Three Netflix characters Jenna Ortega could have nailed with her deadpan charm
Many Wednesday Addams actors have come and gone in Tinseltown. But only one has turned the character into a cultural phenomenon: Jenna Ortega. Whether her goth is in the DNA of grieving can very well be up for debate. However, there’s one thing we are sure about: if Ortega had slipped into the roles of three iconic Netflix characters, she would have undoubtedly hit it out of the park.
Ortega’s deadpan delivery has turned eye-rolls into etiquette. And while she was at it, we couldn’t help but think of these three characters on Netflix who could have used her deadpan charm. While this doesn’t mean the designated actors have delivered any less, if anything, they have made them iconic, but it just makes one curious about what could’ve been.
Ortega didn’t just seamlessly bring Wednesday Addams on screen. She made black look colourful, death look nonchalant, and goth look cool all over again.
So, here are three Netflix characters Jenna Ortega could have nailed.
Three Netflix characters Jenna Ortega could have nailed:
Veronica Lodge from Riverdale
Veronica Lodge has the uber-popular, rich-girl aesthetic that’s poles apart from Wednesday Addams. But if Jenna Ortega were to bring her deadpan approach to Veronica’s screen time, she would have added a whole new layer to the character. Always confident and often manipulative, the Riverdale character already has the building blocks of Wednesday.
However, Ortega could have grounded Veronica’s sharp barbs and witty comebacks, bringing a more brooding version of the character that still exudes power. Both are incredibly strong-willed and have multiple layers to their personalities. While Camila Mendes brought out Veronica’s confident charisma with a side of vulnerability and lightness, Ortega could have made it edgier and darker, tapping into the manipulative aspects with a more subtle approach to the insecurities.
Alyssa Foley from The End of the F***ing World
Alyssa Foley and Wednesday Addams are similar in more ways than one. Alyssa from The End of the F***ing World embodies a sense of emotional detachment, intelligence, and dark humour that evokes Wednesday. In fact, they both refuse to conform to societal norms, even if it means embracing an identity that separates them from the flock. And if Jenna Ortega were to portray the Netflix character, she could have easily dialled up the mysterious atmosphere. But make no mistake, Jessica Barden was just as memorable and iconic, which has catapulted the character’s momentum in popular culture.
Considering Ortega has a knack for darker roles, think Scream and You, she could have added a mix of vulnerability and strength through her portrayal. Additionally, Alyssa reeks of a dry sense of humour. And who better to play that lone wolf than Ortega, whose words cut faster than one blinks. While The End of the F***king World projects the absurd, perhaps Ortega’s inclusion could have shed more light on the ironies. And since Alyssa also exhibits indifference towards danger and death, sometimes it does feel like the character was written with Ortega in mind.
Maeve Wiley from Sex Education
Maeve from Sex Education and Wednesday are both rebellious teens, each fighting to survive high school. However, both share a lot of similarities when it comes to their worldviews, personalities, and how they approach life, making Ortega a perfect candidate to play Maeve. From emotional restraint to their soft corner for literature, Maeve and Wednesday can often be found on the same boat.
But the cutting, sharp sarcasm and deadpan humour honestly takes the cake. While Emma Mackey turned Maeve into a pop culture phenomenon, what if Jenna Ortega played the character? Except for their settings and robbing Ortega of her supernatural abilities, their complex family dynamics also check the boxes. So, if Ortega did play Maeve, she would still be just as smart and independent, but perhaps with a grittier attitude, making her screen time a bit more broodingly intense.
Mackey may have added a poetic and introspective layer to the character. However, Ortega’s one would add to her mysteriousness. In fact, it could darken Maeve’s arc, especially over themes like identity and trauma.