugene Ottinger.

It's not long before more drama ensues, of course, as Wednesday attempts to track down her stalker, deal with her psychic abilities, and figure out why a murder of crows is well, murdering people. There's never a quiet day for Wednesday.

While the main plot focuses on the crows and who (or what) is controlling them to kill people, we do have several subplots going on. Wednesday gets a vision of Enid's death, Enid is caught in a love triangle, Pugsley accidentally creates a zombie, and more.

I will admit, not all of these are attention-grabbing and do slow the pacing down in places, but the main plot is enough to keep you invested. I was also very enamored by the zombie character, named Slurp, who provided laughs and scares in abundance.

Steve Buscemi as Principal Barry Dort in Wednesday

Steve Buscemi's new principal is a shady figure. (Image credit: Netflix)

We're only halfway through, but so far, I can confidently say this has been a good season and there's real potential to expand on things across the next four episodes.

I'm hoping we get to learn more about the family and their buried secrets, some of which have been referenced early in season 2. Without spoiling anything, there's plenty for fans to look forward to on that front, and Addams Family drama can rival any reality TV show.

Will Wednesday season 2 continue to impress when it returns on September 3? Until then, why not check out 4 more spooky Netflix shows with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes to watch next?

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Lucy Buglass
Lucy Buglass
Senior Entertainment Writer

Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd. 

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