Five times ‘Wednesday’ proved it was an incredible show
Netflix struck gold in the darkest of alleys, thanks to Wednesday, a show etched in murder and mayhem. Though Jenna Ortega’s credits roll way before her Addams Family indoctrination, Wednesday was a breakout show, whose ripple effects of genius still lurk in the shadows. When the first instalment hit Netflix’s shelves, the reception was eerily through the roof.
Now with a second season on the horizon, viewers are making the most of their time, reliving the horrors unleashed by Wednesday Addams. While countless Netflix releases have prompted a cultural reset, such as Stranger Things and Squid Game, Wednesday’s influence on popular culture toppled even those in part. Moreover, the story of the Addams family has been told in the entertainment capital time and again.
Then, what guaranteed the success of Netflix’s Wednesday? In all honesty, Wednesday Addams is the exact opposite of relativity, a character steeped in gory ways. However, Netflix saw a chance with it and flung open the door to record-breaking statistics, making it a must-watch series on the streamer. Netflix is currently busy getting its ducks in a row for Wednesday’s second outing, coming up in August. But before that, let’s find out what made Wednesday such a streaming hit.
While it may be a show on legacy characters, here are five reasons why Wednesday’s impact is nothing less than legendary.
Five reasons why Wednesday is in a league of its own
5. Reimagining the classic character through Wednesday
Wednesday offers a fresh take on the Addams Family character. And in doing so, it ensures captivating both new and existing audiences. Despite belonging to a school of supernatural beings, deemed a misfit by the world, Wednesday struggles to fit in. The show focuses on her teenage experiences in Nevermore Academy while magnifying her struggles with her emerging psychic abilities.
The backdrop is gripping, especially for teenagers and transitioning adults. The teenage perspective is crucial, but the tale is about no ordinary teenager, nor an ordinary school. And though it celebrates the supernatural, Wednesday excels at representing that difference, too, is a superpower.
4. Journey of self-discovery with Wednesday
When Netflix put its spin on the Addams family story in Wednesday, it knew what would make the viewers the most curious. It was not the character or its modern spin, but the journey the character takes on its own. Nevermore Academy is infamous as the school of outcasts. But what happens when you’re not an outcast by books? If the phenomenon were robbed of its Netflix pedigree, this would have been just another teenager whom society doesn’t approve of.
But since Wednesday is not one to be shaken, her troublesome navigation becomes a blueprint of survival in real life. To enhance the character development in an unfamiliar setting, Netflix has made Wednesday familiar.
3. Wednesday’s Unique genre fusion
Wednesday beautifully blurs the lines between genres. At the core, the Netflix series centres around the row of murders that keep Nevermore Academy awake. It expertly threads its murder mystery trope with teen drama, which includes friendships, relationships, and, of course, fallouts. Then come the supernatural elements, making Wednesday a perfect amalgamation of suspense, thrill, and emotional stream.
It is a riveting narrative that’s both thrill-ride intense and character-rich, a cohesive world that’s equal parts pulse-pounding and emotionally resonant. This is probably why even after a three-year gap, there is no shortage of fans’ anticipation.
2. Wednesday’s cultural impact
When Barbie hit the box office, pink became the new black. However, with Jenna Ortega ready to unleash her string of chaos a second time, it’s about time for a gothic comeback in popular culture. After the Netflix show was released in 2022, Wednesday’s dark aesthetics sure found a home in every must-watch series list. However, her wardrobe was the only fashion theory viewers could think of for a year at least.
From the classic pigtail braids to her monochromatic shifts from polka dots to stripes, Wednesday’s couture shines with morbid elegance. Still now, search engine results for Wednesday Addams outfits elicit a flood of inspired Pinterest page turners. With season two inching closer than ever, the craze is about to pick up pace soon.
1. Wednesday is a history maker
Adaptations in contemporary times usually make viewers a little hesitant. However, Wednesday on Netflix was received with open arms, justifying the frenzy around season two. It shattered records for the most-viewed English-language series, outpacing Stranger Things season four, garnering $341.2m hours watched in its opening week.
Wednesday was the number one show in 83 countries, levelling the record set by the Hawkins gang in season four. Although it remains to be seen what surprises await season three, expect nothing less than woeful.